One of my favourite things about traveling is meeting new people. We often end up connecting as Facebook friends, and their international antics liven up my newsfeed. Ryan is one of these people. I met Ryan at the Glasgow airport—he was working in the duty free shop, and he sold me a bottle of delightfully inexpensive rum. It turns out that Ryan is an aspiring model, and quite interested in fashion and facial hair. I had no idea that beard balm was a thing until he posted about some. Apparently it can be amazing stuff… so I thought I’d make some.

How to make Cedar Smoke Beard Balm

How to make Cedar Smoke Beard Balm

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Beard balm, it turns out, is both for moisturizing and for styling one’s beard. I have gleaned this from the internet as I do not possess a beard, and Craig had never heard of beard balm, let alone used it. So, in keeping with this purposes, this balm is pliable, but soft enough to work with, and not sticky from too much beeswax.

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The oils are hair favorites—shea butter, rice bran oil, broccoli seed oil, and hemp seed oil (USA / Canada). Shea, rice bran, and hemp work to impart moisture and general goodness, while the broccoli seed oil has a silicone-like effect that smooths and shines.

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Once it’s done, it smells lightly of cedar and woodsmoke, with a hint of citrus from the bergamot. It’s slightly green from the hemp seed oil (USA / Canada), and has a bit of an antibacterial kick from the tea tree essential oil. It looks pretty rad in a tin with a rustic label, and it leaves beards both smelling and looking fantastic.

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Cedar Smoke Beard Balm

5g | 0.18oz beeswax (USA / Canada)
4g | 0.14oz unrefined shea butter (USA / Canada)
6g | 0.21oz rice bran oil
4g | 0.14oz broccoli seed oil or camellia seed oil
6g | 0.21oz unrefined hemp seed oil (USA / Canada)

3 drops tea tree essential oil
3 drops bergapatene-free bergamot essential oil
1 toothpick swirl vetiver essential oil
5 drops cedarwood essential oil

Melt the beeswax, unrefined shea butter (USA / Canada), rice rban oil, broccoli seed oil, and hemp seed oil (USA / Canada) together in a small saucepan or double boiler over medium low heat.

Remove from heat and stir in the essential oils. Decant into a 30mL/1 ounce tin.

To use, massage a small amount into a beard or mustache (preferably yours, ask permission first otherwise).

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How to make Cedar Smoke Beard Balm How to make Cedar Smoke Beard Balm

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