Jojoba

Simmondsia chinensis
An evergreen shrub. The seeds of the female plants contain an wax often used in food, skin and soap products. Though the extract looks like an oil, it is a wax that is liquid at room temperature. Being a wax, it is similar to natural liquid waxes in our own skin which prevent water loss. Thus it is often used as a moisturizer.


Other uses for Jojoba:

• an anti-foaming agent in the fermentation industry
• a magnetic memory media lubricant
• a high-temperature high-pressure lubricant
• It is similar to sperm whale oil and can be substituted for it in many applications

The above list from: Naqvi, H.H. and I.P. Ting. 1990. Jojoba: A unique liquid wax producer from the American desert. p. 247-251. In: J. Janick and J.E. Simon (eds.), Advances in new crops. Timber Press, Portland, OR.