For any beard-sporting man about town, from those with a touch of stubble to big bushy facial hair, a good beard oil should be on your list of essentials.Beard oils soften and hydrate hairs that could otherwise become wiry and untamed, and regular usage can also help to guard against dryness and itchiness.Jamie LewisA selection of beard oils we tried[/caption]It should also prevent stray hairs from sticking out and help to manage your beard, making it look sleek and well maintained, as well as having a pleasant scent.With this being such a popular grooming product there are a lot of options on the market. While personal preference will play a big part in which brand you use, there are sure signs of quality that mark out the best you can buy.We’ve put our facial hair through its paces by trying the top beard oils around and rounding up our favourites.How I tested beard oilsThere’s only really one way to test beard oils, and that’s by giving them a good application to one’s own beard.With each beard oil I tested I would initially add a few drops to the palm of my hand and see what I thought of the scent.After running the product through my beard I would then take in how pleasant the scent was once applied, as well as how strong it was, as anything too overwhelming is off-putting.Other things I took into account were whether my beard felt softer throughout the day after applying, and how my beard looked. I was hoping for a reduction in flyaway hairs and an increased sleekness to the look.Finally I took into account value for money. As these oils are intended to be applied daily this can be a big factor in which to choose, but of course in some cases paying for a premium product can be worth it.Best beard oils at a glanceBest overall: The Savile Row Company Mayfair Beard Oil, £22 – Buy HereBest British-made: Arran Sannox Beard and Shave Oil, £22.50 – Buy HereBest to support the environment: Neve’s Bees Beard Oil, £20 – Buy HereBest for textured hair: Cantu Men’s Hair and Beard Oil, £7.16 – Buy HereBest budget: The Bluebeard’s Revenge Classic Beard Oil, £8.99 – Buy HereBest beard oils of 2025The Savile Row Company Mayfair Beard OilJamie LewisThe Savile Row Company’s beard oil has an understated luxury[/caption]The Savile Row Company Mayfair Beard Oil, £22BUY HEREKey Ingredients: Jojoba, Argan, Avocado, Sweet AlmondWhat’s the scent?: Woody and lightly spicyRating: 4.5/5The Savile Row Company is a third generation family business specialising in tailoring fine clothing for men, who branched out into fragrances with the belief that the right scent completes an outfit.I enjoyed the scent straight away on applying to my beard, with the main notes being a pronounced woodiness with a hint of leather.The inclusion of jojoba and argan essential oils helps to hydrate and condition the beard leaving a softer feeling and giving a sleek shine.This was without doubt one of my favourite beard oils of the products I tested and I felt the fragrance had an understated luxury that will suit many tastes.Arran Sannox Beard and Shave OilJamie LewisThis beard oil is inspired by Glen Sannox on the Scottish Isle of Arran[/caption]Arran Sannox Beard and Shave Oil, £22.50BUY HEREKey Ingredients: Leather, Oud, Amber, Pink Pepper, SaffronWhat’s the scent?: Warm and pleasantly leatheryRating: 4.5/5Arran’s Sannox Beard and Shave Oil is inspired by the beautifully scenic Glen Sannox on the Isle of Arran, after which the brand is named.In fact the brand’s fragrance and range of related products are made on the Isle of Arran using Scottish water, renowned for its high quality. Arran claims that Sannox if Scotland’s first premium fragrance for men, so if you like to support British producers this could be a great option.Their beard oil is clear in colour and mixes leather, oud and amber with pink pepper and saffron.I found the scent to be pleasantly warm and leathery on application, and hydrating to the hair and skin. I wouldn’t hesitate to keep using this going forward.Aesop Shine Hair and Beard OilJamie LewisAesop’s beard oil contains hydrating Jojoba[/caption]Aesop Shine Hair and Beard Oil, £27BUY HEREKey Ingredients: Borage Seed, Jojoba Seed, PetitgrainWhat’s the scent?: Subtle and fragrantRating: 4/5Aesop’s Shine Hair and Beard oil comes in a black and white labelled bottle which would look at home with any high-end grooming products you already have sitting on your bathroom shelf.It is described by the brand as a lightweight oil and after adding a few drops to my palm I could detect a subtle yet lightly floral aroma.I would say the subtlety of the scent is a positive as if it were stronger it would perhaps become overwhelming, but it was pleasant on application and not noticeable as the day went on.I would say my beard did feel smooth and well hydrated through the day, and the oil helped to keep hairs in check.A good option in an attractive package.Horace Patchouli & Cedar Beard OilJamie LewisThis beard oil from Horace has the freshness of patchouli[/caption]Horace Patchouli & Cedar Beard Oil, £13BUY HEREKey Ingredients: Jamaican black castor oil, argan oil, grapeseed oil, sweet almond oilWhat’s the scent?: Woody and aromaticRating: 4/5Parisian brand Horace was formed in 2016 and has a focus on creating quality products suitable for all, using predominantly natural ingredients.The packaging of their beard oil has a minimalist feel about it and the bottle would look at home amongst high-end skin and haircare products.The inclusion of Jamaican black castor oil and argan oil helps to soften and tame unruly hairs.There are three different scents available, tobacco and vanilla, lemon and mint and patchouli and cedar. We tested the latter.The patchouli definitely comes through in the fragrance of the oil, with an outdoorsy aroma that’s brings to mind a walk in the woods.Neve’s Bees Beard OilJamie LewisNeve’s Bees donate 10% of profits to the Wildlife Trust and other nature charities[/caption]Neve’s Bees Beard Oil, £20BUY HEREKey Ingredients: Jojoba oil, apricot kernel oil, argan oil, essential plant oilsWhat’s the scent?: Subtly zesty and woodyRating: 4/5Neve’s Bees is a producer of cosmetics made from 100% natural ingredients and based in West Oxfordshire.The company is committed to helping save the natural environments that bees need to survive, and donates 10% of profits to the Wildlife Trust and other local nature recovery charities.Their beard oil contains natural oils from a number of different sources, including soothing and nourishing apricot kernel oil, and feels hydrating on application.I would say the scent of this oil is more subtle than some others on this list but it does have a nice hint of zestiness that makes it very pleasant.Cantu Men’s Hair and Beard OilJamie LewisCantu’s products are designed with textured hair in mind[/caption]Cantu Men’s Hair and Beard Oil, £7.16BUY HEREKey Ingredients: Hemp seed oil, shea butter, caffeine, tea tree oilWhat’s the scent?: Subtly musky, not very strongRating: 4/5Cantu are the number one brand for textured haircare in the UK, catering specifically to meeting the needs of curly, coily and wavy hair types.Cantu’s hair and beard oil, as the name suggests, can be used to hydrate and condition both your beard and hair.It’s also one of the more budget-friendly options on this list priced at £7.16 for a 100ml bottle.It contains hemp seed oil and shea butter to soften hairs, and caffeine to promote healthy growth.The scent that comes through has a subtle muskiness to it, so if you’re looking for something with a fragrance that really comes through this may not be the one for you, but it certainly has a softening and soothing feel.The Bluebeard’s Revenge Classic Beard OilJamie LewisBluebeard’s Revenge Classic Beard Oil is a good budget option[/caption]The Bluebeard’s Revenge Classic Beard Oil, £7.70BUY HEREKey Ingredients: Grape seed oil, olive oil, sunflower seed oilWhat’s the scent?: Clean and mildRating: 4/5The Bluebeard’s Revenge originated in south-west England and is committed to providing professional barber-quality grooming products with a focus on sustainability.The product contains oils from natural sources such as grape seed oil and olive oil, to provide hair and skin with softening hydration.I found the scent of this one quite mild, it has a freshness to it but it doesn’t come through in an overly noticeable way, which could work out well if you are also wearing a cologne and don’t want it to clash.It’s also one of the cheaper options on our list and makes for a more than solid budget option.Naturtint Revitalising Men’s Care Beard OilJamie LewisNaturtint’s beard oil is composed on 96% natural ingredients[/caption]Naturtint Revitalising Men’s Care Beard Oil, £18.49BUY HEREKey Ingredients: Shea butter, argan oil, ginseng, macaWhat’s the scent?: Warm and naturalRating: 3.5/5Naturtint is a brand best known for their hair dye products for both women and men, but their men’s range does also include various grooming products for men’s hair and beard care.As with many of the products on this list this beard oil contains shea butter and argan oil for hair repair and rehydration, and on application has a nourishing feel.Ginseng and Maca are also included for their additional moisturising properties.The formula is specifically formulated to suit sensitive skin and the scent comes through as warm and natural.Benecos for Men Beard OilJamie LewisBenecos is a natural cosmetics brand focussed on using organic ingredients[/caption]Benecos for Men Beard Oil, £9.95BUY HEREKey Ingredients: Argan oil, almond oilWhat’s the scent?: Punchy and muskyRating: 3.5/5The Benecos beard oil we tested for this review proudly sports a “new formula” on the label, so we got stuck in to see what we thought of the latest version of the brand’s offering.This one contains almond oil, rich in vitamin E, an ingredient with properties intended to soften skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.On application this left my beard feeling smooth and nourished, but it does have quite a punchy scent initially so may be an acquired taste for some.VerdictAll of the beard oils in this article do the job of hydrating and softening beard hairs to a good standard.But my favourite was the Savile Row Company Mayfair Beard Oil.I felt that the scent of this came through in a really pleasing way and the product had a nice quality feel to it.I’d also give an honourable mention to Arran’s Sannox Beard and Shave Oil, which again had a really appealing fragrance to my taste, or for a cheaper option the Bluebeard’s Revenge Classic Beard Oil is a great choice.Beard oil FAQsWhat does beard oil do?Using beard oil is essentially a way of conditioning your beard, as it softens and hydrates hairs which can otherwise become wiry and tough, particularly in the early stages of beard growth.Another benefit of beard oil is that it can help to prevent itchiness and flaky skin. This can be a problem that develops due to dryness of the skin underneath shorter beards in particular.If you’re having problems with flyaway hairs in your beard that are making it look unruly, beard oil can also help to tame this, keeping facial hair under control for a sleeker look.How to use beard oilBeard oil is very straightforward to apply. The ideal time would be after your morning shower, to feel the benefits for the rest of the day.Simply add a few drops of the beard oil to the palms of your hands and then massage evenly throughout your beard.The amount needed will vary depending on the length of your beard, but beginning with a small amount and then adding more if necessary is the recommended method.Does using beard oil help to promote hair growth?Whilst using beard oil sadly cannot help with faster or thicker hair growth, it does help to keep your facial hair and skin hydrated and healthy.This will help improve the look and feel of whatever facial hair you do have.