Cliche, yes, but Christmas gifts for fathers generally arrive with an array of curiously patterned neckties, the manliest of power tools, and an adorable assortment of socks. Well, this past Christmas, my children broke from that time-honored tradition and decided upon the gift of grooming. And what hid beneath colored tissue paper in my holiday gift bag was a jar of Every Man Jack Vanilla + Cedar Beard Butter. The beard butter is a leave-in conditioner marketed for its promise to tame flyaway hairs, soften your beard, and moisturize your skin. I have spent time with this product for some months now. So, I wanted to share my overall thoughts and experience, and the reader can decide whether it is worth the investment.

• Straight away, I must recognize the product’s pleasant fragrance profile. Product application will obviously land in close proximity to one’s nostrils, so the scent cannot be unnecessarily cloying. Infused with a mellow sweetness, the subtle hints of vanilla do not betray the masculine marketing and presentation. Now, while the warm vanilla is prominent, I do not pick up any obvious traces of cedar. So, if you are a gentleman who prefers woodsy fragrances, this may not be as earthy as advertised to the public.
• Bolstered by shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil, and glycerin, the beard butter has a creamy texture that softens both skin and hair. My beard can quickly dry out and flake. It is important that I keep my face moisturized. Every Man Jack Beard Butter leaves my skin supple and my beard fluffy. Do not be alarmed if your beard appears slightly white after massaging a dime-sized amount into your facial hair. It takes a few minutes to be fully absorbed. A quick glance in the mirror, and you will think you have aged a full decade. Do not fear, the appearance is temporary.
• Now, the wheat protein in the ingredients holds the promise to tame disorderly hair strands. My beard is of medium length; I can confidently say this beard butter keeps my beard neat and tidy. However, it is a lightweight product, so thicker beards may require a product with more robust holding power.
• Every Man Jack Vanilla + Cedar Beard Butter is best suited for the gentleman with a short to medium-length beard who prefers a pleasant, unintrusive scented beard conditioner to maintain a neat appearance without breaking the bank. I have tried other beard conditioners, and some are too watery with no scent at all. This product feels like it is working – if that makes sense. This beard conditioner offers excellent entry-level value for the average gentleman.
• Every Man Jack Vanilla + Cedar Beard Butter retails for approximately $12.00 at 4.0 oz. (114g), and available at Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Every Man Jack website.
• Ingredients: Water/ Eau, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Eugenia Caryophyllus (Clove) Leaf Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cetyl Esters, Glyceryl Dilaurate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Fragrance/ Parfum, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Hydroxycitronellal