Argan Oil INCI Name and CAS Numbers, Explained for Regulatory Files
Regulatory forms ask for one identifier; argan oil comes with a botanical name, an INCI name and more than one CAS number. This is how they relate and which to use where.
- By
- ArganOil.us Sourcing Team
- Published
- Reading time
- 3 min
Key takeaways
- INCI name: Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil — the same for cosmetic and roasted-kernel oil.
- Two CAS numbers are listed for it: 223747-87-3 and 299184-75-1.
- Use the identifier on your supplier’s SDS and specification, and keep it consistent across your files.
Botanical name, INCI name and CAS number
| Identifier | Value | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Botanical source | Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels, Sapotaceae | Specifications, certificates, origin documents |
| INCI name | Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil | Cosmetic ingredient declarations |
| CAS numbers | 223747-87-3; 299184-75-1 | SDS Section 3, regulatory and customs forms |
| INCI functions | Emollient; skin conditioning | Formulation dossiers |
The INCI definition describes the ingredient as the fixed oil expressed from the kernels of Argania spinosa.[1] The botanical name comes from the argan tree, Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels.[2]
Each identifier answers a different question. The botanical name says which plant the oil comes from; the INCI name is the standardised label name used in cosmetic ingredient lists; the CAS number is a registry identifier used on safety and regulatory documents. None of them describes grade, processing or quality — that is the job of the specification.
Why there are two CAS numbers
Ingredient databases and supplier documents list both 223747-87-3 and 299184-75-1 for Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil.[1][3] The sources do not explain the duplication, and in practice different suppliers cite one number, the other or both. Neither is presented as incorrect, but mixing them across your own documents creates avoidable questions in audits.
We explain what Section 3 of an argan oil SDS contains separately; the CAS number for our argan oil is confirmed on the applicable SDS.
Same INCI for roasted and unroasted oil
Cosmetic argan oil is pressed from unroasted kernels.[2] Yet a published specification for a toasted-kernel argan oil carries the same INCI name and CAS numbers.[3] The identifiers do not tell you which oil you have — the specification must. State kernel preparation and processing (virgin or deodorized) explicitly; see cosmetic vs culinary argan oil.
Common identifier mistakes
- Using a common name such as “argan oil” alone in the ingredient list instead of the INCI name.
- Carrying one CAS number on the SDS and the other in the raw-material system.
- Assuming the INCI name identifies the grade — it does not distinguish virgin, deodorized or roasted oil.
- Copying a botanical name without the authority (Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels), which some certificate and origin forms expect.
- Updating the supplier without re-checking the identifiers on the new supplier’s SDS.
Origin documents may also use the protected name: “Argane” is a geographical indication recognised in Morocco since 2010.[4] If your label or industry buyers downstream rely on an origin claim, keep the origin documents with the identifier record.
Where each identifier goes
- Finished-product ingredient list: the INCI name, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil.
- SDS and raw-material master: CAS number(s) as stated by the supplier.
- Specification and COA: botanical name, INCI name, grade and processing.
- Organic and origin documents: the product description used by the certifier or authority, which should match your purchase order.
Request the specification and SDS for the grade you are qualifying through the technical document request form, or start from our cosmetic-grade specifications and technical documents pages.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the INCI name of argan oil?
- Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil. It is used for oil pressed from both unroasted and roasted kernels, so the specification must state which one you are buying.
- What is the CAS number of argan oil?
- Two are in use: 223747-87-3 and 299184-75-1. Use the number(s) on your supplier’s SDS and keep them consistent across your documents.
- Does deodorized argan oil have a different INCI name?
- No. Deodorized and virgin argan oil are both declared as Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil; the processing belongs on the specification and COA, not in the INCI name.
- Where does the INCI definition come from?
- INCI names and definitions are maintained in cosmetic ingredient inventories; the definition for Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil describes the fixed oil expressed from the kernels of Argania spinosa. Ingredient databases such as Open Beauty Facts reproduce it with the CAS numbers and functions.
Sources
Figures in this article come from the sources below, checked on September 30, 2026. Supplier listings are cited as evidence of market practice only.
- ARGANIA SPINOSA KERNEL OIL — ingredient facet (CAS numbers, functions, definition) — Open Beauty Facts.
- Argan Oil: Chemical Composition, Extraction Process, and Quality Control (Gharby & Charrouf, Frontiers in Nutrition, 2022) — Frontiers in Nutrition.
- Product specification Sp213025c — Argan oil cold pressed toasted — Heess GmbH (published supplier specification).
- Order No. 2816-09 recognising the geographical indication “Argane” (Morocco) — WIPO Lex.
Prepared by the ArganOil.us Sourcing Team. General information for B2B buyers — not legal, regulatory or customs advice. ArganOil.us terms (grades, formats, minimums, lead times) are confirmed with each quotation.