The oil is a cold-pressed product from poppy seeds (Papaver somniferum). Poppies belong to the oldest plants on earth. The seeds found in the middle Europe date from 4600 to 3800 BC. It has high concentrations of palmitic acid and linoleic acid for this poppy oil is an excellent oil for worn, mature and dry skin.
Poppy seed oil is an excellent oil in soap (up to 15%) and gives hardness to soap. It has an average saponification between 189-197 and an iodine value of 133-197 which is relatively high which means that the oil has a limited shelf life (compare with olive oil: 87-90 and avocado oil 75-95). It has a very light feel on the skin but does not disappear quickly enough and has a relatively low absorption rate without leaving unpleasant greasyness. High concentrations of linoleic acid (omega-6 fatty acid) give the anti-inflammatory properties of the oil and are an excellent choice for damaged and sensitive skin as well as for the treatment of eczema.