Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil

Calophyllum Inophyllum seed oil (also called Tamanu oil) is a fatty oil pressed from the seeds (nuts) of Calophyllum trees. The nuts are unusually rich in oil, with up to 75% of their weight made up of it.

It is prized, rarely used emollient and occlusive moisturizing oil with many beneficial effects for the skin. Unrefined tamanu oil can speed up the healing of damaged skin, improve the state of scars, and even offer some antioxidant and antibacterial activity against acne-causing bacteria.

The oil consists of fatty acids such as ~30% linoleic acid and ~35% oleic acid, followed by other (saturated) fatty acids. Its other components include various volatile substances, resins, benzoic acid, terpenes, and coumarins – which are not only responsible for the additional beneficial effect of the oil, but also for its unusual sensory properties.

Freshly pressed, unrefined tamanu oil is greenish or dark brownish-green in color, with a slightly unpleasant resinous smell and taste. Refined tamanu oil loses these properties.

In Polynesia, the native region of Calophyllum trees, the oil is prized for its medicinal value and used as a treatment of various skin conditions and inflammatory diseases.