CAMELlIA

Oil (seeds) — Origin: Japan

Camellia japonica

THE JAPANESE ROSE

Native to the Himalayas, but thriving as far as Indonesia and Japan, the camellia is an undergrowth shrub whose best-known species is Camellia sinensis, the tea tree. The japonica variety was acclimatized in Europe in the 17th century. Empress Joséphine de Beauharnais, who had a passion for gardens, made its flowers fashionable and had it planted in the park of the Palace of Malmaison, which harbored hundreds of species and types of new or rare flowers. Cháhua in Chinese, tsubaki in Japanese, dongbaek-kkot in Korean—the camellia’s beauty is celebrated globally. Most varieties are ornamental, and their flowers come in a wide array of colors and shapes. Their foliage is dark and glossy. The small flowers of Camellia japonica bear capsules that each hold two or three seeds which, when pressed, yield a fine, marvelous oil.

TEACHINGS FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL

The first known mention of camellia oil dates back to 777, when Japan offered some to the ambassador of the Kingdom of Balhae. In The Tale of Genji, a Japanese novel from the 11th century, the women of the court use camellia oil to preserve the youthfulness and radiance of their faces and their long black hair. In the Ryoan-Ji Buddhist temple, in Kyoto, you can marvel at a camellia that is said to date back to the 14th century. The tree’s branches were used to chase away evil spirits. The arrangement of the flower and its petals, interlocked like those of a compass rose and starched like a piece of fabric, were quick to woo the famous Gabrielle Chanel. The “Great Demoiselle” would soon turn the flower into the triumphant emblem of her modern version of chic.

ON COLLECTING CAMELLIA OIL

Harvesting occurs in September. The fruit is hand-picked from the tree before being steamed; it is then pressed to extract the oil, according to the so-called tamejime method. Today, the bulk of (and the finest) Japanese camellia oil is produced on the Izu Peninsula, about sixty miles from Tokyo. Toshima, where springtime is said to last forever, is famed for the extremely high quality of its tsubaki oil.

THE BENEFITS

Camellia oil has a high concentration of oleic acid, an omega-9 fatty acid that helps preserve the suppleness of the skin. It also accelerates the healing process and soothes damaged skin. Linoleic acid (omega-6), palmitic acid, and stearic acid protect and beautify the hair by coating the hair shafts.

A FEW DROPS

“A woman’s hair is her life,” a Japanese proverb asserts. Camellia oil is one of the most effective traditional products when it comes to hair care. To sport smooth and shiny hair, with a deep and shimmering color, detangle it calmly and at length using a tsuge gushi, a comb made from hard wood, bathed in camellia oil throughout its patient manufacturing process, and later regularly coated with this oil to maintain its beauty and efficacy.

CAMELLIA-BASED RECIPES

from Officine Universelle

NOURISHING AND STRAIGHTENING HAIR-RINSING LOTION

Rinsing is an important and often overlooked step in the process of washing hair. Patient rinsing with fresh water can be enhanced by weekly use of this luster-boosting elixir.

Add two or three drops of camellia oil to a bowl of tepid spring water, along with a dash of lemon juice. Once your hair is washed, whisk the mixture into a salve and rinse your hair with the resulting solution. Pat your hair dry with a clean, dry cloth, without rubbing.

GENTLEST FACIAL CLEANSING MASK

An efficient treatment for the days when you long for a clear, smooth complexion.

Using a small bamboo whisk, carefully mix one teaspoon of camellia oil with one tablespoon of honey and three drops of lemon juice. Leave on your face for a few minutes, then gently massage before rinsing with tepid water. Pat your face dry with a clean, dry cloth.