Where Does Castor Oil Come From? Origin, History and How It's Made

Castor oil comes from the seeds of a single plant, Ricinus communis. Here is where that plant grows, why almost all castor oil sold in Australia is imported, how people have used it over thousands of years, and how a seed becomes the oil in your bottle.

The castor plant

The castor plant is thought to have originated in East Africa and has since spread through tropical and warm-temperate regions around the world. It grows quickly into a large shrub or small tree, with broad, star-shaped leaves and clusters of spiky seed pods. Each pod holds mottled seeds about the size of a bean, which is why they are often called castor beans.

Is castor oil produced in Australia?

The castor plant grows wild in warm parts of Australia, including Queensland, northern New South Wales, the Northern Territory and Western Australia, where it is often treated as a weed. Australia does not have a commercial castor oil industry, so the castor oil sold here is pressed overseas and imported.

Where most castor oil is grown

India is by far the world's largest producer of castor seed and supplies most of the world's castor oil. Other producers include Mozambique, Brazil, China and Thailand.

A short history of castor oil

Castor seeds have been found in ancient Egyptian tombs, and the oil was used in Egypt as lamp fuel and in body care. Over the centuries its use spread through India, the Mediterranean and beyond, from lighting lamps to everyday grooming. Today castor oil is used in cosmetics and personal care, and in industrial products such as lubricants, coatings and plastics.

From seed to bottle

1. Harvest. The seed pods are picked once they dry, and the seeds are separated from the husks.
2. Cleaning. The seeds are cleaned and sorted.
3. Pressing. For cold-pressed oil, the seeds are pressed mechanically without added heat.
4. Filtering. The oil is filtered to remove seed particles.
5. Testing. Batches are tested, for example for fatty acid profile and solvent residues.
6. Bottling. The oil is bottled, ideally in dark glass to protect it from light.

Pressing method makes a real difference to the finished oil. See how cold-pressed and refined castor oil compare.

A note on the seeds

Raw castor seeds contain ricin, a toxic protein, and must never be eaten. If castor plants grow near you, keep the seeds away from children and pets. Castor oil is sold for external use only.

Where ours comes from

Our castor oil is pressed from certified organic seeds grown in India, certified under NPOP and verified by Ecocert. It is cold-pressed and hexane-free, with no solvents used at any stage, and an independent lab test confirmed no hexane was detected. It is bottled in amber glass here in Western Australia. Shop certified organic castor oil.

Frequently asked questions

What is castor oil made from?

Castor oil is pressed from the seeds of the castor plant, Ricinus communis. Ours is a single ingredient with nothing added.

Can I make castor oil at home?

We don't recommend it. Raw castor seeds are toxic if eaten, and commercial pressing, filtering and testing happen under controlled conditions.

Is castor oil the same as Jamaican Black Castor Oil?

Both come from the same plant. Jamaican Black Castor Oil is made by roasting the seeds before pressing, which makes it darker and gives it a smoky scent. See how they compare.

Why is our castor oil bottled in Australia?

We import certified organic oil and bottle it in amber glass in Western Australia, so it reaches you in packaging that protects it from light.

Keep reading: Cold-pressed vs refined castor oil · Organic vs conventional castor oil · Buy organic castor oil in Australia

For external use only. Avoid contact with eyes. Patch test before first use. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any condition.