SUMMARY POINTS:
- Since the time of the Aztecs, avocados have been celebrated as a source of "vegetable butter" and "butter pear" for their substantial oil content, paving the way for the production of organic avocado oil.
- Avocado oil, particularly expeller-pressed avocado oil, is highly prized in the making of soaps due to its rich conditioning properties and smooth skin feel.
- Avocado oil can work as an ideal carrier oil for essential oil mixing because it adds nourishment while helping dilute stronger oils for topical use.
- Used in moisturizing formulations, avocado oil provides a less greasy sensation relative to other oils and boosts the texture of mixtures through its emulsifying properties.
HISTORY OF AVOCADO OIL
The Persea americana plant, with historical ties to Persia gratissima and known as the avocado tree, has been cultivated across Mexico, Central, and South America since circa 5000 B.C. The Aztecs referred to avocados as "ahuacatl," symbolizing fertility for their shape and believed fertility-enhancing and aphrodisiac qualities, a notion that extends to natural avocado oil's perceived benefits today.
Beyond their food use, avocado pulp was applied to the skin by the Aztecs, Incas, and Mayans for cosmetic purposes, such as face masks, paralleling the modern use of avocado oil for hair and skin. Avocado's significant role in various Mexican cultures, its introduction to new regions by European explorers during the Columbian Exchange, and its cultivation history in the U.S. including the trademark "Calavo" for Californian avocados, underscore the enduring value of avocado oil.
The extraction of avocado oil from fruits not meeting sale standards highlights its value beyond fresh consumption, incorporating avocado oil into mayonnaise, the first avocado oil mayonnaise, or as an avocado oil spray represents the innovative use of this resource.
Avocado Carrier Oil's composition, including palmitic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid, offers diverse benefits, from moisturizing and anti-aging to enhancing hair and skin health. Similar to the properties found in products like organic jojoba oil and majestic pure argan oil, avocado oil is recognized for its rejuvenating and moisturizing effects, aligns with the benefits of other oils for skin care, and stands as an essential component in many natural beauty products.
BENEFITS OF USING AVOCADO OIL
The primary constituents of Avocado Carrier Oil are palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, arachidic acid, and gadoleic acid, each offering unique benefits.
Palmitic Acid benefits skin by smoothing the feel of hair and skin without leaving a greasy residue. These qualities help create a refined finish in topical products.
Palmitoleic Acid helps reduce signs of premature aging, hydrates and firms the skin, promotes shiny hair, and improves nail health. It is often prized for its ability to support a youthful appearance.
Stearic Acid acts as an effective cleanser, removing impurities from hair and skin. It also functions as a useful emulsifier for combining water and oil, thereby maintaining product efficacy over time.
Oleic Acid encourages thicker and softer hair, supports healthy follicle growth, maintains skin and hair softness, reduces the appearance of wrinkles, and promotes healthy-looking aging.
Linoleic Acid moisturizes hair, supports wound healing, offers anti-inflammatory benefits, and helps retain moisture in skin and hair. It can be especially useful for acne-prone skin when used sparingly.
Alpha-Linolenic Acid can help reduce irritation and inflammation while supporting moisture balance and skin comfort.
Arachidic Acid supports skin comfort and contributes to formulations designed for smoothness and easy absorption.
Gadoleic Acid helps moisturize the skin, supports skin comfort, and improves the overall feel of topical products.
Topically, Avocado Carrier Oil rejuvenates and hydrates skin, reduces wrinkles, minimizes scars and blemishes, and is effective on dry, aged, or irritated skin and in massage. It alleviates insomnia, inflammation, and improves circulation.
For hair, it smooths, strengthens, and protects against environmental damage, stimulating growth and clearing hair follicles. Medicinally, it provides antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and healing benefits, particularly for skin conditions such as arthritis. Its vitamin E content supports skin repair and comfort.
CULTIVATION AND EXTRACTION OF HIGH-QUALITY AVOCADO OIL
Avocado trees flourish in mild, subtropical climates without frost, making subtropical regions worldwide ideal for their cultivation. High winds can be detrimental, dehydrating flowers and affecting pollination, while mild frost may cause some varieties to prematurely drop fruit.
Optimal soil pH is between 5.0 and 7.0. Some avocado trees bear fruit biennially, influenced by environmental conditions like cold weather, leading to alternating seasons of high and low yields.
Avocados typically begin fruiting around three to five years after planting. They are either grown from seeds or propagated by grafting. Avocado trees can take more than ten months to mature on the tree, increasing in size and oil content, but only ripen once harvested or fallen.
For oil extraction, mature avocados with maximum oil content are ideal. Immature fruits, despite lower oil levels, can still ripen. Post-harvest, the softening of avocado tissue aids in oil release. Controlled ripening involves ethylene treatment to coordinate this process.
Quality oil production requires avoiding overripe or damaged fruits. Harvest timing is critical, with peak seasons offering the highest oil yield from the seeds. The husk and pulp yield negligible oil. Harvesting methods vary, often involving manual collection of fallen fruits or careful picking to ensure the integrity of the fruit and seed.
Once collected, the fruits are handled gently to retain the stem button, reducing rot risk. Handled gently to avoid damage, fruits are collected in bags, then bins, and kept shaded to prevent overheating and treated with fungicide for preservation.
EXTRACTION PROCESS OF AVOCADO OIL
Avocado oil is primarily obtained from the fruit's flesh. Initially, the avocados are washed to eliminate any dirt or impurities. They are then processed through a destoning machine, which extracts the seed and removes about 90% of the skin. Subsequent to destoning, the flesh is diced to minimize water content before being ground into a paste.
The paste undergoes malaxation, a critical process where it is gently stirred in a heated tank for up to an hour at temperatures between 45 and 50 degrees C. Despite the warmth, this process is still considered cold-pressing and does not degrade the oil's quality. It aids in coalescing the oil droplets into larger drops for easier extraction.
A high-speed decanter centrifuge then separates the oil from water and solids. The remaining solid by-products, including flesh, skin, and seeds, are repurposed as animal feed or used to enrich the soil in orchards.
For cosmetic applications, crude avocado oil is refined through bleaching and deodorizing, resulting in a nearly scentless golden oil. Conversely, extra virgin cold-pressed avocado oil is left unrefined, preserving a richer fatty scent and a color that ranges from yellowish and greenish to brownish, reflective of the fruit's flesh and chlorophyll content.
AVOCADO OIL APPLICATIONS
Avocado oil's broad utility, from therapeutic applications to enhancing beauty products, showcases its integration into various products, including soaps, lotions, and hair care formulations, similar to the use of grapeseed oil for hair and coconut oil for lips.
Its efficacy in skincare, acting as a potent moisturizer and in promoting skin renewal, parallels the benefits of organic fractionated coconut oil for skin and organic carrier oil for essential oils mixing.
In hair care, avocado oil stimulates growth and moisturizes the scalp, akin to the advantages offered by pure coconut oil for hair growth and grapeseed oil.
As a massage oil, avocado oil effectively soothes tension and boosts circulation, complementing the effects of other therapeutic oils like organic fractionated coconut oil and eco soy-glyceryl oil.
A GUIDE TO AVOCADO OIL VARIETIES & THEIR ADVANTAGES
The distinction between cosmetic-grade refined avocado carrier oil and extra virgin avocado oil highlights the diverse applications and benefits of avocado oil in skincare and manufacturing, akin to the distinction among other carrier oils like organic avocado oil and argan oil cold-pressed.
AVOCADO CARRIER OIL - COSMETIC GRADE - REFINED
Botanical Name: Persea gratissima
Origin: Mexico
- Rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, D, E, and beta-carotene.
- A monounsaturated oil, making it highly effective for treating dry skin through topical application.
- Exhibits a pale yellow to golden-yellow color.
- Possesses minimal scent, typical of most refined carrier oils.
- Enhances protein and vitamin content when mixed with other carrier oils.
- Widely used by manufacturers in the production of soaps, lotions, and creams, as well as by massage therapists.
- May leave a sticky, waxy sensation if applied in large amounts to the skin.
AVOCADO CARRIER OIL - EXTRA VIRGIN
Botanical Name: Persea gratissima
Origin: Mexico
- Pressed with vitamins A, B1, B2, D, E, and beta-carotene.
- Classified as a monounsaturated oil, beneficial for skin application.
- Presents a green to brown coloration.
- Features a medium to heavy natural scent.
- Absorbs more slowly into the skin and may leave a slight sheen.
- Often used to boost the nutritional profile of other carrier oils.
- Primarily incorporated by manufacturers into soaps, lotions, and creams due to its rich texture and nutrient content.
Both varieties of Avocado Oil serve distinct purposes and offer a range of benefits for both cosmetic formulations and direct skin application, enhancing skincare routines with their rich nutrient profiles.
CAUTIONS FOR USING AVOCADO OIL
As with all products from New Directions Aromatics, carrier oils including Avocado Carrier Oil are strictly for external application and should not be consumed. It is especially important to keep Avocado Oil out of reach of children to avoid accidental ingestion.
Prior to widespread use, it is advisable to perform a patch test by applying a small amount of Avocado Oil to a less sensitive area of the skin, such as the inner arm, to monitor for any adverse reactions. No allergic reaction within 48 hours typically means the oil can be safely used.
Those with known allergies to avocados or latex might be at an increased risk for an allergic reaction to Avocado Carrier Oil and are advised to steer clear of its use. Severe allergic reactions can occur and may include hives, abdominal pain, and vomiting. Should you experience any of these symptoms, cease using the oil immediately and seek medical advice from a doctor, pharmacist, or allergist for evaluation and treatment.
Additionally, individuals on blood thinning medications should be aware of potential interactions with Avocado Oil that could affect blood clotting. Consulting with a healthcare provider before using Avocado Oil is recommended to avoid adverse effects.
