For skin
As a body oil, massage oil or balm, it nourishes dry skin and leaves it supple and soft, with no tightness after the shower.
Vegetable oilMoroccan heritage
Date seed oil
The date palm grown mostly in the oases of Drâa-Tafilalet.
The bunch clusters of dates ripened in the palm grove.
The seed the hard stone of the date, pressed for its oil.
The golden oil oleic-lauric, for hair, body and face.
INCI · PHOENIX DACTYLIFERA SEED OILCreate my date seed oil range
- INCI name
- PHOENIX DACTYLIFERA SEED OIL
- Other names
- Date oil, date kernel oil
- Family
- Vegetable oil (date palm, Arecaceae)
- Origin
- Palm groves; in Morocco, mainly the oases of Drâa-Tafilalet
- Part used
- Seeds (stones) of dates
- Areas
- Hair, body, face, massage
In brief
Date seed oil in 30 seconds
By the Carmel Cosmetics Labs R&D team · updated October 18, 2026
- INCI namePHOENIX DACTYLIFERA SEED OIL (date palm seed oil)
- What it isan oil extracted from the seeds, a by-product of the date
- Compositionan oleic-lauric oil: oleic acid dominates, followed by lauric acid
- For the formulaan antioxidant function according to the CosIng database
- Originthe date palm, grown in Morocco mainly in Drâa-Tafilalet
( A )WHAT IT IS
What is date seed oil?
Date seed oil is the vegetable oil extracted from the seeds of the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera). These seeds, which make up 10 to 15% of the fruit's weight depending on the variety, are a by-product of the date. Analyses describe it as an oleic-lauric oil: oleic acid dominates, followed by lauric acid. Declared as PHOENIX DACTYLIFERA SEED OIL, it goes into hair oils, body oils and nourishing care.
Date seed oil or seed powder: the difference
Seed oil
The oil extracted from the seeds, declared as PHOENIX DACTYLIFERA SEED OIL. This is the one that goes into our oils and care products: a fatty body that nourishes and softens skin and hair.
Seed powder
The dried, ground seeds, declared as PHOENIX DACTYLIFERA SEED POWDER. The CosIng database classes it as an exfoliant: it works as the grain in a scrub, not as a fatty body.
( B )ITS BENEFITS01 02 03
Benefits of date seed oil for skin and hair
For hair
On its own or in a blend, it spreads over lengths and ends to nourish and soften them, as a pre-shampoo oil bath or a finishing touch.
For the formula
Studies describe it as rich in oleic acid and lauric acid, with a notable content of tocopherols and tocotrienols. The CosIng database assigns it an antioxidant function: it helps protect the formula from oxidation.
How to use date seed oil
- Hair
A few drops warmed between the palms, spread over lengths and ends, as an oil bath before shampooing or on dry hair to finish.
- Body
Massaged into skin that is still slightly damp after the shower, alone or as a massage oil, until absorbed.
- Face
One or two drops mixed into day cream, or in an oil serum for dry skin, in the evening on clean skin.
( C )IN OUR PRODUCTS
Launch your date seed oil range
We build it into pure vegetable oils, hair oils, and body and massage oils ready to carry your brand. Choose a category to see our formulas.
( D )FORMULATOR NOTES
How we build it in
What our formulators take into account when date seed oil goes into your product.
Often paired with
- 01An oil checked against a spec sheet
We choose a virgin or refined oil depending on the product, checked against the spec sheet: appearance, odor, acid and peroxide values.
- 02Against oxidation
To keep the blend fresh, we add vitamin E where needed and choose a bottle that protects from light.
- 03The right INCI name
The INCI list shows PHOENIX DACTYLIFERA SEED OIL for the seed oil, not to be confused with the fruit extract or the seed powder.
- 04A by-product to document
Coming from the seed, it makes use of a part of the date that is often set aside: a story worth telling, as long as the supply chain is documented with the supplier.
Did you know?
The date, fruit of the Moroccan oases
- Drâa-Tafilalet
The Drâa-Tafilalet basin accounts for three quarters of Moroccan date production, according to the FAO.
- 10 à 15 %
The seed makes up 10 to 15% of the date's weight, depending on the variety.
- Erfoud
The town of Erfoud hosts the International Date Fair, SIDATTES, which held its 14th edition in 2025.
Date seed oil: your questions
A project with this ingredient?Our product specialist answers you on WhatsApp.Write on WhatsApp
What is date seed oil?
Date seed oil is the oil extracted from the seeds of the date palm, declared as PHOENIX DACTYLIFERA SEED OIL. The seeds make up 10 to 15% of the date's weight: their oil makes use of this by-product. In cosmetics, it goes into hair oils, body oils and nourishing care.
What are the benefits of date seed oil for skin and hair?
Rich in oleic acid, date seed oil nourishes and softens dry skin and hair lengths. The CosIng database also assigns it an antioxidant function, useful to protect the formula. It suits body oils, massage oils and hair care before or after shampooing.
How do you use date seed oil on hair?
Warm a few drops between the palms, then spread them over the lengths and ends. As an oil bath, leave on before shampooing; as a finish, a small amount is enough on dry hair. Avoid the roots if your hair gets oily quickly.
What is the composition of date seed oil?
Published analyses describe date seed oil as an oleic-lauric oil: oleic acid comes first, at around 40 to 50%, followed by lauric acid, then myristic, linoleic and palmitic acids. Values vary with the date variety and the extraction method.
Is date oil the same as date seed oil?
In everyday language, yes: "date oil" generally means the oil extracted from the seeds. The INCI name removes the doubt: PHOENIX DACTYLIFERA SEED OIL indicates the seeds, while a fruit extract or a seed powder carry other names.
Can you create a date seed oil range with Carmel Cosmetics Labs?
Yes. Carmel Cosmetics Labs builds date seed oil into pure vegetable oils, hair oils, and body and massage oils in white label, or into an exclusive private label formula, made in our ISO 22716 factory in Aït Melloul, Morocco. We support you from choosing the formula through to packaging with your brand.
Sources
- European Commission, CosIng database: PHOENIX DACTYLIFERA SEED OIL (date palm seed oil)
- European Commission, CosIng database: PHOENIX DACTYLIFERA SEED POWDER (date seed powder)
- Alkhalidy H. et al., Date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) seed oil is an agro-industrial waste with biopreservative effects and antimicrobial activity, Scientific Reports 13 (2023)
- FAO Maroc, The Date Palm in Morocco: Economic Pillar of Oases and Lever for Sustainable Development (2025)
Your date seed oil range, made in Morocco
Send your brief: we formulate and package your date seed oils in our ISO 22716 factory in Aït Melloul. Free consultation and a selection of formulas, no commitment.