GET TO KNOW YOUR OILS
Pumpkin Seed Oil
Cucurbita pepo L.
Chemotype: linoleic / oleic fixed-oil type
- PLANT PART
- seeds
- EXTRACTION
- cold-pressed seed oil
- AROMA NOTE
- base
LEARN AS YOU COMPARE
What’s inside this oil?
Constituents are the natural chemicals that give an oil its character. See the main ones, learn what they do, and explore differences between batches.
Meet the main constituents, then select one to see what makes it interesting.
FOLLOW YOUR SENSES
Aroma & character
A closer look at this oil's scent, strength, and staying power.
- Aroma intensity
- 25 / 100
- Note layer
- base
If you like this scent, explore
A LITTLE CARE GOES A LONG WAY
Using it thoughtfully
Read the full safety context before bringing this oil into your routine.
- Cited dermal maximum · leave-on
- No restriction cited
- Phototoxicity
- Not flagged in this profile
- Oxidation risk
- medium
A cited maximum is a limit, not a suggested dilution. Missing restrictions do not establish safety.
No phototoxic furocoumarin restriction was identified for cold-pressed pumpkin seed oil.
Contraindications & cautions
- minorIndividuals with a known sensitivity or allergy to pumpkin seeds or other seeds should avoid pumpkin seed oil and consult a healthcare provider.
- minorConcentrated pumpkin seed oil supplements (as opposed to culinary/food amounts) lack established safety data for pregnancy; consult an OB/GYN before using supplement forms while pregnant.
Explore measured chemistry from supplier batches
A supplier report describes a particular sample. Open this workspace to investigate measured constituents and their original documents.
THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE SCENT
Inside the oil
An oil's character comes from its natural chemical composition. Explore each constituent to understand the connections.
About this composition
This record is based on directly readable cold-pressed pumpkin seed oil certificates of analysis that publish both range and batch values for the main fatty acids. The oil is a standard edible fixed oil dominated by linoleic and oleic acids with smaller palmitic and stearic fractions.
| Constituent | Typical amount | Reported range | Chemical family | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linoleic acid | 51.6% | 40–65% | polyunsaturated fatty acid | View sourceCertificate of Analysis - Pumpkin Seed Oil, USDA Certified Organic https://www.makingcosmetics.com/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-makingcosmetics-master/default/dw1b095ea9/certificate-of-analysis/coa-pumpkin-seed-oil-organic.pdf (fatty acid profile: C18:2 linoleic acid 40.0-65.0%; analysis 51.6%) |
| Oleic acid | 29.8% | 18–41% | monounsaturated fatty acid | View sourceCertificate of Analysis - Pumpkin Seed Oil, USDA Certified Organic https://www.makingcosmetics.com/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-makingcosmetics-master/default/dw1b095ea9/certificate-of-analysis/coa-pumpkin-seed-oil-organic.pdf (fatty acid profile: C18:1 oleic acid 18.0-41.0%; analysis 29.8%) |
| Palmitic acid | 11.5% | 10–16% | saturated fatty acid | View sourceCertificate of Analysis - Pumpkin Seed Oil, USDA Certified Organic https://www.makingcosmetics.com/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-makingcosmetics-master/default/dw1b095ea9/certificate-of-analysis/coa-pumpkin-seed-oil-organic.pdf (fatty acid profile: C16:0 palmitic acid 10.0-16.0%; analysis 11.5%) |
| Stearic acid | 5.4% | 2–8% | saturated fatty acid | View sourceCertificate of Analysis - Pumpkin Seed Oil, USDA Certified Organic https://www.makingcosmetics.com/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-makingcosmetics-master/default/dw1b095ea9/certificate-of-analysis/coa-pumpkin-seed-oil-organic.pdf (fatty acid profile: C18:0 stearic acid 2.0-8.0%; analysis 5.4%) |
Profile source: Certificate of Analysis - Pumpkin Seed Oil, USDA Certified Organic; Certificate of Analysis Pumpkin Seed Oil Extra Virgin Organic; Cucurbita pepo (pumpkin) seed oil | Cosmetic Ingredient Review · https://www.makingcosmetics.com/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-makingcosmetics-master/default/dw1b095ea9/certificate-of-analysis/coa-pumpkin-seed-oil-organic.pdf ; https://www.lgbotanicals.com/assets/images/Certificate%20of%20Analysis%20PUMPKIN%20SEED%20OIL%20EXTRA%20VIRGIN%20ORGANIC%20PMK620CB1018.pdf ; https://www.cir-safety.org/ingredient/cucurbita-pepo-pumpkin-seed-oil
A TRADITION OF BOTANICAL CURIOSITY
Traditional & reported uses
These uses reflect the profile's reported traditions and literature. They are not established treatment recommendations.
- used as a nourishing carrier/base oil in skin and hair care blends
- traditionally valued for its emollient, softening effect on dry skin
- used in massage blends as a rich carrier for diluting essential oils
- reported to support skin suppleness when used in cosmetic formulations
- traditionally included in scalp and hair conditioning oil blends
For aromatherapy and wellness use only — not medical advice. Effect statements are traditional/reported associations, not treatment claims. The Synergy Rating scores blend craft, harmony and safety, not medical efficacy. Read the safety framework.
What we're still learning · 3 data gaps
Good decisions start with knowing what is — and isn't — in the evidence.
- Max dermal 100 reflects the archive's carrier-oil convention for edible fixed oils with no identified public dermal restriction, rather than a dedicated published leave-on safety cap specific to pumpkin seed oil.
- Odor intensity 25 normalizes supplier descriptions such as characteristic, nutty, and green into the archive's 0-100 scale rather than transcribing a published numeric intensity.
- No public source located in this pass gave directly measured volatility-rate or tenacity-hour values.