Jojoba Oil (aka Jojoba wax)
Simmondsia chinensis

If you could have only one carrier oil to use in your aromatherapy practice or personal care products, I would strongly suggest organic Jojoba wax.  It is versatile, safe, non-toxic, and highly stable making it the most popular carrier oil used in aromatherapy today.   We use it in every class at the Aromatic Wisdom Institute for everything from massage blends, to body butter to foaming hand soap.  I even use it at home to polish my wood furniture!

Jojoba “oil” is produced from the beans of the Simmondsia chinensis plant. The Jojoba plant is a perennial woody shrub native to the desert regions of southern Arizona, southern California, and northwestern Mexico. Jojoba is (pronounced ho-HO-ba)

In truth, Jojoba isn’t an “oil” since oils contain triglycerides, which are fragile and oxidize (become rancid).  This is great news because not only will it not become rancid, but it will extend the shelf life of other oils!   So if it’s not an oil, what is it?  Jojoba is actually a liquid wax ester, much like the esters humans produce in their skin. This also means it is temperature sensitive and hardens when cold.  You might want to take that into consideration when making products for different climates.

Because of its high compatibility with the skin, Jojoba is considered to be an excellent addition to skincare products for every skin type.  Commercially, it’s used in hair shampoos and conditioners, soaps, face and body creams, lotions, and lipsticks. Interestingly, though Jojoba oil is traditionally thought of for dry skin, it’s also great for oily skin because it mimics our natural sebum.  Both my sons use Jojoba as a moisturizer in their faces in the winter, though both are prone to oily skin.

It is considered to have anti-inflammation components, though I’ve yet to see evidence-based research on this.  In the meantime, it still makes a great base for blends designed to help with inflammation conditions like arthritis or joint pain.

Below is an education video by The Jojoba Company showing how Jojoba beans are
expeller pressed to produce this amazing golden carrier.

 

This blog post may contain affiliate links which means I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase using them. The commission is paid by the retailer at no extra cost to you.

 

Related Posts: