The Ingredient Library
Broccoli Seed
Brassica oleracea var. italica
Broccoli seed oil is cold-pressed from the small round seeds of broccoli plants left to flower and set seed. Its high erucic acid content gives it a silky slip often compared to silicones.
Get to know broccoli seed oil
- Source
- Seed
- Origin
- Grown in temperate regions
- Extraction
- Cold-pressed
- Texture
- Silky, light slip
What it is
Broccoli Seed is a botanical carrier oil used in hair and skin care.
Why it belongs in your routine
Silky seed oil from broccoli, known for its smooth slip in hair care.
How to use
Warm a few drops between your palms and smooth over hair or skin. Patch test before use.
Where does broccoli seed oil come from?
Broccoli seed oil comes from Brassica oleracea var. italica, the familiar green vegetable descended from wild cabbage of the Mediterranean coast. To produce seed, growers leave the plants in the field past the stage when heads are normally cut. The buds open into small yellow four-petalled flowers, which are followed by slender pods called siliques, each holding a row of small round brown seeds. Seed crops are grown in temperate farming regions including Europe and North America.
The oil is golden to greenish with a noticeable green, cabbage-like smell that softens in finished products. It is naturally high in erucic acid, a long-chain fatty acid, along with oleic and linoleic acids. This gives a smooth, dry slip that makes it popular in hair oils, leave-in conditioners and serums, where it adds shine and softens without a greasy feel.
Sourcing & extraction
How broccoli seed oil is sourced and extracted
Why it is rare
Broccoli is normally harvested before it flowers, so seed for pressing has to be grown as a separate crop that stays in the field much longer. Only a small area is managed this way for oil, which keeps volumes limited.
How it is gathered
Broccoli grown for seed is left to flower and set pods over the summer. When most of the pods have turned brown and dry, the crop is cut and threshed, usually by machine, to separate the seeds from the stalks and pod walls. The seed is cleaned of chaff and dust and dried to a safe moisture level. It is then stored in sacks or bulk bags and sent to oil pressers, often seed that is surplus to sowing needs.
How it is made
Cold-pressed from the seed
- Ripe seed pods are threshed and the seeds cleaned of chaff, dust and broken stalk pieces.
- The seed is dried and checked for moisture, since damp seed presses poorly and spoils quickly.
- A screw press crushes the seeds without added heat, and the oil runs out from the press barrel.
- The oil is allowed to settle for several days, then filtered to a clear, golden liquid before bottling.
How to use broccoli seed oil
- Start with a few drops and warm them between your palms.
- Massage into clean skin, or work through the lengths of damp or dry hair.
- Use on its own, or add a few drops to your moisturizer or conditioner.
For external use only. Patch test on a small area before first use and stop if irritation occurs. If you are pregnant, nursing or have a medical condition, ask a healthcare professional before use.
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Questions about Broccoli Seed
Where does Broccoli Seed come from?
Broccoli grown for seed is left to flower and set pods over the summer. When most of the pods have turned brown and dry, the crop is cut and threshed, usually by machine, to separate the seeds from the stalks and pod walls. The seed is cleaned of chaff and dust and dried to a safe moisture level. It is then stored in sacks or bulk bags and sent to oil pressers, often seed that is surplus to sowing needs.
How is Broccoli Seed extracted?
Cold-pressed from the seed. Ripe seed pods are threshed and the seeds cleaned of chaff, dust and broken stalk pieces. The seed is dried and checked for moisture, since damp seed presses poorly and spoils quickly. A screw press crushes the seeds without added heat, and the oil runs out from the press barrel. The oil is allowed to settle for several days, then filtered to a clear, golden liquid before bottling.
Why is Broccoli Seed considered rare?
Broccoli is normally harvested before it flowers, so seed for pressing has to be grown as a separate crop that stays in the field much longer. Only a small area is managed this way for oil, which keeps volumes limited.
