Fractionated Coconut Oil (MCT)

✦ Lightweight, non-greasy emollient that absorbs rapidly and leaves no oily residue on skin.
✦ Derived from coconut oil via fractional distillation — retains only medium-chain C8 and C10 triglycerides for exceptional oxidative stability.
✦ Completely odorless and colorless — ideal for fragrance-sensitive, unscented, and color-critical formulations.
✦ Outstanding carrier for essential oils, lipophilic actives, fragrance blends, and oil-soluble vitamins.
✦ Suitable across skincare, haircare, body care, massage, lip care, and soap making applications.
✦ Shelf life of 24 to 36 months — one of the most stable vegetable-derived carrier oils available.
✦ Plant-derived and vegan — free from animal-sourced components and long-chain fats that solidify at lower temperatures.

Fractionated Coconut Oil is a highly refined lipid ingredient derived from standard coconut oil (Cocos nucifera) through a fractional distillation process. This process selectively removes long-chain fatty acids — including lauric acid — and retains only the medium-chain triglycerides: caprylic acid (C8) and capric acid (C10). The result is a permanently liquid, clean-profile carrier oil that has been used extensively in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and nutraceuticals for decades.

What sets Fractionated Coconut Oil apart from conventional carrier oils is its combination of oxidative stability and dry, fast-absorbing skin feel. Because unstable long-chain fatty acids have been removed, it resists rancidity far longer than regular coconut oil or oleic-rich carriers such as sweet almond or sunflower. Its compact triglyceride structure allows it to spread thinly across the skin surface, deposit an invisible conditioning film, and support the delivery of lipophilic actives without occluding pores under normal formulation conditions.

Rabibazaar supplies cosmetic-grade Fractionated Coconut Oil (MCT) suitable for DIY formulators, independent skincare brands, soap makers, massage therapists, and professional cosmetic chemists.

INCI Name : Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Chemical Name : Triglycerides, mixed decanoyl and octanoyl
CAS Number : 65381-09-1
Molecular Formula : Mixture — predominantly C8 and C10 triglycerides; no single molecular formula
Appearance : Clear, colorless liquid
Odor : Odorless to virtually odorless
pH (1% solution) : Not Applicable — oil-phase ingredient; no aqueous pH
Solubility : Insoluble in water; miscible with oils, esters, and lipid-phase ingredients
Specific Gravity : 0.920 – 0.940 g/mL at 25°C
Flash Point : >130°C
HLB Value : Not Applicable
Recommended Use Level : 1 – 100% (used neat or blended; no upper limit for topical use)
Type : Emollient, carrier oil, solubilizer, texture modifier
Shelf Life : 24 – 36 months when stored in sealed containers away from heat and light

Skincare (Creams, Serums, Lotions) ★★★★★
An outstanding emollient and texture enhancer across all skin-facing formulations from lightweight serums to rich creams. Use at 5–30% in emulsions or up to 100% as a standalone facial oil base.

Haircare (Shampoo, Conditioner, Masks) ★★★★☆
Performs well in hair oils, conditioning serums, and leave-in treatments to soften strands and add shine without heaviness. Less impactful in rinse-off shampoos where its conditioning contribution is largely washed away.

Soap Making (Cold Process, Melt and Pour) ★★★☆☆
Can be incorporated at 5–15% in cold process formulations to add a gentle, skin-softening quality to the bar, though its C8 and C10 profile contributes limited lather and no hardness. More effectively used as a post-process skin oil or superfatting agent.

Body Care (Scrubs, Butters, Balms) ★★★★★
Ideal in body oils, massage blends, scrub carriers, and balms where a clean, non-sticky, spreadable finish is required. At 10–30% in body butters it offsets heaviness and improves product application.

Massage and Aromatherapy ★★★★★
The definitive carrier oil for massage therapy and aromatherapy due to its neutral scent, excellent skin glide, and full compatibility with all essential oils and fragrance blends. Use neat or blended with heavier carriers at any preferred ratio.

I use Fractionated Coconut Oil as a formulation workhorse — it is one of the few ingredients I reach for across nearly every product category. In facial oils, it delivers a premium, residue-free skin feel that customers associate with high-end products. In emulsions, it integrates cleanly into the oil phase without disrupting stability or emulsification efficiency. For aromatic blending, its complete odorlessness makes it the ideal neutral base so that fragrance and essential oil profiles remain fully intact and unaltered.

ADVANCED TIP: When building a dry skin facial oil blend, combine Fractionated Coconut Oil at 45% with Rosehip Seed Oil at 25%, Squalane at 20%, and Sea Buckthorn CO2 Extract at 0.5–1%. The MCT base provides rapid absorption and spreadability while the rosehip and sea buckthorn supply active fatty acids and carotenoids. This combination outperforms rosehip oil used neat because the oxidation-stable MCT matrix significantly extends the shelf life of the blend while preserving the activity of the more volatile specialty oils.

Normal Skin : ★★★★★ — Absorbs cleanly and conditions evenly without any drawbacks for routine daily use.
Dry Skin : ★★★★☆ — Provides effective surface emolliency but works best paired with richer occlusives for severely dry conditions.
Oily Skin : ★★★★★ — Its lightweight, dry-finish profile makes it exceptionally well tolerated by oily and combination-to-oily skin types.
Combination : ★★★★★ — Ideal for combination skin where a balanced, non-heavy moisturizing base is needed across different facial zones.
Sensitive Skin : ★★★★★ — Odorless, hypoallergenic, and chemically inert — one of the lowest irritation-risk carriers available for reactive skin.
Mature Skin : ★★★★☆ — An effective emollient and active carrier for anti-aging formulations, though mature skin often benefits from richer co-ingredients alongside it.
Acne-Prone : ★★★★☆ — Generally low-comedogenic and well tolerated in formulation; individual responses still vary and patch testing remains advisable.

CONCEPT 1: Brightening Vitamin C Facial Oil
Usage Level : 60%
Key Ingredients: Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate 3%, Rosehip Seed Oil 25%, Sea Buckthorn CO2 Extract 1%, Tocopherol (Vitamin E) 1%
Result : A lightweight, fast-absorbing facial oil delivering stable lipophilic Vitamin C alongside skin-renewing fatty acids for a visibly brightened and even complexion.

CONCEPT 2: Nourishing Lightweight Hair Serum
Usage Level : 70%
Key Ingredients: Argan Oil 20%, Dimethicone 350 5%, Fragrance Oil 1%, Tocopherol 0.5%
Result : A fine, non-greasy hair serum that tames frizz, adds mirror shine, and provides heat protection without weighing strands down.

CONCEPT 3: Calming Full-Body Massage Oil
Usage Level : 60%
Key Ingredients: Sweet Almond Oil 30%, Lavender Essential Oil 2%, Roman Chamomile Essential Oil 0.5%, Tocopherol 0.5%
Result : A smooth, skin-gliding massage oil with an elegant dry finish that calms, conditions, and leaves skin soft without greasy transfer to linens.

INCI Declared : Yes — must be declared as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride on finished product labels in all markets
EU Cosmetics Reg : Permitted — not listed as restricted or prohibited under EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009; no Annex restrictions apply
Rinse-Off Limit : No limit established
Leave-On Limit : No limit established
Allergen Alert : No — odorless, hypoallergenic profile with no known contact allergens
Skin Safety : Safe at all recommended use levels including neat application for most skin types
Eye Area Use : Use with caution — not a primary irritant but avoid direct ocular contact
Ingestion : Not for internal use in cosmetic context; food-grade MCT oil is a separate regulated category
Pregnancy Use : Safe for topical cosmetic use at standard formulation levels
Child Safety : Safe for topical use; dilute appropriately in formulations intended for infant skin
Ventilation : Not required
Storage : Cool dry place away from direct light and heat; refrigeration not required or recommended
Container : HDPE or glass preferred; avoid prolonged storage in reactive metal containers

Working pH Range : Not Applicable — oil-phase ingredient; unaffected by aqueous pH
Heat Stability : Stable up to 150°C; safe for hot-phase emulsification without degradation
Freeze-Thaw Stable : Yes — remains fully liquid well below 0°C; no solidification or phase separation occurs
Emulsion Type : O/W and W/O — functions in both emulsion systems as the primary or partial oil-phase component
Emulsification Phase: Hot or cold — can be incorporated in either phase depending on the emulsifier system used
Compatible With : Essential oils, fragrance oils, lipophilic actives, waxes, butters, silicones, esters, vitamin E, retinoids
Incompatible With : No significant incompatibilities known under standard cosmetic formulation conditions; avoid contact with strongly oxidizing agents
Oxidation Risk : Low — medium-chain saturated triglycerides are inherently oxidation-resistant; antioxidant addition is optional but not required
Discoloration Risk : None — colorless and chemically stable; will not discolor or tint formulations
Formulation Notes : Fractionated Coconut Oil is one of the most formulation-friendly carriers available. It requires no special handling, needs no preservative as a pure anhydrous oil, and integrates without complication into virtually all cosmetic product types.

Q: What is the difference between Fractionated Coconut Oil and regular coconut oil?
A: Regular coconut oil contains long-chain fatty acids including lauric acid that cause it to solidify below approximately 24°C and go rancid relatively quickly. Fractionated Coconut Oil has had these removed through distillation, leaving only C8 and C10 medium-chain triglycerides — so it stays permanently liquid, absorbs lighter, and has a shelf life two to three times longer.

Q: Is Fractionated Coconut Oil comedogenic?
A: It carries a low comedogenic rating of approximately 1 to 2 out of 5, attributed to its small triglyceride molecules and dry, non-occlusive finish on skin. It is generally well tolerated by acne-prone skin in formulation, though individual sensitivity always varies and patch testing is advisable.

Q: Can Fractionated Coconut Oil be used neat on skin and hair?
A: Yes — it is one of the few carrier oils fully suitable for undiluted application to both skin and hair. Its non-greasy profile means it does not feel heavy when applied neat, and it will not clog hair follicles or leave a residue on skin under normal use.

Q: At what percentage should I use it in a facial serum?
A: In an anhydrous facial oil serum, use it at 40–80% as the primary carrier base, blending specialty oils such as Rosehip, Squalane, or Marula for additional actives. In emulsified serums, include it at 5–15% in the oil phase depending on desired richness and skin feel target.

Q: How does Fractionated Coconut Oil compare to Squalane as a carrier?
A: Both are lightweight, odorless, low-comedogenic carriers with excellent stability. Squalane has a more skin-identical profile as it closely mimics human sebum and penetrates more deeply due to its hydrocarbon structure, making it the preferred choice in premium anti-aging facial formulations. Fractionated Coconut Oil is more cost-effective, provides a silkier slip, and is the preferred choice for massage, body care, and high-volume blending applications where cost efficiency and neutral scent are the primary criteria.

Product evaluation

Review the specifications, supplied grade, intended use and compatibility of Fractionated Coconut Oil (MCT) before ordering for production. Test a small quantity in the actual application and document the result before scaling.

Quality control

Inspect the received batch for expected appearance, odor, texture, packaging condition and labeling. Keep supplier and batch records, use accurate measurements, and retain a reference sample when the material is used commercially.

Storage and responsible use

Store tightly closed in a clean, cool and dry location away from direct sunlight. Follow the current supplier instructions and all safety, labeling and regulatory requirements that apply to the intended finished product.