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Sea buckthorn oil

Sea buckthorn oil suppliers and sourcing guide

Sea buckthorn oil comes from Hippophae rhamnoides, a thorny shrub grown in China, Russia, Mongolia and northern Europe. Two different oils are sold: seed oil, pressed or CO2-extracted from the seeds and rich in linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids, and fruit (pulp) oil, from the berry flesh, which is deep orange from carotenoids and high in palmitoleic and palmitic acids. Brands buy either or a blend, for softgels and for cosmetics.

See suppliersWhat to ask for on the COA
Also known as
Hippophae rhamnoides oil · Sea buckthorn seed oil · Sea buckthorn fruit oil · Seabuckthorn oil
Facts checked
November 2026

Forms and grades of sea buckthorn oil

Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.

  • Seed oil

    Oil from the seeds, pale to amber, sold against linoleic and ALA content.

  • Fruit (pulp) oil

    Oil from the berry flesh, deep orange-red, sold against palmitoleic acid (omega-7) and carotenoid content.

  • Supercritical CO2 extracts

    Solvent-free seed or fruit extracts, often with stated carotenoid levels.

  • Blends and softgel grades

    Seed and fruit oils combined, or diluted in a carrier oil, to a stated profile.

  • Organic

    Oil from certified organic or wild-harvested berries.

What to check on the COA

Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.

Fatty acid profile
Fatty acid composition by GC of the methyl esters (AOCS Ce 1-62 or an equivalent ISO method), reported as percent of total fatty acids; palmitoleic acid for fruit oil, linoleic and ALA for seed oil.
Carotenoids
Total carotenoids by spectrophotometry or HPLC, mainly for fruit oil, where they set the color.
Peroxide and anisidine values
Peroxide value (AOCS Cd 8b-90) for primary oxidation and p-anisidine value for secondary oxidation, often combined as TOTOX; these show how fresh the oil is at release.
Free fatty acids
Free fatty acids or acid value by titration (AOCS Ca 5a-40 or Cd 3d-63), which rises with poor seed handling, hydrolysis and age.
Heavy metals
Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury by ICP-MS, reported against the supplier's specification or the limits of the target market.

Storage, lots and expiry

Storage and shelf life

Store sealed, cool and dark, and refrigerate after opening unless the product is encapsulated. Fruit oil stains and is light-sensitive; seed oil oxidizes like other ALA-rich oils. Shelf life is set by the supplier specification, with oxidation values retested on aged stock.

Lots and expiry dates

Seed and fruit oils differ completely, so confirm which oil each lot is and record its fatty acid profile and carotenoid content. Rotate first-expiry, first-out.

Regulatory status

Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.

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.

Sea buckthorn oil suppliers

Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.

We are checking sea buckthorn oil suppliers now

Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.

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Frequently asked questions

What forms of sea buckthorn oil can brands buy?

Common forms include seed oil, fruit (pulp) oil, supercritical CO2 extracts, blends and softgel grades and organic. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.

What should the COA for sea buckthorn oil include?

Expect fatty acid profile, carotenoids, peroxide and anisidine values, free fatty acids and heavy metals, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.

How should sea buckthorn oil be stored?

Store sealed, cool and dark, and refrigerate after opening unless the product is encapsulated. Fruit oil stains and is light-sensitive; seed oil oxidizes like other ALA-rich oils. Shelf life is set by the supplier specification, with oxidation values retested on aged stock.

What is the regulatory status of sea buckthorn oil?

Health Canada's Fixed Oil Products - Oral monograph lists sea buckthorn fruit oil from the fruit, and sea buckthorn seed oil from the seed, of Hippophae rhamnoides. That monograph requires the statement 'Refrigerate after opening' for products containing sea buckthorn seed oil, except encapsulated products. The EU Novel Food status Catalogue entry for Hippophae rhamnoides (POL-NF-00404) lists the seeds and seed oil as not novel in food supplements.

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