Clearing up the complaints in these other reviews.

M. · August 12, 2013

First, the scent. What about the scent? There is much to-do about the scent in the reviews and you may be afraid that the scent is "strong" or that you'll smell like licorice all the time. Don't be concerned. I have no idea what these people are on about. There is a hint of anise (black licorice) but I think the scent is a mix of spice notes and woodsy scents with maybe a tiny bit of anise. I think, personally, the top note is clove. Is it a strong scent? No, absolutely not. One single spritz of cologne is way stronger than this stuff. Will you smell it? Yes, faintly, and for a little bit until you either adjust or the scent fades away--it's hard to measure what is actually happening under one's nose. Having used it for a few days, my wife did not even notice the scent of it on me. In fact, for the sake of science, I put a lot on one morning, waited a few minutes, and had my wife give me a sniff from about 5 inches away. She said that she couldn't really smell anything at all. In any event, I think it smells quite good. (NOTE: If you cringe at the thought of wearing even the weakest scent, as some men do, Honest Amish makes an unscented version of this balm.)Does it work? Yes. My beard is softer and it looks nicer too. I'd recommend the product to anyone who uses a stronger soap for face cleaning as a strong soap turns your beard hair into steel wool. This, along with some good conditioner, helps put things back into shape.Does it help with the dreaded beard itch? Yes, and boy was I glad that it did.Does it help with the dreaded beardruff? Yes, my skin is regularly flaky with beards and this took care of that too.Is it greasy? Well, at first it is a little moist. After you put it on, it does seem to soak up very well such that you don't have any meaningful residue on your beard. If you use a lot, it'll be a bit greasy, but if you've used a beard oil before you should know what you're in for.Does it help with holding or shaping? Basically, no. It does contain wax, but this stuff is for conditioning. If you want a bit more hold, buy the heavy duty balm (and see my review on that.) I used this stuff in the early stages of my beard and switched to the heavy duty balm when my beard got longer and more unruly.Does a little go a long way? Yes, so don't be put off by what seems to be a small tin. You're supposed to apply this to a damp beard and the dampness helps the small amount of the product go even further. There's no "set" amount to use here, naturally. You can tailor it to your liking or your need for conditioning. I tend to use a good-sized portion, particularly as my beard gets longer and before I transition over to the Heavy Duty Beard Balm. Still, I'm not burning through tins. I've had the same tin for more than a year.Get it. Try it.A "For The Ladies" Edit, 11/29/15: My wife, for whatever reason, started using this on the ends of her hair. She's been doing it for months now and swears by it. So, I asked her why she likes it so much. She said that it keeps her ends moisturized and it has helped to eliminate split ends. She said she also thinks it would have useful application in controlling fly-aways while braiding. I'm pretty sure I have very little idea what that means.

No better product on the market

N.B. · November 19, 2014

I purchased this product on October 24, 2014 and honestly could not be happier with the results.I have a long beard (relatively, about six inches from chin to tip). It's thick and the sides can be extremely unruly. Like most beardsmen (and anyone who knows a little bit about hair at all), I do not wash my beard every day, as doing so strips it of all of the natural oils which can lead to a dry, wiry, and coarse beard, which nobody wants. However, my face under the beard is prone to become extremely dry and even painful after a day of not washing it. The dandruff that would come out of my beard by the second day would rival Buffalo, NY's snow storms. Hence my reason for purchasing this particular beard balm. No beard oil I have ever purchased did anything to subdue the terribly itchy, dry, flaky skin under my magnificent face fur. I would even get particular patches on my chin where I could almost peel the dry skin off in one big piece. Gross, I know, but bear with me.I have been using the Honest Amish beard balm for almost a month now and the difference is incredible.Though the flaky skin has not been entirely eliminated, my face is not itchy, or painful at all. The dry patch I spoke of before is totally gone. For the sake of testing, I have gone an entire week without washing my beard and only using the beard balm. The flaky skin never got any worse. It's very mild and extremely manageable with just a bit of brushing. So, in short, this balm has helped my dry and flaky chin skin significantly.As I've said before, my beard is naturally soft. But with this beard balm, it's nearly as soft as the hair on my head, which is just remarkable. There's basically no difference in softness if I run my hand from the side of my head, down my sideburns, into my beard.Lastly, to address the previous issues with the smell and feel. The first time I used it, I used way too much and my beard was greasy. However, I discovered that for my size of beard, I need less than a fingertip's worth of balm to work through and condition my entire beard. A little goes a very long way. When using just the amount I need, there is no greasy feel. Also, it helps to actually massage it in, as per the instructions. The beard absorbs the balm very well. And for the smell, it does not smell like licorice. I suppose to the untrained nose with no other reference to go by, licorice could be the most accurate description, but I assure you, anise is not the primary smell. It smells wonderful and it wears off after awhile (or perhaps my nose just gets used to it). It's more of a woodsy, slightly smoky smell with a hint of anise, if anything at all. I rather enjoy it.So, I will continue buying this product as long as I have a beard (or, forever). I highly recommend this to anyone who is looking for a better product for their beard and for a solution to dry skin. This stuff is the full monty, worth every penny. Do not hesitate to make the purchase. For you, and for your beard.