Description
The desert date, also called the soapberry tree or hingot, is a spiny evergreen that grows across the Sahel from Senegal to Sudan. Its small fruit holds a sticky pulp around a woody stone. Inside the stone is a pale kernel that is roughly 40 to 46% oil. The stone resists machine cracking, so much of the shelling is still done by hand. The pressed oil is golden yellow, mild in scent and stable, with oleic and linoleic acids in similar measure.
Details
| Botanical name | Balanites aegyptiaca |
|---|---|
| Origin | Sahel, West and East Africa |
| Part used | Fruit kernel |
| Extraction | Cold-pressed |
| Texture | Light to medium |
| Size | 3.4oz (100ml) |
| Ingredients | 100% Balanites aegyptiaca kernel oil |
How to use
- Face: warm 2 to 3 drops between your fingertips and press onto clean skin.
- Body: apply to damp skin after a shower.
- Hair: smooth a few drops over the lengths as a finishing oil.
- Soap and balms: its stability makes it suitable for cold-process soap and balms.
FAQs
Is desert date oil the same as date seed oil?
No. Date seed oil comes from the date palm, Phoenix dactylifera. Desert date is a different tree, Balanites aegyptiaca.
What does it smell like?
Mild. It won’t compete with essential oils in a blend.
Is it heavy?
It sits between light oils such as black currant seed oil and rich ones such as batana oil.
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