What Is Moroccan Argan Oil?

What is Moroccan argan oil?

Moroccan argan oil is an oil pressed from the kernels inside the fruit of the argan tree (Argania spinosa), a species that grows almost exclusively in southwestern Morocco. It’s sold in two forms: an unroasted version used in cosmetics, and a roasted version used in cooking.

That’s the short answer. The rest of this article covers where the tree grows, how the oil is actually produced, and why “argan oil” isn’t a single product — it’s two, with different uses.

Where the argan tree grows

The argan tree is endemic to a specific part of the world: the semi-arid region of southwestern Morocco, primarily the Souss-Massa area between the Atlas Mountains and the Atlantic coast, with smaller pockets extending toward Essaouira. It’s a hardy, drought-resistant tree that can live for centuries, and it plays a role in preventing desertification in the region — its root system helps stabilize soil in an otherwise dry landscape.

This narrow native range is the main reason “Moroccan argan oil” is treated as a distinct, geography-linked product, similar to how Champagne or Parmigiano-Reggiano are tied to specific regions.

What’s inside an argan fruit

The argan tree produces a small, olive-like fruit. Inside that fruit is a hard nut, and inside the nut are one to three oil-rich kernels — these kernels are what’s pressed to produce argan oil. The process of extracting the kernels, traditionally done by cracking the nuts by hand, is labor-intensive, which is part of why authentic argan oil isn’t a cheap commodity oil.

Two different oils, one tree

This is the detail most first-time buyers miss: argan oil isn’t one product.

	Cosmetic argan oil	Culinary argan oil
Kernels	Unroasted	Roasted
Color	Pale gold	Darker amber-brown
Aroma	Light, faintly nutty	Toasted, pronounced nutty aroma
Used for	Hair, skin, nails	Food — bread, amlou, finishing dishes

Roasting the kernels before pressing changes both the flavor and some of the oil’s properties, which is why culinary argan oil isn’t used cosmetically and vice versa. See our full cosmetic vs culinary comparison for more detail.

Why “pure” matters

Because production is labor-intensive and yields are relatively low per tree, authentic argan oil commands a real price. This makes it a common target for dilution — mixing in cheaper oils and still labeling the result “argan oil.” When shopping, especially in tourist markets, it’s worth reading the ingredient list: it should say something close to “100% Argania spinosa kernel oil,” not a blend.

Where to go from here

• Curious how it’s actually extracted? Read how argan oil is made.
• Buying while in Morocco? See how to choose authentic argan oil.
• Ready to order? Browse cosmetic argan oil and culinary argan oil, available for international shipping and tourist delivery in Morocco.