Almond oil – a skin care classic

The almond tree has been tended and cultivated in Asia for thousands of years. Even in antiquity, almond oil was a bestseller in beauty care. It is obtained by pressing two varieties: the sweet almond (Prunus dulcis var. dulcis) and the bitter almond (Prunus dulcis var. amara). They differ in their content of amygdalin, a compound that is responsible for the bitter taste and is also highly toxic, as it is converted by enzymes into hydrogen cyanide.

Almond oil is normally obtained by cold pressing the ripe seeds of bitter and sweet almonds. Only pure sweet almond oil is free of amygdalin. If you are unsure because the oil on the bottle is not explicitly declared as ‘sweet almond oil’, simply do not buy or use it. The well-known suppliers of fatty oils for aromatherapy generally do not offer bitter almond oil at all. Nevertheless, check carefully and read the companies’ product catalogues closely.

Almond oil has a fatty acid profile similar to that of apricot kernel oil. Both oils are characterised by a high tocopherol content. However, almond oil contains mainly alpha-tocopherol, which has strong vitamin E activity and is therefore particularly valued in skin care for its protective properties. Although almond oil is widely used in cosmetics and skin care, there are now also good alternatives, such as apricot kernel, peach kernel or plum kernel oil.