Monoi de Tahiti - Polynesian Paradise For Your Skin

Think of where various plant oils originate from: soybean and corn oils suggest images of Midwestern cornfields, sweet almond hails from California, olive from Italy, sesame and moringa from India, and Monoi de Tahiti from the South Pacific. Monoi, which translates as 'scented oil,' comes exclusively from Tahitian coconuts. The genus of Cocos nucifera that grows in this island brings to mind images of coconuts, but also the native flower, Gardenia tahitensis. Similar to jasmine, the white petals of this flower also have a distinct sweet floral aroma that some find reminiscent of another sultry flower that thrives in a hot, humid environment: tuberose. The Tahitian gardenia contains seven petals and is used by natives to decorate their hair. The scent is used naturally as the closed gardenia blossoms are placed into a bowl of water and their scentual magic is gradually dispensed. Additionally, the gardenia's buds are turned into leis. Of all the Tahitian flowers, the one used most for traditional medicine is the Tiare Gardenia. Yet the moisturizing properties that come from using Tiare flowers in the making of monoi oil are its most remarkable and famous application. Tiare Flowers While the tiare flower is distinctive from the aroma of the fresh coconuts, which serve as the base for Monoi de Tahiti, this wonderful version of gardenia also contains soothing, purifying, and skin helping properties. The tiare flowers are soaked in the refined coconut oil for approximately two weeks, their lovely and healthy fragrances intermingling to form this lovely skincare product. Coconut According to the Monoi Institute: "The oil is obtained from naturally-dried coconuts of the Cocos Nuciferas variety growing exclusively on the coral soil of French Polynesia. It is extracted at the first pressing with no added chemicals. The raw oil thus obtained is then refined." Coconut oil is also remarkably stable and this long shelf life is attributed to the high amounts (up to 50%) of lauric acid content since the saturated fatty acid helps stave off oxidation and spoiling. Another benefit is the fact that coconuts contain antimicrobial properties. Appellation Since Monoi de Tahiti is becoming increasingly popular, there are many online and offline imitators. A way to ascertain that the Monoi de Tahiti is from Polynesia is to see if the product contains an appellation logo. "The name, Mono