For such a humble product, beard balms accomplish a lot. They keep your beard hairs conditioned, strong, and styled while also nourishing the skin underneath. Even though they bring so much to the table, I don’t think it’s too much to ask that they smell good, too.
The best-smelling beard balms have the same effect as dabbing on your favorite cologne. You want to smell great when people hug you or when you first meet, when your significant other wraps their arms around your neck, or when you simply go about your day and let your personal sillage give you confidence. As for the scent you choose, well, that’s up to you.
Whether you’re more apt to pick an earthy, woody, or fresh and clean scent, a beard balm also needs to be a good product. It should have good hold, whether your beard is short or long, and leave your strands feeling hydrated, regardless of texture. So rest assured that all the best beard balms on this list are also top-notch balms in general.
All that being said, let’s take a look at the 7 best-smelling beard balms below.
Key Takeaways
For this assignment, I started by poring over dozens of products, customer reviews, and even my own bathroom cabinet (and my partner’s) until I whittled it down to the 7 finalists you see on this list.
Overall, the pick of the best-smelling beard balms is Mad Viking Beard Balm because they offer lots of different masculine scents with delicious profiles. For a fresh and clean everyday type of scent, check out Every Man Jack Sandalwood Beard Balm.
Our Top Picks
Why it’s great: With 16 different Scandinavian-named scents, you’re bound to find the best beard balm for you. In addition to helping you grow a healthier, fuller beard with a medium to heavy hold, Mad Viking boasts delicious mountain air scents infused with masculine spices and a hint of musk for an unforgettable aroma.
Top scents include the refreshing Berserker, with lemongrass that fades into a combo of peppermint, sandalwood, and patchouli. Odin’s Rok has a cherry pipe tobacco profile that fades into clean and smoky, followed by Valhalla for that sweet, vanilla resin-like scent layered over a smooth and subtle sandalwood base.
Who is this for: From a practical perspective, it works great on longer beards that need a good hold. As for scents, I feel like there is truly one for everyone. Check out their sample kit to find your perfect match.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: The price tag for this best of the best-smelling beard balms is moderate, but the quality of all-natural ingredients, including shea butter and seven different oils feels worth the cost.
Scent: 16 options | Product Benefits: Hydrating, Hold | Size: 2 oz | Beard Type: All, Long
Why it’s great: Beard balms don’t need to have a ‘scent’ to smell good. Plenty of men are turned off by the hypermasculine lumberjack approach that a lot of brands take and love this neutral, pleasant smell of Bulldog.
The all-natural ingredients like aloe vera, green tea, and camelina, which smells flowery and herbaceous, give it a fresh, clean scent. It’s these same ingredients that pleasantly perfume help to nourish your beard, calm razor burn by conditioning the skin underneath, and even make it appear fuller.
Who is this for: Perfect if you like a clean, fresh, everyday scent that is subtle yet delicious, especially if you’re prone to itchiness, dandruff, and irritation.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Some reviewers aren’t crazy about hold and feel like it’s better as a conditioner.
Scent: Unlisted | Product Benefits: Nourishing, conditioning | Size: 2.5 oz | Beard Type: All
Why it’s great: If you’d like to smell like a young version of your grandpa fresh from the barber shop, you’ll probably love award-winning Murdock London. Described as old-timey with a touch of elegance, this beard balm is manly and refined without overpowering. Some say it’s reminiscent of Old Spice cologne, which I can get down with.
As for the product’s heft, it’s pliable and does a pretty good job at molding the shape of your beard. This worthy addition on the list of the best-smelling beard balms is more likely to give you a natural finish than a shiny one.
Who is this for: The scent is slight and not in your face. I can picture it on a distinguished guy who would describe himself as the quiet, confident type.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: As great as this beard balm smells, some reviewers noted it’s better suited for hold than for conditioning. So if your hair is dry and coarse, you may need a beard oil.
Scent: Unlisted | Product Benefits: Shape, hold | Size: 1.67 oz | Beard Type: Dry/Normal
Why it’s great: The name might sound hardcore, but their balm smells rich and sweet. The cigar blend will leave you smelling like a pipe-smoking gentleman with a touch of warming vanilla. People seem to love how long the scent lingers on their beard, which is great if you want to smell good from morning to night.
As for the quality of the balm, it’s great for adding shine and softening the hair while also preventing the skin underneath from flaking.
Who is this for: This is the perfect beard balm for you if you’re drawn to masculine tobacco scents. It’s a wonder for those who like smelling slightly sensual without being overly seductive.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: If you have a particularly unruly beard, you might want something stronger, like Scotch Porter (see below). The hold is mild here.
Scent: Cigar Vanilla | Product Benefits: Tames, conditions, shines, anti-dandruff | Size: 3 oz | Beard Type: Normal
Why it’s great: Like freshly milled wood oiled with spicy citrus, this sandalwood balm gives off a deliciously fresh, easy smell. I like that it’s woodsy but has a complex masculine finish for that slightly yummy factor.
The sandalwood is paired with shea butter, jojoba oil, and rice bran extract for excellent hydration. It really feels like it nourishes your beard as it tames flyaways with a decent hold.
Who is this for: If you like a clean fragrance that isn’t oceanic but rather earthy, this everyday edition of the best-smelling beard balms is for you. Great for the office or a date, it plays nicely in the day and nighttime. It’s a great signature type of beard balm you can use every day.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Some guys have found it hard to emulsify in their hands. If you prefer a softer beard butter, they make a good one with the same scent.
Scent: Sandalwood | Product Benefits: Moisturizing, hold, strengthen | Size: 2 oz | Beard Type: Long
Why it’s great: Powerful and slightly sweet, Miami Duppy is built like a beautiful cologne. It’s a spicy smoky scent that gives off a masculine tobacco and sandalwood mix, but it’s not without that yummy aspect that will have ladies clawing at your neck. Amber, vanilla bourbon, and dark chocolate give it a masculine root beer vibe that tons of reviewers love.
Scent aside, this balm is ideal for dry hair types because it softens coarse hair while using a combination of biotin liposomes, white willow bark, and nettle leaf to reduce irritation, redness, and flakiness.
Who is this for: If you like your beard hydrating and shiny, or if your hair gets dry and frizzy, this is a great option among the best-smelling beard balms. The guy who goes for this balm is bold and confident yet doesn’t need to fight his way through a room to get attention. It smells super yummy but isn’t overly sweet.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: I love that this scent is definitely present in this beard balm, but some reviewers feel like it overpowers.
Scent: Miami Duppy | Product Benefits: Hydrating | Size: 3 oz | Beard Type: Dry/coarse
Why it’s great: Ain’t nothing wrong with wanting to smell woodsy fresh. Cremo makes some delicious, affordable colognes, so it makes sense that their beard balm would be yummy. But if subtle is what you’re after, you might want to look elsewhere.
This balm gives off a blast of fresh, soothing pine with notes of cedarwood, spruce, and rosemary that will have you heading out for a walk in the woods – or at least make you smell like it. Best for full beards: all you need is a small dab to style, shape, and tame your beard.
Who is this for: If your ideal cologne profile leans resinous, woody, and fresh, this is one of the best-smelling beard balms for you. I can picture it on a hearty beard.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Although scent is pretty subjective, more than one reviewer noted how strong it smells. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but not the best if you want subtle.
Scent: Cedar Forest | Product Benefits: Shining, Nourishing | Size: 2 oz | Beard Type: All, Full
Buying Considerations for The Best-Smelling Beard Balms
Ingredients
The best-smelling beard balms share a similar ingredient profile. You’ll usually find beeswax for hold, shea butter for nourishment, and a mix of natural oils that help to hydrate and strengthen your beard hairs. Lastly, a blend of essential oils is what typically gives balms their nice smell, but be careful. They can be irritating to sensitive skin types.
Scent
Much like a cologne, the best-smelling beard butter balm contains notes that give it a distinctive profile. Woodsy and tobacco scents are really common and usually come off as manly. Boozy and vanilla scents are nice and warm and are great for evening and cool weather. Minty fresh and woody fresh scents with dashes of citrus are ideal for transitions and work well during both day and night.
Size
I feel like size matters most when compared to price, when it comes to the best-smelling beard butter balm. How much value are you getting? Under 2 ounces and you’ll have to replace it a lot, but it’s also easier to travel with.
Luckily, all of the best-smelling beard balms on this list are moderately priced for what they offer. If you’re someone who doesn’t want to shop too much, pick one with more ounces.
How We Choose These Products
With so many products out there, it can be hard to discern which best-smelling beard balms are high quality and actually smell great. Every balm I chose underwent a rigorous process to check for hold, shine, moisturization, and nourishment on top of scent profile.
Quality of Ingredients: What a product is made of? The best-smelling beard balms use a combination of oils, wax, and shea butter to deliver a beautiful consistency and a delicious smell. For the sake of health, I like to consider products that work but are as natural as possible.
Company Reputation: How a company operates helps to determine the quality of customer service, it gives a nod to the quality of their ingredients and how transparent they are with their process.
Customer Reviews: How people feel about a product is vital, but what the majority of what people say really gives the overall vibe of the product. The best-smelling beard butter balm pleases customers over and over again.
Why you should trust us
When it comes to grooming, especially finding the best-smelling beard butter balm, you want advice from someone who truly knows their stuff. That’s where Rachel comes in.
With years of experience in the fashion and grooming industry, she has explored everything from the latest in men’s fashion trends to the nitty-gritty of grooming essentials. Her dedication to providing you with the best advice is reflected in the thorough research and personal testing that goes into each product recommendation.
Rachel is obsessed with scents and has written about both manly colognes and the best products for hydrating your beard. She has written about hair health for nearly a decade, starting at The Right Hairstyles. Her fifteen years in the fashion and beauty business helped her to blend an understanding of ingredients and their effect on the hair and skin.
So when she presents you with her picks for the best-smelling beard balms, you can take those recommendations to the bank.
Final Verdict
The best-smelling beard balms should have a light masculine scent that doesn’t overpower. They should also promote good hold and moisturize the hair, like Mad Viking Beard Balm. Choose from 16 different scents to find your favorite.
FAQ
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Regularly cleansing, conditioning, and then following up with one of the styling balms on this list makes your beard smell great.
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It is okay to use it daily, but it might not be necessary. You can definitely use it after washing and conditioning your beard, or applying a small amount in the morning to groom and style.
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