Tamanu
Carrier OilCalophyllum inophyllum
Origin: Polynesia, Southeast Asia
About
One of the most therapeutically powerful carrier oils, tamanu contains the unique compound calophyllolide which exhibits strong anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties. Its distinctive dark green colour and strong aroma mean it is usually blended at 10–25% with other carriers.
Used by the peoples of Polynesia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia for millennia, tamanu oil was a cornerstone of traditional medicine for treating skin diseases, nerve pain, and infected wounds. It remains an important ceremonial and medicinal oil in many Pacific Island cultures.
Benefits
- ✓Exceptional wound healing and tissue regeneration
- ✓Strong anti-inflammatory (calophyllolide)
- ✓Effective for nerve pain and neuralgia
- ✓Antifungal and antimicrobial
- ✓Treats eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea
Pairings (34)
Tamanu and Calophyllum are closely botanically related and share very similar therapeutic profiles; combining them offers little additional benefit and may over-intensify active compounds.
Tamanu's potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic carrier properties create outstanding therapeutic synergy with clove bud for joint and muscular pain applications.
Tamanu's exceptional anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties align profoundly with copaiba, making this a premier pairing for skin repair and pain-focused massage work.
Tamanu's remarkable wound-healing, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties make it a powerhouse pairing with Tea Tree for skin infections or damaged tissue.
Tamanu's cicatrisant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties pair powerfully with lavender for wound healing, scar tissue, nerve pain, and skin repair massage.
Tamanu's extraordinary anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and wound-healing properties combine powerfully with eucalyptus in targeted blends for joint pain, neuralgia, and muscular injury.
Tamanu's extraordinary wound-healing, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory reputation makes it a highly synergistic and therapeutically potent partner for neem.
Both oils are celebrated for their exceptional skin healing, anti-inflammatory, and regenerative properties, making this a potent combination for damaged or troubled skin.
Tamanu's remarkable skin-healing, anti-inflammatory, and cicatrisant properties create a powerful regenerative synergy with carrot seed for scar and restorative massage work.
Tamanu's exceptional wound-healing, cicatrisant, and anti-inflammatory properties create a powerful skin-repair synergy when blended with carrot oil.
Tamanu's unique calophyllic acid compounds and nerve-regenerating properties make it a remarkable synergistic partner with St John's Wort for neuropathy and skin repair.
Tamanu's powerful cicatrisant and anti-inflammatory properties amplify Frankincense's skin-healing and regenerative benefits in a highly therapeutic pairing.
Tamanu's remarkable wound-healing and anti-inflammatory properties are well supported by sweet almond's gentle base in therapeutic skin massage.
Tamanu's renowned wound-healing and anti-inflammatory calophyllolide compounds pair powerfully with rosehip for scar, burn, and skin repair treatments.
Tamanu's powerful wound-healing and anti-inflammatory cicatrisant properties are effectively delivered when blended with sunflower as a primary carrier.
Properties
- Aroma
- strong, green, slightly medicinal
- Consistency
- medium
- Absorbency
- medium
- Shelf Life
- 24 months
Contraindications
- ⚠Avoid with nut allergies (calophyllum family)
- ⚠Strong aroma and colour — use as secondary carrier
- ⚠Patch test essential due to sensitisation potential