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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Did you know candlenuts are among the oldest cultivated plants in the tropics? These unassuming nuts have been used for thousands of years for food, rituals, tattoos, wellness, and skincare.
We explore the rich history of this nut and what modern science says about its ability to support skin health.
Key Takeaways
Candlenuts have been cultivated across Southeast Asia and the Pacific for thousands of years.
Communities used candlenuts and candlenut oil to flavor dishes, create portable lamps (hence the name), as part of traditional medicine, and in skincare.
Modern research has confirmed that candlenut oil is rich in essential fatty acids, which studies show can support skin health in many different ways.
Today, you can incorporate candlenuts into your daily skincare routine with natural body oils, cleansers, perfumes, and more.
Candlenuts: From Traditional Medicine to Modern Skincare
Metta Murdaya, co-founder of JUARA Skincare, says:
"Candlenuts have been used for thousands of years in cooking, crafting, traditional medicine, and skincare. Today, modern science has confirmed many of the skin-supporting potential benefits of the candlenut."
Aleurites moluccanus, known more simply as the candlenut, isn't very well-known in the West. You're unlikely to find it on grocery store shelves, and might not have heard of it at all.
But in many parts of the world, candlenuts have been used for thousands of years. In fact, it's one of the oldest cultivated plants in the tropical world.¹
Today, candlenuts are widely used throughout Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, and Africa. In Indonesia, for example, one study estimated that almost 800 square miles are dedicated to cultivating candlenuts, much of that in home gardens.² That's about as large as New York City and Los Angeles combined!
Candlenuts are prized, in part, because of their versatility. They're used in cooking and cultural rituals, to promote hair growth and support overall wellness, and much more. One important use of candlenuts is in skincare.
Where Candlenuts Come From
The candlenut is native to what is now known as Indonesia and Malaysia. However, it's a little difficult to identify exactly where it originated, because ancient humans distributed it so widely.
Candlenut Tree
Candlenuts come from the candlenut tree. These trees can grow up to 65 feet tall, and the trunk up to 50 feet wide.³ Their branches spread out into a wide, irregular crown filled with green, silvery leaves.
It's a flowering tree, and can sport beautiful white flowers more than once per year. In favorable conditions, candlenut trees can grow 5 feet in a single year, and after four years, they will generally start flowering. After that, the trees usually produce two crops of candlenuts every single year.⁴
Kukui Nuts
Candlenuts are also known as kukui nuts, and the tree is a kukui tree. That's because candlenuts were one of the plants taken over the ocean to the many islands that dot the Pacific.
That's how the candlenut tree arrived in Hawaii. Locals called it kukui (which means "light" or "torch" in Hawaiian), and it became incredibly important.⁵ In 1959, it was named the official state tree.⁶
The Many Uses of Candlenuts
These ancient communities didn't care for, cultivate, and spread the candlenut just for fun. It was prized because of its versatility and had many uses.
For example, the nuts were traditionally threaded onto a natural skewer and burned for light. That's why they are called "candle" nuts. Nowadays, candlenuts aren’t often used for lighting, but the scent can be included in candles or diffusers.
Candlenuts were also burned as part of rituals. The soot left behind by burned candlenuts was a key ingredient in the pigments used by Polynesians for tattoos.
One of the most common uses of candlenuts was (and is) in food. They were ground into pastes to help give dishes flavor, used to thicken sauces and curries, and even roasted and eaten plain.
Candlenuts were also widely used to support overall wellness. They were used to address all kinds of issues, from inflammation to pain and beyond.⁷ Candlenuts were also used to support skin health.⁸
Candlenut Oil
In many cases, especially in skincare, candlenuts were first converted into candlenut oil. This seed oil is rich in fatty acids, making it an excellent skincare ingredient.
Specifically, candlenut oil is a great source of omega fatty acids. It can be composed of up to 90% omega fatty acids, including omega-3s, omega-6s, and the rarer omega-9 fatty acids.⁹
These fatty acids have many potential health benefits, including for the skin. Essential fatty acids are a crucial component of the skin barrier, which helps your body retain moisture and protects it from potentially harmful external substances.¹⁰
Research suggests that omega fatty acids can help preserve and repair skin barrier function.¹¹ For example, a 2025 review of dozens of studies concluded that omega-3 fatty acids helped maintain a normal inflammatory response in the skin, reduced UV-induced damage, and improved the integrity of the skin barrier.¹²
Another review from 2025 found that topical application of omega-3 fatty acids could help with acne and skin healing.¹³ And a study from 2024 found that topical application of omega fatty acids for ten days resulted in higher skin hydration.¹⁴
Interestingly, the ratio of different omega fatty acids seems to be important for barrier function, and candlenut oil happens to have a beneficial ratio.¹⁵
How to Incorporate Candlenuts Into Your Skincare Routine
Fortunately, candlenuts are becoming more widely used around the world. Today, you can incorporate a variety of candlenut oil-based products into your skincare routine.
One great option is JUARA's Candlenut Glow Body Oil. It's an ultra-luxe, nutrient-rich body oil that blends candlenut oil with passionfruit oil, moringa oleifera, plumeria, and turmeric. These ingredients are rich in powerful antioxidants and vitamins to help protect your skin from environmental stressors and keep it soft and smooth.
Before you hydrate with a natural oil, consider exfoliating to promote skin health. JUARA's Candlenut Body Polish uses crushed walnut shells to remove dead skin cells and gently polish the skin without scratching it. Candlenut, rice bran, and avocado oils help nourish, calm, and moisturize skin.
"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, like so many millions before you, love the smell of candlenuts, consider JUARA's Candlenut Perfume Oil. Inspired by warm beaches and comfort, this dermatologist-tested fragrance captures the warmth and fragrant breeze of a tropical escape.
Those ancient communities that prized candlenuts knew how versatile they were. Today, candlenuts are incorporated into many different kinds of products.
For example, JUARA also offers a Candlenut Hydrating Shower Gel. Candlenut oil and sulfate-free botanical cleansing agents help clean skin thoroughly and gently. Similarly, JUARA's Candlenut Hand and Body Wash blends this potent oil with a high-performance conditioner and plant-derived humectant to deliver long-lasting hydration.
Alternatively, consider JUARA's Candlenut Bar Soap. It contains mango seed butter, rich in vitamins C and A, and shea butter, known for its skin-calming properties.
Conclusion
Candlenuts have been prized for thousands of years. Communities from Southeast Asia to the Pacific to Africa used candlenuts and candlenut oil for all kinds of things, from food to medicine to skincare.
Today, candlenuts are finally being recognized around the world for their many potential benefits when it comes to skin health. They are rich in the omega fatty acids our skin depends on to stay healthy, and research suggests candlenut oil can help support skin health in many different ways.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Candlenut Good For?
Candlenuts have many uses. One thing candlenut is particularly good for is supporting skin health. Candlenut oil is rich in omega fatty acids, which research has shown can help support skin barrier function and help with many different skin conditions.
Does Candlenut Help Hair Growth?
Candlenut oil has been used for thousands of years to promote hair growth. It's widely believed to help hair grow, support hair health, and even prevent hair loss.
What Do Candlenuts Taste Like?
Candlenuts have a creamy flavor, similar to macadamia nuts. However, they shouldn't be eaten raw, as in their raw form they are toxic. Instead, they are usually used in cooked dishes.
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.
