The introduction of MCT oil

What is mct oil?

MCT Oil is a type of oil synthesized from pure Coconut Oil (and sometimes Palm Oil). It is composed predominantly of Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs). This causes it to display special qualities and properties including high stability, lightweight texture, fast absorption, colorless or very pale-colored appearance, and an extremely light odor while retaining the skin-replenishing and moisturizing benefits of the source fatty acids.

The term 'triglyceride' refers to a type of lipid that is made up of the elements carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O). These elements are arranged in the form of a glycerol unit (the structural 'backbone' of the triglyceride compound), alongside three chains of fatty acids attached to it. Due to the varying chemical composition of fatty acids, they come in different sizes and can be classified according to the number of carbon atoms they have. Short-chain fatty acids have less than 6 carbon atoms, medium-chain fatty acids have 6-12 carbon atoms, while long-chain fatty acids have 13-21 carbon atoms.

Medium-Chain Triglycerides (MCTs) are naturally-occurring triglyceride compounds that consist of a glycerol component with fatty acid chains that are medium-sized in length; in other words, they are composed of medium-chain fatty acids. These could be any one of the following:

C6 (having 6 Carbon atoms) - Caproic Acid

C8 (having 8 Carbon atoms) - Caprylic Acid

C10 (having 10 Carbon atoms) - Capric Acid

C12 (having 12 Carbon atoms) - Lauric Acid

MCTs can be found in vegetable oils and animal dairy products such as milk, butter, clarified butter, and cheese. Coconut Oil and Palm Oil are both rich sources of MCTs, and MCT Oil is therefore made from these natural oils.

Is there a difference between mct oil and fractionated coconut oil?

MCT Oil derived from Coconut Oil may be called Fractionated Coconut Oil. However, it is important to note that the term 'Fractionated Coconut Oil' can also refer to a product in which Coconut Oil has undergone simple fractionation to remove its long-chain fatty acids; in other words, there is no esterification involved. Thus, in this case, Fractionated Coconut Oil can be defined as simply a fraction of the fixed oil, but MCT Oil is in fact an ester and no longer carries an 'oily' feel. This difference is reflected in their INCI names: Fractionated Coconut Oil remains 'Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil' while MCT Oil (both Palm or Coconut-derived) becomes 'Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides'.

As Fractionated Coconut Oil (Cocos Nucifera Oil) is also high in MCTs, its physical and chemical characteristics can be very similar to MCT Oil. However, as MCT Oil is an ester, it has an even lighter, more powdery, non-oily texture and has a faster absorbency speed compared to Fractionated Coconut Oil.

The beneficial physio-chemical properties of MCT Oil include:

Colorless or very pale yellow in appearance

Emits a mild characteristic odor

Remains in a liquid state at room temperature

Low viscosity and lightweight texture

Absorbs rapidly into the skin

Non-greasy and non-staining

Excellent heat stability (can be heated or frozen)

Excellent oxidative stability, contributing to the lifespan of products

Acts as a versatile solvent, as it is soluble in lipids and oils, in addition to acids and alcohols