Tamanu oil
Tamanu oil is pressed from the dried kernels of Calophyllum inophyllum, a tree of coastal Southeast Asia, the Pacific islands, Madagascar and East Africa. The kernels are dried for weeks before pressing, and the result is a thick, dark green oil with a strong odor, containing coumarins and other resinous compounds alongside oleic and linoleic acids. It is used almost entirely in cosmetics, usually as virgin or refined oil.
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Cold-pressed, filtered oil, dark green and strongly scented, the traditional grade.
Lighter, less odorous oil for formulas where color and scent matter.
Oil from certified organic or wild-harvested nuts, often from the Pacific islands or Madagascar.
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
Store sealed at room temperature or cooler, away from light. The oil can deposit sediment or cloud in cold storage; warm gently and mix before use. Shelf life is set by the supplier specification.
Color, odor and resin content vary a lot by origin and drying, so record origin and appearance for each lot and compare against an approved standard. Rotate first-expiry, first-out.
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil (tamanu oil), from the seed, as a non-medicinal ingredient for topical use.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
Distributor · Oxford, CT
Connecticut supplier, trading as Praan Naturals, of certified organic and conventional carrier oils, butters, waxes, clays and botanicals for personal care manufacturers.
Suppliers are in alphabetical order and none pays to appear. Each claim is checked against the supplier’s own website on the date shown. Ask for the specification sheet and a recent COA before you order, and confirm details with the supplier.
Common forms include virgin oil, refined oil and organic. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
Expect fatty acid profile, peroxide and anisidine values, free fatty acids, identity and resin content and microbiology, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
Store sealed at room temperature or cooler, away from light. The oil can deposit sediment or cloud in cold storage; warm gently and mix before use. Shelf life is set by the supplier specification.
Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil (tamanu oil), from the seed, as a non-medicinal ingredient for topical use.
Request a free listing for the ingredients you make or distribute. No paid placement.