I hear some version of this question a lot: "how many drops am I actually supposed to use?" It's a fair question, most bottles just say "apply as needed," which isn't much help if you've never used beard oil before.
Here's a straightforward guide based on beard length.
Stubble to 1 inch: 2 to 3 drops. At this length you're mostly conditioning the skin underneath, so you don't need much oil to cover the area.
1 to 3 inches: 4 to 6 drops. This is the range where most guys land, and it's usually enough to fully coat the hair and reach the skin without feeling greasy.
3 inches and longer: 6 to 10 drops, sometimes more depending on thickness. Longer beards have more surface area and more hair to condition, so it takes more oil to get full coverage.
How to apply it: Drop the oil into your palm, rub your hands together to warm and spread it, then work it into your beard starting at the skin and moving outward through the hair. Make sure you're actually massaging it into the skin underneath, that's where the itch and flaking happens, not just coating the visible hair.
Signs you're using too much: Your beard looks wet or greasy more than an hour after applying, or you're noticing oil on your collar or pillow. Signs you're using too little: your beard still feels dry to the touch, or the itching and flaking hasn't improved after a week or two of consistent use.
One thing worth mentioning: it's better to start on the lower end and add more if you need it, rather than starting heavy. Oil is easy to add and hard to take away once it's in your beard.
If you're just starting out, give it two weeks of daily use before judging how well it's working. Beard and skin conditioning is cumulative, one application won't undo months of dryness, but consistent daily use usually shows a real difference within a week or two.