Eugenia Essentials

When I was a little girl, I always wished I had long flowing black hair. I don’t know why or where this wish came from. Today, when I see pictures of tropical island beauties surrounded by the sea and sky, a little of that envy returns. Their skin seems to glow from within and their hair always looks so soft and luxurious. Besides genes, a healthy island lifestyle and a cultural legacy that is rooted in spirituality and natural beauty, is there a secret they have that could be shared? Yes! The clue lies in the little star shaped flower many wear behind their ear to attract their beloved…the Tiare, Tahiti’s national flower, also known as the Tahitian gardenia.  From ancient times, the buds of this flower were gathered and soaked in coconut oil to create Monoi (Mah-noy), meaning “scented oil.” The Polynesians used this oil extensively in everyday life as well as in ritual practice.

Today the manufacturing of Monoi de Tahiti is a closely guarded process and on April 1, 1992 Monoi de Tahiti was awarded an Appellation of Origin. The reason for this is because there were so many imitators in the marketplace.

The oil is pricey, but it is so concentrated with scent that a little goes a long way. I recently made a salt scrub using it and I am delighted at the way it makes my skin feel and smell afterward. I also experimented with using the oil on my hair. Hairspray, hair dye and other products had stripped my hair of its oils, leaving it dry and lifeless. I rubbed a few drops of Monoi between my hands and ran them through my hair, waited about 15 minutes then shampooed. I could not believe how wonderfully soft my hair was for the next couple of days! No commercial hair conditioner EVER worked as good as this oil on my hair!

Monoi oil is loaded with the skin soothing agent methyl salicylate. It re-hydrates the skin and protects it from the ravaging elements. It can be used in the shower or bath, as a bath or massage oil, as a hair conditioner and as a relief for sunburn.

Monoi de Tahiti makes me feel like a beautiful island mama and will make you feel like one too!