Rowan & Thistle

PLATE No. 036

Ingredient Collection

Jojoba

Simmondsia chinensis

Botanical plate of Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis): a branch of paired, leathery blue-green leaves carrying green fruit, beside a pale female flower, a cluster of male flowers, a fruit splitting open on the branch, a glossy brown seed and a fruit cut lengthwise to show the seed.

Figure Key

  • Fig. 1 Female flower
  • Fig. 2 Male flower cluster
  • Fig. 3 Immature fruit
  • Fig. 4 Mature fruit opening on the branch
  • Fig. 5 Mature jojoba seed
  • Fig. 6 Longitudinal section of the fruit showing the seed

The Ingredient

Jojoba may look and feel like an oil, but botanically it’s something more unusual: a liquid wax. Produced inside the seeds of a desert shrub, its natural structure is remarkably similar to the waxy substances found on our own skin. That unusual makeup gives jojoba its lightweight feel and affinity for both skin and hair.

From Plant to Ingredient

  1. Jojoba, step 1 — Flower: a pale cream jojoba flower with yellow-tipped stamens.

    1. Flower

    After pollination, the flower begins developing into fruit.

  2. Jojoba, step 2 — Fruit: a jojoba fruit with its husk peeled back around the pale developing seed.

    2. Fruit

    The developing fruit surrounds and protects the growing seed.

  3. Jojoba, step 3 — Seed: a single glossy red-brown jojoba seed.

    3. Seed

    The mature seed is naturally rich in liquid wax.

  4. Jojoba, step 4 — Jojoba Liquid Wax: a small pool of golden liquid wax.

    4. Jojoba Liquid Wax

    The seed yields the golden liquid commonly known as jojoba oil.

Why We Chose It

Lightweight and exceptionally versatile, jojoba helps soften and condition without leaving skin or hair feeling heavily coated. It supports moisture retention, helps smooth dry-feeling skin and hair, and works beautifully where balance matters—providing conditioning without an overly rich finish.

What You'll Notice

  • Lightweight Conditioning — Softens skin and hair without a heavy, greasy feel.
  • Moisture Support — Helps reduce moisture loss and ease dry, rough-feeling skin.
  • Smoother Hair — Helps soften and smooth dry hair for a more conditioned feel.

Botanical Profile

Scientific Name
Simmondsia chinensis
INCI Name
Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil
Plant Part Used
Seed
Final Ingredient
Liquid Wax
Origin
Arizona, USA

A Closer Look

Despite its name, jojoba oil isn’t actually an oil—it’s a liquid wax. Its seeds produce wax esters, compounds similar to those found naturally in the protective oils on our skin. This unusual structure is part of what gives jojoba its distinctive lightweight, silky feel.

Products Featuring Jojoba Featured In

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