Big Tex, the brains behind Barn Brand's oh so amazing products, has been busy working on some outstanding new stuff, and he's so excited to have everybody try it that he's offering 15% off of his already incredible prices. Head over to barnbrandbeards.com, enter code OUDSTANK15 at checkout, and enjoy 15% off of your entire order! An offer this awesome won't hang around for long, so don't waste any time...get over there, load your cart up and get ready for a beard-care experience that simply can not be beat!

Luxurious Bastard Beard Co, purveyors of some of the all around best products in the game is dropping some awesome stuff tomorrow! In addition to The 1912 Bastard, which is one of my personal favorites, Mr Lux is blessing us with his Tobacconist Bastard scent that, from everything I've heard is legendary, as well as his Southern Bastard, a peach based scent that hasnt been available for purchase in months! As always, everything drops at Noon Pacific, so make sure that you head over to luxuriousbastardco.com and get your order in early, because these amazing scents are sure to sell out fast!

What do you have planned for the weekend? Well, if you didnt say "purchase some awesome beard-care products" then you may want to re-think your plans. Because the good folks over at Burton's Beard Oil are offering one heck of a sale that you won't want to miss; Spend $40 or more, and they'll give you a 1 oz Mint Chocolate scented beard oil absolutely free! If that wasn't reason enough to get your order in, they're also giving you 20% off of all grooming products on their site with coupon code BBO20...and as always, they'll pick up the tab for shipping on all orders over $15...this deal is available all weekend, but Burton's products are so good that they've been known to sell out quickly, so make sure you head over to burtonsbeardoil.com and get your order in soon!

It looks like luxury segment juggernaut Scotch Porter is cooking up something all new! What is it going to be? No clue, but the industry is abuzz with speculation. What we do know for sure is that this new product promises to be a "multi-functional, multi-purpose experience", so it's definitely going to be something useful. No word as to when this new product is to be announced, but if history is any indicator, Scotch Porter usually doesn't keep us waiting too long to get our hands on a new product after they tease it, so make sure you head over to scotchporter.com and sign up for their mailing list, so that you'll be among the first to know what this is, and when you can get it!

Since exploding on to the scene in the second half of 2019, BrokeAss has become an absolute shinign beacon in the value segment, with their exceptionally high quality offerings at a price that simply can't be beat. It's no wonder they've become a favorite of beardsmen from all walks of life; the common, working class dude who doesn't owe "the man" a thing (except maybe the occasional middle finger) and just needs something to keep his beard looking as badass as the rest of him...all the way up to beard-care aficionados who agonize over having the best quality products available, and appreciate top-shelf ingredients almost as much as they appreciate intoxicating, nuanced scents. It is exactly this egalitarian approach that has helped BrokeAss earn their status as a household name (at least in the households where bearded guys reside) so quickly. They would have probably carved out their own slice of the market offering one or two great scents, but in their impressive quest to deliver the best experience possible, they offer a huge catalogue of cologne-inspired scents (as well as their "&" series, which I had a chance to try a few weeks ago), over 20 between the two lines (and that doesnt even include the special editions they roll out from time to time)! With so many different scents to choose from, it can be a bit overwhelming to pick just one, the last time I tried a product from their core line, I went with a scent profile that I was quite familiar with, and it definitely did not dissappoint. This time around, I went with one that I don't have such an in-depth knowledge of (more on that later), plus I wanted to finally give their balms a go. Will this stuff have me as impressed as the other BrokeAss offerings I've tried in the past? Only one way to find out, let's take it for a spin...

Scent...

Inspired by Tom Ford's Lost Cherry...a scent I'm not too familiar with...so I'll let the official product page on Tom Ford's website give us the breakdown, just so there's nothing I miss...

...sounds pretty awesome right? As a collector of fragrances, I must admit, I have no clue why I never got into Tom Ford scents...they're always nice...they have a ton of overall appeal...but they just dont jump out at me the way scents from other perfumers like Bond No. 9 and Etat Libre d'Orange do...so with that in mind, I've never worn Lost Cherry before. I figure this is both a good and bad thing...bad because I can't compare my experience with this product to a previous experience I've had with the fragrance...and good because I can judge this product on its own and any differences between it and the original fragrance won't  come across as any sort of issue.

With that in mind, this product smells amazing...Sporting a weight that demands to be noticed, juicy notes of black cherry splash themselves across the pristine white rug under your feet, leaving an indelible mark, fresh, sticky and sweet. A candy-like "red Starburst" note barrels in and cranks up the sweet factor. This is quickly tempered by a boozy, warm kirsch chord, that borders on sanguine, like a fancy version of those chocolate cherries that are ubiquitous around Valentine's day and then receed back into the shadows only to return in another eleven months. This candied, fruity accord merges seamlessly with a powdery, rosey floral that shimmers like gold dust suspended in the still night air, reflecting the moonlight in a lustrous, twinkling nebula. This is given incredible boost by a fresh green vetiver chord, brimming with vibrant leafy character. Stocato notes of jasmine, potent and sweet, send rippling waves right through the core of this scent, which may read as a bit too feminine for some (especially when wrapped in the initial big cherry notes), but I think it adds a bit of unexpected, avant-garde sophistication. Rolling along in a lane parallel to this, is a woody note that doesn't anchor this scent quite as assertively as one might expect, but still provides a robust, dry presence that saves this entire thing from being a bit too saccharine and floral, it reads as sandalwood, but a darker, more mysterious permutation (if that makes any sense), like sandalwood cut from a tree grown on the wrong side of the forest. A whiff of the ever comforting combo of tonka and vanilla (just enough to announce their presence) sneaks up and taps you on the shoulder from the high noteevery now and then. All around a brilliant effort that has me thinking I may need to consider picking up the Tom Ford fragrance that inspired, the next time I'm in the market for a "showstopper"...Strength is just north of medium (in fact, one of my only complaints when it comes to this balm is that it can't be layered over very bold oils without getting lost...of course this problem could be remedied by picking up the matching oil when you purchase this stuff...I mean, the price is definitely right), and staying power is good, lasting between five and eight hours every time I've worn it.

How does it work?

BrokeAss is a name that I've, ironically enough, come to associate with top quality, and this balm doesn't disappoint. Perfectly medium in consistency, it offers decent amounts of hold, while still maintaining a great, lightweight in-beard feel. It is thick enough that it combs evenly though my beard, and really feels like it's delivering some important nutrients (thanks to the presence of emu, baobab, and marula...three oils that serve as the main reason why BrokeAss products offer such elite levels of performance), while still offering top notch protection (thanks in no small part to high quality bees wax and mango seed butter). Balms seem to have been getting something of a bad rap lately, steadily losing market share to butters...and, I mean, I get it, I love a good butter...but that doesn't mean that balms don't still have a purpose. I'd submit the performance of this particular product as further proof that a good quality balm is still an essential part of any bearded man's arsenal. The feeling this stuff imparts is something you don't get from even some of the more top shelf butters out there, none of that waxy "crunch" that has turned so many guys away from balms, rather a feel as soft as silk to the hand, and a healthy strength that can elevate both the look and feel of any beard from "good" to "great". Staying power is outstanding too, offering all day protection, and keeping my beard and face itch free all day long on a single application.

The Bottom Line

If you're still sleeping on this company after all of the high praise they've been receiving, not just from me, but pretty much every single reviewer out there, I don;t know what to tell you. Except maybe that you're missing out on what is, without question one of the top values in the beard-care game today (maybe you don't like to save money?). As I've said in previous reviews, every time I try a BrokeAss product, I'm left wondering how they do it, while I may never know how they can continually offer such temendous products for such a paltry price, I can say for sure that with neach new Broke Ass product I try it becomes more and more clear that this brand is revolutionizing the value segment. This is a balm that is definitely worth owning, even if the scent doesnt sound like your thing, pick it up anyway, the price represents a super low risk, and you might just be surprised at how quickly it hooks you!

Overall Score:

94

Ingredients: Fractionated Coconut Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Shea Butter, Beeswax, Mango Nut Butter, Argan Oil, Jojoba Oil, Castor Oil, Aloe Extract, Marula Oil, Emu Oil, Baobab Oil, Vitamin E Oil, Fragrance

$12 at brokeassbeards.com

Anointed AK's 2020 scented lineup has been getting nothing but rave reviews from bearded guys everywhere...if you haven't had the chance to give it a try yet, they're making it easier than ever to get your hands on some. Today and tomorrow, just head over to anointedak.com and use promo code 2020 at checkout to enjoy a 20% discount on this incredibly popular fragrance. While you're there, make sure you check out their latest scent drops, because they have been adding some amazing stuff lately...in the interest of full disclosure, I don't know if the 2020 code works on everything, or just the 2020 scented products, but either way, a deal like this is too good to pass up, so don't waste any time, get over there and get your order in now!

Kingdom Beard Co, makers of the Polo Red inspired Red Knight beard oil, are dropping a super limited new scent for Valentine's Day...how limited, exactly? Well, is seven (yes as in one more than six and one less than eight), oil and butter combos, limited enough for you? Dubbed The Love Potion  these  chocolate, strawberry, and sandalwood combos are only available at Kingdom's Etsy Shop, and are priced at $35 each...so hurry over right now and make sure that you're one of the lucky seven (you see what I did there?) to get your hands on this stuff before cupid floats away with it forever...or at least until next Valentine's Day.

Everything about Whiskey 'N Hardtack screams "brand on the rise", from the fact that their hand-crafted, small-batch products have been getting positive reviews from some of the most well-known blogs and YouTube channels out there, to the fact that their latest limited release "Strange Bromance" sold out in a matter of minutes. This rising star of an indie-brand based out of Pennsylvania, is definitely starting to see their hard work pay off. With a full suite of beard-care products, as well as handmade soaps, lotions, and a sister company that makes a wide range of  products for your better half, Whiskey 'N Hardtack aims to be something of a grooming emporium, offering everything you need to keep yourself  looking and feeling your absolute best! I decided to give this butter a try because the scent seemed versatile enough to use regularly, and let's face it, whipped butters are one of the hottest trends in beard-care right now. So let's take this stuff out for a spin, and see if it makes for a worthy introduction to this company that has been raking in the accolades lately...

Scent...

Not the most complex scent in the world, but what it lacks in dimensionality, it makes up for in quality...Upon first trying this scent, it reminded me of an all-around better smelling version of The Legend by Live Bearded, which makes sense, considering that they are both vanilla-sandalwood accords.  But where the Live Bearded product seemed to be a very strightforward approximation of the two, this product has a bit more nuance, and might even have a surprise or two hidden behind its back. A plush, unmistakibly decadant vanilla forms a pillow of crushed velvet, sweet, relaxing, and bordering on perfumey, this isn't your typical vanilla fragrance, there is less of the typical "bakery air", gourmand quality about this stuff, and more of a powdery, ethereal, almost inscence-like feel...Sort of like what you'd imagine the chic, urban loft occupied by an erudite, globe-trotting trust-funder might smell like after they hosted a handful of glitterati for a sunday brunch; it's the scent of expected luxury, completely absent of any hint of real-world stresses and aggrivations. This is quickly tempered by a smooth, dense sandalwood chord that seems to pour over the top of the vanilla like so much hot fudge on ice-cream, sophisticated and dry, it's as sumptuous as your favorite cashmere sweater with the refinement, elegance, and raw appeal of an early 60's model Jaguar E type. Pering out from over the shoulder of the sandalwood, like a ghost only sometimes visible is a hint of something else, something woody and rugged that adds a brilliantly masculine flourish, it's cedary, it's salty, it seems to have a bit of char to it, I can't nail it down, but whatever it is, it is used perfectly to give this fragrance a bit more backbone, and helps it stand just that much taller than any other vanilla-sandalwood fragrances I've tried previously. Strength is initially a tick above medium, but quickly settles down to just a shade below. Staying power is good, remaining noticable for at least 4 hours or so after application.

How does it work?

A light, airy soufflé of a butter, this product melts beautifully in my hands, transforming into a super leightweight elixr that spreads wonderfully into my beard. As I've mentioned previously, I've been skipping any sort of heat on days when I don't plan on leaving the house much, and as such, just let my beard dry to a natural curl when I step out of the shower, to that end, I do find that I like the way this product performs on a heat-treated beard, a bit more than on a curly one. I think its ligtness acts as something of a double edged sword, and it just doesn't seem to penetrate as deeply into the curly thicket that is my beard on days when I skip the blowdryer. That being said, in-beard feel is still exceptional, this product offers a great level of conditioning and protection, while still remaining lighter than air, and a quick look at the ingredients list may tell us why; tapioca starch. Made from the root of the cassava, or tapioca, plant, yup the same one that the the little black balls in your bubble tea, and that nasty pudding that looks like baby vomit (get mad all you want, tapioca pudding is effing gross) is made of, tapioca starch actually offers some incredible beneficial properties to your beard (as well as the hair on your head), not the least of which is the fact that its jam-packed with nutrients which strengthen the entire hair, from root to tip. In addition it's hydrating and soothing for your skin, and is even said to help increase circulation when applied topically. It manages to do all of this while absorbing excessive oils from your skin and hair, which would be why it helps this product maintain a carbon-fiber like ratio of lightness to performance. It's really a wonder as to why more beard-care companies (and grooming companies in general) don't include tapioca starch in their formulations. Staying power is great, lasting all day long every time I've used this butter, although I suspect that due to it's gossamer-light nature, if your day consists on non-stop high impact activities, your mileage may vary. 

The Bottom Line

As I said earlier, whipped butters seem to currently be the hottest trend in beard care, and it's easy to see why. This particular product offers everything you could want in a whipped butter; incredible lightweight performance, coupled with a scent that is sure to have you smelling your beard throughout the course of the day. I've had my eye on this company and their offerings for a little while now, and I can say without a shadow of a doubt that Whiskey 'N Hardtack is the real deal. This stuff provided me a great introduction to this company, and now has me curious as to what their other products have to offer...and I'd be willing to bet that after one or two go-arounds with this heavenly butter, you'll feel equally as compelled to see what else these guys have to offer!

Overall Score:

92

Ingrediets: Shea Butter, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Fragrance, Tapioca Starch

$14.95 at whiskeynhardtack.com

If you haven't taken advantage of the incredible deal that Last Looks has been offering on all of their Black Lodge scented products, you have a little bit of time left to do so. Everything Last Looks makes is awesome, but their Black Lodge scent might just be their all around best offering, so you definitely dont want to miss out on the opportunity to pick this stuff up at 20% off. There are no codes necessary, just head over to lastlooksgrooming.com and enjoy the savings. This sale is only good until tomorrow, so don't wait too long, get your order in now!

Earlier today, kings of the value segment, BrokeAss Beard Supply posted to their IG that they were working on an all new butter formulation (if the quality of their oils is any indicator, you already know that this stuff is going to be legendary). Even more exciting than the prospect of a top-quality beard butter from BrokeAss, is the fact that they are giving you...yes YOU...a chance to offer some input on this new product, head on over to theirIG page and tell them what you look for in a butter. No info as to a release date or pricing yet, but you know you can't rush perfection, so just keep an eye on BrokeAss's social media feed to stay up to date!