Making beard oil isn’t rocket science, in fact, it can be a fun and rewarding DIY project. By making your own beard oil, you have the freedom to customize the scent and ingredients to suit your preferences.
This detailed guide will show you the EXACT steps that beard oil companies use to make and sell their beard oil.
Here’s what you need to do:
Selecting the Right Carrier Oils for Beard Oil
Any off-the-shelf beard oil, even the premium brands, contains 95%+ carrier oil. Carrier oils are responsible for moisturizing and conditioning the beard. They also help to carry the essential oils and other ingredients in the beard oil blend.
Types of carrier oils
When making beard oil, you will find many different types of carrier oils that you can use. Here’s a table of some common carrier oils available:
| Almond, Sweet Oil | Kukui Oil |
| Apricot Kernel Oil | Macadamia Nut Oil |
| Avocado Oil | Peanut Oil |
| Borage Oil | Pecan Oil |
| Calendula Oil | Rose Hip Oil |
| Cocoa Butter | Sesame Oil |
| Coconut Oil | Shea Butter |
| Evening Primrose Oil | Sunflower Oil |
| Grapeseed Oil | Walnut Oil |
| Hazelnut Oil | Wheatgerm Oil |
| Jojoba Oil |
Admittedly, this list of oils can be intimidating at first glance.
Where do you start?
If this is your first time making beard oil, I strongly suggest giving jojoba oil (pronounced ho-ho-ba) a try as it is mild, effective, and will be compatible with most skin types.
In the event that you have dry skin, coconut oil may be a great option as it is known for its moisturizing properties. On the other hand, if you have sensitive skin, almond oil or grapeseed oil could be suitable choices as they are gentle and less likely to cause irritation.
Finally, men with oily skin will find that lightweight, non-comedogenic carrier oils like castor or grapeseed oil don’t cause acne flare-ups or clogged pores.
Where to buy carrier oils
Beauty stores, select grocery stores (i.e. Whole Foods), and online retailers like Amazon or Etsy are great places to buy carrier oils for making beard oil.
Before buying a carrier oil, check for this:
Ensure that the carrier oil you buy is cold-pressed (expeller pressed). A cold-pressed carrier oil will still have all the key nutrients.
Additionally, go with a carrier oil that is stored in an amber bottle. The dark amber color prevents UV light from degrading while sitting on a shelf.
Essential oils are for Scent
Essential oils are potent natural ingredients derived from various plants, seeds, or trees.
What does essential oil do in beard oil?
Essential oils are used in beard oil to provide fragrance. Men with sensitive skin should use only a tiny amount of essential oils (or skip altogether) as they can cause allergic reactions. Essential oils must be diluted with a carrier oil and never applied directly to your skin.
Types of Essential Oils
There are several different essential oils that you can use when making beard oil. Rather than relying on one, consider the scent profile you want to achieve and mix and match different essential oils to create your own unique blend.
Below is a table of some of the most common essential oils used in beard oil:
| Angelica* | Geranium** | Parsley** |
| Anise*** | Ginger* | Patchouli* |
| Basil*** | Grapefruit*** | Palmarosa** |
| Bay** | Helichrysum* | Peppermint*** |
| Benzoin* | Hyssop** | Petitgrain*** |
| Bergamot*** | Jasmine** | Pine** |
| Cajuput** | Juniper** | Ravensara*** |
| Chamomile** | Lavandin*** | Rose** |
| Cardamom** | Lavender*** | Rosemary** |
| Carrot seed** | Lemon*** | Rosewood** |
| Cedarwood* | Lemongrass*** | Sandalwood* |
| Cinnamon** | Lime*** | Spearmint*** |
| Citronella*** | Mandarin*** | Spikenard* |
| Clary Sage** | Manuka** | Tagetes*** |
| Clove** | Marjoram** | Tangerine*** |
| Coriander** | Myrrh* | Tea Tree** |
| Cypress** | Myrtle*** | Thyme** |
| Dill** | Neroli** | Tuberose*** |
| Elemi** | Niaouli** | Vanilla* |
| Eucalyptus*** | Nutmeg** | Vetiver* |
| Fennel*** | Oakmoss* | Yarrow** |
| Frankincense* | Orange*** | Ylang Ylang* |
| Galbanum*** | Oregano** |
* = Base Note
** = Middle Note
***= Top Note
Where to buy essential oils?
Like carrier oils, you can find essential oils in the beauty section of premium grocery stores. Essential oils are sold individually and as a set. You can also purchase essential oils online.
Consider buying a theme essential oil pack. These will contain complimentary fragrance oils that make for better results. Common theme essential oil sets include masculine, summer, fruity, etc.
Doctors hate this one trick…
There is a lot of misinformation about essential oils. Virtually all claims associated with essential oils are not scientifically proven. Therefore, if you are adding essential oils for “blood flow benefits,” “acne,” “dry skin,” etc., don’t put weight on these claims.
In short, buy on scent not on false claims or unproven benefits.
Required Prep Before Making Beard Oil
Before creating beard oil, ensure your bottles are clean and sanitized. Dirty bottles can promote bacterial growth, leading to various problems such as rashes and poor performance.
To sanitize your bottles, make sure you have the following on hand:
- Large Pot
- Tongs
- Amber Bottles
Here’s are the steps you need to do before making beard oil:
- Place empty amber bottles (without the droppers or tops) into a pot of cold water until fully submerged with about an inch of water on top.
- Bring the pot to a rolling boil.
- Let the bottles rest in the boiling water for a few minutes.
- Remove the pot from the heat and let the water cool.
- Once cooled, use your tongs to remove amber bottles.
- Empty any remaining water in the amber bottles and let air dry.
Once your bottles are completely dry, you can now add your blend of oils.
How to Mix and Make Beard Oil
To make beard oil, you will need the following:
- Clean amber bottles
- Pipettes (optional, but strongly recommended)
- Carrier oil(s)
- Essential oil(s)
Here’s are the steps you need to make beard oil:
- With a pipette, take a measured amount of carrier oil and add it to a clean amber bottle.
- Once the amber bottle is filled nearly to the top (about 95% full), add essential oil(s).
- Add no more than 15 drops of essential oil for every one ounce of carrier oil.
- When adding essential oils, be sure to mix or shake the beard oil repeatedly to blend. This will give you a better idea of how the final product will smell.
Pro Tip: While making and mixing beard oil, ensure to note the volume of the ingredients used. This way, if you ever want to recreate an oil, you can easily reference your notes.
List of Beard Oil Recipes
If you aren’t ready to make your beard oil quite yet, here are a few starter recipes that Tools of Men readers have submitted:
Morning Forest 2.0
Created by: firebeard
- 0.25 fl ozs Argan oil
- 0.25 fl ozs Jojoba oil
- 0.25 fl ozs Sweet almond oil
- 0.25 fl ozs Hemp seed oil
- 10 drops Sandalwood
- 4 drops Fir needle
- 2 drops Patchouli
- 2 drops Lemongrass
The Lemon-Lime Experience
Created by: MIKAELLEON23
- 0.4 fl ozs Grape-Seed Oil
- 0.4 fl ozs Sesame Seed Oil
- 10 drops Lemon Essential Oils
- 10 drops Lime Essential Oils
Calming Tangerine Mints
Created by: Fsalls
- 0.5 fl ozs Almond oil
- 0.5 fl ozs Jojoba Oil
- 0.5 fl ozs Argon Oil
- 0.5 fl ozs Vitamin E Oil
- 15 drops Lavender Essential Oil
- 15 drops Tangerine Essential Oil
- 7 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
Cigar shop
Created by: Daddymil
- 1 fl oz Almond oil
- 15 drops Blue cypress oil
- 2 drops Tea tree oil
- 2 drops Black pepper oil
- 3 drops Peppermint oil
- 2 drops Frankincense oil
- 1 drop Cinnamon bark oil
Super Viking
Created by: jlcasteel
- 1 fl oz Grapeseed oil
- 10 drops Patchouli oil, clove oil, tea tree oil (each)
Destiny!
Created by: luvmuhbeard
- 1 fl oz Grapeseed Oil
- 2 drops Clary Sage
- 3 drops Jasmine
Hippy Dip
Created by: luvmuhbeard
- 1 fl oz Grapeseed Oil
- 4 drops Ylang-ylang
- 2 drops Patchouli
- 1 drop Cinnamon Cassia
Hobby Shop
Created by: Erin10
- 1 fl oz Jojoba oil
- 0.4 fl ozs Argan oil
- 7 drops Cannabis essential oil
- 3.5 drops Coffee essential oil
- 4 drops Campfire essential oil
- 2 drops Tobacco essential oil
Zephyr Blend
Created by: Erin10
- 1 fl oz Jojoba oil
- 0.5 fl ozs Argan oil
- 1 drop Hemp essential oil
- 2 drops Campfire essential oil
- 2 drops Tobacco essential oil
- 2 drops Bergamot essential oil
- 1 drop Amber essential oil
- 1 drop Brazilian coffee essential oil
Everyday
Created by: printing
- 1 fl oz Jojoba Oil
- 1 drop Cedar
El Yunque
Created by: josephdsilber
- 1 fl oz Jojoba Oil
- 7 drops Tea Tree Oil
Sweet cedar morning
Created by: Btkelley777
- 1 fl oz Sweet almond oil, jojoba, and argan oil
- 3/4 oz sweet almond oil
- 1/8 oz jojoba oil
- 1/8 oz Argan oil
- 3 drops sandalwood oil
- 5 drops cedarwood oil
- 3 drops orange oil
- 1 drop pine oil
My Beard is Awesome.
Created by: Joy
- 1 tsp Sage
- 1 tsp Thyme
- 1 tsp Fennel seed whole
- 250 ml Grape seed oil
- 200 ml Light olive oil
- 50 ml Sweet almond oil
- 200 ml Jojoba oil
- 50 ml Bourbon
- 2 pieces Cinnamon
- 1 tsp Whole black pepper pods
- 1 tbsp Chia spice tea
- 2 pieces Turkish bay leaf
- 4 pieces Dried ginger (small)
- 4 drops Peppermint extract
- 2 tsp Orange peel grated
- 1 tsp Lemon peel grated
Soft Lemon Coconut
Created by: aranh4
- 10 ml Argan Oil
- 10 ml Grapeseed Oil
- 10 ml Coconut Oil
- 2 drops Frankincense
- 3 drops Rosemary
- 3 drops Lemon
Winter Wood
Created by: slugger7
- 10 ml Avocado Oil
- 20 ml Sweet Almond Oil
- 3 drops Cinnamon Oil
- 6 drops Cedarwood Oil
Arbor
Created by: Sellies
- 10 ml Jojoba Oil
- 10 ml Olive Oil
- 10 drops Grape Seed Oil
- 5 drops Tea Tree Oil
- 5 drops Lavender Oil
- 3 drops Eucalyptus Oil
Student Blend
Created by: slugger7
- 10 ml Jojoba Oil
- 20 ml Grapeseed Oil
- 4 drops Peppermint Oil
- 6 drops Rosemary Oil
- 3 drops Cinnamon Oil
- 8 drops Cedarwood Oil
Thieves??
Created by: QuayEslan
- 10 ml Sweet Almond oil
- 10 ml Argan Oil Virgin
- 3 ml Thieves Oil
Roses are Red Blah Dee Bloo
Created by: MarcsOnFire
- 11 ml Argan Oil
- 2 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil
- 5 drops Bergamot Essential Oil
- 12 drops Rose Geranium Essential Oil
- 12 ml Jojoba Oil
- 12 ml Sweet Almond Oil
Black Forest
Created by: onattus
- 12 ml Almond Oil
- 12 ml Grapeseed Oil
- 5 ml Jojoba Oil
The Black Forest
Created by: onattus
- 12 ml Almond Oil
- 12 ml Grapeseed Oil
- 5 ml Jojoba Oil
- 5 drops Cedarwood Essential Oil
- 3 drops Lavender Essential Oil
- 2 drops Rosemary Essential Oil
The Hairy Woodsman
Created by: Inanna
- 12 ml Jojoba oil
- 12 ml Grapeseed oil
- 2 ml Cedarwood essential oil
- 2 ml Ylang ylang essential oil
- 1 mL Rosemary essential oil
- 1 mL Pine essential oil
The Fire Forest
Created by: onattus
- 15 ml Grapeseed Oil
- 10 ml Almond Oil
- 5 ml Jojoba Oil
- 2 drops Cedarwood Essential Oil
- 2 drops Ylang-Ylang Essential Oil
- 1 drop Rosemary Essential Oil
- 1 drop Verbena Essential Oil
Herb Garden
Created by: Danny
- 15 ml Sweet Almond Oil
- 15 ml Avocado Oil
- 10 drops Oregano Essential Oil
- 10 drops Juniper Essential Oil
- 10 drops Patchouli Essential Oil
- 8 drops Pine Essential Oil
Kentucky Breakfast Beard
Created by: BeerCrafted
- 2 drops Cinnamon Oil
- 4 drops Cedar Wood Oil
- 6 drops Vanilla Oil
- 2.5 ml Almond Oil
- 5 ml Coconut Oil
- 5 ml Jojoba Oil
- 5 ml Bourbon/Whiskey
Short and Sweet
Created by: AEsau
- 2 drops Eucalyptus oil
- 2 drops Copaiba oil
- 5 drops Calm (Sandalwood and incense Oil)
- 5 drops Tranquil (Ylang Flower and Ginger Root)
- 4 drops Juniper oil
- 1 drop Tea tree oil
- 7.5 ml Fractionated Coconut oil
- 7.5 ml Sweet Almond oil
Hercules beard oil
Created by: skatzoxoiros76
- 2 drops Peppermint essential oil
- 5 drops Lemon essential oil
- 4 drops Cedarwood essential oil
- 2 drops Lavender essential oil
- 5 drops Sandalwood essential oil
- 7 ml Hemp oil
- 3 ml Sesame oil
- 6 ml Castor oil
- 9 ml Olive oil
Orange cedar almond
Created by: aranh4
- 20 ml Sweet almond oil
- 5 ml Argan oil
- 5 ml Jojoba oil
- 5 drops Cedarwood oil
- 3 drops Tea tree oil
- 3 drops Orange oil
- 1 drop Rosemary oil
The Cedaroad
Created by: onattus
- 25 ml Jojoba Oil
- 5 ml Grapeseed Oil
- 8 drops Cedarwood Essential Oil
- 2 drops Rosemary Essential Oil
Simplicity
Created by: patrick
- 25 ml Jojoba oil
- 75 ml Sweet Almond Oil
Sage Grove
Created by: Talyon
- 30 ml Jojoba Oil
- 6 drops Sage Essential Oil
- 2 drops Lavender Essential Oil
- 2 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
- 3 drops Sandalwood Essential Oil
Whiskey Christmas, Man!
Created by: Cshyne3
- 5 ml Jameson caskmates stout edition
- 15 ml Jojoba Oil
- 7.5 ml Castor Oil
- 2.5 ml Almond Oil
- 4 drops Cedarwood Essential Oil
- 9 drops Sandalwood Essential Oil
- 2 drops Cinnamon Leaf Essential Oil
Pasar Maluku
Created by: Rense
- 6 drops Sandalwood essential oil
- 2 drops Juniper essential oil
- 2 drops Orange essential oil
- 1 drop Clove essential oil
- 0.5 fl ozs Oenothera oil
- 0.5 fl ozs Argan oil
- 1 fl oz Jojoba oil
Beach/pool repair
Created by: AlchemistLabs
- 7.5 ml Jojoba oil
- 5 ml Argan oil
- 5 ml Hemp seed oil
- 2.5 ml Walnut oil
- 2.5 ml Macadamia nut oil
- 2.5 ml Grape Seed oil
- 2.5 ml Coconut oil
- 2.5 ml Aloe Vera oil
The Calming
Created by: firebeard
- 8 drops Lavender
- 3 drops Grapefruit
- 3 drops Rosemary
- 1 drop Lemon
- 0.25 fl ozs Jojoba Oil
- 0.25 fl ozs Argan Oil
- 0.25 fl ozs Sweet Almond Oil
- 0.25 fl ozs Hemp Seed Oil
Terra
Created by: jlc0683
- 9 ml Jojoba Oil
- 8 ml Sweet Almond Oil
- 7 ml Avacado Oil
- 6 ml Castor Oil
- 8 drops Patchouli Essential Oil
- 4 drops Bergamot Essential Oil
- 2 drops Lavender Essential Oil
- 1 drop Black Pepper Essential Oil
Is Making Beard Oil Cheaper than Buying?
Creating your own beard oil is significantly cheaper than buying it if you produce several bottles.
Here is some back-of-the-envelope math to back up this claim:
The average price for beard oil from a premium vendor is about $25 per ounce. If you have a medium length beard (about .5 to 2″), it’ll need roughly 6 drops of beard oil to be sufficiently hydrated and nourished.
1oz of beard oil should net you 450 drops – or about 2.5 months (75 days) on average. On an annual basis, you will spend $125 on beard oil if you purchase it from a premium vendor. If you go with a more budget-friendly or generic brand, that estimate will be roughly $70 per year.
On the other hand, if you make your own beard oil using essential oils and carrier oils, the cost per ounce is significantly cheaper.
A 4oz bottle of jojoba oil costs only $15. A set of essential oils will also cost approximately $15, the price varies depending on the brand and quantity. Assume that you use 20 drops of essential oils in total for your beard oil recipe. Each 1oz bottle of carrier oil, such as jojoba oil, costs $3.75. Therefore, the total expense for a 1oz bottle of homemade beard oil rounds to $6.25.
To put it in perspective, creating four bottles (4oz) of beard oil using the same recipe will cost you $25 (4 bottles x $6.25) = $25.
Beyond savings, when you make your beard oil, you also have total control over the scent so you can make a blend to your exact liking.
In short, you are much better off financially by making your own beard oil rather than buying it from a premium vendor.
Selling is an Opportunity
Given how easy it is to make beard oil, consider selling your beard oil online if it’s a process you enjoy. In fact, we wrote a small guide to outline the steps you can take to start your own beard oil business.