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The Castor Oil Company
Cold-pressed castor oil is pale and neutral; Jamaican Black Castor Oil is roasted before pressing, making it dark and smoky. How the two compare.
Jamaican Black Castor Oil (often shortened to JBCO) and regular castor oil come from exactly the same plant. The difference is in what happens to the seeds before the oil comes out. One is pressed from raw seeds; the other is made from roasted seeds. That one step changes the colour, the scent and the way people use it.
Regular castor oil is pressed from raw castor seeds. Cold-pressed versions are pale yellow, close to odourless, and the most common choice for skin, nails, brows and hair. Jamaican Black Castor Oil is made from roasted seeds, which turns it dark brown and gives it a smoky smell. It is mostly used in hair and scalp routines. Neither has been shown to work better than the other. It comes down to which colour, scent and process you prefer.
| Cold-pressed castor oil | Jamaican Black Castor Oil | |
|---|---|---|
| Plant | Castor seeds, Ricinus communis | Castor seeds, Ricinus communis |
| Seeds | Raw | Roasted |
| How the oil is made | Pressed mechanically without added heat | Traditionally roasted, ground, boiled in water and the oil skimmed off |
| Colour | Pale yellow | Dark brown to almost black |
| Scent | Faint, mild | Smoky, roasted |
| Texture | Very thick | Very thick |
| Main fatty acid | Ricinoleic acid (about 87% in our oil) | Ricinoleic acid |
| Typical uses | Hair, skin, nails, brows, body | Mainly hair and scalp |
Jamaican Black Castor Oil is a traditional style of castor oil associated with Jamaica. The seeds are roasted, then ground or pounded into a paste and boiled in water. The oil rises to the top and is skimmed off. Ash from the roasted seeds stays in the oil, and that is where the dark colour and smoky smell come from.
Similar roasted castor oils are made elsewhere in the Caribbean, such as Haitian black castor oil. "Jamaican Black Castor Oil" describes the style rather than guaranteeing where it was made, so check the label if origin matters to you.
Regular castor oil is pressed straight from raw castor seeds. The best versions are cold-pressed, meaning the seeds are pressed mechanically without added heat or chemical solvents, then filtered. The result is a clear, pale yellow oil with very little scent. Most of the world's castor oil comes from India. Read where castor oil comes from.
Some cheaper castor oil is extracted with solvents and then refined, which is a different product again. See how cold-pressed and refined castor oil compare.
They come from the same seed and are both mostly ricinoleic acid, so they have a lot in common, including the famously thick texture. But they are not the same product. Roasting and boiling change the colour and scent, and add ash that cold-pressed oil doesn't contain. If a recipe or routine calls for one specifically, that is usually down to tradition or preference rather than a proven difference in results.
Both are used in the same ways in hair routines: as a pre-wash treatment, worked through the ends, or massaged into the scalp and shampooed out. Both are heavy and need only a small amount.
Either oil is easier to use thinned with a lighter oil. See our step-by-step guide to castor oil for hair and how to mix castor oil with jojoba.
JBCO is often marketed for hair growth, but there isn't good evidence that it, or any castor oil, makes hair grow. We don't make that claim for our oil either. Use them for how they make your hair look and feel.
For skin, most people prefer cold-pressed castor oil. It is pale, mild-smelling and easy to blend into a lighter oil for face or body. JBCO's smoky scent and dark colour make it a less common choice for skin. Whichever you use, patch test first and keep it away from your eyes.
We sell cold-pressed castor oil, not Jamaican Black. Ours is pressed from certified organic seeds grown in India, certified under NPOP and verified by Ecocert. It is 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 in Western Australia. Shop certified organic castor oil.
Because the seeds are roasted before the oil is extracted, and ash from the roasted seeds stays in the oil.
Not in the traditional sense. Roasting the seeds is part of what makes it JBCO, and that involves heat.
Usually, yes. "Black castor oil" is a general name for castor oil made from roasted seeds. Jamaican and Haitian versions are the best known.
Yes. They blend easily because they come from the same seed. Some people mix them to soften JBCO's smoky scent.
Keep reading: Cold-pressed vs refined castor oil · Castor oil for hair: step by step · Rosemary oil and castor oil
For external use only. Avoid contact with eyes. Patch test before first use. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any condition.
