Composition: Hibiscus sabdariffa seed carrier oil comes from the botanical plant hibiscus sabdariffa, or roselle, belonging to the family malvaceae. (Reference one [R1], Ali et al., 2014) Basic morphology of the plant, hibiscus sabdariffa, includes roots, stems, leaves, flowers, calyces, fruits, and seeds. (Reference two [R2], Hibiscus sabdariffa, n.d.) The seeds can be found within the seed pod (fruit), which can be found within the calyx that grows from the flower. (Reference three [R3], Alderson, n.d.) The seeds are small; usually 3-4 millimeters in width (Reference four [R4], Pauline, 2023) and 2-4 millimeters long (Reference five [R5], Hibiscus sabdariffa l., n.d.) (Reference six [R6], Mariod et al., 2017) Hibiscus seeds contain minerals, amino acids, lipids like fatty acids, and macronutrients like crude protein, crude fatty oil, carbohydrates, fiber, and ash. The seed's oil yield is usually quantified to levels like 18-23%. (R6)​

Hibiscus seed oil can be extracted using various methods like solvent extraction (petroleum ether, ethanol) (R1) and, a popular, nutrient-saving method, cold-pressing the seeds. (R4) To make the oil, seeds from the hibiscus fruit are first harvested, cleaned, processed, pressed, and finally, filtered. When cold-pressing the seeds to produce oil, the process includes rigorous temperature monitoring, mechanical pressing, decanting, and filtering of the seeds and oil.

The composition of the seed oil product that remains, titled Hibiscus Sabdariffa seed oil, can be qualified to major components of fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins, sterols, minerals, and other minor components. (Reference seven [R7], Ezung and Hulle, 2025) Lipids make up the majority of an oil's composition. The highest, most notable concentrations of fatty acids in hibiscus sabdariffa seed oil include linoleic, oleic, palmitic, and stearic acids at generally 40, 29, 20, and 5 percent, respectively. (Reference eight [R8], Mohamed et al, 2007) (Reference nine [R9], Mohamed et al., 2007, Table 3) (Reference ten [R10], Ahmed et al., 1982) The oil also contains antioxidants and sterols like gamma-tocopherols, alpha-tocopherols, phytosterols, beta-sitosterol, and campesterol. The oil is especially rich in gamma-tocopherol. (Reference eleven [R11], Mariod et al., 2021)

​

Other common names: Roselle seed oil, red sorrel seed oil, hibiscus sabdariffa seed oil (INCI), jamaica, karkade seed oil

​

Function: Emollient, conditioning

​

​EWG Skin Deep rating: 1 data-limited

PubChem GHS classification: primary hazards-none

EPA Safer Chemical rating: n/a

CIR Expert Panel report: n/a

About the scores

​

More: Botanically all parts of the hibiscus sabdariffa plant get used in various ways like the fiber, or hemp, of its stem being used to make cords, twine, and sacks. More popular uses, however, are for its flower, calyx, and fruit. In cuisine, the calyx is steeped to make teas or to add flavor to dishes. A special mention to Agua de Jamaica, which is a popular Mexican drink (agua fresca) brewed from dry hibiscus calyx (fleshy, flower-like surrounding to the fruit, or seed pod).​​

​

Date created: May 29, 2026

Date updated: