elemental health and healing
argan oil products
Argan oil has been produced for hundreds of years by Berber tribes in a region in Morocco, which is today known as Arganeraie in the foothill area of the Atlas Mountains. It is the only area where the rare and endangered Argan tree grows. Farmers have tried to grow the trees in other areas in the world but have been unsuccessful The tree dates back millions of years and at one time covered North Africa and parts of southern Europe but now less than 900,000 hectares remain. Thankfully UNESCO now protects the argan tree’s natural growing area.
The oil we source is traditionally harvested and handpicked from the argan tree by Berber women. Our oil has a very mild pleasant scent, which is how all good quality argan oil should be.
The oil is harvested by the Berber tribeswomen as it has been for many centuries and is still collected in this way today. The Berber women, with the help of the Moroccan Authorities have set up cooperatives, giving local women business skills and an income that would have been considered undesirable and unachievable for rural women a few years ago. By choosing argan oil, you are helping women around the world too.
The oil that we sell is machine cold-pressed rather than pressed by hand. We have chosen this method, as no water has to be added in this process therefore no impurities can pass into the oil and the shelf life is extended to 2 years. The oil is also pressed raw and not roasted which ensures that the vital properties are retained. Roasted argan oil is available from other sellers and this is a culinary rather than a beauty oil.
We only use the first pressing and we buy in frequent monthly smaller batches so that we can ensure you have the freshest argan oil, and each batch has Cofrac Assais analysis.
Many people think that pure argan oil should have a strong smell but this is not the case. If it has a strong smell it usually means that the oil has been pressed from kernels left after farm animals have eaten the argan fruit. We never use these cheaper kernels as we consider the oil produced to be inferior. We always use the kernels from handpicked fruit that produces the best quality oil, with a pleasant mild aroma.