Rapeseed Oil — Frequently Asked Questions

Brassica Campestris Oil is the commonly used INCI name, though Brassica Napus Seed Oil also appears depending on the source species and the nomenclature applied. The INCI designation should be confirmed against the specific material supplied, since ingredient declarations must match the material actually used.

Light and fast-absorbing relative to heavier oils such as olive or avocado. Its fatty acid profile is around 60 percent oleic with low saturated content, which gives a fluid oil that spreads readily and leaves comparatively little residual film. That makes it useful where a vegetable oil is wanted without the occlusive weight.

It comes from the same double-low varieties, bred to hold erucic acid below two percent, that are grown for food and marketed as canola outside Europe. Cosmetic grades are refined to the appropriate specification for skin contact. Erucic acid content should be confirmed on the certificate of analysis where it is relevant to the application.

Moderately. Its high oleic content gives reasonable oxidative stability, but it also carries 9 to 11 percent alpha-linolenic acid, which has three double bonds and oxidises quickly, so it is less stable than a high-oleic oil. Antioxidant addition, cool dark storage and attention to peroxide value are appropriate where shelf life matters.