For hair
In a shampoo or mask, carob extract supports the cleansing base and detangling agents: the formula cleanses the scalp and leaves lengths soft and easy to style.
Plant extractMoroccan heritage
Carob
The carob tree an evergreen tree, grown mainly in the Rif and the Atlas.
The pod the brown fruit of the carob tree, ripened in the Mediterranean sun.
Pulp and seeds a sugar-rich pulp around a few hard seeds.
The extract drawn from the fruit, for shampoos, masks and care products.
INCI · CERATONIA SILIQUA FRUIT EXTRACTBuild my carob range
- INCI name
- CERATONIA SILIQUA FRUIT EXTRACT
- Other names
- Kharroub, carob tree fruit, carob
- Family
- Plant extract (Fabaceae)
- Origin
- Mediterranean basin; in Morocco, mainly the Rif and the Atlas
- Part used
- Pod (fruit)
- Areas of use
- Hair, scalp, face
In brief
Carob in 30 seconds
By the Carmel Cosmetics Labs R&D team · updated October 18, 2026
- INCI nameCERATONIA SILIQUA FRUIT EXTRACT (carob fruit extract)
- What it isthe extract of the pod of the carob tree, a Mediterranean tree
- For haira plant-based active in shampoos and hair masks
- For skina skin conditioning agent according to the CosIng database
- Origina tree grown in Morocco, mainly in the Rif and the Atlas
( A )WHAT IT IS
What is carob?
Carob is the fruit of the carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua), an evergreen tree of dry Mediterranean environments. Its brown pod is made up mostly of pulp, rich in sugars and tannins, and a few hard seeds. In cosmetics, an extract of the fruit is used, declared as CERATONIA SILIQUA FRUIT EXTRACT, which the CosIng database classifies as a skin conditioning agent and perfuming ingredient. Morocco is among the main producing countries.
Carob extract, gum or flour: the difference
Fruit extract
An extract of the pod, declared as CERATONIA SILIQUA FRUIT EXTRACT. This is the form used in our shampoos and care products: a plant-based active that CosIng classifies as a skin conditioning agent.
Carob gum
Drawn from the endosperm of the seeds, it is declared as CERATONIA SILIQUA GUM. It is a thickener and texture stabilizer, used in food as well as in cosmetics.
Carob flour
The dried, ground pulp, used in cooking as a flour or a natural sweetener. It is not the same raw material as a standardized cosmetic extract.
( B )ITS BENEFITS01 02 03
Carob extract for hair and skin: benefits
For skin
In a cream or serum, the extract goes into moisturizing care. The CosIng database lists a skin conditioning function for it: it helps keep skin in good condition.
For the formula
Its pulp is rich in sugars, mainly sucrose, and in condensed tannins. The extract brings a Mediterranean and Moroccan origin that is easy to tell, on an ingredient everyone knows.
How do you use carob?
- Hair
Shampoo applied to wet hair, massaged into the scalp, then rinsed. A second application is possible on very heavily coated hair.
- Mask
Applied in a generous layer on towel-dried hair, from the lengths to the ends, left on for a few minutes, then rinsed.
- Face
Cream or serum applied morning and evening on clean skin, with light movements from the center of the face outward.
( C )IN OUR PRODUCTS
Launch your carob range
We add it mostly to shampoos and hair masks, but also to face creams and serums ready to carry your brand. Pick a category to see our formulas.
( D )FORMULATOR NOTES
How we use it
What our formulators take into account when carob goes into your product.
Often paired with
- 01A standardized extract
We work with a fruit extract backed by a technical data sheet, for a consistent color and smell from one batch to the next.
- 02The right INCI name
Carob has several INCI names. The list shows CERATONIA SILIQUA FRUIT EXTRACT for the pod extract, and CERATONIA SILIQUA GUM only if the gum is also in the formula.
- 03Compatibility
In a shampoo, we check the extract's compatibility with the cleansing base, the viscosity, the pH and color stability over aging.
- 04No medical claims
Traditional uses of carob belong to food and folk medicine. We write your claims within the cosmetic frame: cleanse, moisturize, soften.
Did you know?
The carob tree, a tree of Morocco's mountains
- Rif and Atlas
In Morocco, the carob tree is mainly grown in the Rif and the Atlas, integrated into traditional agroforestry systems.
- Pulp
The pulp accounts for 80 to 90% of the pod's weight; the seeds make up only 10 to 25%, but they are what give carob gum.
- 400,000 tonnes
About 400,000 tonnes of carob pods are produced every year worldwide, mostly around the Mediterranean.
Carob: your questions
A project with this ingredient?Our product specialist answers you on WhatsApp.Message us on WhatsApp
What is carob?
It is the fruit of the carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua), a Mediterranean tree. Its brown pod contains a sweet pulp and hard seeds. It is known in cooking as a flour or syrup; in cosmetics, an extract of the fruit is used, declared as CERATONIA SILIQUA FRUIT EXTRACT.
What are the benefits of carob in cosmetics?
Carob extract is classified by the CosIng database as a skin conditioning agent and perfuming ingredient. In a shampoo, cream or serum, it supports the ingredients that cleanse, moisturize and soften, and it brings a Mediterranean origin that is easy to tell.
Is carob good for hair?
Carob goes mostly into our shampoos and hair masks. The extract supports the cleansing and detangling agents that cleanse the scalp and soften the lengths. We attribute no effect on hair loss or growth to it: that would be a claim outside the cosmetic frame.
What is the difference between carob extract and carob gum?
The extract comes from the pod and serves as a skin conditioning active. The gum comes from the endosperm of the seeds: it is a thickener and texture stabilizer, declared as CERATONIA SILIQUA GUM. Two materials, two roles and two different INCI names on the label.
Where does Moroccan carob come from?
The carob tree grows in dry Mediterranean environments. In Morocco, it is mainly grown in the Rif and the Atlas, often in agroforestry. Morocco is among the main producing countries, along with Spain, Italy and Portugal. The precise origin of a batch depends on the supplier and its certificates.
Can you create a carob range with Carmel Cosmetics Labs?
Yes. We add it to white label shampoos, hair masks, face creams and serums, or to an exclusive private label formula, made in our ISO 22716 factory in Aït Melloul, Morocco. We support you from formula selection through to packaging under your brand.
Sources
- European Commission, CosIng database: CERATONIA SILIQUA FRUIT EXTRACT (carob fruit extract)
- European Commission, CosIng database: CERATONIA SILIQUA GUM (carob gum)
- Correia P. J., Pestana M., Sugars and phenols in carob tree fruits from different producing countries: A short review, Heliyon 10(10) (2024)
- Benyaich A. et al., Phytochemical and pharmacological properties of Ceratonia siliqua L.: A comparative review of Moroccan and Mediterranean varieties, Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science 15(10) (2025)
Your carob range, made in Morocco
Send your brief: we formulate and manufacture your carob shampoos and care products in our ISO 22716 factory in Aït Melloul. Free consultation and formula selection, no commitment.