Morocco’s “liquid gold” — an oil pressed from the seeds of a tree so hardy that it lives on the edge of the Sahara.

What is argan oil?

Argan oil is produced from the seeds of the argan tree (Argania spinosa), a thorny evergreen that can live for 200 years. Inside each fruit is a very hard nut holding two or three seeds; a litre of oil takes around 30 kilos of fruit and many hours of work, often still by hand. Cosmetic argan oil is cold-pressed from unroasted seeds. It consists mainly of oleic and linoleic acid and is rich in tocopherols (vitamin E), phytosterols and squalene.

What are the benefits of argan oil?

Argan is one of the most balanced oils for skin and hair. Applied topically it:

• Nourishes and softens dry skin without feeling heavy
• Supports the skin’s protective barrier with linoleic acid
• Offers vitamin E and phytosterols with antioxidant activity
• Gives softness and shine to hair
• Suits dry, mature and sensitive skin

The tree of the goats

In south-western Morocco goats climb into the branches of the argan tree to eat its fruit — one of the country’s most famous sights. Making the oil is traditionally the work of Berber women, and today it is largely carried out by women’s cooperatives. The argan forest has been designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, because it holds the desert back from farmland.

Where does it come from?

The argan tree grows almost exclusively in south-western Morocco, in the area between Agadir, Essaouira and the Anti-Atlas mountains. Almost all the world’s argan oil is produced there.