Simmondsia chinensis
✾ The Skin Mimic
Origins: A liquid wax pressed from the seeds of a desert shrub native to the Sonoran Desert of the southwestern U.S. and northwestern Mexico.
Source: Technically not an oil at all. Jojoba is about 97% wax esters, which is why it behaves so differently from other plant oils.
Character: Silky and lightweight. Golden jojoba has a faint nutty scent; clear jojoba is odorless.
One of the closest plant-based matches to the skin’s natural sebum, making it a staple in skincare. It absorbs easily, helping to balance and support the skin without heaviness.
ꕥ Why We Love It
Skin: Compositionally similar to skin’s natural sebum, it softens and smooths and supports the skin barrier.
Feel: Lightweight, fast-absorbing and non-greasy, leaving skin feeling balanced rather than heavy.
For most skin types: Won’t clog pores for most people and is gentle enough for sensitive and acne-prone skin.
Shelf life: Naturally stable with a long shelf life, and contains natural vitamin E.
⚘ A Closer Look
Desert roots.
Jojoba was traditionally used by the O’odham and other Indigenous peoples of the Sonoran Desert for skin and hair care.
Half wax.
Jojoba seeds are roughly 50% liquid wax by weight, which makes the shrub remarkably productive.
A gift to whales.
After the U.S. banned sperm whale oil imports in 1971, jojoba became a sustainable, plant-based liquid wax alternative.
Golden or clear.
Golden (unrefined) jojoba has a deeper color and retains more natural components. Clear (refined) jojoba is neutral and consistent, so it won’t interfere with other aromas.
✧ Good to Know
Patch test first. Reactions to jojoba are rare but possible.
For skin, not the kitchen. Jojoba is a wax our bodies can’t digest, so it isn’t a cooking oil.
✦ Common Questions
Is jojoba an oil or a wax?
Technically a wax. Jojoba is about 97% liquid wax esters, which is why it behaves differently from most plant oils and stays stable for so long.
Will jojoba clog pores?
For most people, no. Jojoba is considered low on the pore-clogging scale and is a common choice for sensitive and acne-prone skin, though every skin is different.
What’s the difference between golden and clear jojoba?
Golden jojoba is unrefined, with a deeper color, a faint nutty scent and more of its natural components. Clear jojoba is refined to be neutral and consistent, so it won’t interfere with other aromas.
❀ Find It In
Jojoba appears in these ZenStream blends.
-
Harmonia Facial Oil Duo$56.00 -
Bodhi Butter | Bare$24.00 -
Bodhi Butter | Heartstone$24.00 -
Bodhi Oil – Heartstone 1 oz | Botanical Bath & Body Oil$18.00 -
Bodhi Oil – Heartstone 4 oz | Botanical Bath & Body Oil$34.00 -
Plumberry Silk | Daily Facial Oil$30.00 -
Stillpoint | Aromatherapy Roll-On$18.00 -
Evermoon | Aromatherapy Roll-On$22.00 -
Flow State | Aromatherapy Roll-On$18.00 -
Bodhi Butter | Botanical Body Butter$24.00
