Castor oil is a clear, almost colourless or slightly yellow viscid liquid. It has a bland taste at first then slightly acrid.
| INCI Nomenclature | Ricinus communis (Castor) Seed Oil. |
|---|---|
| Uses | Cosmetic uses include nail polishes, lotions, cremes and many stick products. |
| Extraction | Castor oil is the fixed oil obtained by cold expression from the seeds of Ricinus communis L. |
| Source | The castor plant is indigenous to Eastern Africa but is distributed worldwide. Leading commercial producers are India, China and Brazil. |
| Key Properties | Readily soluble in alcohol. Low pour point and high viscosity. Uniform triglyceride composition. |
| Typical Fatty Acid Profile | 9,10-di-OH 18:0 9,10-dihydroxystearic 0.3% |
| Typical Stearine Profile | Sitosterol 56.4% |