Rowan & Thistle

PLATE No. 009

Ingredient Collection

Black Cumin CO2

Nigella sativa

Botanical plate of Black Cumin (Nigella sativa): a plant with feathery leaves and pale blue and white flowers, a single blue flower, a ribbed seed capsule, an open capsule spilling black seeds, a scatter of seeds, and an amber drop of Black Cumin CO₂.

Figure Key

  • Fig. 1 Black Cumin Plant (Nigella sativa)
  • Fig. 2 Black Cumin Flower
  • Fig. 3 Black Cumin Seed Capsule
  • Fig. 4 Open Black Cumin Seed Capsule
  • Fig. 5 Black Cumin Seeds
  • Fig. 6 Black Cumin CO₂

The Ingredient

Black Cumin CO₂ is a concentrated extract made from the small black seeds ofNigella sativa. The seeds are naturally rich in fatty acids—the nourishing components of plant oils that help soften skin, reduce moisture loss, and condition dry hair. Black cumin also contains distinctive plant compounds, including thymoquinone, that make this tiny seed unusually interesting for both skin and scalp care.

From Plant to Ingredient

  1. Black Cumin CO2, step 1 — Seed Capsule: a ribbed, balloon-shaped seed capsule crowned with curling horns above feathery bracts.

    1. Seed Capsule

    After flowering, black cumin develops distinctive horned capsules that hold the seeds.

  2. Black Cumin CO2, step 2 — Black Cumin Seeds: a scatter of small angular black seeds.

    2. Black Cumin Seeds

    Inside the mature capsules are the small, dark seeds used to produce the extract.

  3. Black Cumin CO2, step 3 — Black Cumin CO₂: an amber-red drop of the extract.

    3. Black Cumin CO₂

    The seeds yield a concentrated golden-brown botanical extract containing their naturally occurring oils and plant compounds.

Why We Chose It

Black Cumin CO₂ gives us rich conditioning from a surprisingly small seed. It helps dry skin feel softer and more comfortable while also conditioning the scalp and dry, rough-feeling hair. Its combination of nourishing fatty acids and naturally occurring plant compounds makes it especially useful when we want an ingredient that can support both skin and hair.

What You'll Notice

  • Softer Skin — Helps dry or rough-feeling skin feel softer and more comfortable.
  • Less Dryness — Its fatty acids help reduce moisture loss and support a more conditioned feel.
  • Softer Hair — Helps dry, rough-feeling strands feel smoother and better conditioned.
  • Scalp Conditioning — Helps keep the scalp feeling conditioned and comfortable.

Botanical Profile

Scientific Name
Nigella sativa
INCI Name
Nigella Sativa Seed Extract
Plant Part Used
Seeds
Final Ingredient
CO₂ Extract
Origin
Egypt

A Closer Look

One of the compounds that makes black cumin particularly distinctive is thymoquinone, a naturally occurring component of the seed that has been the subject of considerable scientific study. But it isn't the only thing captured in this extract. A CO₂ total extract carries over both the seed's nourishing oils and some of its naturally occurring aromatic compounds, giving the finished ingredient a broader snapshot of what was present inside the seed than a single isolated compound would provide.

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