Dr. Squatch Conditioning Beard Oil and Cologne - Glacial Falls Review
Sean
I tested Dr. Squatch Conditioning Beard Oil and Cologne - Glacial Falls for two weeks. Read my review here to learn how it went and what I thought of the product.
Introduction
I began testing the Dr. Squatch beard oil and cologne during my two-week Kühn Beard Butter test. I eventually stopped using the Kühn Beard Butter and switched to Average Bros Beard Balm to review that next. I continued to use the Dr. Squatch beard oil throughout these changes.
Dr. Squatch Conditioning Beard Oil and Cologne
A Refresher on Beard Oil Basics
Beard oil is a product that nourishes both beard hair and the skin underneath. It provides moisture to keep the beard soft, reduce itching, and strengthen beard hairs. It also makes your beard smell nice. It is essential for beard health and should be a must-have for anyone with a beard.
See How to Use Beard Oil for beard oil application instructions.
My Two-Week Dr. Squatch Conditioning Beard Oil & Cologne Test
Reminder: Always do a patch test before trying a new product on your skin, and read the ingredients list carefully.
I followed the same consistent method I am currently using for all my beard oil reviews.
I used the Dr. Squatch Beard Oil daily and made sure my beard was wet before application.
The bottle says to use 2 to 3 drops. I have a medium-length beard and usually use approximately 4 to 6 drops of any given oil. So I started with 4 to 5 drops of the Dr. Squatch beard oil. This seemed about right for me with this oil.
I focused on working the oil into the skin under my beard instead of the hair. Focusing on the skin still ensures enough oil gets onto the beard. I use my fingertips to work the oil deep into the beard and onto the skin.
I used a boar bristle brush to work the oil into my beard. This also provides some light exfoliation of the skin under the beard.
I repeated this process daily for two weeks.
Results: Beard Health & Feel
I have used other Dr. Squatch products, like their soaps, and I enjoyed them. I wasn’t sure about the beard oil. Since the company makes a lot of different kinds of products, and isn’t focused on any one single area, I was a little worried the quality of the oil would be sub-par. It turns out my worries were unfounded. I really enjoyed using this oil. It’s a light oil that feels nice when applied to my beard. I apply beard oil at night after a shower. I’ve found that how my beard feels the next morning is really a good sign of how well the oil is working. The Dr. Squatch beard oil left my beard feeling soft and healthy, with a noticeable fullness I didn’t experience with some of the other beard oils I have tested.
Scent
The scent is very pleasant. It’s a fresh clean scent. Out of the 4 beard oils and other products I have tested so far, I think this one has the most “modern” scent. Compared to Cremo’s Spiced Amber, Honest Amish Premium’s earthy/herbal scent, and Every Man Jack’s sandalwood scent, this one smells more like a modern men’s grooming product to me. I’m not really sure how to describe the scent, but my wife says it smells like a “clean, fresh forest morning” to her.
The product name includes “Cologne”. The scent does seem to be a little bit stronger than other beard oils I’ve tried. It’s the only one that I can actually sometimes catch the smell off throughout the day. Other oils just blend in. I don’t really smell them anymore after the first application, unless my beard gets wet, and draws the oils out again. This may not be the right choice for someone who wants a more subtle scent or wants to apply additional cologne along with beard oil. That could end up being a little too much.
Dr. Squatch Beard Oil and Cologne Ingredients
The first ingredient listed on the bottle is Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil. This is a great carrier oil and encouraging first ingredient. According to the medically reviewed article How to Use Carrier Oils by Healthline, sweet almond oil is “lightweight and absorbs easily, and is a great moisturizer for dry skin.”
The second ingredient is Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil. From the same Healthline article referenced earlier, jojoba seed oil is “thought to closely mimic sebum, the skin’s natural oil. Using jojoba oil may help reduce the skin’s oil production in acne-prone people by making the skin think it’s produced enough oil.”
Following jojoba oil is Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil. The same Healthline article I have been referencing states: “Argan oil can help treat dry skin and hair, wrinkles, and skin inflammation. This makes it a terrific carrier oil for general skin care and massage oils.”
The fourth ingredient is Ricinus Communis (Castor Seed) Oil. I know through blogging and research that, like Sweet Almond Oil, Castor seed oil is a favorite amongst those knowledgeable in carrier oils. It also seems to be in the right place in the ingredients list. According to the medically reviewed Healthline article 4 Benefits and Uses of Castor Oil, castor oil “is rich in ricinoleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid known for its moisturizing properties.”
The fifth and final ingredient is Naturally Derived Fragrance. This typically means the fragrance was derived from natural sources, as opposed to a synthetic fragrance created in a lab. Nevertheless, this is still a vague ingredient. This type of statement in an ingredients list is often used to keep a proprietary fragrance a secret. It’s a step up from “Fragrance/Parfum” listed on many labels, but does not guarantee the exclusion of potentially questionable ingredients.
Price Point
As of the writing of this review, a 1 oz. bottle of Dr. Squatch Conditioning Beard Oil and Cologne is currently listed at $16.98 at Walmart and $18 on the Dr. Squatch web site. This is a little on the higher side of a 1 oz bottle. For comparison, a 2oz. bottle of Honest Amish Classic beard oil currently costs $12.22 at Walmart and a 1 oz. bottle of Cremo Heritage Red Beard Oil costs $10.97 at Walmart. I really liked this oil, so I would be willing to pay this much again, but do keep in mind that you can likely find products that are effective at a lower cost.
Pros
- Lightweight oil that absorbs well and leaves my beard feeling soft, healthy, and a bit fuller the next morning.
- Simple, high-quality ingredient list built around sweet almond, jojoba, argan, and castor oils.
- Fresh, modern scent (my wife calls it a “clean, fresh forest morning”) that feels more like a contemporary men’s grooming cologne.
- Scent strength and longevity are better than most beard oils I’ve tested — I can still catch whiffs of it throughout the day.
Cons
- Stronger, cologne-like scent may be too bold for guys who prefer a subtle fragrance or want to layer a separate cologne.
- Price is on the higher side for a 1 oz. bottle, and you can likely find similarly effective oils at a lower cost.
- The “naturally derived fragrance” ingredient is still somewhat vague if you prefer full transparency about what’s in your products.
Final Thoughts
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐¾ (4.75/5)
I really enjoyed using Dr. Squatch Conditioning Beard Oil & Cologne. It has a pleasant scent, feels nice in my beard, and uses well-known and beneficial ingredients. It is definitely an oil I would consider using again.
Since I have been testing beard oils, I now have more beard oil than one person would ever need, or would be able to use before the shelf life expires. I am still undecided as to which of the 6 oils I’m testing this year will be the one that I keep using long-term, but Dr. Squatch Conditioning Beard Oil & Cologne is definitely a strong candidate.