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Ingredient Glossary
These key ingredients help power the Aveda products you love.
Discover what they do and where they are sourced from - and why
they'll make a difference in your hair care routine.
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![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Acacia_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
ACACIA SENEGAL GUM
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Acacia Tree
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for hair thickening & maintaining a hair style
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
ACRYLATES COPOLYMER
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Synthetic
WHAT IT IS:
Synthetic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to thicken and stabilize a product
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Corn_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
ALCOHOL DENAT
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Corn
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to blend other ingredients into the product and as a carrier for another ingredient
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/KukuiSeed_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
ALEURITES MOLUCCANA (KUKUI) SEED OIL
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Kukui Seed
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for weightless conditioning
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
AMMONIUM LAURYL SULFATE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Palm
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for cleansing with lots of luxurious lather
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
ARACHIDYL ALCOHOL
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Rapeseed, an annual flowering plant grown for the oil in its seeds
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to create a rich product texture and stabilize a product
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/wheat_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
ARACHIDYL GLUCOSIDE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Wheat
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to stabilize a product
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
ARGAN OIL
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Kernels of argan tree
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for conditioning and nourishing hair
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Corn_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
ARGININE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Corn
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to balance the pH of the product and for hair strengthening
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Oat_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
AVENA SATIVA (OAT) BRAN EXTRACT
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Oats
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to provide a creamy product texture and slip through hair
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Babassu_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
BABASSUAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE (DERIVED FROM BABASSU)
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Babassu
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for gentle cleansing
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
BEHENAMIDOPROPYLTRI MONIUM METHOSULFATE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Rapeseed, an annual flowering plant grown for the oil in its seeds
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for conditioning hair and static prevention, not a sulfate cleanser
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
BEHENTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Rapeseed, an annual flowering plant grown for the oil in its seeds
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to create a creamy product texture and for conditioning and static prevention
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
BEHENTRIMONIUM METHOSULFATE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Rapeseed, an annual flowering plant grown for the oil in its seeds
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to create a creamy product texture and for conditioning and static prevention
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/CoconutCorn_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
BEHENYL/OCTYLDODECYL PROPANEDIOL CITRATE CROSSPOLYMER
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Coconut & Corn
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for smoothing hair and long lasting conditioning
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
BENZOIC ACID
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Synthetic
WHAT IT IS:
Synthetic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to keep product fresh
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Annatto_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
BIXA ORELLANA (ANNATTO) SEED EXTRACT
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Seeds of Bixa, Orellana, also called archiote tree or the lipstick plant
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to color a product, improving its appearance
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Sugarcane_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
BUTYLENE GLYCOL
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Sugar Cane
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for moisturization and to blend other ingredients into the product
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/SheaButter_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
BUTYROSPERMUM (SHEA BUTTER) PARKII
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Shea
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for softening and smoothing
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
CAFFEINE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Coffea Arabica
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for its calming and soothing properties for skin and scalp
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
CAPRYLYL GLYCOL
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Synthetic
WHAT IT IS:
Synthetic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to blend other ingredients into the product and for moisturization
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Corn_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
CARAMEL
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Corn
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to color a product, improving its appearance
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
CARRAGEENAN
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Red Algae
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to thicken a product, improving the texture
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Safflower_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS (SAFFLOWER) SEED OIL
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) plant, an annual flowering plant grown for the oil in its seeds
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for softening and smoothing hair
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
CETEARYL ALCOHOL (DERIVED FROM PALM)
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Palm
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for hair smoothing and to create a creamy product texture
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Coconut_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
CETRIMONIUM CHLORIDE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Coconut and/or Palm
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for weightless hair conditioning, ease of combing, and static prevention
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Quinoa_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
CHENOPODIUM QUINOA SEED EXTRACT
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Quinoa
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
A source of vegetable protein known for hair strengthening
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Corn_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
CITRIC ACID
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Corn
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to balance the pH of the product
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Orange_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
CITRUS AURANTIUM DULCIS (ORANGE) PEEL EXTRACT
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Orange
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to provide a creamy product texture and slip through hair
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Coconut_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
COCAMIDE MIPA
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Coconut
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for cleansing with lots of luxurious lather and to thicken product
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Coconut_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
COCOMIDOPROPYL PG-DIMONIUM CHLORIDE PHOSPHATE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Coconut
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for gentle cleansing and light conditioning
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Coconut_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
COCO-GLUCOSIDE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Coconut
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for gentle cleansing and conditioning and to blend other ingredients into the product
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Coconut_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
COCOS NUCIFERA (COCONUT) OIL
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Coconut
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for softening and nourishing hair
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
CRAMBE ABYSSINICA (ABYSSINIAN) SEED OIL
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Abyssinian Seed
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for weightless conditioning and shine
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Turmeric_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
CURCUMA LONGA (TURMERIC) ROOT EXTRACT
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Turmeric Root
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Herb known to invigorate
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Corn_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
DECYL GLUCOSIDE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Corn
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for gentle cleansing
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
DICETYLDIMONIUM CHLORIDE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Synthetic
WHAT IT IS:
Synthetic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for conditioning hair and static prevention
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/WheatCoconutCastorBean_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
DIHEPTYL SUCCINATE/CAPRYLOYL GLYCERINE/SEBACIC ACID COPOLYMER
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Wheat, Coconut, Castor Bean
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
An emollient, used for hair smoothing and shine
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Sugarbeet_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
DIHYDROXYPROPYL ARGININE HCI (DERIVED FROM SUGAR BEETS)
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Sugar Beets
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for hair thickening and hair nourishment
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
DIMETHICONE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Synthetic
WHAT IT IS:
Synthetic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for hair smoothing, frizz reduction and shine
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
DIMETHICONOL
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Synthetic
WHAT IT IS:
Synthetic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for hair smoothing and silky feel
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
DISODIUM COCO-GLUCOSIDE CITRATE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Plant Blend
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for gentle cleansing
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Soy_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
DISTEARYLDIMONIUM CHLORIDE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Soy
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for conditioning and softening hair
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Amla_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
EMBLICA OFFICINALIS (AMLA) FRUIT EXTRACT
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Amla (Indian Gooseberry)
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Herb known to encourage strong, shiny hair and used for hair thickening
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
ETHYL MACADAMIATE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Macadamia Nuts
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for softening and nourishing hair and shine
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
EUPHORBIA CERIFERA (CANDELILLA) WAX
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Candelilla, a small shrub
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for hair conditioning and smoothing
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/LarchTree_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
GALACTOARABINAN
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Larch Tree
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
A natural polymer extracted from larch trees, known for hydration
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
GLYCERIN
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Palm, soybean, or rapeseed, an annual flowering plant grown for the oil in its seeds
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used as a carrier for another ingredient; also humectant, used for hydration
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
GLYCERYL STEARATE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Palm
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to support the product texture
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Soy_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
GLYCINE SOJA (SOYBEAN) OIL
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Soy Bean
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for weightless moisture retention
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
GLYCOL DISTEARATE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Palm
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to enhance the appearance of the product; in shampoos will give a pearly appearance
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
GUAR HYDROXYPROPYLTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Guar Seed
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for easy wet combing and slip
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Sunflower_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used as a carrier for Tocopherol (Vitamin E); used for nourishing and smoothing hair
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/CastorBeans_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
HEPTYL UNDECYLENATE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Castor Beans
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
A light weight emollient, used for softening and smoothing hair
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Corn_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
HYDROLYZED CORN STARCH
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Corn
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for maintaining a hair style
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Jojoba_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
HYDROLYYZED JOJOBA ESTERS
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba), a scrub
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
An emollient used for hair conditioning
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
HYDROLYYZED RICE PROTEIN
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Rice
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for hair hydration and light styling
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
HYDROLYZED SOY PROTEIN
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Soy Beans
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for nourishing and strengthening hair strands
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
HYDROLYZED WHEAT PROTEIN PG-PROPYL SILANETRIOL
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Synthetic
WHAT IT IS:
Synthetic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for heat and styling protection
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
HYDROXYPROPYL GUAR HYDROXYPROPYLTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Guar Bean
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for weightless hair conditioning, ease of combing, and static prevention
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Corn_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
HYDROXYPROPYL STARCH PHOSPHATE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Corn
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to thicken and stabilize a product
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/SandGinger_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
KAEMPFERIA GALANGA ROOT EXTRACT
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Root of Kaempferia Galanga, also called sand ginger
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
An natural UV filter used for hair protection against the drying effects of the sun
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
LACTIC ACID
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Biofermentation
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to balance the pH of the product
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/FlaxSeed_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
LINUM USITATISSIMUM (FLAXSEED) SEED EXTRACT
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Flaxseed
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Herb known for slip and texture
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Mango_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
MANGIFERA INDICA (MANGO) SEED BUTTER
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for moisturizing and nourishing hair
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Peppermint_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
MENTHA PIPERITA (PEPPERMINT) LEAF EXTRACT
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Peppermint
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Herb known to invigorate
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Peppermint_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
MENTHA PIPERITA (PEPPERMINT) OIL
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Peppermint
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for its cooling sensation
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/MintPlant_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
MENTHOL
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Mint Plant
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for its cooling sensation
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Soy_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
METHYL SOYATE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Soy Beans
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to soften and smoothing hair
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/OlieferaSeed_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
MORINGA OLEIFERA SEED OIL
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Seeds of Moringa Oleifera Tree, often called "tree of life" or the "miracle tree"
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for moisturizing and softening hair
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/CoconutCorn_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
OCTYLDODECYL CITRATE CROSSPOLYMER
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Coconut & Corn
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for smoothing hair and long lasting conditioning
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Olive_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
OLEA EUROPEA (OLIVE) FRUIT OIL
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Olea Europea (olive)
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to condition and nourish hair, providing a smooth and soft appearance
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/ginseng_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
PANAX GINSENG (GINSENG) ROOT EXTRACT
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Ginseng
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Herb known to invigorate
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
PANTHENOL
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Synthetic
WHAT IT IS:
Synthetic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Also called Provitamin B5, used for strengthening, hydrating and nourishing hair
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Avocado_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
PERSEA GRATISSIMA (AVOCADO) OIL
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Avocado
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for smoothing the cuticle and nourishing hair
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
PHELLODENDRON AMURENSE BARK EXTRACT
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Amor Cork Tree
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Herb known to nourish
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
PHENOXYETHANOL
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Synthetic
WHAT IT IS:
Synthetic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to keep the product fresh
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Coconut_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
POLYGLYCERYL 10 LAURATE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Coconut/Palm
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to mix together ingredients and stabilize a product
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
POLYGLYCERYL 10 OLEATE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Synthetic
WHAT IT IS:
Synthetic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to mix together ingredients and stabilize a product
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
POLYGLYCERYL-10 PENTAOLEATE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Palm
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to mix together ingredients and stabilize a product
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
POLYQUATERNIUM 4
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Synthetic
WHAT IT IS:
Synthetic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for wet combing and slip
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
POTASSIUM SORBATE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Synthetic
WHAT IT IS:
Synthetic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to keep product fresh
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Corn_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
PROPANEDIOL
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Corn
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to blend other ingredients into the product and used for moisturization
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
PRUNUS AMYGDALUS DULCIS (SWEET ALMOND) OIL
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Sweet Almond
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to condition and soften hair
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
PRUNUS SERRULATA FLOWER (CHERRY) EXTRACT
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Cherry Flower
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to condition and nourish hair
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Pomegranate_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
PUNICA GRANATUM (POMEGRANATE) SEED OIL
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Pomegranate Seed
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Omega-5 rich oil used for revitalizing dry, dull hair
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Rosemary_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
ROSMARINUS (ROSEMARY) OFFICINALIS LEAF EXTRACT
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Rosemary
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Herb known to invigorate and nourish
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
SCLEROTIUM GUM
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Fermentation of Sclerotium rolfsii and corn sugar
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to thicken and stabilize a product
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Jojoba_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
SIMMONDSIA CHINENSIS (JOJOBA) SEED OIL
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Jojoba
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for weightless nourishment
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Corn_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
SODIUM CITRATE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Corn/Mineral
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to balance the pH of the product
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
SODIUM CHLORIDE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Mineral
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to thicken product
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Coconut_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
SODIUM COCO-SULFATE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Coconut
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for cleansing with lots of luxurious lather
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/CoconutCorn_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
SODIUM HYDROXYPROPYLSULFONATE LAURYLGLUCOSIDE CROSSPOLYMER
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Coconut & Corn
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for gentle cleansing
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Coconut_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
SODIUM LAUROYL METHYL ISETHIONATE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Coconut
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for gentle hair cleansing
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Coconut_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
SODIUM METHYL COCOYL TAURATE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Coconut
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for gentle hair cleansing
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
SODIUM PHYTATE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Rice
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to bind minerals, which can affect product performance and discolor hair
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Olive_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
SQUALANE (DERIVED FROM OLIVE)
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Olive
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for weightless moisturization
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
STEARAMIDOPROPYL DIMETHYLAMINE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Palm
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for conditioning and static prevention and to create a creamy product texture
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Sunflower_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
TOCOPHEROL
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
An antioxidant and form of Vitamin E, used to keep the product or an ingredient fresh
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/CastorBeans_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
TRICAPRYLYL CITRATE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Castor Beans
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
An emollient used for softening and smoothing hair
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/wheat_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
VINEGAR (DERIVED FROM WHEAT)
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Wheat
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for gently purification, to balance the pH of the product and for shine
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
XANTHAN GUM
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Fermentation of corn sugar
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to thicken and stabilize a product
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
ADANSONIA DIGITATA (BAOBAB) SEED OIL
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Baobab Seed
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for conditioning and smoothing the cuticle.
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/Oat_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
AVENA SATIVA (OAT) KERNEL FLOUR
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Oats
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for absorbing oils
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
BAMBUSA ARUNDINACEAE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Bamboo
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to exfoliate
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/bergamot_desktop.jpg)
Aroma
INGREDIENT NAME:
BERGAMOT
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Organic Essential Oil
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Light, fresh, and citrusy, with peppery and floral nuances
WHAT MAKES IT SMELL GREAT:
Grown in Calabria, the region at the toe of the boot of Italy, Bergamot is an important organic essential oil in many Aveda products. Cold pressed from the peels of the bergamot, a green citrus fruit the size of an orange, it's aroma is light, fresh, and slightly peppery and floral.
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/betaine_desktop.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
BETAINE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Sugar Beet
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Use for conditioning skin or hair
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/rapeseed_300x300.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
BIS-ETHYL (ISOSTEARYLIMIDAZOLINE) ISOSTEARAMIDE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Rapeseed, a flowering plant grown for its oil
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for smoothing the cuticle
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/butylene_glycol_cocoate_desktop.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
BUTYLENE GLYCOL COCOATE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Palm
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used as part of a blend to stabilize product
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
Aroma
INGREDIENT NAME:
CARDAMOM
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Organic Essential Oil
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Fresh, cool spice note with warm woody tonalities
WHAT MAKES IT SMELL GREAT:
Organic cardamom essential oil is steam distilled from the seeds of Elettaria cardamomum, a herbaceous plant in the ginger family. Cardamom offers a fresh, cool spice note with warm woody tonalities
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/cinnamon_desktop.jpg)
Aroma
INGREDIENT NAME:
CINNAMON
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Organic Essential Oil
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Spicy with sweet and woody nuances
WHAT MAKES IT SMELL GREAT:
Both the leaves and the bark of the ceylon cinnamon tree (Cinnamomum Zeylanicum) can be steam distilled to produce an essential oil. Our organic cinnamon bark oil is spicy with sweet and woody nuances, while our organic cinnamon leaf oil is warmer and has clove-like nuances
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/cistus_desktop.jpg)
Aroma
INGREDIENT NAME:
CISTUS
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Organic Essential Oil
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Herbal and resinous
WHAT MAKES IT SMELL GREAT:
Cistus is a flowering shrub, also known as rockrose, that grows in rocky soil. The leaves and stems produce a highly aromatic resin. Our organic essential oil is produced through distillation of the leaves and twigs. It smells herbal and resinous
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/clary_sage_desktop.jpg)
Aroma
INGREDIENT NAME:
CLARY SAGE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Organic Essential Oil, Absolute
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Aroma ranges from herbal, leafy, and tea-like, to resinous and ambery
WHAT MAKES IT SMELL GREAT:
Clary sage is a flowering herb. The flowering tops and leaves are distilled to produce the organic essential oil, which is herbaceous with a leafy tea-like undertone. The absolute has a deeper aroma with ambery nuances
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/clove_desktop.jpg)
Aroma
INGREDIENT NAME:
CLOVE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Organic Essential Oil
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Warm and spicy
WHAT MAKES IT SMELL GREAT:
Organic clove essential oil can be obtained through steam distillation of the buds, creating a warm, spicy aromatic profile, or the stems, creating a slightly woodier nuance
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/cocamidopropyl_hydroxysultaine_desktop.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
COCAMIDOPROPYL HYDROXYSULTAINE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Coconut and Palm
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for gentle foaming
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
Aroma
INGREDIENT NAME:
COCOA
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Absolute
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Dark, rich, and chocolatey
WHAT MAKES IT SMELL GREAT:
Our cocoa is the extract of the seed, or bean, of the cacao fruit, which grows on tall tropical trees. The aroma is dark, rich, and chocolatey
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/coco_betaine_desktop.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
COCO BETAINE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Coconut
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for gentle cleansing
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/coco-caprylate_caprate_desktop.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
COCO-CAPRYLATE/CAPRATE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Coconut and Palm
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for softening skin and hair
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
Aroma
INGREDIENT NAME:
CYPRESS
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Organic Essential Oil, Absolute
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Fresh, woody, and slightly green
WHAT MAKES IT SMELL GREAT:
Fresh, woody, and slightly green, organic cypress essential oil is steam distilled from the branches and leaves of the cypress tree, Cupressus Sempervirens
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/dodecane_desktop.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
DODECANE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Palm
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for light weight conditioning and smoothing of hair. Used to blend other ingredients into the product
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
Aroma
INGREDIENT NAME:
EUCALYPTUS
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Organic Essential Oil
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Fresh, herbal, and cooling
WHAT MAKES IT SMELL GREAT:
A leafy evergreen shrub, eucalyptus is now grown in many parts of the world. The distillation of the leaves yields a fresh, herbal, cooling organic essential oil
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
EUTERPE OLERACEA (ACAI) FRUIT OIL
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Acai Fruit
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Part of a blend used for nourishing hair
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/geranium_desktop.jpg)
Aroma
INGREDIENT NAME:
GERANIUM
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Organic Essential Oil
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Lightly floral and rosy, with green herbal facets
WHAT MAKES IT SMELL GREAT:
Organic Egyptian geranium essential oil is actually steam distilled from the aromatic leaves, not the flowers, of the geranium plant, Pelargonium Graveolens. The resulting oil is lightly floral and rosy, with green herbal facets
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/ginger_desktop.jpg)
Aroma
INGREDIENT NAME:
GINGER
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Organic Essential Oil, Organic CO2 Extraction
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Aroma ranges from warm, spicy and rich, to fresh and sparkling
WHAT MAKES IT SMELL GREAT:
Ginger is a flowering plant, but it is the root that is most used. We use different types of organic ginger root extracts in our formulations, each one bringing its own aromatic nuances. The aroma profile among these extracts ranges from warm, spicy and rich, to fresh and sparkling, with hints of citrus notes
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/ginger_lily_desktop.jpg)
Aroma
INGREDIENT NAME:
GINGER LILY
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Organic CO2 Extract
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Cool and spicy, with floral and woody nuances
WHAT MAKES IT SMELL GREAT:
Organic ginger lily oil is extracted via CO2 extraction from the rhizomes, or roots, of the Kaempferia Galanga. The cool spicy aroma has floral and woody nuances
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/coco_betaine_desktop.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
GLYCOL STEARATE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Coconut and/or Palm
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to enhance the appearance and texture of the product; in shampoos will give a pearly appearance
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
Aroma
INGREDIENT NAME:
GRAPEFRUIT
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Organic Essential Oil
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Fresh, sweet, and tangy, with slightly bitter pithy nuances
WHAT MAKES IT SMELL GREAT:
Organic grapefruit essential oil is fresh, sweet, and tangy, with slight bitter pithy nuances. The oil is cold-pressed from the peels, or epicarps, of the grapefruit, Citrus Paradisi
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/hippophae_rhamnoides_oil_desktop.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
HIPPOPHAE RHAMNOIDES (SEA BUCKTHORN) OIL
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Sea Buckthorn
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for nourishing hair
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Cellulose
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to thicken a product
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/hydroxypropyltrimonium hydrolyzed corn_starch_desktop.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
HYDROXYPROPYLTRIMONIUM HYDROLYZED CORN STARCH
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Corn
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to help style hair
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/jasmine_desktop.jpg)
Aroma
INGREDIENT NAME:
JASMINE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Absolute, Innovative Extract
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Ranges from rich, opulent and floral, to fruity and green
WHAT MAKES IT SMELL GREAT:
Jasmine absolute can be extracted from two different types of Jasmine. Jasmine Grandiflorum is rich, opulent and floral with fruity nuances, while Jasmine Sambac has greener tonalities
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
JUGLANS REGIA (WALNUT) SHELL POWDER
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Walnut
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to exfoliate
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/coco_betaine_desktop.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
LAURAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Coconut and Palm
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for gentle cleansing
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/lavandin_desktop.jpg)
Aroma
INGREDIENT NAME:
LAVANDIN
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Organic Essential Oil
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Fresh, herbal, and camphoraceous
WHAT MAKES IT SMELL GREAT:
A hardier plant than true lavender, Lavandin is a hybrid plant - a cross between lavender and spike lavender. Lavandin is fresh and herbal, wth less floralcy than true lavender. It is steam distilled from the flowering tops of Lavandula Abrialis
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/lavender_desktop.jpg)
Aroma
INGREDIENT NAME:
LAVENDER
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Organic Essential Oil
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Fresh and herbaceous, with sweet floral nuances
WHAT MAKES IT SMELL GREAT:
Organic lavender is steam distilled from the flowering tops of the lavender shrub. Ours comes from Bulgaria or France, and the region and soil where it is grown lends olfactory nuances to the final oil
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
Aroma
INGREDIENT NAME:
LEMON
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Organic Essential Oil
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Zesty, sweet, and tart
WHAT MAKES IT SMELL GREAT:
Zesty, sweet, and tart, organic lemon essential oil is cold pressed from the peels of lemon, Citrus Limon.
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/lime_desktop.jpg)
Aroma
INGREDIENT NAME:
LIME
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Organic Essential Oil
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Tart, zesty, and fruity
WHAT MAKES IT SMELL GREAT:
Lime organic essential oil can be either cold-pressed or steam distilled from the peels of lime, a citrus fruit grown in many regions of the globe. The steam distilled oil has a sweeter and fruitier note while the expressed oil is tart and zesty
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
LIMNANTHES ALBA (MEADOWFOAM) SEED OIL
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Meadowfoam Seeds
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
An emollient used in hair care products for conditioning and shine and in skin care products for moisturization
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
MAGNESIUM ALUMINUM SILICATE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Clay
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to create a rich product texture and to stabilize a product
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
MAGNESIUM SULFATE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Mineral
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Also called epsom salt, used for creating a hair style
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/mandarin_desktop.jpg)
Aroma
INGREDIENT NAME:
MANDARIN
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Organic Essential Oil
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Juicy and fruity, with floral nuances
WHAT MAKES IT SMELL GREAT:
A sweet citrus essential oil, organic green Mandarin oil is juicy and fruity, with floral nuances. The essential oil is expressed from the peels of the green, unripe fruits, lending the oil a deep, dark green color
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/marjoram_desktop.jpg)
Aroma
INGREDIENT NAME:
MARJORAM
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Organic Essential Oil
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Sweet, herbaceous, and woody
WHAT MAKES IT SMELL GREAT:
Sweet Marjoram is a low-growing shrub. Our organic sweet marjoram essential oil is sweet and herbaceous with woody nuances
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/nereoli_desktop.jpg)
Aroma
INGREDIENT NAME:
NEROLI
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Organic Essential Oil
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Light, floral, citrusy, and uplifting
WHAT MAKES IT SMELL GREAT:
Like petitgrain, neroli essential oil comes from the bitter orange tree. To produce neroli essential oil, the blossoms are extracted through steam distillation. Our organic neroli essential oil is light, floral, citrusy, and uplifting
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/olibanum_desktop.jpg)
Aroma
INGREDIENT NAME:
OLIBANUM
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Conventional Essential Oil, Organic Essential Oil, Absolute
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Resinous and woody, with citrus facets
WHAT MAKES IT SMELL GREAT:
Also known as frankincense, olibanum is the aromatic resin of trees in the genus Boswellia. The resin is collected and steam distilled to make olibanum essential oil. The different extracts we use have different profiles. For example, the essential oil opens up with fruity citrus facets to a resinous, woody heartnote
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/orange_desktop.jpg)
Aroma
INGREDIENT NAME:
ORANGE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Organic Essential Oil
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Uplifting, juicy, and sweet
WHAT MAKES IT SMELL GREAT:
Our organic orange oil from Argentina is cold-pressed from the peels of the sweet orange, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis. It is uplifting, juicy, and sweet
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/orbignya_speciosa_babassu_kernel_oil_desktop.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
ORBIGNYA SPECIOSA (BABASSU) KERNEL OIL
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Babassu Kernels
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used as part of a blend for moisturization, hair smoothing and shine
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/oryza_sativa_rice_bran_oil_desktop.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
ORYZA SATIVA (RICE) BRAN OIL
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Rice
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Part of a blend used for nourishing hair
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/palmarosa_desktop.jpg)
Aroma
INGREDIENT NAME:
PALMAROSA
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Organic Essential Oil
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Sweet, fresh, and rosy
WHAT MAKES IT SMELL GREAT:
Palmarosa is a species of grass with a sweet, fresh, rosy aroma. The grass is steam distilled to obtain the organic essential oil
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
PASSIFLORA EDULIS (PASSIONFLOWER) SEED OIL
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Passionflower Seeds
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Part of a blend used for nourishing hair
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
PATCHOULI
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Organic Essential Oil
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Rich and earthy
WHAT MAKES IT SMELL GREAT:
Our organic patchouli essential oil is steam distilled from the leaves and twigs of the tropical plant, Pogostemon Cablin. It has a rich, earthy aroma
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
PEG-8 DIMETHICONE MEADOWFOAMATE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Synthetic
WHAT IT IS:
Synthetic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Use to improve hair feel in styling products
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/peppermint_desktop.jpg)
Aroma
INGREDIENT NAME:
PEPPERMINT
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Organic Essential Oil
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Use to improve hair feel in styling products
WHAT MAKES IT SMELL GREAT:
Steam distilled from the leaves and flowering tops of the Mentha Piperata, organic peppermint essential oil lends a crisp, cool herbal note
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
PERILLA OCYMOIDES SEED EXTRACT
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Perilla Seeds
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Part of a blend used for nourishing hair and skin
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
Aroma
INGREDIENT NAME:
PETIT GRAIN
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Organic Essential Oil
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Fresh and green, with citrus, floral, and woody aspects
WHAT MAKES IT SMELL GREAT:
Many important essential oils are crafted from the bitter orange tree. In the case of petitgrain, the leaves and twigs are steam distilled to create an organic essential oil that is fresh and green, with citrus, floral, and slightly woody aspects
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
PLUKENETIA VOLUBILIS (SACHA INCHI) SEED OIL
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Sacha Inchi Seeds
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for conditioning and smoothing the cuticle
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
POLYSORBATE 20
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Synthetic
WHAT IT IS:
Synthetic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to blend other ingredients into the product and to stabilize a product
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
PULLULAN
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Aureobasidium Pullulans with Cassava
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for maintaining a hair style
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/ricinus_communis_castor_seed_oil_desktop.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
RICINUS COMMUNIS (CASTOR) SEED OIL
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Castor Beans
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for softening and smoothing hair
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/rose_desktop.jpg)
Aroma
INGREDIENT NAME:
ROSE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Absolute, Innovative Extract, Organic Essential Oil, Conventional Essential Oil
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Aroma ranges from fresh, green, and floral, to spicy, fruity, and honeyed
WHAT MAKES IT SMELL GREAT:
The damask rose is a deciduous shrub grown in Bulgaria and Turkey, which blooms in May and June with densely-petalled pink flowers. The roses must be picked early in the morning when they give the best quality and yield. Each rose extract that Aveda uses has a different profile. For example, organic rose essential oil is fresh, green, floral and spicy, while solvent-extracted rose absolute has richer fruity and honeyed nuances
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/rosemary_desktop.jpg)
Aroma
INGREDIENT NAME:
ROSEMARY
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Organic Essential Oil
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Fresh, cooling, and herbaceous
WHAT MAKES IT SMELL GREAT:
Rosemary is a hardy and fragrant shrub with needle-like leaves. Like with many natural materials, the altitude, soil and growing enviroment has a significant impact on the fragrance of the plant. Our organic rosemary essential oil is fresh, cooling, and herbaceous
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/saccharum_officinarum_sugar_cane_extract_desktop.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
SACCHARUM OFFICINARUM (SUGAR CANE) EXTRACT
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Sugar Cane
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for hair styling
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/sandalwood_desktop.jpg)
Aroma
INGREDIENT NAME:
SANDALWOOD
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Organic Essential Oil
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Dry and woody, with touches of creaminess
WHAT MAKES IT SMELL GREAT:
More than fifteen years ago, Aveda developed a strategic relationship with the Kutkabubba Aboriginal Community of Western Australia to ensure the sustainable and equitable wild harvest of Australian sandalwood trees for essential oil production. The aroma of Australian sandalwood is dry and woody, with touches of creaminess. We also use sustainably harvested New Caledonian sandalwood, which has a creamier aroma profile
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
SISYMBRIUM IRIO (LONDON ROCKET) SEED OIL
WHERE IT'S FROM:
London Rocket Seeds
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Part of a blend used for nourishing hair and skin
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/sodium_lauroyl_lactylate_desktop.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
SODIUM LAUROYL LACTYLATE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Palm and biofermentation
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for gentle cleansing
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
SORBITAN OLIVATE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Olive
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to create a creamy product texture and to stabilize a product
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/spearmint_desktop.jpg)
Aroma
INGREDIENT NAME:
SPEARMINT
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Organic Essential Oil
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Cool minty note, with green and leafy facets
WHAT MAKES IT SMELL GREAT:
Organic spearmint essential oil is steam distilled from Mentha Spicata plant. It offers a cool minty note, sweeter than peppermint, with green and leafy facets
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/star_anise_desktop.jpg)
Aroma
INGREDIENT NAME:
STAR ANISE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Organic Essential Oil
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Spicy, cooling, licorice
WHAT MAKES IT SMELL GREAT:
Our organic star anise essential oil is obtained through steam distillation of the dried, star-shaped fruits of Illicium Verum, an evergreen tree. The aroma is similar to licorice
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/stearic_acid_desktop.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
STEARIC ACID
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Palm
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to create a luxurious product texture
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/sucrose_desktop.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
SUCROSE
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Sugar Cane
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used for creating a hair style
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/tonka_bean_aroma_desktop.jpg)
Aroma
INGREDIENT NAME:
TONKA BEAN
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Absolute, Innovative Extract
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Rich, sweet, and almost caramel-like with warm herbal undertones
WHAT MAKES IT SMELL GREAT:
Tonka beans are wrinkled black beans from the large, tropical tree, Dipteryx Odorata. The aroma is rich, sweet, and almost caramel-like with warm herbal undertones
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
TRIBEHENIN
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Rapeseed, a flowering plant grown for its oil
WHAT IT IS:
Naturally Derived
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used to thicken product
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
Aroma
INGREDIENT NAME:
VANILLA
WHERE IT'S FROM:
CO2 Extract
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Rich, sumptuous, and creamy
WHAT MAKES IT SMELL GREAT:
A highly prized raw material sourced from Madagascar, the aroma of vanilla is rich, sumptuous and creamy. In 2019, Aveda launched a pilot program to leverage blockchain technology on our vanilla supply chain. Customers will soon be able to trace the vanilla in their products back to the farmers that grew it – and the farmers will be able to see where their vanilla ends up.
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/blank.jpg)
Aroma
INGREDIENT NAME:
VETIVER
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Organic Essential Oil
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Earthy and woody, with smoky nuances
WHAT MAKES IT SMELL GREAT:
Vetiver is a tall aromatic grass, primarily grown in Haiti but also in Madagascar and Sri Lanka. Our organic essential oil is steam distilled from the roots of this grass. It has an earthy and woody aroma that, as for many oils, is nuanced depending on the region in which it is grown
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/ylang_ylang_desktop.jpg)
Aroma
INGREDIENT NAME:
YLANG-YLANG
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Organic Essential Oil
WHAT IT IS:
Natural; Organic
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Luscious, sultry, and floral
WHAT MAKES IT SMELL GREAT:
A bright green-ish yellow flower with drooping petals, our organic ylang ylang essential oil is obtained through steam distillation. The aroma is luscious, sultry, and floral, traditionally known in aromatherapy for its calming properties. It comes from Madagascar and nearby islands
![](/media/export/cms/ingredient_glossary/new_images/astrocaryum_murumuru_seed butter_desktop.jpg)
INGREDIENT NAME:
ASTROCARYUM (MURUMURU) SEED BUTTER
WHERE IT'S FROM:
Murumuru Seeds
WHAT IT IS:
Natural
WHY IT'S GREAT:
Used as part of a blend for moisturization, hair smoothing and shine