Neem Oil
Azadirachta indica
A strong-smelling oil pressed from the seeds of the Indian neem tree, used diluted in skin and hair care.
Also known as margosa oil, Indian lilac, nimba.
Origin
The neem tree (Azadirachta indica) is native to the Indian subcontinent, where it has been used for thousands of years and is sometimes called the 'village pharmacy.'
Neem oil is pressed from the seeds of the neem tree. Cold-pressed, unrefined neem is thick, cloudy, and has a distinctive strong, garlicky-sulphurous, nutty smell, which is normal and a sign it is fresh and unrefined rather than a fault.
Neem is potent and should be diluted into a lighter carrier oil for skin or scalp use, and patch tested. It is genuinely versatile, but its smell and strength mean a little goes a long way.
Importantly, much of the neem oil sold is intended for gardening and pest control. For skin and hair, choose a clearly cosmetic-grade, cold-pressed product.
Neem oil is for external use only: it should never be swallowed, and is especially unsafe for children to ingest. It is also traditionally avoided in pregnancy.
Skin & Allergen Notes
Traditional Uses
Neem has a long place in Ayurvedic and South Asian tradition for skin, scalp, and oral care, and as a natural insect-repelling oil in homes and gardens.
Modern Uses
Used today, well diluted, in skin and scalp care for blemish-prone or flaky skin, and very widely as a natural garden and plant oil.
Our Approved Neem Oil
TheraNeem (Organix South)
Most versatile
TheraNeem (Organix South) is a dedicated neem brand whose cold-pressed, single-ingredient neem oil is positioned for skin and hair care rather than garden-only use. That cosmetic…
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