Odacite Jasmine Blueberry and Rose Pomegranate

Claims of something being all-natural and organic aren’t a selling point for me. Not only do I find the pseudo-science and scaremongering that often come as part of the organic bundle off-putting, I have enough familiarity with the beauty industry not to take any breathless promises seriously. It doesn’t mean that there aren’t wonderful brands out there who take their organic ethos seriously and provide excellent products. But organic or not, you still have to read the ingredient labels and take any claims with a grain of salt.

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If I would have come across Odacité via its site that hypes the toxin-free, chemical-free aspect of the line, I might have skipped it. Luckily, I learned about it from a friend whose recommendations have never misled me. Odacité’s core comprises blends of oils, mostly exotic varieties such as blueberry seed, pomegranate, baobab or black cumin, and if you’re looking for a hydrating oil-based serum to add to your skincare, they’re a good choice.

The four blends I tried so far–Pomegranate + Rose Geranium, Wild Carrot, Baobab + Sarsaparilla, Blueberry + Jasmine–have been very good. Odacité advertises them as targeting specific skin needs, from hydration to brightening, but on my combination skin they feel nearly identical. I use them in the evening as the last layer of my skincare routine, and they absorb instantly, leaving my skin soft but not, as one might expect, oily. In the morning I wake up to a smooth, well-hydrated complexion.

Another reason I liked the oils is the scent. I prefer my skincare not to be artificially perfumed, but if the base ingredients have their own pleasant aromas, it adds to the experience. This is the case with Odacité, and falling asleep with the scents of ylang ylang, geranium or lavender is a small pleasure.

The downside of Odacité is the price, which is quite high for the amount of product you get. Of course, if you prefer unscented skincare, these won’t do.

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Hydration Serum Concentrate (Pomegranate + Rose Geranium)

My favorite blend and the one I repurchased twice. Not only does it have a pleasing velvety texture, it also smells of true rose geranium–wild roses and sea breeze. Pomegranate + Rose Geranium is good year round but especially so during winter when my skin is drier and more capricious.

Ingredients: “Highest-grade cold-pressed certified virgin organic Pomegranate (Punica granatum) oil, Certified organic Rose Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) essential oil, Certified GMO-free Vitamin E (Tocopherols) oil.” £33

Vital Glow Serum Concentrate (Wild Carrot)

I use only one drop of Wild Carrot oil mixed with rosewater, because this serum is a rich potion. The scent is like iris on steroids, somewhat of an acquired taste. But the luminous skin is worth it.

Ingredients: “Highest-grade cold-pressed certified Wild Carrot (Daucus carota) oil, Certified GMO-free Vitamin E (Tocopherols)” oil £45

Eye Contour Serum Concentrate (Baobab + Sarsaparilla)

A light serum with a herbal-lavender fragrance. I used it all over my face and under eyes, and I liked its dry oil texture. The only reason I won’t repurchase is that Pomegranate + Rose Geranium achieves the same hydrating and smoothing effect and with a more interesting scent.

Ingredients: “Highest-grade cold-pressed certified virgin wildcrafted Baobab (Adansonia digitata) seed oil, Sarsaparilla, Palmarosa, Lavender, Neroli, Roman chamomile, Sandalwood, Geranium, Bisabolol (Hemidesmus indicus, Cymbopogon martinii, Lavandula angustifolia, Citrus aurantium, Anthemis nobilis, Santalum spicatum, Pelargonium graveolens, Vanillomopsis erythropappa) essential oils, Certified GMO free Vitamin E (Tocopherols) oil.” £33

Cell Energy Serum Concentrate (Blueberry + Jasmine)

I can’t figure out what cell energy this serum is meant to activate. On the whole, it’s a nice blend of oils that will soften and hydrate. It doesn’t smell like jasmine, though. The blend relies heavily on ylang ylang oil, and the fragrance is rich with notes of green banana peel and wintergreen. In comparison to Pomegranate + Rose Geranium, Blueberry + Jasmine serums feels lighter, which makes it better for warm, humid weather. A word of caution, however: depending on the components of your other skincare products, ylang ylang can turn mildly sulphuric.

Ingredients: “Highest-grade cold-pressed certified organic Vaccinium corymbosum (Blueberry) seed oil, Jasminum sambac (jasmine) flower oil, Litsea cubeda fruit oil, Acacia decurrens (mimosa) flower extract, Certified organic Ylang-Ylang (Cananga odorata) oil, Certified GMO-free Vitamin E (Tocopherols) oil.” £36

Availability in Europe: cultbeauty.co.uk and naturisimo.com. In the US: directly from the Odacité website, Nordstrom.

Do you use face oils? Do you have any favorites?

Photography by Bois de Jasmin, all rights reserved

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100 Comments

  • Kat: I like to use organic oils as well. I loved a dab of grape-seed oil in the morning (because it smells like bubbly white wine and that always cheered me up) but my favorite brand has stopped selling it and I haven’t found an alternative yet. Right now I’m using Zoya Goes Pretty’s Camellia & Rose Roll On around my eyes. They’ve got other variants but that’s my favorite. August 4, 2016 at 8:00am Reply

    • Victoria: I use grape seed oil mixed with rosewater as a body lotion of sorts, and yes, it’s a very good oil. August 4, 2016 at 12:12pm Reply

      • Kat: I gave a bottle of grape seed oil mixed with sunflower oil to my sister who had had back surgery for post-op treatment. Her physiotherapist was over the moon how well everything had healed and that there was almost no scar tissue. When my sister told her that she had used grape seed oil the comment was ‘Well, that’s luxury!’ August 4, 2016 at 1:36pm Reply

        • Victoria: Hmm, not even sure what she meant, since grape seed oil is not more expensive than an average body lotion. August 4, 2016 at 1:54pm Reply

          • Kat: That made me laugh. Definitely not where I live. I wish it were the case though. August 4, 2016 at 6:10pm Reply

            • Victoria: I paid around 15 euros for a liter of organic grapeseed oil at my local bio store. Also, aroma-zone.com ships all over Europe, and it has very reasonable prices specifically on grape seed oil (12,90 € for 1 L). August 5, 2016 at 5:30am Reply

  • Sandra: Hi Victoria-thanks for the article. Does this brand provide samples? Is it for sensitive skin? I will check the website.
    I use oils, mostly oils for my skincare routine other then sunblock, which is the only cream I put on my face. In the winter months I may mix cream with lotion.
    I am a fan of Kypris, which has some really lovely oils, I use them almost exclusively and the smell is divine.Their moonlight catalyst and Beauty Elixir I is my favorite products.

    Another oil I have tried is from a small store in NYC called Marble & Milkweed (also one of the most beautiful instagram feeds I have ever seen) and I have tried their rose face oil and cleansing balms/scrubs/cleaners. August 4, 2016 at 8:13am Reply

    • Sandra: Forgot to mention my favorite oil is Jojoba. I use it on my babies, on my skin, to remove make up. I always have a bottle handy.

      I also own one of Guerlains facial oils from their honey line, its more of a watery down oil serum..not sure if it does anything but the scent is amazing. August 4, 2016 at 8:24am Reply

      • Victoria: Jojoba is a great all-purpose oil, and I use it too in the same way as these oils.

        Some Guerlain skincare smells so good that I want it as perfume, but it’s too strongly scented to have on my face. August 4, 2016 at 12:16pm Reply

    • Caroline: Have you tried the Kypris Body Elixir? Sounds great, I wonder if it’s a glass bottle? August 4, 2016 at 8:27am Reply

      • Sandra: Yes I have- only a sample and it was very nice. I am sure it’s in a glass bottle, all of her stuff is that I have purchased August 4, 2016 at 11:12am Reply

    • Victoria: I’m not sure. I ended up sampling them at my friend’s house and then buying whatever I liked the most. Since they’re in the US, they might have more options for the customers there. August 4, 2016 at 12:13pm Reply

      • Sandra: V-I am curious to know what your opinion of the “green beauty movement”is? There are several places now, even in the city that offer all “natural” organic makeup, perfume, skin care etc etc. Even celebrities like Gwyenth Paltrow are jumping on this with “green beauty” products.. August 4, 2016 at 2:56pm Reply

        • Victoria: Very sceptical. Of course, there are very good brands that are trustworthy, but there is plenty of green washing in the beauty industry. I saw a brand offering face masks made with “the same ingredients found in your fridge.” Well, let’s skirt the subject of how one would stabilize perishable ingredients to make them last for months and focus on the main part–why should I pay $70 for a yogurt and banana mask when they’re already in my fridge? August 4, 2016 at 3:32pm Reply

          • rainboweyes: I agree, you have to look very carefully, there are plenty of brands such as Korres and the like who label themselves “natural” and “green” but use a lot of ingredients that are not allowed in certified organic cosmetics. August 4, 2016 at 3:47pm Reply

            • Victoria: I was thinking of Korres, among others. (But I do like their Jasmine shower gel.) August 4, 2016 at 4:39pm Reply

        • Sandra: I appreciate your opinion! August 4, 2016 at 4:35pm Reply

    • Gretchen: I’m a fan of marble and milkweed, too, and she provides samples! I also really like Kari Gran’s oils – her blends are neither too rich, nor too dry, but they aren’t quite enough for me in winter (since she’s from Seattle, her rainy temperate climate doesn’t require the hard-core moisture like mine does). What I like about the organic/natural oils and skincare is the lack of preservatives (with sensitive skin, they can make me itch), and the natural smell is more subtle. For lasting scent, give me my Guerlain and 50 some-odd other non-organic fragrances! August 4, 2016 at 8:13pm Reply

      • Victoria: If you haven’t tried Odacite’s Wild Carrot oil, then beware, the smell is anything but subtle! But I grew to like it. August 5, 2016 at 5:30am Reply

      • Sandra: I have sensitive skin also-the Kypris line and Marble & Milkweed so far have had no reactions on my skin, where as products like Guerlain, Clarins, Lancome and other brands have had some pretty bad reactions on my face August 5, 2016 at 7:04am Reply

  • Caroline: Discovered that the Nordstrom site in the U.S. carries a number of these oils. Sounds intriguing, thanks for the info. August 4, 2016 at 8:16am Reply

    • Victoria: At least, it should be possible to sample them then. August 4, 2016 at 12:14pm Reply

  • parker scout: Thanks for the review! Never heard about this brand but it sounds great.
    I use oils quite often, mostly as serum. Jojoba when my skin (combinated and a bit dehydrated in winter) needs simplicity, rosehip oil mixed with aloe vera gel during the summer, but the one I really love is wheat germ oil. I love how it smells, the golden colour… the last I am testing is rice oil and it seems similar. August 4, 2016 at 9:00am Reply

    • Victoria: Rose hip oil is another favorite, and it’s so versatile. I also like camellia seed oil–light and pleasant to use. August 4, 2016 at 12:18pm Reply

  • Austenfan: “I can’t figure out what cell energy this serum is meant to activate.”
    This made me giggle!

    My best “bodylotion” is Almond oil, and my best night cream is borage oil. Although beauty (and health) claims are always fun to read, it’s indeed best not to believe too much of what we are told. August 4, 2016 at 9:15am Reply

    • Victoria: I imagine how hard you’d laugh over an email I’ve received from Sisley advertising some sort of sound, spirituality and skincare workshop. “The vibrational quality of sound resonates with every part of our being, down to a cellular level which makes it so critical in healing stress, anxiety and nearly any ailment impacting the mind and body.” August 4, 2016 at 12:20pm Reply

      • Austenfan: I think I’ll join that workshop! 😉 It sounds just my thing. August 4, 2016 at 1:05pm Reply

        • Victoria: They also have one on Capitalism and Mindfulness coming up. No, I’m not kidding! August 4, 2016 at 1:52pm Reply

          • MaureenC: Capitalism and Mindfullness!!! Well that just sums it up. The therapy industry is pretty similar to the “natural” beauty industry a small number of ethical, talented practitioners swimming in a sea of commercialised crap. Mindfulness is a great therapeutic approach which has been thoroughly bastardised for profit!! August 5, 2016 at 4:15am Reply

            • Victoria: From their email:
              “Whether you’re an avid capitalist or you simply want to live more consciously, this Capitalism with Soul Mixer will be a refreshing and unique lens to look through the paradigm of business from.”
              As a friend commented, their version of capitalism comes with moisturization and a gift with purpose (discount for all Sisley products for the evening, should one remain conscious after “an informative, eye-opening, and soul inspiring conversation around finance, business and mindful living.”)

              Niche perfumery is not much different. There are only a few outstanding brands that offer unusual, high-quality products. The label alone doesn’t guarantee anything. August 5, 2016 at 5:39am Reply

              • Sandra: This is Sisley paris..the skincare/makeup line? You can’t be serious.
                oh boy.. August 7, 2016 at 6:56pm Reply

                • Victoria: Yes! I had to double check that it was indeed from them, but yes, it was. August 8, 2016 at 12:29pm Reply

      • Gretchen: (major eye roll on the “cellular level”). The only thing about sound that soothes me to that level is a Tibetan bowl – how can that thing serve to calm me like a lullaby? August 4, 2016 at 8:15pm Reply

        • Victoria: Yes, that’s the example of the kind of stuff I can’t stand. Pity that Sisley, a company whose skincare I very much like, went along with this trend.

          It’s like the sound of cat’s purring. There is something so soothing about it. August 5, 2016 at 5:33am Reply

          • Austenfan: Or the sound a horse makes when it’s relaxed. I don’t know what it’s called in English, or Dutch for that matter, but it’s a great sound. Even just hearing them walk is sort of soothing. I guess a lot of big animals are, their heart rate is slower, as is their breathing so maybe that accounts for it. Mind you, meeting a herd of wild buffalo would not quite have the same effect. August 5, 2016 at 12:40pm Reply

            • Victoria: I can relate to that too. There is a British store we visit, and a farm near it has horses. Walking down the path past them as they graze feel relaxing. August 6, 2016 at 9:32am Reply

  • Connie: I just rely on my mix of grapes send oil and frankincense and myrrh oil blend. A lot of companies charge an outrageous price for some products because they do elaborate packaging to attract a consumer eye. Some of the oils you see in those products are very costly to purchase, so they are price pointing you based on this. Oils are very good for the skin but most natural cleansers and serums can be made at a minimum price for the consumer. I dislike the way the beauty industry has taken to gouging consumers on beauty products. August 4, 2016 at 9:58am Reply

    • Victoria: True, all of the claims of “natural” being better and “organic” being more “effective”–nevermind that nobody can verify what one exactly means by natural or organic–don’t make sense. Plus, according to the EU laws you can call a molecule natural if it was produced by yeasts or bacteria and not if the same identical molecule is produced synthetically. But that’s a whole other topic.

      Your blend sounds great. August 4, 2016 at 12:34pm Reply

  • Hamamelis: Great to read a skincare post! I do prefer organic skincare, but take any promises with lots of salt. Since I try not to buy any perfumes blind anymore, I try not to buy any skincare blind either. At the moment I am testing Yverum, a hyaluronic & oil based cream which does a great job so far but it is a bit heavy and probably will do better in winter. I will surely try these oils, a nice scent is a pro (and the carrotty one has me all interested). Thank you for testing and sharing! August 4, 2016 at 10:03am Reply

    • Victoria: I would repurchase only Rose Pomegranate and Carrot. I grew to like the metallic iris scent of wild carrot (in fact, it does share some of the same components with orris butter.) August 4, 2016 at 12:36pm Reply

    • rainboweyes: Dear Hamamelis, I sent you samples of two Odacité oils a while ago, have you tried them?
      Don’t remember which ones, though… (Acai+Rose and Carrot, I think…) August 4, 2016 at 3:51pm Reply

      • Hamamelis: Dear Rainboweyes, thank you so much for reminding me! I think I put them away in a special place to be used at a special occasion…Do you used them? I thought I mention Yverum here, because you might like it (if you don’t know it already). I will mail you soon! August 4, 2016 at 4:27pm Reply

        • rainboweyes: 🙂
          I’ve tried Yverum but my skin didn’t love the alcohol in it… I’ve switched to Hyapur now (which basically has the same ingredients – water + hylauronic acid + silver but no alcohol…)
          I’ve been using Odacité a lot (see my below comment). I got my samples from Naturisimo (based in UK, with Europe-wide free shipping). August 4, 2016 at 4:45pm Reply

  • Liz: What timing and how interesting Victoria! I have just hit publish on a blog post about botanical oils in skincare. You are right, there is hype in this market as much as any other sector of the beauty industry. I feel that some brands do put a hefty price tag on because they claim so many different oils are present in their products.

    The issue is that some expensive oils are really only present in minuscule amounts – just so the name can go on the promo literature and labels. One must indeed read the labels as hawk-eyed as on non-organic or ‘natural’ skincare. If jojoba (which is cheap and beneficial) is the main ingredient, one must decide if the rest of the more expensive oils within are worth the price.

    The combinations in Odacite’ sound intriguing and I think, like you, I’d prefer the pomegranate and rose geranium, for those scents alone. I will certainly see if I can check it out – perhaps a tester only for now! August 4, 2016 at 10:54am Reply

    • Victoria: A good point! I like jojoba, but I don’t want to pay 50£ for it. August 4, 2016 at 12:37pm Reply

  • Lifestyle Lodestar: I love essential oils and oil based skincare too, although less so in summer, currently Kiehls midnight recovery concentrate is a firm favourite. The evening primose and lavender oil helps me drift off to sleep…
    Would love to try these Odacite products although you’re right the price tag is unforgiving. August 4, 2016 at 11:19am Reply

    • Victoria: They might be less expensive in the US, but all the same, pricey. I get 3-4 months out of each bottle, since a drop is enough for my combination skin. August 4, 2016 at 12:39pm Reply

  • AN: I went through a phase were I wanted my skin care to be ‘natural’. And as a red from this I had rashes and horrible eczema. There is so much chemophobia about beauty products, but every plant based ingredient is made of chemical compounds. I learned fragrant plant oils and extracts like lavender were reeking havoc on my skin just as I can’t use products with fragrance from chemicals. And skin irritation can also be under the surface which you don’t see right away but is causing damage. I learned what I can and can’t use and have been rash free for years. I use products with a lot of good ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, antioxidants, non-fragrant plant oils, peptides, and more. I am sure your products are lovely and cosmetically elegant and good for you if you can use them, but they aren’t for everyone. August 4, 2016 at 12:07pm Reply

    • Victoria: Very true. No skincare product is made to suit all skins, despite claims to the contrary. Eczema and rosacea can be extremely hard to control, so one has to be even more careful with what one puts on one’s face. August 4, 2016 at 12:41pm Reply

  • brenda: My comment may seem horrifying – but, here goes. I was going through a very tiring and physical move – single-handedly moving myself out of a two story house after almost thirty years. Many of my favorite grooming products had been scaled down or packed and my hands were sore, rough and aching at the end of one particular day. I was desperate – and after a warm bath – I reached for the extra virgin olive oil from the kitchen cupboard and just started rubbing a small dab into my hands. It warmed to my temperature – and did the job perfectly – hydrating, soothing, and relaxing…thank you to plain and simple EVOO! August 4, 2016 at 3:10pm Reply

    • Victoria: I missed the horrifying part. 🙂 Olive oil has been used for centuries for skincare (using it for food is very recent.) I like it myself very much, especially in the winter when lighter oils like almond or grapeseed aren’t enough. If I really want to treat myself, I give myself a honey-sugar scrub, soak in a bath with some milk and then rub olive oil into damp skin. Perfect! But I break out if I use it on my face. August 4, 2016 at 3:25pm Reply

  • rainboweyes: Not horrified either 😉
    I do pretty much the same all the time – I use avocado, coconut, borage, almond, poppy seed, apricot kernel, plum kernel and passion fruit oil both in my kitchen and bathroom! I’ve even created my own replica of the pomegranate + rose geranium oil using my pomegranate oil I use for cooking + essential geranium oil 🙂 August 4, 2016 at 3:57pm Reply

    • rainboweyes: Oops, this comment was meant for Brenda… August 4, 2016 at 4:01pm Reply

    • Victoria: Where do you get these oils? I’m especially intrigued by poppyseed, passion fruit and pomegranate. August 4, 2016 at 4:40pm Reply

      • rainboweyes: From Ölmühle Solling in Germany:

        https://www.oelmuehle-solling.de/ August 4, 2016 at 4:48pm Reply

        • rainboweyes: I just realized their website is available in German only but if you scroll down the page you’ll find an English catalogue which you can download. August 4, 2016 at 5:15pm Reply

        • Victoria: Thank you very much! As always, you’re such a mine of knowledge. August 5, 2016 at 5:21am Reply

  • Deborah: A friend made me a body butter with solid coconut, fragranced with lavender and something else. I’ve heard coconut oil is great for you in lots of ways. What experiences and opinions do you have about using solid coconut oil for body moisturizing? Thank you all you generous smarties! August 4, 2016 at 4:07pm Reply

    • Victoria: An old time favorite. I just use it plain, or else I infuse a small piece of vanilla bean in a jar of coconut oil. It marries with rich scents really well. I apply it on damp skin after shower. August 4, 2016 at 4:43pm Reply

      • rainboweyes: What a great idea of infusing it with a vanilla bean! I’ll add a piece of tonka bean too! August 4, 2016 at 5:21pm Reply

        • Victoria: Just don’t add too much, because tonka bean can be irritating to skin. A tiny amount will be enough to scent a jar of oil, though. August 5, 2016 at 5:21am Reply

      • JoDee: Wonderful idea. I will do this to some coconut oil this weekend. Can’t wait to use it! August 6, 2016 at 10:38am Reply

  • rainboweyes: How funny! I’ve tried the same oils as you and Pomegranate + Geranium is my favourite one too. And just as you, I mostly loved it during winter. I also had the Camelina + Chamomile blend which was nice but I’m not sure I would repurchase it. I also had I sample of An Autumn On The World (with 15% of vitamin C) which I loved but I’m not sure if it’s worth the price…
    I use a lot of facial oils during colder weather – besides Odacité my favourite oils are prickly pear seed oil by Kahina (it’s the smoothest oil I’ve ever had) and the Face Serum by QMilk based on ghee.
    I usually don’t use oils in the summer but last year I had a wonderful, very light summer oil called Aube d’Eté by Douces Angevines.

    As to organics skincare, I’ve been using it for seventeen years now and would never switch to “conventinal” cosmetics again. Of course you shouldn’t expect wonders, it’s not a cure to every skin problem (quite the contrary, even, if you have sensitive skin you have to be careful with essential oils) but you are unlikely to find such ingredients as mineral oil, silicone, hormone disruptors and other nasties in organic products (at least in the certified ones). August 4, 2016 at 4:37pm Reply

    • rainboweyes: Oh, I almost forgot my newest discovery – the Mangosteen Beauty Drops by SkinOwl. I’d buy them for the scent alone but the texture is wonderful too. August 4, 2016 at 5:24pm Reply

      • Victoria: I will have to add it onto my list for when I finish my oils. There is so much written about these exotic oils, mangosteen and baobab, but I wonder what makes them really better than jojoba or almond oil. What’s your experience? August 5, 2016 at 5:24am Reply

        • rainboweyes: To be honest, I don’t think they make that much difference 😉
          It’s probably the same as with most so-called “superfoods” – chia, goji, etc. – for all of them you are likely to find a less pricey and easily accessible equivalent (flaxseed, black currant etc.). I think prickly pear might be one of the few exceptions where I really do see a difference. Otherwise, less exotic oils such as pomegranate or avocado do a great job for much less money. And apparently, due to more transparent sourcing, harvesting and processing, domestic oils are less likely to be contaminated.
          There’s a very informational website (in German) on oils and other cosmetic ingredients I love to consult whenever I buy a new kind of oil: http://www.olionatura.de/_oele/index.php?id=42&menue=a-e August 7, 2016 at 6:56am Reply

          • Victoria: A pharmacist at my local drugstore reminded me that some exotic oils go rancid much quicker. Your comments are helpful and honest, as always. August 8, 2016 at 12:28pm Reply

          • Brenda Farrell: Hmmm is there a way to translate to English? :-/ February 3, 2018 at 3:06pm Reply

    • Victoria: What I don’t like about Odacite is that many of their oil blends have citrus extracts, which can be irritating. But Rose and Pomegranate oil is very good, and I’m happy to add it to my routine.

      I avoid mineral oils and silicones in all skincare. Understanding organic chemistry and an experience in the beauty industry do help in selecting the proper skincare, because you realize how much nonsense there is out there, in all areas of this business. August 5, 2016 at 5:19am Reply

      • Brenda Farrell: I add a drop of tea tree oil into my creamer-size bathroom supply of avacado or olive (cooking) oil, in hopes of keeping out nasties ~ but I guess nothing helps prevent rancidity?

        I notice some additives from Formulator’s Warehouse in some of the more expensive blends like Jurlique, but not in Kahina… I’ve dabbled every winter making my own “Dream Cream” blend for teacher’s christmas gifts, using shea, olive, squalane, fragranced w/ orange blossom & jasmine essential oils — consistency hybrid of a body butter/lotion — that friends asked to repurchase (No! Time consuming & expensive in my kitchen mixer;). Once a year, small batches for teachers/close friends). At any rate, some of the preservatives on Formulator’s Warehouse seem less toxic than others… and Jurlique’s oil seems to contain those. [They also have an easy Vit C /hyaluronic serum recipe to make much more inexpensively than OTC, but do add preservative plus ferulic acid).

        Yes, I like to dabble blending these potions up, customizing etc. but also love to buy & try anything that looks like they can put it together better/less costly than I can. Mixing Almond/Jojoba/olive/avacado oil no big deal, but it’s all the other more exotic add-ins & of course more complex fragrances (since quality essential oils not cheap)… some also add triglycerides, & few other things as well.

        Currently lusting after Kahina’s $98 200 ML bottle of Fez Oil, as I’m getting into Dry Brushing for circulation…

        SO wish I could join you Victoria in April, in France! February 3, 2018 at 3:21pm Reply

        • rainboweyes: For water-free formulations you can use a drop of vitamin E as a preservative.
          As far as I know there‘s no English version of the Olionatura website, sorry 🙁 February 4, 2018 at 3:00pm Reply

          • B in Tx: Thanks for the tip… oh well! February 4, 2018 at 10:44pm Reply

    • Victoria: The whole Kahina line looks interesting. I just checked it out via Naturisimo (thank you, by the way, for mentioning it; I’m going to update the post with it.) August 5, 2016 at 5:20am Reply

      • rainboweyes: I love their body oils too, they are beautifully scented. For your update – Odacite products are also available at Being Content in London (beingcontent.com). August 7, 2016 at 6:12am Reply

  • Lavanya: I didn’t know you were an odacite fan! How fun! I love their Ac+R serum. You’d think it would smell of roses but it smells more of neroli to my nose (which it also contains). I need to try the pomegranate rose if you love it so much.

    Yes- I totally cringe at the way green beauty is marketed with all the fear mongering and ‘chemical-free’ claims. I think it does disservice to how lovely and effective some of these products actually are. I’ve been conscious of ingredients way before green beauty became a thing, mostly because I would read about every ingredient on the list to figure out what it did. I find that like anything from politics to veganism, people seem more militant and ideological (with a deep desire to convert people) in the early days of their obsession- lol. But I digress. August 5, 2016 at 9:42am Reply

    • Victoria: I’ve been using them on and off for some time. I also use plain oils like grapeseed or camellia, and a bottle lasts me for a very long time. I haven’t smelled/tried Ac + R, but I would imagine that it would costs far too much to scent oil with rose. Citrus covers up more of the oily, fatty base.

      Same here. Studying chemistry as part of my training made me pay more attention to skincare and learn about ingredients. It definitely improved my skin (and reduced how much I spend on skincare). As for your last point, I agree 100%. As someone who has been doing yoga and experimenting with veganism–because of an uncle who survived polio, a long story–before they were the IT thing, I doubly resent when someone tries to “convert” me. August 5, 2016 at 12:16pm Reply

      • Lavanya: Yes! I love camellia oil straight up too (especially camellia oleifera which is a bit more moisturising than the sinesis variety).

        The AcR actually has rose oil as the second ingredient (after Acai) which is why I thought it would smell rose-like, but it does contain neroli, jasmine and Ylang Ylang so maybe that’s why..:) August 5, 2016 at 1:57pm Reply

        • Victoria: I usually buy camellia oil from my local organic foods store, and they carry the camellia japonica oil. The same one that’s been used in Japan for centuries in skin and hair care.

          My mom just brought me some sea buckthorn oil, which is interesting. It’s yellow-orange in color and one drop seems to be enough (I mix it into my lotion). August 6, 2016 at 9:41am Reply

          • rainboweyesI: I made the mistake of using pure sea buckthorn oil on my face once 🙂
            Thanks God it was on a Sunday – I had to cleanse it six times before I finally got rid of the colour…. August 7, 2016 at 6:21am Reply

            • Victoria: I can just imagine! I suspect that the one I have isn’t 100% pure, because the color is not as intense as I thought it would be, but I nevertheless mixed 1 drop into my lotion. It didn’t stain. August 8, 2016 at 12:27pm Reply

  • Nicola: Dear Victoria – lovely post thank you! I received a Wild Carrot Odacite oil as part of a free gift with purchase (Cult Beauty) a year or two ago and was hooked – loved the smell (I love iris perfumes!) and the effect but it is spendy for the amount. I tried a Neroli one too (radiance) but it wasn’t as good for me – maybe there were citrus oils in it. The Pomegranate and Rose sounds lovely however and after a week in the SW France I feel in need of a bit more hydration…. like you I avoid silicones and mineral oils and the obvious nasties but I agree with other commentators above that “natural” and “organic” does not automatically equal – safely good for you!
    Hope you’re having a good summer – it’s been tricky in Europe hasn’t it….
    Nicola August 5, 2016 at 11:31am Reply

    • Victoria: So pleased to see that you also like these oils. And isn’t Cult Beauty great (and very dangerous)? 🙂

      Indeed, it has! But I’m envious of your holiday in the SW France–food, nature, sun (I hope). August 5, 2016 at 12:20pm Reply

  • Katya: I would definitely try your favourite one , sadly I did have a bottle of the eye one and on the two occasions I did use I woke up with very puffy eyes 😁😒, I used to buy organic cold pressed pomegranate oil a few years ago but the smell was so savoury – every time I wore it I craved “chebureki” – I swear the oil smelled so savoury it was a bit disturbing 😂😂😂
    Even my mum agreed, I also used to wear raspberry seed oil – apparently it has sun protection qualities 🤔
    My favourite oil at the moment is one made by the British brand Aurelia Probiotic Skinscare , it smells absolutely divine – neroli,lavender, rose and mandarin ; I really hope you are going to post more skincare posts in the future and especially looking forward to your sunscreen update 😍 August 5, 2016 at 12:41pm Reply

    • Victoria: Very funny about the pomegranate seed oil. I haven’t tried it pure, but I found some oils like camellia to have a mild, savory smell. Or something reminiscent of melted lard as they become more oxidized.

      A combination of neroli, lavender, rose and mandarin must smell wonderful. Yes, I will be sure to put a few more skincare themed articles. It’s a topic I love. August 6, 2016 at 9:36am Reply

  • Daisy: Oooh! I have been wanting to try these, but wasn’t sure which one to pick.

    I have pores that clog very easily, so most luxury face creams are not for me. Facial oils, on the other hand, work well. I have used Rodin’s Olio Lusso for a long time, but am always looking for alternatives. Thank you for the reviews! August 5, 2016 at 1:09pm Reply

    • Victoria: I have to be careful too with oils, but what I liked about these blends, especially the first two is how comfortable they feel on my skin. August 6, 2016 at 9:38am Reply

  • Marion: Oh yes, I adore using natural oils for skin care and for decades have made my own with almond, apricot, and coconut oil, scented with patchouli, ylang, lavender, a bit of castor oil adds adhesion, glycerine which needs to be shaken in before each use is moisturising ….. all those oils that in Australia you get at the health food store. More recently, twenty years, the wonderful rose hip oil has become available, and now argan, coco butter, olive wax, many others, are all easy to get. While I’m happy to blast myself with all aroma chemicals in the form of perfume, I am devoted to natural oil skin care! August 7, 2016 at 2:57am Reply

    • Victoria: Your own blend sounds so good, and it’s inspiring to learn how others use these oils. I like the idea of mixing in a little glycerine. August 8, 2016 at 12:26pm Reply

    • Brenda Farrell: Ah yes, I keep a bottle of both glycerine & squalane to add in to my cococonut/shea butter dream creams… I’ll have to try it in my avocado/olive oil! I get both from Formulator’s Warehouse, but have seen them in Whole Foods here in Dallas, Tx area. February 3, 2018 at 3:33pm Reply

  • Aurora: Thank you for this post, Victoria, I usually make my own oil/serum but the description gives me ideas for eg. I have never used Ylang Ylang, wouldn’t have thought of it and now I will try to get hold of some.

    My two most used oils are organic lavender and geranium oils from the Bleu Provence boutique in Nyons (to be fair I’ve used non organic in the past which smelled just as good), then I add whatever takes my fancy, niaouli oil is a recent discovery. August 10, 2016 at 5:50am Reply

    • Victoria: French lavender oil is so multifaceted it can be a perfume in itself. Actually, most good lavender colognes don’t do much to the material, other than to extend and highlight it. August 10, 2016 at 12:15pm Reply

  • ChanteusedesIles: I was so excited to see you review these serums, I love this brand! I’m interested in trying The Wild Carrot, Pomegranate + Rose Geranium now 🙂 I find Marula works well with my skin so I’m also curious about their Marula + Neroli Serum, and the Acai + Rose Serum. I have redness prone/combination skin as well, and my favourite from Odacite is their Divine Rose & Neroli Balancing Toner, it smells amazing! I also really like Kahina’s Toning Mist, they are pricey but definitely worth it as a splurge. If you are interested in Kahina, I have also tried their Fez Body Serum, which I think has a more complex and addictive scent for a natural brand, I would be curious to hear your thoughts on it! For facial oils for the winter (In Canada) I love the One Love Organics Active Moisture Vitamin C Serum, which has camellia, boabab, rosehip, & sea buckthorn oils. (Though I had the older formula before they became Ecocertified, so this may have changed.) Another favourite for fall/winter is the Lina Hanson Global Face Serum; which contains camellia, baobab, Argan, Marula, pumpkin, neroli, frankincense, and ylang ylang oil. I was very curious to read your insight on these ingredients as a trained chemist working in the beauty industry, and I agree that just because a product is promoted as “natural” or “organic” doesn’t mean that it is necessarily better and we still have to be informed consumers and know what works for our skin, & research ingredients ourselves. What I have found since using more natural skincare is clearer, more luminous skin, and I think that has come from being a more educated consumer & finding brands that use higher quality ingredients. What I love the most (other than the results!) is how amazing some of these products smell, you can really tell when the oils are of higher quality! August 24, 2016 at 4:12pm Reply

    • rainboweyes: My experience with organic skincare is the same as yours but I’m afraid the general opinion is different here. I think many consumers find the manufacturers’ claims convincing enough and don’t even bother checking the ingredients. I wish somebody with chemical expertise and a neutral background would compare a conventional face cream (e.g. Shiseido Benefiance, my friend’s favourite) to an organic brand (e.g. Pai Skincare Avocado & Jojoba Hydrating Cream)… August 25, 2016 at 5:57pm Reply

    • Victoria: Thank you for the extra recommendations. I will definitely try them. As much as I love these interesting oil based serums, my skin can only take them in small quantities. Which is why for someone like me, a bottle of Odacite will last for months (a friend with dry and less reactive skin uses it up in a couple of weeks). But once I get tired of Odacite, I will be happy to switch onto something else.

      I completely agree with you that paying attention to ingredients and to one’s skin and its needs makes for the best results. I can’t handle too many oils or too many products with essential oils, for instance, but a bottle of rosewater is always in my purse. August 26, 2016 at 5:40am Reply

    • Victoria: Just to clarify to avoid any misunderstandings–I don’t work in the beauty industry. I’m independent of it. That gives me much freedom to share my thoughts and impressions. August 26, 2016 at 7:00am Reply

      • rainboweyes: Oh, I think it is my message that has been misunderstood – speaking of a “neutral” expert, I actually meant you… August 26, 2016 at 7:41am Reply

        • Victoria: Oh, please don’t worry, I didn’t mean your comment at all. Just responding to something ChanteusedesIles wrote. I should also say that I’m not a chemist by vocation, although it is true that one learns a lot of chemistry during the perfumery training.

          Anyway, it would be a good idea to compare formulas side by side. I might even have a sample of that Shiseido cream. August 26, 2016 at 7:53am Reply

    • Brenda Farrell: I’m going to try your recommendations, as I have alot of redness, often bordering on rocacea… Learning so much here! (And, keeping me from wasting $$ trying too many high priced products!). I like to splurge selectively, and I had thought many of the essential oil additives were primarily for scent/aromatherapy (which Euchalyptus by Kahina sounds good right now, with serious flu & sinus congestion raging). Probably Calendula or Allantoin would be good for redness, although I haven’t seen them in an oil formula… February 3, 2018 at 3:39pm Reply

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