Apricot kernel oil
Apricot kernel oil is the fixed oil pressed from the kernels inside apricot pits, Prunus armeniaca. Kernels are cracked out of the stones, pressed, and the oil is either filtered and sold virgin or refined to a pale, light oil. It is used mainly in cosmetics, massage oils and soaps, and in smaller amounts in foods and flavors. Apricot kernels contain amygdalin, so food-grade specifications sometimes include a limit for hydrocyanic acid.
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Refined, bleached and deodorized oil with little odor, the usual cosmetic grade.
Unrefined, filtered oil with a light marzipan-like aroma.
Virgin or refined oil from certified organic kernels.
Oil sold with a food specification, which may add limits for hydrocyanic acid and contaminants.
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
Store sealed in a cool, dark place and limit air exposure after opening. Shelf life is set by the supplier specification, with peroxide value retested on aged stock.
Record grade and origin for each lot, and whether it is sold for food or cosmetic use. Keep hydrocyanic acid results with food-grade lots.
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
FDA's Substances Added to Food inventory lists apricot kernel oil (Prunus armeniaca) with the technical effect flavoring agent or adjuvant and cites 21 CFR 182.20 and 182.40.
Source: hfpappexternal.fda.gov (opens in a new tab)21 CFR 182.40 lists apricot kernel (persic oil) among natural extractives (solvent-free) used with spices, seasonings and flavorings that are generally recognized as safe.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
Distributor · Des Plaines, IL
Illinois supplier of bulk oils, butters, waxes and soap-making bases, owned by Columbus Vegetable Oils, selling to soap makers and small personal care brands.
Manufacturer · Deerfield, IL
US oleochemical producer whose personal care unit (which absorbed Jeen International) sources, blends and refines natural oils and butters in cosmetic, food and pharma grades, and makes glycerin.
Suppliers are in alphabetical order and none pays to appear. Each claim is checked against the supplier’s own website on the date shown. Ask for the specification sheet and a recent COA before you order, and confirm details with the supplier.
Common forms include refined, virgin cold-pressed, organic and food grade. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
Expect fatty acid profile, acid value and peroxide value, sterol profile, hydrocyanic acid and microbiology, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
Store sealed in a cool, dark place and limit air exposure after opening. Shelf life is set by the supplier specification, with peroxide value retested on aged stock.
FDA's Substances Added to Food inventory lists apricot kernel oil (Prunus armeniaca) with the technical effect flavoring agent or adjuvant and cites 21 CFR 182.20 and 182.40. 21 CFR 182.40 lists apricot kernel (persic oil) among natural extractives (solvent-free) used with spices, seasonings and flavorings that are generally recognized as safe.
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