Their diverse composition makes them a source of multifunctional ingredients with numerous applications:
- Vegetable oils are mostly composed of triglycerides. Saturated and unsaturated fatty acids (Omega 3, 6, and 9) are responsible for the oil’s texture, its resistance to oxidation, as well as its main activities (skin protection, hydration, elasticity, support for wound healing, etc.). Thus, the balance of Omega 3 and 6 (1/4 – 3/4) in Hemp oil makes it a nourishing oil with decongesting and repairing properties.
- Unsaponifiables, such as sterols, tocopherols (vitamin E), fatty alcohols, paraffins, or squalene, are present in smaller quantities in the oil but have highly sought-after biological properties in cosmetic applications. For example, the vitamin E contained in Plum oil has antioxidant properties.
Oils: refined or organic?
They can be obtained through different processes. Depending on the extraction and refining methods used, the initial quality of the fruit or seed is more or less preserved, and the resulting product is classified differently.
Refined oils: obtained through chemical extraction
Refined oils are obtained through chemical extraction and then undergo full chemical refining through several stages.
First, the use of non-polar organic solvents allows the crude oil to be obtained. This is therefore a chemical extraction. The solvent generally used is hexane, derived from petroleum or natural gas distillation. The use of a petrochemical-derived product raises questions about green chemistry and the alignment of the process with a responsible and sustainable approach.
Second, the crude oil must undergo several refining steps to remove unwanted compounds from the final product.
The oil is treated with hot water (degumming) and usually phosphoric acid is added to remove phospholipids.
It then undergoes chemical neutralization with sodium hydroxide to eliminate free fatty acids, metals, certain pigments, contaminants, oxidation products, etc.
This is followed by washing and drying steps designed to remove processing auxiliaries such as acids, bases, and water.
The oil is then bleached using bleaching earths and filtered.
Finally, it is deodorized by steam injection under vacuum at high temperature to remove all volatile compounds.
The refined oil is thus obtained. This method is widely used because it offers higher yields than other extraction processes and also allows the removal of many undesirable compounds when the raw material may be contaminated. The result is a more standardized but also more stable oil.
Organic oils: obtained through mechanical extraction
Organic oils can be obtained through industrial mechanical hot extraction or cold mechanical extraction (cold-pressed or first cold pressing). They exclude any solvent-based treatment, and refining can only be performed partially.
Industrial mechanical hot extraction
Cleaned, dehulled, and crushed seeds or fruits are pressed at high temperature to obtain crude oil. This oil may undergo partial “physical” refining with fewer steps than conventional refining: degumming, bleaching, and deodorization.
However, heating the raw material leads to the destruction of part of the valuable molecules such as vitamins and sterols contained in it.
Cold mechanical extraction (first cold pressing)
Seeds or fruits are pressed to extract the oil, which is not refined afterward. First cold pressing preserves the qualities of the original plant, since only a mechanical process is used for extraction. After pressing, only deodorization and possibly bleaching are generally performed. This method does not achieve yields as high as the previous ones but is aligned with a sustainable approach and produces a higher-quality product.
At Sophim, we trust suppliers who prioritize respect for their raw materials and extract their oils through first cold pressing. We also strive to source locally whenever possible. We have thus selected three organic virgin oils originating from France.
Our French-origin oils: responsible, expert French suppliers rooted in their terroir
Sophim, a specialist in the manufacturing of natural ingredients, aims to integrate its ingredients into a responsible and sustainable approach. For the three organic virgin oils presented below, we have chosen to trust French suppliers who are responsible and family-run experts. These cosmetic vegetable oils are of superior quality, organic, and produced with respect for nature and the French terroir.
Virgin oil suppliers at the heart of French terroir
The suppliers of these three organic cosmetic vegetable oils have made the strategic decision to establish production in the heart of French terroir, close to nature. Plum orchards are located in the southwest of France, near our Plum oil suppliers’ farm. Hemp oil processing facilities are located close to hemp cultivation areas in the northwest. The Raspberry oil processing plant is the only one of its kind in France, located in the northern part of the country. The three organic vegetable oils offered by Sophim are Made in France products.
Our suppliers have succeeded in enhancing the richness of regional supply chains by carefully selecting raw materials close to their facilities, supporting local crops to control plant quality, and choosing to operate in France near their clients. For organic Hemp oil, suppliers provide harvest equipment to farmers, allowing cultivation to remain local without outsourcing or relocation. For organic Plum oil, manufacturers use an exceptional raw material: Ente plums. These are the plums whose kernels are used to extract Plum oil. The orchards are located within a 50-kilometer radius of the supplier’s facility. For organic Raspberry oil, seed processing is usually carried out in Germany. Sophim has selected the only supplier that processes the oil in France, ensuring superior freshness and product quality.
The richness of regional terroirs, the diversity of the French climate, the strong agricultural tradition of France, and the passion of these producers allow them to rely on local supply chains strengthened by these new activities.
Responsible suppliers
Today more than ever, the cosmetics industry and its consumers demand sustainability and traceability.
This is why Sophim chooses responsible suppliers who adopt a sustainable approach at every stage of organic virgin oil production.
Responsible raw material cultivation
Our suppliers aim to contribute to the development and long-term sustainability of local supply chains while minimizing their carbon footprint.
One supplier has chosen to pool harvesting equipment resources; thus, for organic Hemp oil, the partner provides farmers with harvesting machinery. Equipment acquisition is reduced, lowering the product’s carbon footprint from the cultivation stage.
Like Sophim, which valorizes by-products from the food industry for the production of its squalane and further revalorizes its own by-products, some suppliers also implement a circular economy approach. This is the case for organic Plum oil: dried plum kernel residues, previously discarded, are now processed to extract organic Plum oil.
For organic Raspberry oil, by-products from the production process are also valorized: the press cake is crushed, sieved, and debacterized to produce a natural exfoliant.
Traceability and raw material quality
Sophim aims to offer traceable products with guaranteed quality.
The proximity of partners to their raw materials ensures transparency: plum kernels, raspberry seeds, and hemp crops are fully traceable. Each partner and their processes can be identified from cultivation to oil production, largely integrated by suppliers.
This proximity also ensures product quality: reduced transport time preserves the quality of seeds, plants, or fruits harvested at the optimal stage of growth, without long transport delays before processing. It also reduces the carbon footprint.
Organic production aligned with circular economy principles
The production of these Made in France organic cosmetic oils is also responsible. Suppliers work under organic agriculture standards, with no chemical additives or synthetic products added to the oils. In addition, circular economy principles are applied during processing.
Organic Plum oil suppliers treat wastewater generated from fruit washing. For organic Raspberry oil, production by-products are reused: the press cake is transformed into a natural exfoliant.
A skilled family-based and artisanal know-how
Our suppliers are experts in organic vegetable oil production. Like Sophim, they are family-run, human-scale companies, sometimes passed down through generations. Today, guided by a modern vision from founders and their successors, suppliers and Sophim share a common expertise rooted in their respective histories: the production of natural cosmetic ingredients.
They are passionate professionals trained for decades in the cultivation and processing of natural ingredients into oils. The transmission of know-how and technical knowledge is essential to ensure each production step respects the product.
This artisanal and historical expertise, enriched over time with innovation, is reflected at different stages of the oil production process.
Organic Plum oil is obtained through a series of mechanical steps inherited from this family know-how. Excess water is first naturally removed to preserve the integrity of the fruit and seeds. The oil is then extracted by first cold pressing. After multiple filtrations, it is stored away from light to preserve its original properties without preservatives.
Organic Raspberry oil is also obtained mechanically: seeds are crushed using a screw press.
Innovation from newer generations of entrepreneurs is reflected in the integration of production processes over time, ensuring autonomy and efficient quality control.
For organic Hemp oil, suppliers process raw materials in-house using an artisanal and family-based approach. To overcome the lack of hemp-specific technologies, they have developed innovative machines (seed decorticators) that are more respectful of the seeds and prevent crushing.
From cultivation to final production, the artisanal manufacturing processes of these organic vegetable oils reflect a strong family heritage, driven by expert and passionate suppliers who respect the product.
Benefits for skin and hair
Throughout history, natural vegetable oils have been used in cosmetics for their many virtues. Their composition makes them a source of multifunctional ingredients with recognized benefits.
Benefits of Plum oil (Prunus Domestica Seed Oil)
Throughout history, the plum became an important food source for successive civilizations. As early as the Bronze Age, it was already present, and the Romans later spread it throughout the Mediterranean basin. In the 13th century, French monks created the Ente plum through crossbreeding and discovered that sun-dried plums produced a delicious fruit: the prune, the key raw material of our organic Plum oil.
Today, Plum oil (Prunus Domestica Seed Oil) is a high-quality ingredient for cosmetic formulations. It offers good formulation stability and excellent resistance to oxidation.
Rich in Omega 9 and oleic acid, it provides skin-protective benefits. It helps maintain skin suppleness and elasticity. Its strong moisturizing power makes it ideal for dry to very dry and atopic skin. Its applications are numerous, as it is edible and can be used in facial care, body care, hair care, and makeup products.
Finally, it offers sensory appeal: its soft bitter-almond scent is comforting and indulgent, providing a relaxing sensory experience.
Benefits of Hemp oil
Evidence of hemp cultivation dates back 8,000 years BC, making it one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world. Organic Hemp oil has found multiple applications in various industries: paper, construction, textiles, etc.
Today, Hemp oil (Cannabis Sativa) is also a key ingredient in cosmetic formulations due to its fatty acid composition.
Its ideal Omega 6 to Omega 3 ratio (3/4 – 1/4) plays an essential protective role for the skin: it helps reduce irritation and dryness. It is effective for hydration and anti-aging, making it suitable for mature, tired, and dehydrated skin. It is also widely used in hair care, providing strengthening and long-term nourishment.
Like Plum oil, Hemp oil also has interesting sensory properties. Its refreshing effect provides a feeling of vitality, while its light, non-greasy texture absorbs quickly into the skin.
Benefits of Raspberry oil
The raspberry, Rubus Idaeus, is said to derive its name from a Greek legend. A favorite fruit of the gods of Olympus, it is believed to have grown on the slopes of Mount Ida in Crete, hence its name “Ida’s bramble.” Historically, the raspberry bush appeared in the mountains of Western Europe. During the Renaissance, the raspberry became a noble fruit, used in perfumes, liqueurs, and for medicinal purposes. It was only in the 19th century that it became commonly consumed as a table fruit.
Today, Raspberry oil is a key ingredient in cosmetic formulations due to its content of Omega 3 and 6, vitamin E, carotenoids, and antioxidant compounds.
Its composition, which is over 80% fatty acids, gives it essential nourishing properties for the skin. Omega 3 and 6 help rebuild skin lipids and reduce transepidermal water loss. Omega 3 also helps maintain skin elasticity and reduce irritation. Raspberry oil therefore has repairing, nourishing, and soothing properties, making it suitable for sensitive and atopic skin.
Its high levels of vitamin E, carotenoids, and natural antioxidants also provide protective benefits, helping defend the skin against signs of aging and oxidation. Its partial ability to absorb UVA and UVB rays contributes to sun protection.
Raspberry seed oil therefore has many cosmetic applications, such as in creams or serums for mature skin, protective and repairing balms for face and hands, and pre-sun exposure care products.
It also offers strong sensory appeal: its dry touch ensures a light application, and its fruity scent enhances the natural and indulgent character of formulations.
For any questions regarding our oils, please feel free to contact us.
Category: Cosmetic Expertise