The way your beard looks is one of the most important aspects in terms of finding a potential partner and feeling your very best. While people will initially be attracted by the look of your beard, they’ll stick around depending on how your beard smells.
It’s easy for a beard to get a tad smelly because of the foods you eat and the beverages you drink. If you don’t do anything about it, you’ll easily repel the people nearby. It’s time to review everything you do to fix a smelly beard and boost your confidence.
Why Does My Beard Smell?
Many things can cause a beard to smell — most of which can be easily fixed.
If you’re beard stinks, one of these might be the culprit:
1. Bacteria
It might sound gross, but the most common reason for a stinky beard is bacteria. Bacteria is the same reason that other parts of your body start to smell, too. In order for bacteria to grow and start stinking up your facial hair, it needs some moisture.
Moist, dark areas are the most common places for smells to run rampant, and if you hit the gym often or like to go on runs, you’re naturally going to sweat into your beard. If you don’t shower or wash your face in a timely manner, it will start to stink.
The sweat doesn’t necessarily come from your beard itself; it drips from the top of your head and then gets stuck in your beard and mustache. And that’s not “the drip” we want to flex about.
2. Food
The food you eat can be one of the most common reasons why your beard starts to smell. This is especially true of oily foods like sauces and dressings that can get caught in your beard hair without an easy way to remove them.
Liquids like that can get stuck to your beard hair and smell throughout the day. They can even make your beard feel and look a little bit greasy, which can all work together to bring down your self-confidence. Plus, unpleasant mustache smells are the last thing you want when you go to kiss your significant other.
3. Environment
Your physical location can have a major effect on how your beard smells, especially if your job requires you to be around chemicals and aerosols. If you’re a chef and always in the kitchen, or even if you just like to have a nice backyard BBQ, chances are high that you will start to notice your beard smelling just like your work.
Beards can even pick up subtle smells like pollution or car exhaust, so if you’re in highly polluted cities, your beard might start to get mildly musty. Be aware of your environment and try to avoid polluted areas to keep your beard in top shape. PS: Cigarette smoke can make your hair (and your lungs) yucky — just another reason not to pick up the habit.
4. Bad Products
Using beard products to take care of your beard is important, but using the right products is even more important. In fact, if you’re using cheap, low-quality beard care supplements, you might be doing even more harm than good.
Many beard products use preservatives and unnecessary ingredients that don’t serve much of a purpose other than making it easier to mass produce them. But The Beard Club is different, with products and ingredients you can trust. We’ll talk more about our products later on, as well as how you can use them to cut back on a smelly beard.
5. Allergic Reaction
Finally, it’s possible that your beard smells because of something entirely out of your control: allergies. Certain beard products can elicit an allergic reaction to the skin underneath your beard, which can actually turn your cheeky beard into more of a cheesy beard.
How To Get Rid of Beard Smell
Let’s say goodbye to a poor-odor beard and hello to a beard worth writing an ode to! Here’s our pro tips to keep your beard fresh:
Beard Oil
By far, the best and most effective means of making your beard smell a whole lot better is by putting some top-tier products on it to counteract any nasty smells. And our beard oil is the way to do it.
Our Cedar Beard Oil will leave your beard with a refreshing, woodsy scent that will have you looking and feeling like a true lumberjack (flannels and blue jeans sold separately). Or, if you’re more of an oceanside type of guy, our Sandalwood Beard Oil will take your beard to Malibu shores without ever needing to leave your home.
These oils don’t just take your scent to new heights: They also come with loads of benefits for your facial hair health as a whole. They contain nourishing ingredients such as almond oil, castor seed oil, rice bran oil, and more. These all work in harmony to moisturize your beard and hydrate your hair, making your beard smell as great as it feels.
Some of these oils can stimulate dormant hair follicles to help them grow fuller. Our Beard Growth Oil formula helps nourish your hair follicles and the skin underneath your beard to promote healthy growth while taking away that new beard itch.
Long story short, add some beard oil to your beard regimen to make it feel silky smooth and smell super swell.
Wash Your Face
If your hands smell a little funky, what do you do? You wash your hands, of course. If your body has taken on the aroma of lacrosse practice, you grab your Loofah and give your body a rub-down.
If your beard isn’t smelling too hot either, the natural next step is to give it a nice wash. Cleansing your face is a super simple way to remove any nasty scents, but it also comes with a whole slew of benefits outside of relieving you of bad odors.
For one, washing your face can help you reduce the amount of sebum (oil) on your face. Removing this substance is essential; if you leave it on there for long enough, it can turn into pimples and acne. The Beard Club has you covered, whether you’re looking for a face wash or beard shampoo that will leave you feeling and smelling fresh.
Additionally, facial cleanliness can help prevent the spread of some diseases. Some diseases can live on your face, and if you’re on top of your cleansing routine, you can cut back on the risk of acquiring some of these in the first place.
Every man is different, but you can check out our handy dandy beard-washing guide to find out how often you should you wash your beard.
Shave
If your beard smells like sour milk and nothing you do seems to stop it, the only other option is to give it a shave. But this doesn’t mean you need to completely buzz everything off. All you might need to do is shorten your beard a little bit so that it’s harder for things like food or environmental particles to latch onto your hair in the first place.
Shorter beards are generally easier to maintain and don’t usually act like a catcher’s mitt for everything you put in your mouth. However, you shouldn’t need to switch up your personal preferences just because of some smells. Beard Oils and frequent cleansing should be enough to eradicate any foul odors.
As a last step, use a Beard Brush to distribute the powerful, natural oils throughout your glorious facial hair for a smooth, sleek ‘do.
How To Prevent Beard Smell
There are a few habits you can practice to prevent beards from smelling in the first place, and this all tends to start with eating right. And we’re not talking about the right foods to eat for your health — we’re talking about the right foods to eat for your smell.
If you’ve got an important date coming up, we’d recommend avoiding potentially stinky foods like fish, mayonnaise, sauces, or oils. If you decide to eat these foods, definitely be sure to use utensils and carry around some wet wipes that you can use to quickly rinse off in the bathroom.
For environmental triggers, you can wear beard covers or beard masks to add a barrier between your beard and the outside elements.
In Conclusion: The Smell of Success
You wouldn’t go around all day with smelly armpits, so you should also give your beard the same deodorizing treatment. But before you start rubbing some antiperspirant all over your beard, there are better options.
No matter what’s causing your cheesy beard, whether it be food, the environment, sweat, or even allergies, there are some effective ways to eradicate it. For instance, using a beard oil from The Beard Club can soften your beard while also bringing about a fresh scent for everyone to touch and sniff. You can also be on top of your beard-washing routine and make sure you keep your beard short (if you’re tired of the smell).
Either way, you can join the club to start getting more comfortable and confident in terms of your facial hair. Discover your best beard today.
Sources:
Sebaceous Glands: Function, Location & Secretion | Cleveland Clinic
Smelly Scalp: Causes, Shampoos & At-Home Treatments | Cleveland Clinic
FAQs
Does Your Beard Smell? Here’s Why and What To Do? ›
Sweat and oily skin under your beard can make it smell bad. Also, beard hair can absorb smoke, alcohol, perfume and even pollution. To get rid of the face funk that could hang around all day and even worsen as the day progresses, try a bit of fragrant manscaping.
Why does my beard area smell bad? ›Beard Stink Can be Caused by...
It could be due to your cleaning habits, sweat, bacteria, the environment around you, your grooming products, or other products you use on your face. Plus some dudes notice that the smell becomes more of an issue when their beards are wet - kinda like Wet Dog Syndrome.
Beard oil is designed to give your beard a long-lasting aroma. They tend to be applied last in a man's daily beard care routine, meaning that the fragrance won't be rinsed out.
Should you spray cologne on your beard? ›While we wouldn't advise splashing or spraying liquid cologne in your beard or scruff, this magical oil has a totally different effect. It imparts a much subtler fragrance, for one, and it serves the added purpose of taking care of your unruly, scraggly facial hair, for another.
How do you know if your beard is unhealthy? ›If you notice your beard drying out and you don't do anything it can lead to itching, flaking, skin irritations, and unhealthy hairs/hair follicles. All of these lead to a weak and unhealthy beard.
Why do I smell worse when I don't shave? ›Removing some of the bacteria on your skin regularly can prevent unpleasant body odor. Keep your armpits shaved, so sweat evaporates quickly and doesn't have as much time to interact with bacteria. Hair is a breeding ground for bacteria.
Do you put beard oil everyday? ›You likely don't need to apply beard oil every day. You can start by applying it every other day, and adjust as needed. If you live in a particularly dry climate or have a longer beard, you may need to apply more often. If you notice your beard feels greasy, you can cut back how often you apply oil.
Should you put beard oil in your beard everyday? ›At a minimum, you should apply beard oil daily. But if you have a longer beard, coarse beard hair, dry skin, or live in a drier climate, using beard oil more than once a day can help better moisturize your beard.
Should I leave beard oil on? ›Beard oil is classified as a leave-in cosmetic, meaning the ingredients are safe to be left on your face. As a result, you don't need to wash off beard oil shortly after use like you would with shampoo, which contains harsher ingredients that would otherwise dry skin out.
Is it okay to put hairspray on your beard? ›A hot, humid climate can make your beard wild and frizzy. If you don't want your beard to look like an upside down afro, then start grooming it with hairspray. This is one of the best hacks for our rugged men living in the tropical south.
Why do barbers use cologne? ›
The cologne is also used by barbers and hair stylists as an anti-septic treatment and as a hair care product respectively. It can also be used as a body spray with out contacting eyes due high volume of alcohol.
Can I put fragrance on my beard? ›Yes, fragrance oils can be used in beard oil as long as they are skin-safe fragrances.
Is apple cider vinegar good for beard? ›The apple cider vinegar spray works to balance your skins PH, making it equally helpful with someone who feels their beard is too greasy or oily. If you're using a lot of products to mold, shape and gel your beard, this spray works as a great remover.
Does drinking water help beard? ›Water is the primary delivery system for the nutrients and lubrication to the follicles that your beard hairs need to grow.
How often should I rinse my beard? ›The general rule of thumb is to wash your beard with a beard wash 1-3 times a week. If you have dry skin, you would want to be more cautious washing only 1-2 times a week. If you have oily or combination skin, you may want to wash more along the lines of 3 times a week.
What age does a beard look good? ›There's a lot of good that comes from being older and wiser and, besides, many men are late bloomers. Age, however, does affect beard growth in some cases. The “prime” time for facial hair growth is between the ages of 25 and 35, generally speaking.
Does beard mean more testosterone? ›Science has shown that there is no link at all between testosterone levels and beard length.
Does beard show high testosterone? ›Another common misconception is that those with thicker beards have more testosterone than people with thinner beards. Even though testosterone does play a role in the growth of facial hair, low testosterone is rarely the cause of sparse facial hair growth.
When I open my legs it smells fishy? ›Trimethylaminuria (TMAU) is an uncommon condition that causes an unpleasant, fishy smell. It's also called "fish odour syndrome". Sometimes it's caused by faulty genes that a person inherits from their parents, but this isn't always the case. There's currently no cure, but there are things that can help.
Why can I smell myself through my pants? ›Poor hygiene
Refraining from regular bathing can lead to dirt, sweat, and dead skin cell buildup that leads to strong smells through your clothes. You can reduce these effects by showering regularly and washing with mild soap and warm water.
Do you smell better without pubic hair? ›
Pubic hair holds on to residual urine, vaginal discharge, blood and semen. Bacteria line up all along the hair shaft just lunching it up and creating odor. (Very appetizing, I know.) Trimming your pubic hair reduces that surface area for bacteria, thus reducing odor.
What not to put in beard oil? ›- Sulfates. Sulfates come under a variety of names, but all of them typically results in dry and brittle hair prone to breakage and split ends. ...
- Isopropyl Alcohol. ...
- Formaldehyde. ...
- Mineral oils. ...
- Dimethicone. ...
- Polyethylene Glycol. ...
- Chlorine. ...
- Phthalates.
Beard oils are best for those in the begging stages of growing out their beard while balms are better int the later stages. Balms are better for those who want more structure to their facial hair while oils are better for those who need an extra layer of skincare.
What is the best oil combination 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.
How long should you leave beard oil on? ›Don't worry if it feels a little greasy when its applied because the oil is specially formulated to quickly absorb into the beard and facial hair. -Give the beard 5-10 minutes to absorb the oil before adding any further products. You are now done and have an awesome slab of facial fur.
Should I use beard oil before bed? ›You'll want to apply beard oil before bed and in the morning, says Nguyen. In both events, be sure you're doing so after cleansing the face and beard, and then patting it entirely dry. (After a shower obviously works great.) Because beard oils absorb quickly, you don't need to worry about them staining your pillowcase.
How many drops of beard oil should you use? ›We recommend around 3-6 drops, depending on the length of your beard. If you're a beginner, less is more and as you familiarise yourself with the process, you'll eventually get a good idea of how much you need.
How can I moisturize my beard naturally? ›Applying hydrating products like beard oil, balm, or shampoo may help your reduce prickliness and scratchiness. You can find many products in stores next to razors and shaving creams to help you soften your beard. You can also make your own beard oil using household ingredients like coconut or olive oil.
How do I know if my beard oil is working? ›Before and After Beard Oil
Your beard should be softer to the touch while using beard oil. A good beard oil will condition your skin too along with your facial hair. This in turn makes your hair easier to grow since dry skin and dry hair is the enemy of growth.
No, this isn't a good idea. Always wash your beard balm out every day so it doesn't sit on your skin and cause breakouts and irritation.
What happens if you don't oil your beard? ›
It also needs regular maintenance, meaning, using a quality beard oil and or balm. Beard hair is hair after all, admittedly it's generally a lot coarser than the hair on your head, so you'll need to nourish it, and if you don't nourish it, you'll end up with a scratchy, thatchy beard that frightens small children.
What is the point of beard butter? ›Beard butter provides conditioning and nourishing benefits for the hair and skin, and due to its spreadability, it's much easier to work through the beard and skin. Unlike a styling balm, a beard butter will only provide a very light hold and styling effect on the beard.
What are the side effects of beard oil? ›- Allergic reaction. Many beard growth oil brands (including us) use all-natural products, as these are often better for your skin than synthetic fragrance oils and chemicals. ...
- Itching, or contact dermatitis. ...
- Inflammation. ...
- Eye irritation. ...
- Phototoxicity.
- Shampoo for a smelly scalp. If dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis are contributing to the smell emanating from your scalp, it might be worth washing your hair and scalp with a shampoo specifically formulated for this purpose. ...
- Essential oils. ...
- Apple cider vinegar. ...
- Aloe vera.
- Lemon juice.
The general rule of thumb is to wash your beard with a beard wash 1-3 times a week. If you have dry skin, you would want to be more cautious washing only 1-2 times a week. If you have oily or combination skin, you may want to wash more along the lines of 3 times a week.
What should natural hair smell like? ›Normally, your hair has either no smell or smells like the fragrances in your hair care products - like the shampoo or conditioner you just used. Run your fingers along your scalp a few times and then smell your fingertips. If you notice any unusual, bad, or pungent smell, you have a smelly scalp and hair.
Why does my hair smell bad even after washing it? ›The most common cause of smelly scalp is a buildup of skin cells, sweat and sebum (body oils). Smelly scalp can also result from: Bacteria: The mix of bacteria and sweat on your scalp can cause an unpleasant odor. Fungus: Fungus on your skin can lead to dandruff and a smelly scalp.
Should I oil my beard everyday? ›You likely don't need to apply beard oil every day. You can start by applying it every other day, and adjust as needed. If you live in a particularly dry climate or have a longer beard, you may need to apply more often. If you notice your beard feels greasy, you can cut back how often you apply oil.
Should I wet my beard every day? ›Most men just need to wash their beard 2-3 times a week. Unless you have a very active lifestyle, doing more will dry out your skin and beard hair. This lack of moisture can lead to beard itch, beardruff, and other common beard issues.