Hello my dear bearded friends!

I know, it’s been a while since my last post here but, as I will explain in future posts, I have had a pretty busy life during the last two years… And let’s not forget Covid (best excuse to use when anything is delayed, right?)

Thanks for visiting again my little blog.

Jokes aside, I hope you and all your beloved ones (beards included) are doing well.

Today, I want to write my opinion about a fantastic beard product I have been testing for the last two weeks, with some incredible and excellent results: the “Black pepper and Bergamot” beard balm by Scruff Stuff.

This brand is very well-known at The Bearded Handballer HQ, since I’ve already reviewed some of their amazing beard oil. For those who missed those previous episodes (I strongly recommend to have a look at them), Scruff Stuff is a fantastic small company created and managed by James. As described on the labels, they are based in Ireland and produce high quality beard grooming products with safe and natural ingredients. Their oils have been some of the first ones I used and tested (i.e. “The Dark Side” and “Barbershop“), at the beginning of my beard journey.

This time, I will talk about their beard balm, a Scruff Stuff product I’ve never tested before. Due to many reasons, I was going through a period in which I did not have the right amount of time to carry out a proper beard care routine. As a consequence, my beard was starting to show all the annoying consequences none of us want to experience: dandruff, dryness, itchiness…

I needed something for a fast and effective recovery!

The formulation of the “Black pepper and Bergamot” balm was indeed the factor pushing me to click the “BUY NOW” button.


First of all, I really liked the presence of shea butter. Rich in stearic and oleic acid, this ingredient ensures an incredible conditioning and hydrating effect. This effect is reinforced by another potent ingredient: jojoba oil. Due to its properties (e.g. pH), jojoba oil is similar to the natural oils produced by our skin which results in its ability to regulate the secretion of sebum with a beneficial soothing effect.
The combination of these two ingredients would already be a superb treat for the beard by itself, but in a pure Scruff Stuff’s “go strong or go home” philosophy, the formulation includes an additional ingredient that adds a protective profile to this balm: grapeseed oil. With its high content of vitamin E and oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs), it adds antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties to this beard balm.

The beeswax is perfectly dosed which makes the balm extremely easy to melt by rubbing between your palms, and is an enjoyable experience to apply to the beard. Moreover, it contributes to the long-lasting effect of the oily components, keeping your beard soft and protected for the whole day… and this is true also for the aromatic side of the product.

As the name of the product suggests, the fragrance of the balm is a combination of black pepper and citrusy notes, a profile that is used by various beard product producers.
If you check my previous reviews about Scruff Stuff, I’ve always said that their products have an incredible complexity in terms of essences. Their oils have often tricked my nose upon opening the bottles for the first time.
If you enjoy the spicy scent of black pepper, then this is the balm for you: as soon as you remove the lid of the aluminium tin, you will immediately find yourself in the kitchen crushing some peppercorns for a delicious carbonara. At first, I was not able to smell the bergamot at all, and this was driving me crazy: I was desperate to try and identify its scent. Once again, I then realised that the well-known “Black pepper and Bergamot” fragrance has been re-designed by James to be different, with the bergamot playing in the background and adding some notes of freshness and sweetness to the main warm-woody souls of this balm.

Recently, my beard has been stressed by various aggressive conditions such as cold temperatures (both outside and in the laboratory) and swimming pool water (with the beard-unfriendly chlorine). This balm has been able to help my beard to always be in its best shape.
If you apply it in the morning, you will be able to smell its essences until bedtime… And your beard will not feel greasy at all.

As part of my test, I also included two combination sessions of “balm + oil” treatments for my beard and I discovered that the “Black Pepper and Bergamot” balm fits perfectly with two Scruff Stuff oils: The Dark Side (with its amazing fennel & tobacco scent) and Foresty Sh*t (an explosion of woods and spices).

Having only been a first try, I have to admit that I totally fell in love with the “Black Pepper and Bergamot” balm by Scruff Stuff and I am now extremely curious to explore and try their other scents (at the moment the available ones are: Chocolate & Orange, Chocolate Mint, and Unscented).

In which particular occasions would “The Bearded Handballer” use this beard oil? Are you planning to prepare a nice dinner or arrange a barbecue with your friends? Well, generously apply some “Black Pepper & Bergamot” balm by Scruff Stuff to your beard and you will make them salivate even before you start cooking for them!

As always, if you want to know more about my test of this or other products, or if you just want to share your own impressions, feel free to contact me or comment on this post!

I hope you will find this review useful!

I will see you for the next review!

The Bearded Handballer

Product ID card

Name: Black Pepper & Bergamot beard balm

Brand: Scruff Stuff 

Packaging: 50mL metal tin with screw cap

Ingredients: Shea Butter, Jojoba oil, beeswax, Grapeseed oil, essences.

Price (shipping not included): 12.95 GBP