Kukui oil – refined

A relaxing vacation in Hawaii is a dream for most people. If you can’t get there soon, you can do the next best thing – bring a little Hawaii to you! Kukui oil comes from the Aleurites moluccana tree, also known as the kukui or candlenut tree. It’s the state tree of Hawaii. Kukui oil cold-pressed from the kukui nuts is prized for its ability to leave skin and hair feeling smooth and silky.

What makes kukui nut oil so great is its unique fatty acid profile. It contains a good amount of both linoleic and oleic acid. These fatty acids provide the skin with much-needed moisture.

Another unique aspect of the Kukui oil is its texture. When applied to the skin, it absorbs quickly and does not leave a greasy feeling. Instead, the skin feels soft. Kukui oil is similar to sweet almond and avocado oils, which have a similar lightweight texture. Moreover, it has a fairly long shelf life of 1-2 years. As for the smell, it has a neutral nutty smell that is very subtle in finished products. All these good qualities make kukui nut oil perfect for a variety of recipes.

Kukui oil in cold process soap and moulding soap

You can use kukui oil in soap up to 20%. We like to use it around 12-15%. It gives your soap the wonderful silky properties mentioned above. Because it is a soft oil (liquid at room temperature), it makes your soap softer and moisturizing. This oil is ideal for intricate designs, as it does not accelerate the tracking. Read more about formulating a recipe for complicated designs in this post. For melting and pouring, we do not recommend adding additional oil. It can make the base oily or soft. If you add kukui nut oil, use no more than 1 teaspoon per pound of melt and pour soap.

Kukui oil in lotion or conditioner

If you’re in the market for a silky smooth lotion or conditioner, you can use kukui oil as the only oil in the batch. That would be about 23% or more, depending on your recipe. You can also combine it with another liquid oil like argan to get the beneficial properties of both. If you want a lotion or conditioner that is a little thicker, adding a butter like avocado or shea is a good option. Read more about making lotion in this article. If you want to make conditioner, this video will show you how.

Kukui oil in balms

A traditional formula for body or lip balm is 1:1:1 wax, butter and oil. Kukui nut oil can be used from 5% upwards. It combines well with beeswax or candelilla wax. When it comes to butter, there are no limits! Cocoa, mango or coconut butter (also a new product!) are great options. Before you start your balm, put a few spoonfuls in the freezer. This is called the spoon trick. If you dip the cold spoons into the melted balm, it will harden immediately, so you can control the texture. If it’s too soft or too firm, you can adjust it from there.

Kukui oil in body butter

Kukui nut oil gives a silky, spreadable texture to your body butter recipes. You can use it at 5% or more. You can use the oil with any butter you like. In the article All about butter you will find more information about the possibilities for your recipe. In the Green Smoothie Whipped Body Butter Recipe, kukui nut oil would be a good complement or substitute for grapeseed oil.

Kukui oil in scrubs

Because kukui oil is quickly absorbed, it’s a great option for scrubs. You can use it for 5-100% in your recipe with the exfoliant of your choice. You can also add potassium cacate or liquid soap if you prefer a more cleansing scrub.

Kukui oil in bath bombs or fizzy balls

Oil and butter make fizzy balls wet, so they keep their shape. They also moisturize the skin. To start with, you can use about 15 ml. Add kukui oil per 1.5 cups of fizzy mixture. If you want to make the bubble balls wetter, you can add more from there.

Frequently asked questions about Kukui Oil – refined