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An aftershave balm is an essential grooming item for every man. Now, there are also women’s aftershave products available in the market (this is not my topic… actually). Their products often contain fragrances while men avoid scents. But, all fragrances are not overwhelming.
Below I have made a list of the 10 best smelling aftershave balms for men —not overpowering, just masculine, keep you crisp, and won’t interfere with your cologne. I can bet your ladies will love it.
Why you should use an aftershave balm, lotion, or splash
The skin of the face is very subtle. It may be dry, oily, or sensitive depending on everyone’s skin type. You may have also acne-prone skin. And shaving adds some extra bumps to the skin that needs extra care to tackle.
Razor burns, bumps, redness, swelling, irritation, or dryness are common after shaving beards. After that, you need a product that can soothe, hydrate, and disinfect your skin. An aftershave balm can do those things away smoothly and give you clean, moisturized, and healthy skin. And if your aftershave contains fragrances like bergamot then you will feel awesome all day long.
Even, today some aftershave balms are rich in anti-aging ingredients like green tea extract to reduce fine lines, wrinkles, sagginess, dark spots, tan, and acne scars on the face.
How to choose an aftershave balm?
When you buy any smelling product, avoid artificial or synthetic fragrance as it may cause irritation. Naturally scented aftershave balms are always safe for all skin types from normal to dry to oily and sensitive. The aroma should be light clean but crispy.
Some common male-smelling herbal notes are essential oils, lavender, sandalwood, sage, mint, bergamot, anise, rosemary, geranium, tonka bean, clary sage, and cedarwood.
When you buy any aftershave, it should have no alcohol, dye, mineral oil, sulfate, SLS, silicone, paraben, cruelty (need more animals for a better world), and other harsh ingredients because the skin becomes more arrogant after shaving that needs to be cool down quickly.
Some gentle, hydrating, and soothing ingredients in men grooming are mint, aloe vera, green tea, birch sap, baoba oil, shea butter, bisabolol, oats, vitamin B5, menthol, camelina, and chamomile. Keep reading on – hope, this list of the 10 best smelling aftershave balms will help you to find your favorite one.
1. Duke Cannon Ice Cold After-Shave Balm
Scent Nature: sandalwood and bergamot
It will help reduce bumps, razor burns, and redness. No sulfate, alcohol, cruelty, and paraben. This aftershave balm is suitable for all men with any skin type. The fragrance of sandalwood and bergamot will keep you scented all day long.
Duke Cannon Ice Cold After-Shave Balm contains superior soothing ingredients – shea butter, aloe vera, allantoin, and baoba oil that lessen irritation and moisturize the skin.
Tamanu oil, tea tree, and menthol cool down your stressed skin while also help minimize pores, acne, and scars.
2. The Art of Shaving After-Shave Balm
Scent Nature: essential oils, sandalwood
This aftershave balm is rich in a light clean smell. It is also anti-aging, alleviated, and hydrated for the skin. After shaving, use it to refresh your skin.
It replenishes dry skin, minimizes razor burns, bumps, and irritation. The Art of Shaving After-Shave Balm is combined with a unique blend of essential oils, botanical ingredients, and sandalwood that work nicely for all skin and beard types.
Its premium quality of sandalwood will bring you back to the past days of natural fragranced shaving.
3. Viking Revolution Sandalwood After-Shave Balm
Scent Nature: sandalwood
It is a luxurious aftershave balm for men to moisturize and soothe both face and head after shaving.
It gives you a silky smooth finish with a sandalwood scent and diminishes razor burns, ingrown hairs, and bumps.
Viking Revolution Sandalwood After-Shave Balm is rich in some natural ingredients to make the skin smoother and younger without chapping out. It eliminates sensitive skin, even ideal for all skin types.
4. L’Occitane Moisturizing After-Shave Balm
Scent Nature: birch sap, bisabolol
This aftershave balm contains the woody L’OCCITAN perfume (not too strong but okay) that won’t interfere with your cologne.
It is made with birch sap extract, soothing bisabolol, vegetable glycerin, and shea butter that leave the skin comfortable and soft. L’Occitane Moisturizing After-Shave Balm eliminates tightness and soothes irritation, redness, and itchy skin.
Its lightweight content melts into the skin quickly with no oily feeling. A bottle goes a long way though it is expensive.
5. Proraso After Shave Balm for Sensitive Skin
Scent Nature: green tea
Barbar’s NO-1 choice since 1948. It contains 95% natural ingredients. No animal testing, paraben, artificial colors, SLS, mineral oils, and silicones.
This aromatic aftershave balm is formulated with oats and green tea to give the skin a calming effect. Proraso After Shave Balm contains the qualities of an aftershave cream, moisturizer, or lotion that release your skin immediately.
One of my friends use it for her V-area after shaving and she said it has no problems on her skin. She gets comfort very rapidly.
6. Davidoff Cool Water Aftershave Balm
Scent Nature: ocean, oakmoss, geranium
It is blended with an uplifting classic male scent, the original ocean fragrance that lasts longer hours silently but won’t stimulate others.
Davidoff Cool Water Aftershave Balm abates razor burns alongside nourishing the skin. The signature marine notes of Cool Water keep your face re-energized and invigorated.
This smelling aftershave also calms, soothes, and moisturizes your skin immediately. Burst into peppermint, lavender, oakmoss, geranium, sandalwood, and amber.
7. Dove Men+Care Post Shave Balm Hydrating+
Scent Nature: light clean natural
It is dermatologist-tested and alcohol-free to be gentle for all skin types. The aftershave balm is rich in vitamin B5 and other premium grade ingredients that reduce irritation and discomfort.
This non-sticky lightweight aftershave lotion absorbs quickly and makes your skin hydrated and soothed.
Dove Men+Care Post Shave Balm Hydrating+ eliminates razor burns, bumps, minor cuts, redness, and ingrown hairs. It even can be used after using an electric shaver.
8. Cremo Cooling Formula Post Shave Balm
Scent Nature: menthol, tea tree oil, mint
This aftershave smelling balm contains a refreshing mint that protects and soothes the skin from razor burn, dryness, and irritation.
Cremo Cooling Formula Post Shave Balm have also other organic cooling, moisturizing, and anti-aging ingredients like tea tree oil and menthol to keep the skin refreshed, healthy and clean.
A fresh light clean pleasant fragrance lasts a couple of hours. The balm is also great for pimples and ingrown hairs. My younger brother applies it after using his electric shaver.
9. Bulldog Men’s Original Aftershave Balm
Scent Nature: camelina, aloe vera
It is made with natural and organic ingredients like green tea, camelina, and aloe vera that are anti-aging, soothing, and hydrating for rough and burnt skin after shaving your beards.
Free from cruelties, synthetic fragrances, and artificial colors. Bulldog Mens Original Aftershave Balm is suitable for daily use for all skin types from normal to oily.
This aftershave balm moisturizes, alleviates, and refreshes the skin. It is non-greasy, absorbs fast and non-drying feeling. Its smell is cool but not overpowering. You can also use it after shaving your head.
10. Calvin Klein OBSESSION for Men After Shave Balm
Scent Nature: woody, botanical
This spicy-oriented formula is formulated with compelling and provocative rare woods and botanicals. Calvin Klein OBSESSION After Shave Balm soothes and moisturizes the face very carefully.
An unforgettable light smell invigorates your masculinity. You must love the scent yourself.
Apply this non-alcoholic Obsession sparingly and get perfectly soothed skin. Suitable for mature, teens, and adults. Also, it works as an aftershave anti-aging moisturizer.
How to use a smelling aftershave balm?
After shaving, rinse off your face with cold water and pat the skin dry. It will minimize pores. Then apply a small amount of balm to the face and neck. Give more attention to the irritated areas. Massage gently in the circular motions to facilitate absorption smoothly.
Note: Before applying on the face, you must take a patch test on any areas of your body. A single product does not work for everyone. And if you have any serious skin issues, you should see a dermatologist.
Aftershave balm vs lotion
The balm is alcohol-free and creamier or oilier than other aftershaves. If you have dry or sensitive prone skin or you face razor burn, bumps, or redness more then aftershave balm will be better for you.
And aftershave lotion is also known as a splash. It is alcohol-based and stings the skin slightly. It is splashable on the face after shaving or you can gently massage it. My younger brother uses aftershave lotion and he feels more comfortable with it. I like his scented face after using it.
Bringing it all together
Which aftershave you will use, depends on your skin types and conditions. Every aftershave must soothe and cool the skin from razor irritation but the balm is more effective for dry skin or if you want more hydrated skin after shaving.
If you have oily acne-prone skin, then look for lightweight or oil-free, or non-clogging balm or moisturizer. And scent in aftershave balm should be always lightly so that it won’t trigger your surroundings.
