How To Tell If Moroccan Argan Oil Is Real Or Fake ?
What was the inspiration behind starting up Moroccan Argan? The ordeal of buying "Pure Moroccan Argan Oil" and instead getting pure frustration! Finding out we've been duped is not a good feeling. But it's one that we can all relate to, especially when it comes to Argan oil. Read this definitive and comprehensive guide so that you'll know how to tell the difference between real Argan Oil and the fake stuff!
The Amber Bottle Situation
Yes, an amber bottle should allow in less UV light, and by that logic would help to preserve anything inside.
However, and it's a big however! At this point in the game, it's pretty much a marketing gimmick to lure us in. We've found in most cases with Argan oil that it's just an attempt to gain more credibility, and sucker us into believing whatever is inside is high quality.
The truth is, there are so many fraudulent Moroccan Argan oil products out there in amber bottles, that it doesn't prove anything one way or the other.
Protecting your oil from over exposure to day light and avoiding big temperature changes, and other methods related to storage can make a difference in maintaining shelf life.
How much does real Argan Oil cost?
The number 1 give away you're oil is not real? The Price!
Real Moroccan Argan Oil is produced using traditional methods. It's a long process and it involves a lot of labour, which isn't cheap.
Cheap oil is mechanically extracted from more readily available ingredients. It's mass produced by machines and shipped in huge quantities which brings costs down. With the cost of the oil alone and then all of the packaging costs associated with selling retail, anything cheap is certainly fake, no doubt about it.
£20 for 100ml is too good to be true, and £15 for 50ml might seem plausible, but if it's cooking oil in that bottle then it's more of a rip off than a bargain! We've seen real Argan oil selling for £60 and higher for 100ml! £35 to forty-something for 100ml is common for genuine Argan oil...
...One thing we've realised Is that if the product has failed the price test, it's not worth buying to find out if it's Real!
The Back Of The Label
Of course we expect the only ingredient listed to be 100% Moroccan Argan oil, because that's what we're looking for. We all get that part. But be careful, almost no one is committed to using pure argan oil. With certain expensive brands you will be paying for marketing.
The key here is transparency with information. If the product is Argan oil, there will be details about where and how it was sourced. If the product is infused with Moroccan Argan oil, again, it'll be clear and they will state details about their practices.
If you took a second glance at the label or researched the brand, but you still can't find any more information anywhere other than "100% Pure Moroccan Argan Oil", buyer beware!
What does real Argan Oil look like?
Pure Argan oil has an almost perfect golden colour. It's not too orange and not too yellow. It's also slightly cloudy, so it should appear slightly pale and It shouldn't be transparent. If you have a crystal clear typical oil looking product it's not Moroccan Argan oil.
Why don't you try a side by side comparison?
Pour your Moroccan Argan Oil from Moroccan Argan.co.uk into a clean, clear bottle, and see the difference from other oils! There might even be a little bit of sediment at the bottom. You won't get that with the fake stuff!
What does real Argan Oil smell like?
Moroccan Argan Oil has an incredibly unique scent. It's distinctive from any oil you've used before, and you'll know straight away this is something different.
If you haven't smelled it before you'll be satisfied that it smells pretty nutty. It's sort of tangy and a little earthy too. It almost smells like a high quality rubber or something similar. It's very hard to place or describe the smell, but it is
overwhelmingly DELICIOUS!
Argan Oil can have a stronger or more delicate aroma depending on the time of year the fruits are harvested and other factors.
What real Argan Oil should NOT smell like...
It shouldn't smell like something that's gone off, so anything that's too pungent or rancid is not correct! It could be Argan oil, but best not to use it.
It shouldn't smell too fragrant. A lot of serums and cosmetics use rose or orange blossom and scents that you're used to. So this is a dead give away it's diluted or mixed in with other things, or simply not the real deal.
It shouldn't smell like nothing. If you've given it a few sniffs, if you've waited a little while and smelled it again and again to be sure. If you've asked some one else smell it and still nothing, it just doesn't smell like anything. It's not argan Oil. Best case scenario it's been diluted so much there is no benefit in using it.
Usually an oil that smells like nothing is because it has gone though a deodorizing process to mask it's poor quality Ingredients.
What does real Argan oil feel like?
Moroccan Argan oil isn't slimy or greasy, and it shouldn't be at all sticky or too watery. Moroccan Argan oil is silky smooth and clean, and light. It feels very thin and high quality, and absorbs into the skin fast.