Virgin vs Deodorized Argan Oil: What Refining Changes
Deodorized argan oil solves an odour problem and creates a stability question. The research on what refining changes is specific enough to base a grade decision on.
- By
- ArganOil.us Sourcing Team
- Published
- Reading time
- 3 min
Key takeaways
- Deodorization removes colour and odour; the fatty-acid profile is unchanged.
- In one study, bleaching plus deodorization cut total tocopherols by about 25%.
- Refined oil lost far more tocopherols in accelerated storage than crude oil — plan stock rotation or antioxidants.
- Choose virgin when the characteristic odour is acceptable; deodorized when fragrance neutrality matters.
Why deodorized argan oil exists
Virgin cosmetic argan oil has a characteristic odour that can clash with fragrance or show through in lightly scented products. The cosmetics industry therefore almost systematically deodorizes the argan oil it uses,[1] and manufacturers often refine or deodorize it to remove colour and aroma.[2]
What the refining steps involve
In the physical refining studied by Asbbane et al., bleaching used 2–4% bleaching earth at 100–110 °C under vacuum, followed by deodorization with steam at 240 °C and 1.5 mm Hg.[2] Some Moroccan suppliers market lower-temperature deodorization routes, such as activated-carbon filtration, for their deodorized grades;[3] ask which process your supplier uses, because results depend on it.
What changes — and what doesn’t
| Property | Reported effect | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Colour and odour | Colourless, odourless oil after deodorization | Gharby et al. 2021 |
| Fatty-acid profile | Unchanged | Gharby et al. 2021; Asbbane et al. 2024 |
| Free fatty acids | Reduced by up to 30% | Asbbane et al. 2024 |
| Total tocopherols | About 25% lower (414 → 312 mg/kg) after bleaching and deodorization | Asbbane et al. 2024 |
| Sterols, β-carotene | Slightly lower | Gharby et al. 2021 |
| Stigmasta-3,5-diene | Increased — a marker of refining | Gharby et al. 2021 |
| Primary oxidation products | Strongly reduced | Gharby et al. 2021 |
| Accelerated storage (60 °C, 12 weeks) | Refined oil lost 92% of tocopherols vs 34% for crude | Asbbane et al. 2024 |
The two studies point in different directions on shelf life: one found deodorization extended preservation properties,[1] the other found refined oil much less oxidatively stable and recommended using it rapidly or adding antioxidants.[2] The honest conclusion is that stability depends on the process — so request stability data, or run your own, for the deodorized grade you are qualifying. See our guide to argan oil stability in storage.
How to qualify a deodorized grade
- Ask which process was used — steam deodorization, bleaching plus deodorization, or another route — and at what temperature.
- Request tocopherol content and an oxidation parameter (peroxide value, K270) on the COA, not just acidity.
- Compare odour and colour against a retained reference sample from the same supplier.
- Run an accelerated or real-time stability check in your own formula base, since results differ between studies.
- Confirm the grade is declared with the INCI name Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil and that certification scope, if claimed, covers the deodorized grade.
Refining steps can also shift the sterol and hydrocarbon profile — the rise in stigmasta-3,5-diene is one example[1] — so a supplier’s authenticity data for its virgin oil does not automatically carry over to its deodorized oil. Private-label brands that make natural-character claims should decide early which grade the claim is built on.
Which grade for which product
| Product situation | Usually preferred | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Unscented or lightly scented leave-on serums and oils | Deodorized | Neutral odour and colour |
| Products marketed on the natural character of argan oil | Virgin | Keeps aroma and full minor-component profile |
| Hair oils and conditioners with strong fragrance | Either | Fragrance masks odour; choose on cost and stability |
| Long shelf-life products stored warm | Virgin, or deodorized with antioxidant | Tocopherol retention |
| Cold-process soap | Virgin | Odour is largely lost in saponification; lower processing |
Our cosmetic argan oil grade options page lists the grades we supply, and grade options are confirmed with each quotation. Buyers formulating for skincare or haircare can compare both side by side by requesting samples.
Frequently asked questions
- Is deodorized argan oil still argan oil?
- Yes. Its fatty-acid profile is unchanged; deodorization removes odour and colour and slightly lowers tocopherols and sterols. It should be declared with the same INCI name.
- How can a lab tell whether argan oil has been refined?
- Stigmasta-3,5-diene increases with deodorization and is used as a refining marker, alongside UV absorbance and tocopherol content.
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.
- Physico-Chemical Properties and Sensory Analysis of Deodorized Argan Oil (Gharby et al., ACS Food Science & Technology, 2021) — HAL open archive.
- Effects of physical refining process on quality and stability of argan oil (Asbbane et al., Scientific Reports, 2024) — Scientific Reports (Nature Portfolio).
- Organic argan oil bulk & wholesale listing (formats, MOQ, Incoterms) — Purificados — published supplier listing.
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.