Description
Urucum is the Brazilian name for annatto, Bixa orellana, a shrub of tropical America whose spiky capsules hold 30 to 50 small seeds coated in waxy red-orange pigment. Many Amazonian peoples have long used that pigment to decorate the skin. Because the seeds hold little oil of their own, urucum oil is made by extracting the seed coat into a plant oil. The result is deep orange to red and naturally contains bixin and tocotrienols, a form of vitamin E.
Details
| Botanical name | Bixa orellana (annatto) |
|---|---|
| Origin | Brazilian Amazon |
| Part used | Seed coating |
| Extraction | Seeds extracted into a plant oil |
| Texture | Light, deep orange |
| Size | 1 litre |
Note: urucum oil is strongly coloured and can tint skin, fabric and towels. Use a small amount and test on a hidden area first.
How to use
- Body oil: add a few drops to a plain carrier oil and smooth over skin after a shower.
- Soap and balms: use as a natural colourant in the oil phase.
- Hair oil: blend a small amount into a hair oil for dry ends.
Store sealed, away from light.
FAQs
Will urucum oil stain?
It can tint skin, towels and clothing orange. Let it absorb before dressing.
Is urucum oil the same as annatto oil?
Yes. Urucum is the Brazilian name for annatto.
Is it pressed from the seeds?
The seeds hold little oil, so the colour is extracted from the seed coat into a plant oil.
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