Argan Oil
By Sarah Tricha
Driving through the desert from Marrakesh to Essaouira, we crossed through a barren landscape. As we got closer to the coast, the landscape became spotted with trees. The land was still barren enough that a young boy standing on the side road didn’t have to move to capture our attention. His hair was bleached from the sun and his skin a deep brown. He looked about six or seven years old. He stood patiently and made no gestures. A large smile took hold of his face when he saw us pull over. He ran up to our car, holding a reused plastic water bottle filled with amber oil with both his hands. A bit of plastic bag was tied around the bottle opening to keep the contents from spillilng. For 25 dirhams we bought a full bottle of pure argan oil. The boy tramped off, excited and relieved, to wherever home was hiding.
Moroccan’s swear by the medicinal properties of argan oil, which is indigenous to Morocco’s Atlas Mountain Region. The oil is loaded with poly-unsaturated fatty acids, such as Tocopherols (Vitamin E), and Omega-6 and Omega- 9 fatty acids, which are known for having restorative and protective properties. It is used in a wide range of skin care products, including soap and hair and skin oil. I bought an argan oil-based product in Morocco on my last visit and it works wonders on my daughter’s curly hair.
Argan oil can also be used for cooking and has a nutty taste and smell. I didn’t perpare food dishes with my bottle of argan oil, but I did taste it. The taste reminded me of a cross between light olive oil and deeply roasted peanuts, which is to say complicated and hard to describe. Zamouri Spices has culinary argan oil for sale as well as body-care products.
For those of you who prefer department stores to online shopping, argan oil skin care products are now available to consumers in the States. I’m sure Kiehl’s Superbly Restorative Dry Oil smells better than the pure stuff we bought on the side of the road. Keihls uses oil cultivated by the women’s Targanine Cooperative in Morocco’s Atlas mountain region. As a fair-trade product, hopefully it will keep young boys and girls in school instead of peddling bottles on the roadside. If that’s not reason enough to give it a try, the packaging is from recycled plastic.
Have you tried argan oil? Leave a comment and share your testimonial, recipie, or treatment with others.
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February 12th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Is there a difference between the Moroccan aargon oil for cooking and the oil used as a beauty product? Are they the same thing? can the Aargon oil used for cooking also be used on hair?
March 12th, 2009 at 6:00 pm
What is the difference in these oils? Are they the same, does one do more than the other.
March 12th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
There is a refining process for skin care oils. You should check with the retailers for more information about their products. Some aren’t pure argan oil, but are mixed with other oils and fragrences. I’ve used regular olive oil as skin oil before, so its up to you to experiment. I figure if its good enough to eat, its good enough for skin. However, if you have oily or sensitive skin, you may need something more refined.
October 8th, 2009 at 11:45 pm
I would like to understand the Hair Oil consumption pattern in Morocco. It would be a great help if you can provide me an idea of how Moroccans use hair oil. Is argan oil also widely used as Hair Oil? Or, there are other hair oil brands/products available in Morocco?
October 9th, 2009 at 3:50 am
Yabu – argan oil is often used as an ingredient in hair oil. There are cheaper products available. Not all Moroccans use hair oil but many do because, in general, Moroccans have curly/frizzy hair. There are lots of brands and products available. I can’t think of the particulars now. Many of the products are made in France.
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:28 am
If you are looking for argan oil for use on your hair. I recommend that you take a look at DermOrganic Argan Oil Treatments available at http://www.hairflix.com/shop/brands/derm-organic-moroccan-argan-oil-hair-products.html. They don’t contain any harsh sulfates like the other brand called Moroccan Oil and the argan oil used is much more pure.
October 28th, 2010 at 3:32 pm
Raw argan is used for skin care products. The edible oil uses roasted nuts. Our products are cruelty free, vegan, and organic. The two Barbara’s
July 15th, 2011 at 12:08 pm
I am searching for reliable suppliers of Argan oil for culinery and beauty use.
Is ther a group who would like to contact me Im based in Jeddah.
July 15th, 2011 at 3:49 pm
I tried an updated version (based on argan oil) of this product. I liked it much much better.
I bot it at Marinin Magazin