Ik bestel hier mijn jojoba olie al erg lang en ben echt heel tevreden over de kwaliteit.
Ik zal hier zeker blijven bestellen!
De olie is heerlijk van geur en verwerkt zich fijn in mijn producten. Krijg er een boost van als ik het ruil😊
Coconut as a raw material: coconut oil or MCT oil?
We supply coconut in two forms: cold-pressed, unrefined coconut oil, and MCT oil, the fractionated portion of coconut oil. On this page, we explain how they differ and when our customers choose each form.
In short: coconut oil is solid at room temperature and smells of coconut. MCT oil is liquid, colourless and virtually odourless, and remains liquid even in cold conditions. They come from the same nut, but they are two different raw materials with two different INCI names.
Two products from the same nut
Our coconut oil is cold-pressed from the flesh of ripe coconuts and is not processed further. It comes from Sri Lanka.
Our MCT oil is made by fractionating coconut oil. Fractional distillation removes the longer-chain fatty acids, leaving the medium-chain fatty acids. The result is liquid, colourless and virtually odourless. Our MCT oil comes from India.
Both are covered by our SKAL certification.
Coconut oil is solid at room temperature
Coconut oil melts at around 24 °C. So at room temperature it is solid or semi-solid, and on a warm day it will naturally become liquid. We regularly get questions about this; it does not affect the quality. However, it is worth bearing in mind when planning production, as weighing from a solid container is different from weighing from a liquid one.
In a formula, coconut oil adds firmness and a rich, nourishing texture. It is a classic choice for soap: the lauric acid it contains produces a hard bar of soap that lathers well. Its natural coconut scent carries through to your finished product.
MCT oil is liquid, colourless and virtually odourless
MCT oil absorbs quickly and does not leave a greasy film. It remains liquid even at low temperatures, so you do not need to melt it before use. Since it has virtually no scent of its own, the fragrance of your perfume or essential oil stays true.
This makes MCT oil a popular carrier oil for essential oils, massage and facial oils, and serums. It is also used to disperse other ingredients evenly.
Comparing the two forms
| Characteristic | Coconut oil | MCT oil |
|---|---|---|
| Form | Solid to semi-solid, melts at around 24 °C | Liquid, even in cold conditions |
| Colour and scent | White, natural coconut scent | Colourless, virtually odourless |
| INCI | Cocos Nucifera Oil | Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride |
| Processing | Cold-pressed, unrefined | Fractional distillation of coconut oil |
| Origin | Sri Lanka | India |
| Organic | Yes, SKAL-certified | |
| Pack sizes | 2.3 to 18 kg | 100 ml to 190 kg |
Your label needs two different INCI names
This is the difference that most often causes confusion in practice. Coconut oil appears on your label as Cocos Nucifera Oil. MCT oil appears as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride. So you cannot simply write coconut oil once and use that to cover both, even if the MCT oil is made from coconut. The product specification states which name applies to your batch.
Shelf life
Coconut oil consists mainly of saturated fatty acids, making it one of the more stable fats in our range. MCT oil lasts even longer because the fatty acids that react most quickly with oxygen are removed during fractionation. Your batch’s shelf life is stated on the certificate of analysis. Store both products in a cool, dark place in a tightly sealed container.
Which one do our customers choose?
- Soap makers use coconut oil for a hard bar of soap that lathers well.
- Aromatherapists choose MCT oil because it has virtually no scent of its own, allowing the essential oil’s fragrance to remain true.
- Massage therapists choose MCT oil for its fluidity and because it leaves little residue on linen.
- Hairdressers use coconut oil in hair masks and MCT oil in lightweight hair oils and serums.
- Cosmetics brands use coconut oil in body butters and balms, and MCT oil in serums, creams and makeup removers where the product needs to remain clear and lightweight.
- Practices and studios that keep a bottle on the workbench for weeks choose MCT oil for its longer shelf life.
Under your own brand
You can sell MCT oil under your own name with our Ready to Label MCT oil in 100 ml bottles. Simply add your own label. If you would like custom packaging or a larger production run, see our private label options.
So, which type of coconut oil should you choose?
Coconut oil if you want firmness, a rich texture or a hard bar of soap, and are happy for the coconut scent to come through in your product.
MCT oil if your product needs to remain liquid, clear and neutral in scent, or if the oil is used as a carrier for a fragrance that should remain true.
Order coconut oil from us alongside your other butters, waxes, carrier oils and essential oils. For larger volumes or regular orders, we would be happy to provide a quote.
Not sure which form is right for your product? Send us a message about what you make, and we’ll be happy to help.