The first time you hold a bottle of Monoï de Tahiti in your hand, two things stand out: the scent, which immediately brings to mind tropical summers and the ocean, and the fact that the oil solidifies in cooler temperatures. Both are due to the same reason—Monoï is a natural product with a history all its own.
For us, this oil is the heart of Anakena. That’s why we’d like to explain here what Monoï de Tahiti actually is, why its name is protected, and—last but not least—how to use it best.
An oil made from two main ingredients
Monoï de Tahiti is a macerate: Fresh Tiare Tahiti (Gardenia tahitensis) flower buds are steeped in refined coconut oil, where they release their fragrance and nourishing ingredients over a period of 12 days.
The tiare is the national flower of French Polynesia—a white, star-shaped blossom with a scent reminiscent of jasmine. It is picked by hand and must be processed no later than the day after harvest, otherwise it loses its aroma. The coconut oil comes from the dried flesh of the coconut, known as copra. On the islands, the coconut palm is considered the tree of life: it nourishes, protects, and provides material for almost everything.
This blend produces a light, silky oil—elegant in texture and unmistakable in aroma.
How Monoï de Tahiti Is Made
The process is called enfleurage and is strictly regulated. The fresh tiare buds are steeped in coconut oil for twelve days, with at least twelve flowers per liter. Nothing is heated during this process—the flowers release their fragrance at room temperature, which is precisely why it takes this long.
The macerate is then left to rest for 24 hours, filtered, purified, and blended with natural tocopherol. Tocopherol is the technical term for vitamin E; it acts as an antioxidant and keeps the oil fresh. As a result, Monoï de Tahiti ultimately consists of coconut oil, tiare flowers, and vitamin E. That’s all it takes—you can find all the details about our products on the page Ingredients.
Protected Designation of Origin: the Appellation d’Origine
In the 1980s, the market was flooded with imitations. Much of what was sold as „Monoi“ had nothing to do with Polynesia. In 1992, France took action and granted Monoï de Tahiti a Appellation d'Origine granted—the same type of origin protection you’re familiar with from Champagne or Parmigiano Reggiano. This made Monoï the world’s first cosmetic product with a protected designation of origin.
Decree No. 92-340 still specifies exactly what products are permitted to bear this name: The tiare flowers must come from Polynesia, and the product must be manufactured in French Polynesia. The percentage and the Appellation d’Origine stamp must appear on the label.
For you, this means: The name stands not only for a fragrance, but also for a verifiable origin.
How to Tell if It's Real Monoï Oil
Pay attention to the label. „Monoï de Tahiti“ bearing the Appellation d’Origine seal is not the same as an oil „with a monoi scent.“.
And take a look at the oil itself. Below about 24°C, Monoï becomes solid and milky white. This isn’t a quality issue, but rather a natural property of coconut oil. Just place the bottle in warm water for a moment, and it will become clear and liquid again. If you notice a tiare flower in one of our bottles: We’ll explain why it’s floating there in a separate post— What's „floating“ in the Monoï bottle?
Gentle enough for the whole family
Our Monoï de Tahiti is vegan and dermatologically tested. Plus: We had it tested by our safety assessor—the oil, just like our Shower Gel Skin & Hair, to be used for toddlers aged 0 to 3 years.
In Polynesia, this has always been a given. There, a massage with monoi after a bath is one of the first rituals in a child’s life. A few drops are enough for the arms and legs; the area around the eyes is left out.
How to Use Monoï Oil
Monoï works best right after a shower. Warm a few drops between your palms and apply them to skin that’s still slightly damp—this way, the oil spreads effortlessly and absorbs better. Your shoulders, décolletage, elbows, and feet will especially appreciate it. For your face, a very small amount is all you need; gently massage it in with your fingertips.
Monoï works best as a hair treatment: massage it into the lengths and ends of your hair, let it sit for at least fifteen minutes—or even overnight with a towel on your pillow—then wash it out with a mild shampoo. For dry ends, simply massage a few drops into your hair as needed.
And here are a few more tips: Monoï is also wonderful as a massage oil—its light texture spreads evenly, and the tiare scent turns it into a little ritual. A few drops in your bathwater will coat your skin in a delicate, nourishing film. And after a long day at the beach, Monoï is a classic after-sun oil; it doesn’t contain any sunscreen, so you’ll still need to use your sunscreen for that.
You can find more ideas for how to use it in our post on Natural Summer Hair Care with Monoï de Tahiti.
Monoï is in every one of our products
We don't just offer the oil in its pure form. Monoï de Tahiti is the ingredient that ties our entire skincare line together: You'll find it in the Body lotion and in the Face cream.
That's why all of our products feature the same delicate tiare scent—from your morning shower to your evening skincare routine. If you'd like to explore the entire line, it's also available as Set of all four products.
Our Monoï de Tahiti
Our oil is produced in Tahiti using exactly this traditional method and bears the Appellation d’Origine designation. It is then bottled for the European market and comes to you in a 100-ml bottle.
Without this oil, Anakena wouldn't exist—it's the foundation of our entire skincare line. We tell the whole story, from flower to bottle, on our Monoï Feature Page.
Want to give it a try? The Monoï de Tahiti (100 ml) and you can find our entire skincare line right here on our Online Shop.
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