DIY Beard Balm Recipe (2024)

DIY

January 9, 2014January 3, 2017 by Rachel74 Comments on DIY Gift: Beard Balm

12/1/15: I slightly updated this recipe, to add measurements by weight, ingredient and container sources, and a free label. The new post:How to Make DIY Beard Balm.

For Christmas this year I made my husband a batch of beard balm to help tame and condition his unruly facial hair. He has an aversion to the trendy naming convention of “blank & blank,” so as a joke I made a label for my fake brand of Whiskey & Woodsmoke. I guess I made a pretty convincing label, since when he opened up the package on Christmas morning he said, “Oh, I remember this from the shop we were in the other day.” I had to break it him that that couldn’t be true, since I’d made it myself.

I wanted this beard balm to smell like bourbon, so I bought a bourbon fragrance oil from an amazon seller, but I wasn’t totally happy with it. It mostly smells like vanilla, with just a hint of bourbon. Combined with the cedar and rosemary oils, though, it creates a nice woodsy, manly scent. If you don’t want to buy bourbon fragrance, you can definitely leave it out, or even experiment with adding vanilla or other scents.
DIY Beard Balm Recipe (1)

DIY Beard Balm

Beard Balm Base:
2 Tbsp beeswax, coarsely chopped
2 Tbsp shea butter
1 Tbsp cocoa butter
3 tsp jojoba oil
2 tsp sweet almond oil
Scent:
1/8 tsp bourbon oil
4-8 drops cedar essential oil
1 drop rosemary essential oil

Add the beeswax, shea butter, cocoa butter, jojoba oil, and sweet almond oil to a small jar or tin, and place in a saucepan. A tin can is a good choice, but you should avoid glass, since it can crack from direct heat. Add water to an inch or two below the top of the jar, and heat over a stovetop until everything melts and liquefies. Stir with a disposable popsicle stick or wooden chopstick.

Add essential oils just a few drops at a time to scent your balm, and stir to combine. When you’ve achieved the scent you want, pour your balm into a mini mason jar, and allow to cool.

To use, rub a small amount on your fingers and smooth onto your beard.

Christmas is over, but this would make a great DIY Valentine’s Day or birthday gift for the bearded man in your life.

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DIY Beard Balm Recipe (3)

Rachel
  1. This would make great gift for my sons both who now have beards! Thanks for sharing.

  2. Do you know how big your tin was? 8 oz? I would love to know as it would help me scale your recipe. Thanks so much for sharing!

  3. I am curious about the bourbon fragrance. Can you tell me a little more? This is the first I have heard of it.

      1. that bourbon fragrance is no longer available. Have you found an alternative source?

        Thanks for the write up. I look forward to trying this!

        1. Try the Sandlewood Bourban Fragrance Oil from Bulk Apothecary it smells great and not overpowering. I make beard & mustache balms with it. Its my my best seller. Most women say “Its A Man In A Jar” LOL! My website will be open by the end of January.

  4. I love the (what I perceive to be) double meaning in the name of the scent! Great job!

    1. Thanks Mary 🙂

  5. I love the story…and I bet this smells amazing!

    1. Thanks Tammy!

  6. What size jar did you use? 4 oz? I have some leftover 8oz canning jars and I’m wondering if I’d need to double the recipe to use them. Thanks!

    1. Nikki, it’s a 4 oz jar.

  7. I loved this. Made it today with different essential oils. This is a great beard balm…Thanks

    1. Tim, I’m so glad you like it!

  8. can you just add a few drops of real bourbon?

    1. Lisa, I was tempted to try that, but I’m not sure if it would work. You might have to experiment a bit. Let me know if you try it.

    2. no, Bourbon is water based, all other ingredients are oil based.

  9. 3 tsp = 1 Tbs

  10. Tammy great recipe, mine is similar but uses argan oil instead of cocobutter…and different scents

    1. What scents do you use? I want to mAke some for my husband but he hates rosemary.

  11. Made a half-batch of this for myself just as a tester (never made a balm before), replaced the sweet almond oil with coconut oil since I had one not the other. I only had cedarwood essential oil, ended up using about a 1/2tsp trying to mask the smell of the wax/cocoabutter.

    Do the ingredients you use have much smell to them? I tried the triple filtered white beeswax to limit the smell as much as I could but, may be better vendors to buy from that have products with less smell to them. The wax/cocoabutter especially.

    1. THRobinson, the cocoa butter I used didn’t have much of a scent, but my beeswax smells like honey. I think it’s nice, but if you don’t like the scents of the starting ingredients than you may not like the smell of the end product. More refined versions will definitely have less of a scent.

  12. Exactly how much does this recipe yield? Have you came across any improvements to this recipe? New scents? Thank you!

  13. It is important that your beard balm has all natural moisturizers and sealants. The best moisturizers for beard balm are jojoba and argan. The best sealants are shea and beeswax. 🙂 Always avoid fragrance oils as they are harmful. Go with 100% pure essential oils instead.

    1. Mod cabin, im having trouble with my beeswax, the honey scent over powers the essential oils.. Any reccomendations?

        1. Beeswax, shea, cocoa butter, argan, jojoba, vitamin e, and i tried a few drops of peppermint but the honey smell still overwhelms it, i also tried lemon too but same results

          1. Try Texas cedar and lime. Those essential oils are cheap and the lime can cut through beeswax pretty good. If that doesn’t work perhaps try cutting down on the beeswax and increasing the shea.

          2. Thanks! Appreciate the help!

          3. You’re welcome! Good luck! 🙂

          4. I ended up going with 1tsp beeswax, 2tsp shea, 1tsp argon, 1tsp jojoba, 2 vitamin e oil pills, 2 drops of lemon, 3 drops of lime and the citrus cut the honey smell way down. I am also gonna try the refined white wax, i also heard it has a little less smell.

          5. Careful with citrus essential oils. They are photosensitive and thus can cause your skin to darken. And not in a nice way. I learned the hard way.

  14. I just made my first batch using a blend of earthy/woody oils. Now my hubby looks like a well groomed lumberjack… and smells like one too (in a good way of course). Oh, and I found that empty pipe tobacco tins make FANTASTIC containers!

    1. Danielle, awesome, so glad you (and your husband) like the recipe. And that’s good to know about the pipe tobacco tins.

  15. Hi, this is a great recipe and I’ve enjoyed making it although I’ve found it to be a little greasy compared to shop bought ones and I wondered if you had any thoughts on adding arrowroot powder to cut down on the greasy texture

    1. Hmm, instead of adding arrowroot powder I would just cut down the oils a little bit. I’d start with a teaspoon less of the jojoba or sweet almond oil. Hope that helps!

    2. I’m having the same problem. Did you try the arrowroot?

      1. Hi Sam, I did try the arrowroot powder with mixed results, some batches were fine not greasy at all but some were very lumpy, very hit and miss so I’ve been looking at kaolin clay as an alternative but I haven’t had the chance to try it yet, hope this helps

  16. Awesome would the ingredients be expensive to come by?

    1. 56 dollars on amazon. and it enough to make balm for at least a year. and a commerical balm cost 18-25 dollars for a 2oz can

  17. What brand of oil did you use? Also, do you think it would be ok just to put in some actual liquor or does it need to be oil? I’ve never made anything like this and would love to try!

  18. I’m wondering if fragrance oils could be used in place of the essential oils.

  19. what form do you buy the beeswax in ?

    1. Keeks, my beeswax came in a big brick.

    2. keeks, my beeswax came in a big brick.

  20. where could i get a container for it?

    1. You can get 4oz Ball jars on amazon… or possibly at your local grocery store.

  21. I’ve tried this receipt except I substituted the rosemary with vanilla and both times the smell of honey was overbearing (the second time I even cut the amount of beeswax by 1/2). Could it be because of the type of beeswax I’m using? Everything I’m using is natural; beeswax, shea butter, cocoa butter, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, vitamin E oil, Eden Garden essential oil, etc. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

  22. where can I find most of these ingredients?

    1. Amazon

  23. Hi. I live in Vancouver WA… Just over the river from Portland Or. Is there a way I can buy some of this from you??? If so how do I get in contact with you to do so?

  24. This is awesome 🙂 The consistency is great and so is the feel in my partners beard. I added a little vitamin e oil, and used cedar, cinnamon leaf and holy basil oils instead. Thanks for getting the recipe so dialed!

  25. Where did you find bourbon oil, please help. I’ve been scowering the internet for it.

    1. Amazon has it all… also known as geraniam oil…

  26. I look for bourbon oil but geranium oil keeps coming up with bourbon in parenthesis. Is this the same thing?

    1. yes

  27. I tried this, but the cocoa butter completely overpowered everything else in terms of scent. Did you use cocoa butter that was fragrance free?

  28. I would LOVE to make this! But I have a question … The scented oils … I found an Old Spice Swagger type Fragrance Oil — would that be suitable to use for this? Or will it be detrimental to his wondrous beard? (I can gladly share the link to the oil that I’d like to use)

  29. I have a Shea Butter, Cocoa butter, Mango butter blend with Beeswax and other natural oils. I left it in a cold car for an hour and the balm cracked. How can I ship these without it cracking?

  30. Curious, why not use a double boiler method to melt everything down?

  31. Love this idea. Does this have a fairly long shelf-life? (I would imagine it has due to the ingredients)

  32. Great info, I was looking for an alternative to buying the $20 for a 2 ounce tin. Being an African American and having different hair texture is a challenge. After finding your recipe and doing a bit of research I am excited to make a batch this coming week. Thanks for the good find

  33. Can This be used directly on the face?

    1. Lindsey, I don’t see why not, unless you have some kind of allergy or sensitivity. Testing on a small spot would be a good idea to make sure.

  34. I tried this last night. After letting it set overnight, the balm is extremely hard and tough to get any out to apply. What am I doing wrong?

    1. Hmm, I’m not sure why you had this happen, but I would suggest melting it back down and adding slightly more of the oils to soften it up. Let it set, and repeat if it’s still too hard.

    2. I actually had the same problem. Can you remelt and make adjustments? What should I add more of to soften it a bit? Thanks!

  35. Hi,

    I’ve tried to make balm, but once cooled, I can barely smell the essential oils. I melt the wax and oils on very low heat in a double boiler, then once melted, I add a high amount of essential oils. Once cooled, the scent is hardly there. Any help is greatly appreciated!

  36. Hi,

    I tried making beard balm, but when it cooled over night, I could barely smell the essential oils. I tried to double the amount of essential oils in the balm, but the next day I could barely smell anything. Is this because the essential oils are burning off?? I keep the double boiler on minimal heat.

    Thanks!

  37. Does the balm melt on your hand when you rub it in?

    1. Chet, it does melt into my hands.

  38. This is amazing! I have a weird request, do you have the file you used to print off the labels for this balm? If so, I would love to use it for mine that I make for my boyfriend! Please and thank you!

  39. thinking of trying this without the sweet almond oil
    anyone try that yet?

Comments are closed.

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DIY Beard Balm Recipe (7)

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DIY Beard Balm Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the 4 ingredient beard balm? ›

Beard balm is made up of four core ingredients: beeswax, a type of butter, a type of carrier oil, and an essential oil. Each of these ingredients perform specific functions, and without one, your beard balm won't work.

How do you make strong hold beard balm? ›

Making a beard balm or beard wax requires three necessary components:
  1. Beeswax. The more beeswax, the more hold and the stiffer your balm will be. ...
  2. Butter. Moisturizing butters are important and help condition not only the hair, but also the skin underneath. ...
  3. Carrier Oil. ...
  4. Essential Oils (optional)

What if my homemade beard balm is too hard? ›

If your beard balm is too hard, add more carrier beard oil. If it's too soft, add more beard wax (beeswax). If you want more moisturizing power and bulk, add more butter (in any ratio you desire).

What oil is best for beard balm? ›

Jojoba and castor oil are two of the most widely used carrier oils. You'll find these two ingredients in a majority of beard oils. Other commonly used carrier oils include abyssinian oil, babassu oil, coconut oil, argan oil, sweet almond oil, grape seed oil, sunflower seed oil, and apricot kernel oil.

What is the best carrier oil for beards? ›

The most recommended oils (Carrier and Essential) for your beard are: Jojoba Oil, Castor Oil, Avocado Oil, Sunflower Oil, Coconut & Fractionated Coconut Oil, Grapeseed Oil, Almond Oil, Orange Oil, Lavender Oil, Tea Tree Oil, Eucalyptus Oil, Peppermint Oil, Frankincense Oil, Sage Oil, Patchouli Oil, and Cedarwood Oil.

What is the best beard balm for scraggly beard? ›

Gillette Soft Beard Balm. There's a reason we named Gillette's our preferred beard balm of 2020: With ingredients like cocoa and shea butter, the brand's formula keeps scraggly whiskers in place but won't make your facial hair feel greasy in the slightest.

How do you emulsify beard balm? ›

Emulsify the balm in your hands well before applying to the beard. To emulsify, rub your hands together vigorously until the balm is smooth and oily. Run the balm through your beard making sure it's heaviest on the outside layer of hair to keep stray hairs in their place. Comb it all through and you're done!

How do I lock moisture in my beard? ›

Apply your moisturizer immediately after washing (or exfoliating), making sure you apply it to your skin and beard. Massage the moisturizer through your beard. Use beard conditioner or beard oil sparingly to prevent a greasy look; you can always add more.

How much essential oil in beard balm? ›

For beard oil, we recommend an essential oil dilution rate of between 1-2%. That means for every 30ml of your carrier oil you'll need to add between 6 and 12 drops of essential oil.

Do you apply beard oil before balm? ›

If you're using both products, beard oil should come first to condition the beard and skin. Then, apply beard balm to seal in the moisture and provide hold. Both beard oil and beard balm have their unique benefits. While beard oil provides hydration, beard balm offers hold and style.

What is the most important ingredient in beard oil? ›

Carrier oils are the primary component of beard oils, vital for hydrating both the beard and the skin underneath. These oils are not just for moisturizing; they're also for taming and styling your beard. Mirroring the natural oils of the skin, they are particularly beneficial for encouraging beard growth and thickness.

Do you rinse out beard balm? ›

While beard balm is a leave-in product, it's essential to wash it out to prevent build-up occasionally. Using a gentle beard shampoo or soap during your regular shower routine will do the trick.

Can you use Vaseline as beard balm? ›

For the best results, avoid the use of balms that use synthetic sealants like petroleum jelly since they are likely to damage facial hair and irritate your skin.

What texture should beard balm be? ›

Most products use beeswax, but it varies based upon preference. Since the main ingredient is wax, beard balms can be a bit firm and difficult to apply. Because of this, some beard balms forgo the wax and utilize shea and coco butters to help tame the beard.

What is the main ingredient beard oil? ›

Beard oil products are a blend of various ingredients, such as jojoba oil, argan oil, coconut oil, grape seed oil, hempseed oil and castor oil that are used to address specific beard problems such as itching, sensitive skin or dryness by going straight to the follicle in a similar fashion to hair conditioner.

What is the difference between beard oil and beard balm? ›

What is the difference between beard balm vs beard oil? Beard oil is a daily use product to help moisturize any length of beard while beard balm is an as needed styling product for a more established beard. As both products are very different they should have a place in your beard routine.

What is the difference between beard balm wax and oil? ›

Beard Balm bridges the gap between beard oil (moisturizing) and beard wax (styling) and combines both into a single, easy-to-use, product. Beard Wax provides great styling properties and a strong hold, but doesn't moisturize in the same way as balm and oil does.

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