Pure batana oil ยท La Mosquitia, Honduras
Real batana oil. Here's how you can tell.
One ingredient: Elaeis oleifera kernel oil, made by hand by Miskito producers in La Mosquitia, Honduras. Not diluted, not deodorised, not blended, and no fragrance added.
Pure batana oil, 100 ml
Buy by emailOnline checkout with M-Pesa and cards is on its way. Until then, email info@monisue.com and we'll arrange payment and delivery with you.
How you can tell it's real
Some oil sold online as batana turns out to be ordinary palm kernel oil, or a blend. Here is what we show you instead of asking you to trust us.
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One ingredient on the label
The ingredient list says Elaeis Oleifera Kernel Oil and nothing else. That is the official cosmetic (INCI) name for oil from the kernels of the American oil palm. No mineral oil, no fragrance.
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A lab certificate for the batch
When a batch's lab certificate is ready, we publish it here in full, with the batch number printed on your jar. The current batch's certificate isn't online yet.
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It looks, smells and feels like batana
Real batana is dark amber to brown, with a roasted, slightly smoky, coffee-like smell. It is firm when it's cool and melts in warm hands. Colour and scent vary a little from batch to batch, because it is made by hand. Pale, perfumed or odourless oil is a warning sign.
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We say where it comes from
The oil is made in La Mosquitia, on the Caribbean coast of Honduras, and packed into jars in Sweden.
Made by Miskito producers in La Mosquitia
Batana comes from the wild American oil palm, Elaeis oleifera. In La Mosquitia, Miskito producers, most of them women, make it by hand, using methods passed down through generations: the kernels are cleaned, dried, roasted, heated and strained to release the oil.
The knowledge and the work are theirs. monisue doesn't make the oil. We bring it to you, pack it in Sweden and sell it, and we name the people who make it.
What it does for hair and skin
- Conditions dry-feeling hair and leaves it softer
- Adds shine
- Helps reduce breakage from combing, so you can retain length
- Seals in moisture on ends and protective styles
- Softens dry skin and beards
Batana is a cosmetic oil. It cares for the hair you have; it isn't a treatment for any scalp or skin condition.
How to use it
Scoop out a small amount and warm it between your palms. A little goes a long way.
- Scalp and lengths
- Massage a small amount in two or three times a week, and adjust to what your hair needs.
- Before you wash
- Work it into scalp and hair, leave it for 30 minutes or longer, then shampoo.
- Ends and protective styles
- Smooth a very small amount over dry ends, braids or twists to soften them and seal in moisture.
- Beard and body
- A few drops soften a beard, or dry hands, elbows, knees and feet.
Patch test first. Apply a little to your inner arm and wait 24 to 48 hours before using it more widely. Keep it away from your eyes. If you have acne-prone skin, keep it off your face.
Questions people ask
Will it help my hair grow?
No clinical study has tested batana oil on hair, and no cosmetic oil can promise growth. What batana does is condition your hair and help reduce breakage, which helps you keep the length you have. We'd rather tell you that than promise more.
I have a nut allergy. Can I use it?
Batana is a palm kernel oil, from the seeds of the American oil palm. Allergy to palm seed oils is rare, but if you are allergic to nuts or coconut, talk to your doctor first and always do a patch test.
Why does it smell roasted?
The kernels are roasted before the oil is released, the traditional way. That roasted, coffee-like smell is a sign of real, unrefined batana. It softens once the oil is on your hair.
My jar is solid (or it melted). Is that normal?
Yes. Batana is firm when it's cool and turns liquid in warm weather. Neither changes its quality. To soften it, warm the closed jar in your hands or in warm water for a few minutes.
How do I store it?
Keep the jar tightly closed in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight, heat and water.
How do I order and pay?
For now, email info@monisue.com with how many jars you'd like and where you are. We deliver in Kenya and Sweden. Online checkout with M-Pesa and cards is coming soon.