Jojoba Oil Revisited

[Jen[Chocolate Burn]]

I don't want to hijack ccMaries thread with more Jojoba thoughts, so I figured I'd just post here. My second post in this thread will have the current questions I am interested in getting answered -- and I am hoping someone here can do that!

The following companies have been mentioned by MassagePlanetL members who have used their products. I also added in four others(Massage Warehouse, ScripHessco, Amber & Desert Essence), because many of us order from MW and Scrip -- and because I recently used both the Amber and DE jojoba's. Most have quantities of less than a gallon (prices as of 09/04/09). Some of the companies also have Jojoba Lotions and/or Creams.

I also found this information about processing, on the Mountain Rose Herbs website. It may be helpful when purchasing oils.

Cold Pressed - A method of mechanical extraction where heat is reduced and minimized throughout the batching of the raw material. This helps the oil maintain its original state, constituents, and depth. Temperatures are rigorously controlled to ensure that it does not exceed 80-90 degrees Fahrenheit. Although not a practical method of extraction for all vegetable oils on the market it is highly regarded as the extraction method of choice.

Expeller Pressed - A method of natural, mechanical extraction and processing of oils where a small amount of heat is produced simply through the frictional heat created by hydraulic presses. This is usually around 120-200 degrees Fahrenheit and makes the oil suitable and economical as a base for cosmetics because of its fairly undisturbed molecular state. It also makes a fine food grade oil.

Refined - A fully processed oil where it has been exposed to all methods of refinement including a flash fluctuation in temperature as high as 450 degrees and winterization as low as -30 degrees, deodorization, which removes the heavy and often unsettling odor in oil, and finally bleaching, where natural clays and other mediums are used to alter or remove an oils color, and scent. This makes for an economical oil in cosmetics and body care products, but it is not the healthiest as a food grade oil.

Partially Refined - A process where only some of the methods available are employed to produce a manufactured oil. Only one or two of the three available methods are used in a partially refined oil. These include, but are not limited to; deodorization, winterization and natural bleaching. These methods are used for oils which have been known historically to go rancid quickly, and they are also used to further stabilize an oil or remove its heavy odor and deep color.

Unrefined - A process of mechanical extraction and screen filtering where no additional refining process has taken place. This ensures the finest quality product and makes the oil the most exquisite for food and cosmetic preparation. The unrefined process helps oil retain a rich, strong flavor and color that is true to its natural state. Unrefined oils are always darker in color and richer in scent.

• Word of warning: Because of occasional mis-information or sensitivities to smell, it is always suggested to sample the jojoba brand before purchasing your gallon! The "smell" information listed below is "hearsay" and occasionally there are product discrepencies, so, please try/purchase a sample first. Most companies will not accept returns on an open bottle.

• The Jojoba Company / a.k.a. Boston Jojoba - http://www.jojobacompany.com/
  • • LIGHT EARTHY SMELL 1 gallon (128 fl. oz.): $55.00 for Pesticide-Free HobaCare Jojoba
      LIGHT EARTHY SMELL 1 gallon: $69.00 for Certified 100% Organic HobaCare Jojoba
• Liberty Natural Products - http://www.libertynatural.com/
  • • SMOKEY SMELL 1 gallon: $57.32 for Jojoba Golden Natural USA
      NO SMELL 1 gallon: $75.89 for Jojoba Clear Filtered USA (Deodorized and without color)
      NO SMELL 1 gallon: $74.56 for Jojoba Oil Organic Israel (Deodorized)
• Camden-Grey Essential Oils - http://www.camdengrey.com
  • • NO SMELL 7 lbs. (note 8 lbs. of water = 1 gallon / due to specific gravity of oil, this product amount is close to 1 gallon): $63.98 for Jojoba Oil Wildcrafted Bulk
• Amber Products - http://store.amberproducts.com
  • • SMOKEY SMELL 1 gallon: $77.20 (sale)/Reg. price= $96.50 for Golden Jojoba Oil
• Essential Wholesale - http://www.essentialwholesale.com
  • • NO SMELL 1 gallon: $91.80 for Jojoba Oil Golden
      NO SMELL 1 gallon: $145.80 for Jojoba Oil Golden, Certified Organic
• Mountain Rose Herbs - http://www.mountainroseherbs.com
  • • LIGHT EARTHY SMELL 1 gallon: $98.00 for Cold Pressed/Unrefined Organic Jojoba Oil
• Got Your Back - http://www.gotyourback.com/
  • • SMOKEY SMELL 1 gallon: $99.00 for Solace Naturals Jojoba Oil

  • • If you're looking for something completely natural, I recommend Solace Naturals Massage Creme (sold through Got Your Back: 1-800-677-9830). They do custom blends of oil, beeswax and essential oil. (That's all. No additives or preservatives). If you choose jojoba oil for the base, you get the benefits of jojoba with the added glide the beeswax provides. You can also add your choice of essential oils.

• Massage Warehouse - http://www.massagewarehouse.com/Product/jojoba/therapro-golden-jojoba-massage-oil/224+0003
  • • SMOKEY SMELL 1 gallon (128 fl. oz.): $99.99 for Premium, Cold-pressed Therapro Jojoba Massage Oil
      SMOKEY SMELL 5 oz. (150 ml): $9.99 Lotus Touch Jojoba Carrier Oil (note: even on the Lotus Touch website, this oil does not come larger than 5 oz.)
• From Nature With Love - https://www.fromnaturewithlove.com/
  • • NO SMELL 1 gallon: $103.50 for Jojoba Oil, Clear (Refined & Decolorized)
      NO SMELL 1 gallon: $140.00 for Organic Jojoba Oil, Clear (Refined & Decolorized)
      EARTHY SMELL 1 gallon: $125.00 for Organic Jojoba Oil
• ScripHessco - http://www.scriphessco.com/Product/jojoba/therapro-golden-jojoba-massage-oil/224+0003
  • • SMOKEY SMELL 1 gallon (128 fl. oz.): $103.49 for Premium, Cold-pressed Therapro Jojoba Massage Oil
• Aura Cacia - http://www.auracacia.com/dspCmnPrd.php?ct=anpcpcsc&cn=Jojoba+Oil
  • • SLIGHT NUTTY SMELL 16 fl. oz.: $40.95 for Aura Cacia Jojoba Skin Care Oil
• Northern Naturals - http://www.northernnaturals.com/organic_massage_oil.html
  • • 1 gallon: $68.00 for Earth Botanicals Organic Massage Oil, Blend of Organic Sunflower, Apricot and Jojoba Oils
• Klecka Naturals - http://www.kleckanaturals.com/store/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=12
  • • NO SMELL 4 oz.: $7.98 for Organic Sunflower and/or Safflower oil, Organic Jojoba oil, Natural Vitamin E
• Desert Essence - http://www.desertessence.com/special-oils
  • • NO SMELL 4 oz.: $12.29 for 100% Pure Simmondsia Chinensis Jojoba Oil

Edited multiple times for info regarding smells.

 

[green eyed monster]

Jojoba Oil Revisited

My second post in this thread will have the current questions I am interested in getting answered -- and I am hoping someone here can do that! If not, I'll contact the companies and then add the info in a third post... I hope.

My main questions are as follows:

• Which Jojoba oils and brands smell "smokey" and which do not?
• Does it make a difference in the processing, refining or filtering aspect in regard to getting a Jojoba that isn't smoky smelling, or is it something else?

The reason I ask, is because I had been using the Desert Essence Jojoba Oil and it had no smell. So, I had not really realized what the comments I had read meant when they said smoky. Well now I do!

Some quotes about the smoke smell:

I'm a bit curious though, I order my oils through essentialwholesale.com & the first bottle of Jojoba that I received smelled lots like a BBQ (which is normal, I hear), but this new bottle barely smells at all. Not that I'm complaining, I'm just wondering whether the processing was different on this one... do the jojoba oils you buy generally smell strongly smoky? or does the scent go away w/processing sometimes?

Yes, all the oil I have purchased from http://www.bostonjojoba.com has that slightly smokey smell. I have never had jojoba from anyone else. When I use it unscented, I rarely have a comment from my clients.

I use either jojoba...does not go rancid, a little goes a long way and is great for both deep tissue and swedish massage, not to mention the skin (one draw back, it has a faint smokey smell...best to mix it with something else)... http://www.hobacare.com . Or I use fractionated coconut oil...not as much body as jojoba and doesn't last quite as long but is less expensive, super clean, doesn't go rancid and appropriate for both swedish and deep tissue massage... http://www.from-nature-with-love.com

Is there really a good "unscented" jojoba oil? I really prefer the consistency of this oil, but after a few months of using it I couldn't stand the smell anymore. (The brand I used was Hobacare.) Does anyone know about any "unscented" good brands?

I use jojoba, but not Hobacare brand, and I can hardly even notice any smell. Maybe a different brand would have less odour? I have some that is pretty well cold pressed virgin jojoba and it only smells slightly more than the more refined jojoba I generally use, so I'm not sure why the Hobacare brand smells.

Last night I picked up a bottle of the Amber Jojoba Oil and when I poured it into my hand this morning mid-way through a massage (after running out of the DE brand)... whoa! Did the smokey smell ever hit me. I have to admit, I am very sensitive to smells and I can't say if this one is giving me a sub-grade headache or not, but it seems like it is.

I definitely want to find out the jojoba's that don't smell... that's for sure.

So, let me know your experiences, please!



Update (5:41 am next morning): The headache morphed into a migraine about 2 hours after this post was written, so any help would be appreciated on the brands or types that don't have the smoke smell!

09/07/09: Corrected to add quotes and fix typos.

 

[Pompal 09.]

Jojoba Oil Revisited

I am also very interested in this thread. I love jojoba oil but I have not run across any that smell at all. I will have to check the brands I have been using. The stuff I have right now is from the Fruitful Yield, I think it is NOW brand.

 

[justswimmin]

Jojoba Oil Revisited

Thanks Dragonflies. I saw a post about the NOW brand, but couldn't locate a website on them. Mind sharing that, if you have it?

 

[agent4927]

Jojoba Oil Revisited

Thanks Dragonflies. I saw a post about the NOW brand, but couldn't locate a website on them. Mind sharing that, if you have it?

Here you go:

http://www.nowfoods.com/index.htm

There is a store finder at that site, which you will need because it doesn't look like they have a retail store available on their site.

*I just read their description of their Jojoba and they reference 'an invigorating scent' but I have not detected really any scent at all so that's a bit odd I think. I could only smell a light, very slight smell of oil if that makes any sense. Not a bad smell at all and it is what I would call scent free.

 

[Megan]

Jojoba Oil Revisited

Thanks GreenDragonfly!

So, I am spending today calling all of our listed Jojoba companies to ask about "scent" or "no-scent" (make sure to scroll back UP ↑ in order to see the results).

As a bonus to my recent phone calls, I am finding the differences of the different Jojoba's, and never realized it might stain a clients clothing. Although it can come out, I have enough clients who are coming from work with their "special" clothing, and would hate to acidentally make a mark. So, for now, my vote is going to go with the filtered version. Just thinking out-loud.

• Pure, non-deodorized - purest form and may have a smokey or light earthy smell.
  
  
• Pure - may or may not have a smokey/earthy smell.
  
  
• Deodorized - does not smell.
  
  
• Filtered - will not stain clothing or sheets.
  • As seen in the quote below, this is especially useful for those who
  • ... cold water wash.
  • ... do not want to use an item like "Shout" or some other stain remover on the clothing/sheets.

• Laundering Instructions
  
  When used properly, HobaCare will stay in the skin. If it is coming out on linens and clothing, you are very likely using too much.
  
  HobaCare launders out of natural fabrics with the use of hot water and a good detergent. For synthetic and dyed fabrics we sometimes use a pre-wash. If you have combined oils, lotions, creams or essential oils with HobaCare, they--not the HobaCare--could cause staining. Also, and especially for massage therapists, if the lotion or cream was applied to the skin prior to massage, those substances could cause staining to occur.
  
  If you or your laundry use cold water and dry the fabric, a mark may be visible. Relax. Don't be alarmed. The mark will not be permanent. Likewise, the mark will not turn rancid. Off-putting odors will not be a problem. The next time you launder the item, cover the mark with a pre-wash (we use "Shout") and use hot water and your regular detergent. The mark will launder out. Or, if very hot water is not available, learn from this tip provided by one of our customers, who is a massage therapist. She found a jojoba mark on her dark 100% cotton turtleneck, which had not come out in a cold wash. She re-washed the garment after putting soda water and baking soda on the mark and letting it soak for a bitin her machine. Even though the garment had already been through her dryer, the mark came out.

 

[rurrsm1656]

Jojoba Oil Revisited

Last night I picked up a bottle of the Amber Jojoba Oil and when I poured it into my hand this morning mid-way through a massage (after running out of the DE brand)... whoa! Did the smokey smell ever hit me. I have to admit, I am very sensitive to smells and I can't say if this one is giving me a sub-grade headache or not, but it seems like it is.

I definitely want to find out the jojoba's that don't smell... that's for sure.
[/size]

Pueppi, I have a thought for you. I am also very sensitive to scents, and the smell of the jojoba oil has never bothered me, even a little. Sometimes even essential oils give me a headache, but I've realized that part of that was because of my expectation. I smelled a smell and expected to get a headache, and I did. But since I figured that out, it pretty much never happens anymore, except sometimes with ARTIFICIAL scents! I'm not around them much anymore, which is why I say sometimes - I'm less sensitive now than I used to be. It's just a thought.

If you really are that sensitive, rather than using deodorized jojoba oil, which is processed and changed, and no longer has the benefits of jojoba oil, I'd recommend using a different lubricant all together. Perhaps you could handle African Shea butter (make sure, again, to use it unrefined). It has a slight odor, but different than jojoba oil. I'd never describe jojoba oil scent as smokey, I think earthy describes it better. Shea is more like woody or nutty (it is a nut). I don't like the scent of shea butter, but it doesn't bother me.

Grapenut seed oil is very good, with very low odor, too. Coconut oil might be good for you, since it has a pleasant odor, and you probably know if you can handle that (remember that it's not really the same as suntan oil!).

Anyway, my point is that the idea of using jojoba oil is because it is so healthy, and once you change it, it's no longer healthy. So it might be better to just look for an alternative to the alternative!

 

[That guy]

Jojoba Oil Revisited

Interesting thoughts. One thing for sure, I do not expecting to get a headache and thereby contract one.

I am a migraine sufferer. Rarely these days, but when one is set off, I make it a point to be very ware of why. Mainly because my migraines usually incapacitate me. They are not just "bad headaches". Tunnel vision, severe sensitivity to light, can't drive and can't usually get home from work. Vomiting included. Was that TMI???

Anyhoo, that is a little off track. I have not yet purchased the deoderized jojoba, as I have been working with the "Now" brand from Whole Foods. It has a scent, but I will say, the scent is not the smoky one, and it has not triggered a headache. My thought is that possibly the production for the other one that was a problem is just less standardized or there was something wrong with that particular product group.

Thanks so much for the other suggestions though. I will keep them in mind, and they certainly are a welcome response to this thread as I am sure there are others out there who, like me, are also looking for alternatives.

 

[BEASTMODE]

Jojoba Oil Revisited

I have the Desert Essence website as the contact for their brand of jojoba (scroll up to see list), but Learner mentioned getting it here, so I thought I would add it.

I usually get mine at Vitacost, the Desert Essence brand, and the price went up there (vitacost is great though---it's still over 50% cheaper there than at our local Whole Foods): http://www.vitacost.com/Desert-Essence-Jojoba-Oil. It smells like roasted buckwheat---not exactly "spa-like" but I always have people smell it and they're fine with it. The buckwheat smell actually makes me think it's fresher than at Whole Foods, where it doesn't smell like anything. The one thing about Desert Essence is they don't seal the product under the cap, which just seems...odd. But it smells very pure and the texture is good. I'd be curious what others think of it.
(Pst--Vitacost prices are rahther impressive generally. Nooo I'm not affiliated.)

 

[Pavlovs Dogma]

Jojoba Oil Revisited

Just in case you need to know, Natural Formulations (though quite expensive) sold me some Jojoba two weeks ago, so they may still have some (re: shoreforum.xxxes in the market).

I must say it is the *best* jojoba I have ever used. The weight and consistency of the oil is similar to working with grapseed (though not quite as heavy). I have never experienced this with my other jojoba purchases and was pleasantly surprised. It is wonderful to work with the thicker consistency. Possibly that is why it is more expensive. I'll be calling to find out more about that possibility.

It also does not have that funky smokey smell many others do.

I'll be sticking with them.

 

[liveandlaugh]

Jojoba Oil Revisited

Yet another awesome thread. Pueppi I will try Natural Solutions [oops, I meant Natural Formulations! thanks pueppi]. My question: One of you mentions that it does not go rancid. I've been hesitant to buy in bulk for that reason---but it sounds like I can take the plunge! Has anyone have a bad experience with old jojoba (i.e. has anyone found it changes smell or texture over time)?

 

[2010]

Jojoba Oil Revisited

Yet another awesome thread. Pueppi I will try Natural Solutions.

FWIW, I use "Natural Formulations". Just don't want you to get something you don't like and think it was the same company. *winks*