Babel Alchemy Beard Oil and Conditioner - All Natural Organic Grooming Oil for Conditioning, Softening, and Promoting Growth for Mens Beards and Mustaches (Citrus Blend)

Refreshing smell, lightweight, absorbs well, good applicator, will purchase again

Smells amazing

As the owner of a two-and-a-half-year-growth beard that's nearly a foot long, caring for it is quite the challenge! The problem is compounded because so many products have a pre-curated image of what 'men's care" should look like, always accompanied by stock photos of bearded men next to wood, leather or bourbon with impossibly attractive women fawning over them. To sell this image, most products double down on intense scents, which may work for someone who only needs a little but which can become overwhelming when used on a longer beard.When I saw this product become available, I was intrigued, as finding an unscented beard oil can actually be quite challenging! I was also intrigued by the "Babel Alchemist" brand, which is new to me. Seems they are US based and have been around for several years, with a few mentions in major men's publications. I haven't been able to find a lot of details about their production methods or sourcing, but their Instagram (full of the aforementioned stock beard photos) indicates they use cruelty free test methods, which is important to me.PACKAGINGWhen I received the package, I was a little disappointed by the unboxing experience. My expectations are lower for men's cosmetics than for women's, but at a moderate price point like this one I would at least like for the product to be packaged in a way that would make it an attractive gift. It wasn't a big deal since I was ordering for myself, but the package arrived sealed in a simple bubble wrap bag rather than a cardboard gift box.The bottle itself is a pretty standard amber glass bottle with an eyedropper lid. The label is quite blurry and poorly printed, with some of the text illegible - you can see the effect in the photos. There are also some miniature logos - I think I can make out the cruelty free logo, for example, but it's too small to confirm. I also wish the labels contained metric conversions, as I've had challenges in the past at airport security when flying internationally with US-produced cosmetics. More critically, as shown in the last picture, the stopper doesn't quite fit right and bows out when screwed on tightly; it does appear to seal, but makes you question whether the bottle is secure each time you use the beard oil. These are all very small flaws, but it does make me question the overall attention to detail at Babel Alchemy.SCENTThe good news is that the product itself is exactly what I hoped it would be. I was initially concerned because despite the ingredients list here being only oils, the bottle also listed "scented with premium grade essential oils". But fortunately, the scent is entirely neutral - it doesn't appear to have any added scent, so I think that is just a generic ingredient list shared with the other formulations that do have scents. Despite using the recommended dime-size amount, I couldn't smell the product at all in my beard. Yay!APPLICATIONThe oil is definitely thick and robust - a more "oily" consistency than several other beard oils I've used in the past. Fortunately, this didn't translate into my beard acquiring an oily texture - far from it. I immediately noticed a difference in softness and my beard's tendency to tangle - it combed out much more easily than without oil. It's much more satisfying to touch now, yet my hands don't come away with greasy residue after doing so.STRAIGHTENINGI also tried straightening my beard after applying the oil. This did release a slight scent reminiscent of a fryer, but not an unpleasant one - unsurprising since I was basically cooking the natural vegetable oils that comprise the product. The oil seemed to properly protect my beard from the heat of the straightener, and with a quick reapplication afterwards, I was ready for the day.CONCLUSIONBabel Alchemy has the makings of a winning product on their hands here. This is probably my favorite beard oil I've ordered so far, but it's still short of perfect for me with the middling packaging. If they upgraded the label and added a box to make this a product that I'd be proud to gift or receive, this would easily bump up to a five star experience. I'd also like to see the company update the product listing here to clarify their organic and/or cruelty free credentials, as well as to share some additional detail on the origins of the product, their company itself and on their commitment to quality in the manufacturing process: trust is a big part of shopping for cosmetics, and some more information would go a long way towards building that relationship.If you're looking for a gift, this might not be the right fit - but if you're shopping for yourself, particularly if you're fragrance sensitive, this could be your next favorite beard oil.

Every few years, my husband decides to grow out his beard and mustache. He usually gets tired of it and goes back to his usual clean-shaven self within a year or so, but this time he has kept it for a long time and his beard is getting quite long and dare I say, a bit rough looking. I thought he might like this beard oil to help soften and condition his beard and mustache and the ingredients sounded great, too. I chose the woody vetiver which smells wonderful. It is a bit strong at first, but it settles down after a few minutes and lingers almost under the radar for quite a while. It really does make a difference in the condition of his facial hair -- it is softer, smoother and looks moisturized without looking greasy. Plus it tames those stray hairs that usually don't want to stay put. He really likes the way his beard and mustache look and feel and he only needs a small amount. The current price of $14.99 seems very reasonable and the bottle will likely last a long time. The oil blend is well formulated and I appreciate that the ingredient list is shown in the product description, so there are no surprised. Plus, this oil is made in the USA!

The scent is so faint as to be non-existent. It does what a beard oil is supposed to do, but I really wish I could have smelled something..

Firstly, yeah it’s lightweight, because it’s mostly water. The dropper can’t hold most of it inside before making it to my hand. It’s VERY runny. Second, the scent is terrible to me & gives me a headache. It smells like sun screen or some kind of ointment. I definitely do not want to use this.UPDATE : After posting this, the company refunded me for my purchase. I never requested a refund but they refunded me because I was unhappy with the product. That is very cool for you guys to do that, but I will gladly give y’all the money back. I feel bad because I genuinely didn’t like it but I mean, as far as the company goes, I like you guys! That was very sweet of y’all! <3 I will definitely shop with you guys again! Much love, Stay safe!

The media could not be loaded. I put this oil in my beard in the morning, when it feels dry and rough.It has a pleasant scent, not sharp or overpowering.It made my beard manageable and once I brushed it, I felt like I was ready to face the world.Two big plus points: it did not leave my beard greasy and wet. It was absorbed and made my beard feel a little softer when it dried. Also, it was not difficult to wash the oil off my hands after. Some beard oils are very tough to get off the palms with soap.I'm pleased with this beard oil. It smells nice. And it does what I want: makes my beard easier to deal with, feel softer, and look better.

My guy doesn't like using any products on his skin and he'll usually buy whatever shampoo is on sale rather than one that will actually help him. I try to get him to use stuff, sometimes it sticks, sometimes it doesn't.While he doesn't wear a full bead, he wears a pretty full scruff. And it's dry and itchy to me when I want to smooch. He doesn't like to shave much because his skin gets irritated so I though an oil for his beard area would be just the thing to condition his skin and his beard hair. This stuff smells wonderful. He likes the scent too, but thinks it might be a bit strong since it's right on his face and he keeps smelling it for a couple of hours after applying. I hope he gets used to it, because it makes him extra kissable. The oil is nice for conditioning both his skin and scruff and I'm betting if he keeps using it he'll get less irritation when he does shave due to his skin being in better shape.