Scent: Fresh and uplifting. Notes of Tiare flower and jasmine with soft magnolia petals, violet leaves, green bamboo, and palm fronds evoke the smell of the dewy tea fields of Indonesia at sunrise.
Texture: Buttery, whipped yet fast-absorbing
Color: Cream
Benefits & Features
Features essential fatty acids with omega-rich candlenut, avocado, and carrot seed oils with antioxidant vitamin E and indulgent Illipe butter. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ingredients help protect skin from environmental stress, sun damage, and dry climate.
Has a signature hydrating yet non-greasy feel, leaving skin feeling smooth and velvety.
Directions
This product can be used daily for maximum benefits.Warm the desired amount of product in the palm of your hand, letting it warm just slightly, and then massage creme gently into the skin until it is fully absorbed.
Apply generously on freshly cleansed skin or re-apply any time of day for a boost of moisture.
Ingredients
Candlenut Oil: Moisturizes and softens skin with a non-greasy, velvety feel. Rich in linoleic and linolenic acid, candlenut oil moisturizes and helps mend rough, chapped skin.Rice Bran Oil: Maintains elasticity. Rich in natural Vitamin E and essential fatty acids, rice bran oil intensely hydrate and help maintain youthful elasticity.Avocado Oil: Nourishes and calms. Traditionally used in Indonesia, Avocado Oil is richly hydrating and highly soothing.Illipe Butter: Moisturizes and protects. Provides a cushiony barrier to protect skin from dehydration, hard water and harsh elements.All Ingredients: Water/Eau, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Emulsifying Wax NF, Cyclomethicone, Illipe (Shorea stenoptera) Seed Butter, Candlenut (Aleurites moluccana) Oil, Avocado (Persea gratissima) Oil, Stearyl Alcohol, Rice Bran (Oryza sativa) Oil, Dimethicone, Carrot (Daucus Carota sativa) Seed Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Carbomer, Fragrance/Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Phenypropanol.
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For thousands of years, communities have used candlenut oil to support overall wellness and skin health. We break down what tradition and science say about the candlenut to help you decide whether it deserves a place in your skincare routine.
Key Takeaways
Candlenut oil has been used for thousands of years.
One of the main uses of candlenut oil was in traditional medicine, including for supporting skin health.
Modern research shows that candlenut oil can help skin lock in hydration, support skin barrier repair, and even protect against damage.
Metta Murdaya, co-founder of JUARA Skincare, says:
"Candlenut oil is extremely versatile. It has long been used for light, rituals, crafting, and traditional wellness practices, including skincare. Modern research has confirmed many of its potential skin health benefits."
If you had to name the most important plants in human history, what would be on your list? Depending on where you're from, candlenuts may well be on your list.
That's because candlenuts are one of the oldest cultivated plants in the tropical world. They've been used across places like Bali in Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Pacific Islands for thousands of years, and remain an essential ingredient in everything from cooking to crafting to traditional medicine — and skincare.
Today, candlenuts and candlenut oil are becoming more popular in the West as a high-quality, natural ingredient in clean skincare products. Candlenut oil is thought to help support skin health in a number of ways, from locking in moisture to delivering essential fatty acids and more.
But where did this superpowered nut come from? And what makes it such a potent skincare ingredient?
The History of Candlenut Oil
Evidence of humans using candlenuts goes back thousands of years. In fact, we've been using these nuts for so long, scientists aren't sure where they originated. Experts think candlenuts are native to what is now known as Malaysia and Indonesia.
Aleurites Moluccana
Candlenuts come from candlenut trees. They have the scientific name Aleurites moluccana.
These trees are quite something. They can grow over 60 feet tall with thick, imposing trunks. Their branches spread widely, forming a magnificent crown filled with silvery green leaves.
Once candlenut trees are four years old, they generally begin flowering. They can flower multiple times in a single year, and produce beautiful white flowers.
Candlenut trees can also produce their eponymous nuts multiple times per year. They usually produce two crops of candlenuts annually, but may manage more under favorable conditions.
Candlenuts are extremely versatile. Ancient and modern communities alike use them for all kinds of purposes.
For example, the nuts were traditionally burned for light. They were a natural candle, which is how they got their name. That legacy lives on, as candlenuts are often incorporated into candles or reed diffusers for their luxurious scent.
Hawaiian Kukui Nut Oil
Candlenuts were spread across the Pacific by ancient voyagers. They were, and remain, extremely important to those communities.
This journey is how candlenuts arrived in Hawaii. There, people used both the extracted candlenut oil and shelled nuts as light sources. They called the candlenut "kukui," which in Hawaiian means "light" or "torch."
Kukui nuts and kukui nut oil remain incredibly important in Hawaii. In fact, it's the official state tree.
Uses of Candlenut Oil
Light was far from the only way communities utilized candlenuts. One of the most common uses was in food.
Candlenuts can be ground into a paste to flavor and thicken dishes. They can even be roasted and eaten plain. Just don't try them raw, as they need to be cooked before consumption.
Believe it or not, communities also used candlenuts in crafts and rituals. They were used by some to help fortify canoes. That use, plus the fact they were spread throughout the Pacific island on the canoes they helped construct, gave candlenuts another name: canoe plants.
Candlenuts were also burned in rituals. When burned, they left behind a thick soot that was used by Polynesian communities as a pigment to create intricate tattoos.
Traditional medicine practices also incorporated the candlenut. The nut and its oil were widely used to support overall wellness and skin health.
Today, candlenuts remain incredibly important. For example, one study estimated that in Indonesia alone, almost 800 square miles are used to cultivate candlenuts. That's roughly the size of Los Angeles and New York City combined.
Candlenut Oil And Beautiful Skin
People haven't been using candlenuts and candlenut oil for so many millennia for no reason. Today, modern research has confirmed many of the potential skin-supporting benefits of candlenut oil.
Hydration
One common use of candlenut oil is to help support skin hydration. Natural oils like candlenut oil help the skin lock in moisture without the greasy residue left behind by thick moisturizers.
Why? Well, your skin barrier is meant to help retain moisture. But your body naturally loses moisture over time thanks to evaporation.
This process is called trans-epidermal water loss, or TEWL. Research suggests that natural oils may help reduce the amount of water lost to this natural process.
For example, one 2024 review of dozens of studies concluded that natural oils, including coconut oil and macadamia nut oil, can reduce TEWL.
Experts generally recommend gently massaging candlenut oil on damp skin to help lock in long-lasting moisture. Even a few drops can go a long way.
Anti-Inflammatory
Candlenuts are rich in powerful antioxidants, including vitamin E and vitamin A. Antioxidants protect against free radical damage. That damage, called oxidative stress, can cause a host of problems, including premature aging.
These antioxidants are thought to give candlenuts anti-inflammatory effects. For example, one study extracted candlenut oil and confirmed it contains plant compounds with known anti-inflammatory properties.
Essential Nutrients
Candlenut oil is extremely rich in essential fatty acids. Research has found it can be composed of 90% omega fatty acids, including omega-3s, omega-6s, and even rarer omega-9s.
The omega fatty acids present in candlenut oil include alpha-linolenic acid, linoleic acid, and oleic acid. All three are well-known for their numerous benefits, including anti-inflammatory and protective properties.
These fatty acids are extremely important for skin health. They are a vital component of your skin's protective barrier. That barrier not only helps retain moisture, but it also helps protect the body from potentially harmful external substances.
Research suggests that omega fatty acids can support skin barrier function and repair. For example, a 2025 review found that omega-3 fatty acids can help the skin maintain a normal inflammatory response, protect from harsh sun damage, and improve skin barrier integrity.
Another review from 2025 found that omega-3s may help with wound healing and acne, making candlenut oil a great option for acne-prone skin.
Where to Get Candlenut Oil for Skin
Today, the many potential benefits of candlenut oil are making it an increasingly popular ingredient in modern skincare. It can be suitable for all skin types and is a great addition to your daily skincare routine.
The important thing is to stick with high-quality, natural formulations. Consider avoiding formulations that mix candlenut oil with synthetic ingredients and harsh chemicals that may irritate skin.
That doesn't mean you need to stick to pure candlenut oil. Instead, look out for high-quality, all-natural blends that combine candlenut oil with similarly potent botanical ingredients for even more potential benefits.
JUARA formulates its skincare products by drawing on traditional wellness practices and modern research. All of our products are plant-based.
Let's start with some essentials. Candlenut oil can elevate skincare basics, making the everyday feel luxurious. Great options include the Candlenut Bar Soap and Candlenut Hand and Body Wash.
"The candlenut is a very light fragrance," notes JUARA co-founder Metta Murdaya in conversation with dermatologist Dr. Arini Widodo. "It's nutritious. It has the omegas in it, which are good for the skin.… And the fragrance is kind of like a walk on the beach in the morning."
If you want to incorporate natural oils into your skincare routine, look no further than JUARA's Candlenut Glow Body Oil. It contains candlenut oil, of course, which makes it ideal for chapped skin. That's blended with other antioxidant-rich natural oils, including passion fruit oil and moringa oleifera.
For an even deeper blend of natural oils, try JUARA's Radiance Vitality Oil. Candlenut oil is combined with nutrient-rich macadamia, avocado, and passion fruit oils. Stabilized vitamin C helps brighten skin and improve the appearance of discoloration.
Candlenut oil is also central to JUARA's Candlenut Body Scrub. With rice bran oil and avocado oil, it helps nourish, calm, and protect skin. Crushed walnut shells gently exfoliate without scratching sensitive skin, similar to the formula in our intoxicating Coffee Body Scrub.
Conclusion
Candlenuts and candlenut oil have been used for thousands of years, including in traditional medicine and skincare. Today, modern research has confirmed the many potential benefits of candlenut oil, from locking in hydration to supporting skin barrier function.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Candlenut Oil Good for Skin?
Yes, candlenut oil is fantastic for skin. It can help lock in moisture and is rich in essential fatty acids, which help support your skin barrier.
What Is the Healthiest Oil to Put on Your Skin?
Several natural oils are rich in nutrients that can help support skin health. Examples include candlenut oil, jojoba oil, passion fruit oil, and coconut oil.
What Was Candlenut Oil Used for?
Candlenut oil was traditionally used for light, which is how the nut got its name. It was also used in crafts, rituals, cooking, and traditional wellness practices, including skincare.
Juara Skincare incorporates ancient rituals with Western skincare science, creating the ultimate beauty experience. We aim to transport you from the mundane to the extraordinary with our exotic ingredients, intoxicating scents, and powerful, skin-improving formulas. All of our products are nutrient-rich and botanically based. We are proud to be certified cruelty-free. Get the latest skin care tips and info on Juara products by learning more about our founders and following us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.
Metta Murdaya
Co-founder and CEO
Metta Murdaya is co-founder and CEO of JUARA Skincare, a skincare and beauty company inspired by the Indonesian wellness traditions of Jamu. Her award-winning book, Jamu Lifestyle, captures the essence of the Jamu philosophy, emphasizing the power of healthy, intentional, and joyful living. Guided by a deep commitment to societal betterment, Metta inspires individuals to thrive in mind, body, and spirit. As a wellness speaker and retreat guide, she contributes to the Global Wellness Institute’s Aesthetic Health Initiative and serves on the board of Mentari, supporting trafficking prevention and education initiatives in Indonesia and wellness programs in the U.S.
