Government name
Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil
Goes by
Jojoba oil
The verdict
Superhero
Superpower
It's a liquid wax, not a true oil, so it stays stable and feels light on skin.
Jojoba's government name is Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil. Plot twist: even with "oil" in its name, it's actually a liquid wax.
Superhero or supervillain?
Superhero. Its superpower is being a liquid wax made of wax esters. That makes it very stable and gives it a light, silky, non-greasy feel.
What it does in my soap
Jojoba barely reacts with lye, so it mostly stays as itself in the finished bar. That means it's there as jojoba, adding a silky, moisturizing feel. It's often compared to the natural oils your skin makes, which is part of why it feels so at home there. Because it doesn't turn into soap, it stays on the label as jojoba seed oil.
Where you’ll find it
In 2 things I make.
Don’t judge an ingredient by its government name. Judge it by the science.
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