19 Best Beard Oils of 2025 for Softer, Smoother Scruff

Growing a beard was only the beginning: Now you’ve gotta give it some love, and the best beard oils will keep that sculpted scruff feeling great. And not just for you, either, because the right beard oil leaves your skin glowing—and stops your facial hair from annoying your partner. It keeps coarse hair from getting brittle and wiry. It also softens your beard so you’re not scratching your neck or dealing with beard dandruff (yes, it exists). All that from a couple drops of oil.

So, if you’re tired of flyaways, coarse beard hair, dandruff, or itchiness, these GQ-tested and -approved beard oils will turn your scruff into fluff—we promise.

• Best Beard Oil Overall: Honest Amish Classic Beard Oil, $12
• Best Multipurpose Beard Oil: Beardbrand Utility Beard Oil, $20
• Best Natural Beard Oil: Horace Lemon & Mint Beard Oil, $15
• Best Softening Beard Oil: Jack Black Beard Oil, $28
• Best Fragranced Beard Oil: Fulton & Roark Formula 5 Beard Oil, $55
• Best Beard Oil for Big Beards: Pura d'Or Beard Oil, $15
• Best Beard and Face Oil: Blind Barber Beard Oil, $17
• Best Beard and Hair Oil: Aesop Shine Hair & Beard Oil, $35
• Best Conditioning Beard Oil: Anthony Pre-Shave and Conditioning Beard Oil, $30

I’d go so far as to rank beard oil as the second most important beard care product, just after beard trimmers—and it’s a close second. Because whether you keep your facial hair at a precise 24-hour stubble, go full hermit-mode, or stay somewhere in between, a beard oil does irreplaceable work. (The kind you can’t replace with any old moisturizer or conditioner.)

So, if you’re tired of flyaways, coarse beard hair, dandruff, or itchiness, these GQ-tested and approved beard oils will turn your scruff into fluff, we promise.

For the longest time, I thought of Honest Amish as “that Amazon beard oil,” given its enormous popularity on the e-tailer. (At the time of writing, we’re talking nearly 30,000 reviews and a 4.5-star rating.) And often, I'll intentionally seek out an alternative to these Amazon-beloved grooming products—if only because it feels like the equivalent of recommending Applebee's to an out-of-towner. But this time, well: Welcome to Applebee's.

Frankly, I couldn't find a better beard oil. Not only is Honest Amish cost-effective (at the second-best price-per-ounce on my list), but the brand nailed the blend. It's a pure oil recipe (no non-oil ingredients), with seven carrier oils and seven essential oils that give it an earthy scent and help tone the skin beneath your bushel. It absorbs fast, works great to smooth down flyaways, relax stiff bristles, and battle both dry skin and flake-prone beards. And did I mention the value? Six bucks per ounce is a steal.

I only use Honest Amish on my beard, largely because I'm not a fan of using any essential oils on bare skin—I particularly find that pumpkin seed oil (a key ingredient here) can be slightly pore-clogging on acne-prone skin. That said: I count myself as acne-prone and haven't had issues with Honest Amish, so I'm probably being over-cautious. It's really just that good.

Despite the name Beardbrand, this company's product line covers the whole body, with a focus on multi-tasking grooming products like dual washes, all-purpose balms, and this utilitarian oil. You'll catch me using it on my hands, elbows, and hair—whether for a dash of shine (to offset a matte hair product) or a protective coat against frizz and humidity. But Beardbrand's Utility Oil is on this list because it works beautifully in the beard.

Sure, it's a touch heavier than some other oils—but that also makes it a terrific pre-shave lubricant. It's important to note that no matter which “flavor” you choose, this oil has a strong dash of fragrance. They're all good, but I'm partial to the brand's new Bold Fortune scent, which oozes a sexy combo of leather, oud, and tobacco. (And pro-tip: The brand's utility wash has the same come-hither scent, if you want to double down.)

Horace's beard oil will make a lot of you happy, though for different reasons. For those overwhelmed by scents—particularly artificial ones—you'll appreciate that its got the subtlest of aromas. I'm partial to the Lemon & Mint one, which reads as “fresh" and never overwhelms.

For those looking to stay away from chemicals, Horace's formula is 99% natural—and the 1% is a synthetic grapeseed oil, not something with 12 syllables, which I'm fine with. The brand gets bonus marks for its easily-understood ingredients labels, which break down these details and err on the side of much-appreciated transparency.

Finally, if you're on the fence about beard oils, Horace will make you a believer. It absorbs fast, gives a pinch of shine, and makes just enough difference in terms of taming, moisturizing, and softening that you'll see why a beard oil makes sense.

In the grooming world, Jack Black (the brand) has earned its own fanbase, thanks in large part to one product —the signature Jack Black beard oil. Apply just a few drops and it immediately goes to work softening coarse and brittle facial hair, and without an overpowering fragrance that will distract you all day long.

It's one of the most popular beard oils on Amazon, but don't hold that against it. While it softens and adds shine, this oil also delivers a dose of antioxidants and vitamins from natural ingredients such as brown algae and rosemary. It also uses a unique blend of oils with the subtlest whiff of melon fragrance. Instead of the usual suspects (jojoba, avocado, sunflower seed), this product uses Kalahari melon oil, marula oil, and plum oil, which moisturize your facial hair and skin on contact. Because these oils are all fast-absorbing (my beard hair soaks it up like a sponge), they make this product much less greasy than other beard oils, giving it a more premium feel.

Pura D’or

Beard Oil

$20 $15

Amazon

Timothy Beck Werth

I test literally hundreds of grooming products a year, and I'm so intimately acquainted with brands new and old that I often think about them based on their best product. For Pura d'Or, it's this organic beard oil.

It's the best value on this list, at $3 per fluid ounce. Given how quickly you can go through beard oil—just think, if you're applying up to twice a day, that dollar-per-ounce math becomes important. So, in addition to being my budget pick, this also gets my recommendation as the best beard oil for big beards.

Of course, it's only important if the formula measures up—and here, it does. There are two carrier oils, argan and jojoba, along with a bit of grapefruit peel and some sandalwood essential oil for both a natural scent and a touch of antimicrobial powers. It's a great beard oil for anyone, no matter how big your bank account, but if you're bearding on a budget, you'll appreciate how much goodness Pura d'Or packs into a few bucks.

Blind Barber

Beard Oil

$17

Ulta

Blind Barber's tonka-tinged oil is wonderful for the guy who wants to moisturize skin and whiskers with the same product. It wears extremely light—so much so that my oily skin barely registers its presence—and I find its carrier-oil-centric and shea-butter-forward formula especially comforting on the skin. It should be noted that this formula includes artificial perfume, so fragrance-averse individuals should steer clear. But for those of us who want a special scent, a flake-free beard, and soothed skin, Blind Barber's beard oil does it all.

Sometimes, a beard oil smells so good you don’t even care how well it works. It makes you want to skip cologne altogether and just slap it on instead. Sure, beard oil is supposed to serve a practical purpose, but it’s also an extension of your overall fragrance profile, which is what we love most about Formula 5 from Fulton & Roark. This is the boutique brand that proved solid cologne could be more than a novelty, and now these complex and masculine fragrances are available in beard oil form. Fortunately, this oil’s also good for your beard, otherwise it wouldn’t be here.

Formula 5 isn’t a pure oil blend, but it does contain soothing natural oils and botanicals such as sunflower seed oil, apricot kernel oil, olive oil, and lychee fruit extract. While these oils soften and smooth your facial hair, the musky, woodsy fragrances will make people want to lean in closer for a second whiff. Our only complaint? We wish it came out of the shaker bottle a little easier, but at least this will stop you from over-applying.

Aesop

Shine Hair & Beard Oil

$35

Todd Snyder

$35

Aesop

Timothy Beck Werth

While I'd use most of the above options as both a hair oil and a beard oil, Aesop's is one where I think of it as a hair oil first and foremost. It brings control without making things look greasy, while trapping moisture and stopping frizz. I'll use it in short hair to tame down the sides, in medium lengths (mixed with a cream or clay) for added shine, or in long hair to prevent split ends.

Then, once my hair's settled up, I'll run my hands through my beard afterward. So, if you want a great hair oil with beard benefits, Aesop's is the winner.

Since the beginning of the men's grooming boom, I've been waiting for the big designer fashion houses to start catering to guys with facial hair. For now, Tom Ford's beard oil stands alone. So, how does the designer oil stack up against our everyday favorites? After trying it out, I can tell you it’s better as a fragrance than a beard oil, but the scent alone earns it a spot in this guide.

The tobacco vanilla fragrance is much more sophisticated than what we’re used to seeing, or smelling, in this space. The scent puts an emphasis on vanilla, and you just need one or two pumps for full coverage. Considering the price and the name on the bottle, we were shocked to find this oil comes in a plastic pump bottle, but that fragrance. If you want to buy beard oil as a gift, this premium conditioning oil is a step up over your average Amazon brand, even if it doesn't soften coarse hair as well as some of our other options.

If you have sensitive skin—or if you're afraid of your beard oil clashing with your daily cologne—then Marlowe makes one of the only fragrance-free beard oils. Most beard oil formulas contain both essential oils and some type of perfume oil (or, parfum, for my fellow ingredients detectives), which can be risky for your skin, follicles, and pores, so it’s nice to have an option for acne-prone and sensitive skin types.

This beard oil couldn’t be simpler—and I mean that in a good way. Marlowe No. 143 has an all-oil formula and just four ingredients: safflower seed oil, sunflower seed oil, corn oil, and soybean oil. That’s it. Considering the average beauty product contains up to a dozen ingredients we can’t even pronounce, it’s a refreshing change. Although, I have to say, if you want the softest possible beard, Honest Amish also makes a fragrance-free oil.

The Best Beard Oil for Curly Hair: Bevel Beard Oil

Most guys use beard oil to tame flyaways. But what if you want the thickest, fullest beard possible? In that case, I’d recommend reaching for Bevel’s oil. This brand makes skin and hair products for Black men, but anyone with coarse or curly hair can benefit from their products. GQ contributor Timothy Beck Werth reports that this oil gave him a thicker-looking beard without excess frizz, which isn't easy to do. (BTW, that’s as much as you can expect from any beard oil, so please don’t fall for the “beard growth serums” you’ll find all over the internet.)

For parched facial hair, the grapeseed, macadamia, jojoba, and argan oil will condition your beard and add a healthy shine. For beneath the scruff, the avocado and primrose oil with soothe your skin without clogging up your pores and follicles. Werth says this beard oil instantly softened his facial hair, and he also liked the sweeter smell of the macadamia-based formula. Most beard oils opt for woodsy fragrances, and the more subtle scent profile here is a nice surprise, he explains.

The Best Conditioning Beard Oil: Anthony Pre-Shave and Conditioning Beard Oil

Anthony’s conditioning beard oil is a 2-in-1 product—a pre-shave oil and regular beard oil. That approach can be risky, since a lot of multipurpose products try to be everything and succeed at nothing, but luckily that’s not the case here. If you regularly cycle between clean-shaven, stubble, and full-on lighthouse keeper, then you can still use this product daily. As a pre-shave oil, it moisturizes the skin and softens facial hair for a smoother shave with fewer morning-after red bumps. As a beard oil, it hydrates, then locks in that moisture so your beard stays soft and shiny all day. I found the consistency to be somewhere in between a leave-in conditioner gel and a traditional oil, making it thicker and less messy to apply.

The oil has an herbaceous, minty fragrance that’s so refreshing it feels like aromatherapy every time you run it through your hair. That’s because the formula is full of ingredients that smell good, feel good, and actually help your skin and hair. It uses carrier oils like soybean and castor to deliver skin-pleasing and antimicrobial botanicals such as rosemary, basil, tea tree oil, eucalyptus, and spearmint. And on the hydration front, calendula and olive oil nourish your whiskers into their softest, fluffiest selves.

Because of the more complex fragrance and ingredients profile, this wouldn’t be my pick for guys with sensitive skin. Still, it’s a multi-functional serum you’ll look forward to using every day.

The Best Beard Oil for Flyaways: Zeus Refined Beard Oil

Lots of beard oils promise to get flyaways under control, yet those rogue hairs keep popping up. So, what do you do? Instead of trying yet another oil, try reaching for a product that’s more of a leave-in conditioner for your beard. We’ve previously praised Zeus’s beard brushes, but the California-based brand also makes a beard serum that deserves a spot in your bathroom cabinet. I love that this beard oil has the simplest possible ingredients list: sweet almond oil, soybean oil, argan seed oil, trihydroxystearin, avocado oil, and fragrance. The only multi-syllable ingredient there is a simple thickening agent, which gives this refined beard oil a gel-like consistency. That thicker formula will also put flyaways in their place.

The very subtle fragrance is more Mediterranean than winter pine forest (we tested the Verbena Lime version), but you can also opt for a fragrance-free formula if you have sensitive skin or allergies. The plastic bottle uses an air pump, letting you get every last drop of oil. For clean freaks who hate the messiness and spillage that always comes with beard oil application, this is another bonus.

Somehow, a lot of men's grooming writers forget about Kiehl's, probably because they've been around so long. The brand's beard oil uses an essential oil blend and a calming fragrance with notes of eucalyptus, sandalwood, and cedar. The formula is surprisingly light for a beard oil and provides an instant softness boost. Start with just a couple drops, as the fragrance can be too strong if you overapply.

Caldera + Lab is one of the most exciting men’s skincare brands of the moment. They make eco-friendly products with botanical ingredients, like this luxe beard oil. While its price tag is steep (this oil’s been on our radar for a while, but we’ve been reluctant to add it to this guide until now), it contains a ridiculous number of oils: apricot kernel oil, sunflower seed oil, alma seed extract, marula seed oil, raspberry seed extract, rosehip seed oil—and we could keep going. It also contains lavender, rosemary, orange peel oil, microalgae, and tons more botanicals. For guys with sensitive skin (or seed oil conspiracy theorists), it’s your worst nightmare. But if you hate alcohols and synthetics, this hydrating beard oil naturally softens facial hair, moisturizes skin, and fights bacteria and dandruff. Like other Caldera + Lab products, it has a witchy, incense-like aroma, and just a a small dab is enough.

Tired of being left out of couple’s skincare night just because those stupid sheet masks won’t hold onto your glorious beard? Cardon’s got you, boo. Actually, this bead oil hack is perfect for guys who only sparingly use beard oil on an as-needed basis.

The bamboo and charcoal sheet mask is specially shaped for guys with beards, and each mask comes with a dose of beard oil made with argan and jojoba oil. In the Venn diagram of Korean skincare and beard care products, this sheet mask-beard oil duo is the tiny, microscopic bit of overlap in the middle.

For Black guys and anyone with curly hair, this Amazon brand makes a beard oil just for you. The formula uses moisturizers such as grapeseed oil, castor oil, shea butter, and maracuja oil to condition coarse and curly hairs.

The best best oil should support your skin and your beard, and Baxter of California's sweet-smelling oil doesn't sacrifice one for the other. In his guide to the best beard care products, GQ's Timothy Beck Werth said that “In our testing, no beard oil absorbs as quickly or spreads as evenly as this one.” Squalane helps nourish the most overlooked skin on your face, while avocado oil, Vitamin E, and botanical extracts smooth out your beard.

STMNT Grooming Goods

Beard Oil

$22

Amazon

$22

Nordstrom

No dermatologist is going to endorse a beard oil with artificial scent, because (understandably) there's no upside from a skin perspective. But I'm not a dermatologist, and I—like some of you—prefer to have my great beard oil and smell it, too. And if your skin is fine with perfumed products (and most folks' skin is), then you're going to love STMNT's beard oil. It brings a citrusy, woody, incense-esque aroma, which I find both sexy and soothing. Also, to be clear, as a beard oil, it's similarly intoxicating, with high marks for taming and hydrating beard hair. That is, if you can bring yourself to actually apply STMNT's beard oil instead of huffing it.

As with anything you put on your skin, the ingredients are what matter most. And with beard oils, there are two categories of ingredients: carrier oils and essential oils. No two ingredients will perform exactly the same. Some will help with very specific situations or conditions; some may actively aggravate your skin. Essential oils in particular can aggravate skin if used by themselves.

So, consider the following carrier oils and essential oils, favored both by myself and Alyssa Bachowski, a senior barber at Fellow Barber’s Williamsburg, NYC barbershop.

Carrier oils—often vegetable and see oils—make up the bulk of these beard oil formulas, bringing beard nourishment and skin hydration. The most popular carrier oils are argan oil and jojoba oil (both of which Bachowski recommends), though there are dozens of varieties, from castor to marula to grape seed oils. They're usually unscented, though some—like coconut oil—may carry an aroma.

Because carrier oils make up the “base” of the oil, they should be among the first to appear in a product's formula or list of ingredients.

Essential oils are distillations from more potent sources, and they tend to be additive—and active—ingredients in a beard oil. These oils are typically extracted through steaming methods, and their range of benefits can include antimicrobial properties, oil-toning abilities, and soothing superpowers. Typically, any natural fragrance in a beard oil will come from essential oils. But pure essential oils can be extremely damaging to the skin.

“You should not apply pure essential oil to a beard—it will do the opposite of what you are trying to achieve,” Bachowski says. “These [pure oils] are not good for your beard nor your skin. as they can be irritating and harmful. Essential oils can cause dryness, itchiness, and redness—and some people may have allergic reactions to them.” This is exactly why you want beard oils from trusted, tested brand.

As GQ's lead grooming product reviewer, I've tried just about every beard oil in the biz. The ones chosen for this roundup excel at protecting and moisturizing both skin and hair, with minimal risk for things like inverse reactions and blemishes. They absorb cleanly, unless they expressly choose not to (like those which expressly use silicone), and they smell terrific (with both natural and artificially scented options). I've tested beard oils for a decade, on a beard that's been long, short, and everything in between. I've also scoured online reviews to confirm that these products are backed by throngs of loyal fans, whose collective opinion echoes my own experiences.

Alyssa Bachowski is a senior barber at Fellow Barber’s Williamsburg NYC barbershop location.