All Argan Oil Begins In The Hands Of Moroccan Women

Argan Oil begins production in the same way it has for centuries – in the experienced hands of Moroccan women.

Argan Oil is made from the kernel of the nut within the fruit of the Argan tree, which only grows in south-western Morocco. This ancient tree is believed to date back 80 million years, and Moroccan people have been cultivating its fruit and using its oil for thousands of years.

The process to extract the kernel and its oil is not only timeless, it’s UNESCO recognised.  Women’s Argan Co-operatives in rural areas of Morocco are where every drop of Argan Oil begins.

Here’s the process:

·      -  Fruit is harvested from the Argan trees and left to dry in the sun.

·       - The outer shell of the fruit is removed to expose the nuts.

·     -  These incredibly hard nuts are cracked open by hand to extract the kernel. Sitting on the floor with a large heavy, flat stone in front of them, women deftly crack one nut at a time by holding it between their thumb and finger while deftly hitting it in just the right place with another piece of stone. It’s lightning quick, but full of years of practice and skill handed down through generations.

·       - The kernels are collected and then carefully picked through by hand to remove any bits of nut shell or any less than quality kernels.

·       - A second hand-sorting ensures further quality control.

·       - For cosmetic oil, the kernels are then cold-pressed to extract the oil.  The remaining ‘cake’ of crushed kernels is used for other products. 

·      -  The ‘first press’ is allowed to settle for up to a week, then a second cold press ensures the cleanest, purest oil.

The Argan Oil you hold in your hands begins in the hands of Moroccan women using skills passed down through the centuries, one nut and one kernel at a time.

There’s far more than skin-enhancing natural properties in Argan Oil – there’s time and care.

And beyond the benefits Argan oil delivers to your skin, hands, face and hair, there are communities where women can help improve their status, their children’s education and health and shape their futures.