It is the jewel of French Polynesia, a small white, marble-like flower, the secret to the beauty of Polynesian women:Gardenia taitensis, morecommonly known as the tiare.

Monoi de Tahiti (pronounced "Ma-noy") is made by macerating its petals in pure coconut oil. Today we’ll talk about this beauty elixir, its benefits, and its cosmetic uses.

How to get it.

Monoi oil is obtained through a long maceration process.

Tiaré flowers are harvested before they bloom, the pistils are removed, and the flowers are left to macerate in coconut oil for at least 15 days (this technique is called enflourage).

To obtain the Designation of Origin label, producers must meet certain standards, which require that at least 15 tiaré flowers be used for every liter of refined coconut oil.

An ancient tradition.

It seems that Monoi oil was already widely known among the indigenous Polynesians and used for religious, medicinal, and cosmetic purposes. This precious ointment was applied to the bodies of the deceased to ease their passage into the afterlife; it was also used to moisturize the body during the summer and prevent it from getting too cold during the winter.

In Polynesian tradition, there were actually several types of preparations based on coconut oil, which differed depending on the type of flower used in the infusion: for example, there was Monoi Miri, made with basil flowers and leaves; Monoi Motoi, made with ylang-ylang flowers; and Monoi Pitate, made by infusing jasmine flowers.

Uses and Benefits of Tahitian Monoi

Monoi oil has long been known to the women of Tahiti as a precious beauty elixir. It has moisturizing, emollient, and soothing properties, and—thanks to its vitamin E content—it also exerts a powerful antioxidant effect on the skin. The tiaré flower gives the blend an intoxicating vanilla scent that blends with the sweet, exotic aroma of coconut.

Naturetica's Monoi de Tahiti is 100% pure and cold-pressed without the use of solvents.
It can be used in various ways. Here are our recommendations:

• as a moisturizer on damp skin after a shower;
• as an after-sun treatment, to moisturize the skin and keep it supple;
• as a scented massage oil;
• as a nourishing treatment for dry and brittle hair (also great for use after a day at the beach);
• as cuticle oil;
• as a natural tanning aid (but be careful! Always use it in combination with SPF protection to avoid getting sunburned).