Jojoba Oil

What is Jojoba Oil?

The jojoba plant, Simmondsia chinensis, is a shrub that grows throughout the American states Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and California as well as the Mexican state Baja California. It has oval leaves and small, greenish-yellow flowers. Mature jojoba seeds are dark brown and over 50% oil by weight.

Historically, various Native American tribes used jojoba leaves and seeds. Indigenous groups in Baja California were observed heating jojoba seeds and grinding them into a paste, which they used to condition their skin and hair. The O’odham people used a salve made from these seeds to treat burns.

To extract jojoba oil, we use cold pressing. This involves compressing the seeds at room temperature. We then separate the oil from water and any remaining seed parts. This liquid is naturally yellow in color, so it goes through additional refinement processes in order to create a clear, colorless carrier oil. Refining the oil also helps to further deodorize it.

What is in Jojoba Oil?

Jojoba oil is not technically an oil, but rather a liquid wax ester. This means that it is composed mostly of long-chain fatty acids rather than triglycerides. Its chemical composition is similar to the sebum that human skin produces. One of the major components is vitamin E, also called retinol, which has antioxidant and anti-aging properties. There are also multiple compounds in jojoba oil that help to soften your skin, including gadoleic acid, oleic acid, and palmitic acid. The oil also contains stearic acid, which can cleanse your skin and remove excess dirt or sweat.

Primary Benefits

Jojoba oil is an excellent choice to use on your skin. It softens it and can help counteract the effects of aging. Since it contains stearic acid, it also helps to cleanse and purify and is less likely to clog your pores compared to some other carrier oils. Its similarity to sebum makes it naturally moisturizing. Even without essential oil, you can use it as a makeup remover or to nourish dry skin.

Essential oils that enhance these effects:  

• Bergamot
• Frankincense (Boswellia carterii)
• Frankincense (Boswellia serrata)
• Juniper berry
• Patchouli
• Tea tree

Jojoba oil is also one of the best carrier oils to use for scent sprays or aromatherapy blends. This is because it has little to no residual odor after processing. If anything, it adds a slight sweetness to oil blends, but in its refined form this is barely detectable. To make a spray, mix your preferred essential oils with jojoba oil. Put this in a glass spray bottle with witch hazel and water.

Essential oils that enhance these effects:  

Deodorizing: eucalyptus, peppermint, tea tree

Relaxing: clary sage, lavender, frankincense (Boswellia carterii or Boswellia serrata)

Energizing: grapefruit, orange, rosemary

Or experiment to create your own unique blends

How to Use Jojoba Oil as a Carrier Oil

You can dilute our 100% pure essential oils by adding three drops to one teaspoon of jojoba oil. If you are applying the oil to your face, use three drops of essential oil in four teaspoons of jojoba oil. Depending on how sensitive your skin is, you can adjust this concentration to fit your needs.