Cold-pressed natural oils are becoming increasingly popular across Europe as people look for minimally processed foods, botanical skincare ingredients and versatile plant-based products.

From traditional seed and nut oils to colourful berry oils, each natural oil has its own flavour, texture, fatty-acid profile, traditional uses and applications for cooking, skincare and haircare.

But which cold-pressed oil should you choose?

Is sea buckthorn oil suitable for skin and hair? What does pine nut oil taste like and how can it be used in cooking? Why is rosehip seed oil so popular in natural skincare? What is milk thistle oil used for? And why is amaranth oil known as an interesting plant source of naturally occurring squalene?

This complete cold-pressed oils guide for Europe compares five distinctive botanical oils:

• Sea Buckthorn Oil
• Pine Nut Oil
• Milk Thistle Oil
• Rosehip Seed Oil
• Amaranth Oil

For each oil, we explore its taste, traditional uses, culinary applications, skincare uses, haircare uses and who may enjoy it most.

Whether you are searching for the best cold-pressed oil for cooking, a natural oil for dry skin, a botanical facial oil, a natural hair oil, or simply want to discover new unrefined plant oils, this guide will help you understand the differences.

Cold-pressed oil is produced by mechanically pressing seeds, nuts, berries, fruits or other plant materials to extract their naturally occurring oils.

Compared with heavily refined vegetable oils, cold-pressed oils undergo relatively little processing. As a result, they can retain more of the original plant's distinctive colour, aroma and flavour, as well as various naturally occurring plant compounds.

Depending on the botanical source, cold-pressed plant oils may naturally contain different proportions of:

• monounsaturated fatty acids
• polyunsaturated fatty acids
• tocopherols
• phytosterols
• carotenoids
• phospholipids
• squalene
• other naturally occurring plant compounds

The composition varies considerably between oils.

This is why sea buckthorn oil can have an intense orange colour, pine nut oil can have a delicate nutty flavour, and milk thistle seed oil can retain a distinctive herbal character.

However, cold-pressed does not automatically mean that one oil is better than every refined oil.

Every botanical oil has its own composition, flavour, texture and appropriate uses.

The best choice depends on what you want to do with it.

Now let us explore each cold-pressed natural oil in more detail.

Sea buckthorn oil is one of the most distinctive botanical oils available.

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) produces vivid orange berries that have traditionally been used as food across parts of Europe and Asia, including northern regions and Siberia.

The berries naturally contain different fatty acids, carotenoids, tocopherols and other plant compounds.

Naturally occurring carotenoids also contribute to the characteristic golden-orange or reddish colour associated with many sea buckthorn oils.

An important distinction is often missed when people search for the best sea buckthorn oil.

Not every sea buckthorn oil is the same.

Oil can be produced from:

• sea buckthorn seeds
• fruit pulp
• whole berries

Sea buckthorn seed oil and sea buckthorn fruit or pulp oil have different fatty-acid profiles.

The fruit and pulp fractions are particularly associated with palmitoleic acid, commonly known as omega-7, while seed oil tends to contain higher proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Siberian Green Sea Buckthorn Oil is produced from wild-harvested whole sea buckthorn berries, rather than being a seed-only oil.

Cold-pressed sea buckthorn oil has a distinctive flavour.

It can be described as:

fruity + tart + earthy + slightly bitter

This is not a neutral vegetable oil.

Its intense flavour makes it particularly interesting as a speciality oil used in small quantities.

Sea buckthorn berries have a long history as a traditional food ingredient across northern Eurasia.

They have been used in:

• juices
• berry drinks
• syrups
• preserves
• teas
• sauces
• traditional berry preparations

Sea buckthorn oil has also become increasingly familiar as an ingredient in natural skincare and botanical cosmetics.

If your sea buckthorn oil is specifically labelled as food-grade and suitable for consumption, it can be added to cold foods or used as a finishing oil.

Try a small amount in:

• smoothies
• natural yoghurt
• porridge
• breakfast bowls
• salad dressings
• berry sauces
• dips
• finished vegetables

Because sea buckthorn oil can have an intense colour and flavour, a small quantity is often enough.

For everyday culinary use, it makes more sense to think of it as a speciality finishing oil rather than an ordinary frying oil.

Sea buckthorn oil for skin is widely discussed within natural and botanical skincare.

Its naturally occurring plant lipids make it an interesting ingredient for routines intended to leave dry-feeling skin feeling softer and more conditioned.

A small amount can be combined with:

• facial moisturiser
• body lotion
• hand cream
• body oil
• another carrier oil

Strongly coloured sea buckthorn berry oil may temporarily tint very pale skin, fabrics or bedding, so start with a small amount.

Sea buckthorn oil is also used in natural haircare, particularly as part of richer botanical oil blends.

It can be incorporated into:

• pre-shampoo oil treatments
• dry-end treatments
• scalp oil blends
• homemade hair masks

Take extra care when applying strongly coloured sea buckthorn oil to blonde, bleached or very light hair.

Sea buckthorn oil may appeal to people who:

• enjoy unusual botanical ingredients
• prefer berry-based natural products
• want a distinctive cold-pressed oil
• enjoy richer natural skincare oils
• are interested in naturally occurring omega-7
• appreciate traditional northern and Siberian ingredients

Best for: people looking for a bold and distinctive botanical berry oil.

Pine nut oil is considerably milder than sea buckthorn oil and can be particularly easy to introduce into everyday food.

Sometimes referred to as cedar nut oil in Siberian and Eastern European traditions, it is pressed from edible pine kernels.

Siberian pine nuts have traditionally been gathered as a forest food, and cold pressing transforms the kernels into a smooth golden oil with a delicate nutty character.

High-quality cold-pressed pine nut oil generally has a flavour that can be described as:

mild + buttery + nutty + slightly sweet

It retains the character of the pine kernels without becoming overwhelmingly strong.

For this reason, pine nut oil can be one of the easiest speciality oils to use regularly.

Pine nuts have been gathered and eaten throughout northern Eurasia for generations.

In Siberian traditions, the nuts sometimes called cedar nuts have been valued as a nutrient-rich forest food.

Cold-pressed pine nut oil has traditionally been consumed as food and has also found a place in household beauty routines.

Food-grade pine nut oil is one of the most versatile culinary oils in this comparison.

Try it with:

• salads
• roasted vegetables
• potatoes
• pasta
• buckwheat
• quinoa
• rice
• soups
• hummus
• vegetable dips
• pesto-style sauces
• bread

It can be drizzled over cooked vegetables, grains or soups immediately before serving.

Its delicate flavour makes cold-pressed pine nut oil an excellent option when you want a noticeable but not overpowering nutty taste.

Combine:

2 tablespoons pine nut oil + 1 tablespoon lemon juice + a little mistake + sea salt + black pepper

Use it with salads, vegetables or grain bowls.

Pine nut oil can also be incorporated into botanical body care.

Natural plant oils contain lipids that can help skin feel softer, smoother and more comfortable.

Try applying a few drops to slightly damp skin or blending a small amount into your usual body moisturiser.

Pine nut oil can work particularly well as a simple pre-shampoo hair oil.

Apply a small amount to:

• dry ends
• hair lengths
• dry-feeling areas of the scalp, when appropriate for your skin type

Leave it on before shampooing and then wash the hair as normal.

Pine nut oil may be particularly suitable if you:

• are trying cold-pressed oils for the first time
• want a versatile edible plant oil
• enjoy mild nutty flavours
• want a speciality finishing oil
• prefer subtle flavours to strongly herbal oils
• are interested in traditional Siberian foods

Best for: people looking for a versatile cold-pressed oil for everyday culinary use.

Milk thistle oil is pressed from the seeds of Silybum marianum, a distinctive plant recognised by its purple flowers and spiny leaves.

Milk thistle is widely known as a traditional herbal plant, but cold-pressed milk thistle seed oil is a separate botanical product with culinary and cosmetic applications.

The oil naturally contains various fatty acids, with linoleic acid generally representing a substantial proportion, together with tocopherols, phytosterols and other naturally occurring plant compounds.

Milk thistle seed oil generally has a more herbal flavour than pine nut oil.

Its flavour can be described as:

mild + herbal + earthy + slightly nutty

It may particularly appeal to people who already enjoy characteristic seed oils such as pumpkin seed or flaxseed oil.

Milk thistle has been part of European herbal traditions for centuries.

Different parts of the plant have historically been incorporated into foods and traditional botanical preparations.

Cold-pressed seed oil provides a modern way to explore this traditional European plant as a culinary and cosmetic ingredient.

Food-grade milk thistle oil works particularly well in cold dishes and as a finishing oil.

Try it in:

• salad dressings
• vegetable dips
• hummus
• grain bowls
• cooked potatoes
• steamed vegetables
• cottage cheese
• savoury yoghurt sauces
• bread dips

Its slightly herbal character pairs particularly well with lemon, garlic, mustard, vegetables and fresh herbs.

Milk thistle seed oil can also be incorporated into a simple botanical skincare routine.

Like other plant oils, it contains natural lipids that can help skin feel softer and reduce the sensation of dryness.

Try adding a few drops to a body moisturiser or applying a small amount to slightly damp skin.

Milk thistle oil can be incorporated into:

• pre-shampoo treatments
• botanical hair oil blends
• scalp oil blends
• dry-end treatments
• homemade hair masks

For fine hair, begin with only a few drops.

Consider milk thistle oil if you:

• enjoy traditional herbal ingredients
• prefer seed oils
• like earthy and herbal flavours
• want an alternative to mainstream culinary oils
• enjoy multipurpose botanical products

Best for: people interested in traditional herbal seed oils.

Among the five oils in this guide, rosehip seed oil is perhaps the best known within natural skincare.

Rosehip oil is produced from rose fruits and seeds, including species such as Rosa canina.

Cold-pressed rosehip seed oil naturally contains substantial proportions of unsaturated fatty acids, including linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids, together with smaller quantities of other naturally occurring plant compounds.

This composition has helped make rosehip oil for skin particularly popular in:

• facial oils
• moisturisers
• serums
• body oils
• botanical skincare formulations

Food-grade rosehip seed oil can have a subtle flavour described as:

mild + earthy + slightly fruity + seed-like

However, there is an important distinction.

Not every rosehip oil sold for cosmetic use is suitable for consumption.

If you intend to use rosehip oil in food, always choose a product specifically labelled as food-grade or edible.

Rosehips have a long culinary history across Europe.

They have traditionally been used to prepare:

• rosehip tea
• syrups
• jams
• jellies
• soups
• preserves
• fruit powders

Rosehip seed oil, meanwhile, has become particularly familiar through natural skincare and cosmetic products.

When the product is specifically produced for culinary use, try adding a small amount to:

• yoghurt
• smoothies
• porridge
• berry bowls
• salad dressings
• cold sauces

Its delicate flavour is generally best appreciated without intensive heating.

Searches for rosehip oil for face, rosehip seed oil for skin and natural facial oils remain popular because rosehip oil fits easily into simple skincare routines.

It is commonly used to help skin feel:

• softer
• smoother
• conditioned
• comfortable after cleansing
• less dry

Try applying two or three drops to slightly damp skin or mixing one drop into your normal facial moisturiser.

When using facial oils, a small amount is often sufficient.

Rosehip seed oil can also be applied sparingly to:

• dry hair ends
• flyaways
• dry-feeling lengths
• pre-shampoo treatments

Its relatively light texture may appeal to people who find heavier plant oils difficult to use.

Rosehip seed oil may appeal to people who:

• prioritise natural skincare
• want a botanical facial oil
• prefer lighter-feeling oils
• enjoy minimalist beauty routines
• want a multipurpose oil primarily for cosmetic use

Best for: people looking for a lightweight botanical facial oil.

Amaranth oil is one of the lesser-known botanical oils in this comparison.

Amaranth is technically a pseudocereal rather than a true cereal grain. It has been cultivated as a food crop for thousands of years, particularly in the Americas.

Its tiny seeds contain a valuable natural oil fraction.

One characteristic that makes cold-pressed amaranth oil particularly interesting is its naturally occurring squalene.

Amaranth oil can contain notable levels of squalene, although the precise concentration varies according to plant variety, growing conditions and processing method.

Squalene is a naturally occurring lipid that is also present in human sebum and is widely used in modern cosmetic formulations.

Cold-pressed amaranth oil typically has a:

nutty + earthy + slightly grain-like flavour

It is more distinctive than a neutral vegetable oil but generally lacks the fruity intensity of sea buckthorn oil.

Amaranth has a remarkable culinary history.

It was an important crop in ancient Mesoamerican cultures and continues to be valued for its edible seeds and leaves.

Today, amaranth has attracted renewed interest as an ancient grain, gluten-free ingredient and alternative plant food.

Cold-pressed amaranth oil offers another way to explore this traditional plant.

Food-grade amaranth oil can be used as a speciality finishing oil.

Try it with:

• cooked amaranth
• quinoa
• buckwheat
• rice
• grain bowls
• salads
• roasted vegetables
• soups
• hummus
• vegetable purées

Its earthy and slightly nutty flavour pairs naturally with grains, seeds and roasted vegetables.

Because amaranth oil contains naturally occurring squalene and other plant lipids, it has attracted interest as an ingredient in botanical skincare.

It can be incorporated into routines for skin that feels dry or tight.

Try using it as:

• a body oil
• part of a facial oil blend
• a few drops added to moisturiser
• a hand and cuticle oil

Patch testing a new facial oil before regular use is sensible.

Amaranth oil can also be incorporated into richer natural haircare routines.

Use a small amount on:

• dry ends
• dry-feeling lengths
• pre-shampoo treatments
• botanical scalp oil blends

Use sparingly if your hair is fine or easily weighed down.

Amaranth oil may appeal to people who:

• enjoy discovering unusual botanical oils
• are interested in naturally occurring plant squalene
• like earthy and nutty flavours
• enjoy ancient grains and traditional foods
• want a lesser-known multipurpose plant oil

Best for: botanical oil enthusiasts interested in naturally occurring squalene.

Sea buckthorn and pine nut oil are very different products.

Choose Sea Buckthorn Oil If You Want:

• a berry-derived botanical oil
• an intense natural colour
• a distinctive fruity and earthy flavour
• an oil popular in natural skincare
• a botanical source associated with omega-7

Choose Pine Nut Oil If You Want:

• a mild nutty flavour
• an easy everyday finishing oil
• greater culinary versatility
• a speciality oil suitable for many different dishes

For people discovering Siberian cold-pressed oils for the first time, pine nut oil may be easier to introduce into everyday cooking.

For those looking for a more distinctive botanical ingredient, sea buckthorn oil offers a completely different experience.

Both are popular natural oils for skin, but they are very different.

Rosehip seed oil generally has a lighter texture and is particularly popular as a facial oil.

Sea buckthorn oil can have a richer colour and more distinctive character, especially when produced from the fruit or whole berry.

Some people use the two oils differently rather than choosing between them.

Rosehip seed oil can be used as a straightforward facial oil, while strongly coloured sea buckthorn oil may be blended into a carrier oil or moisturiser.

The most obvious difference between these oils is their flavour.

Pine nut oil is mild, buttery and nutty.

Milk thistle oil tends to have a more herbal and seed-like flavour.

For drizzling over potatoes, vegetables, bread or grains, pine nut oil provides a relatively familiar gourmet flavour.

If you already enjoy herbal seed oils and want something more distinctive, milk thistle oil may be more interesting.

If facial skincare is your main priority, rosehip seed oil is the more familiar beauty oil.

Amaranth oil offers something different because its natural lipid fraction contains squalene.

People starting a natural facial oil routine may prefer rosehip seed oil, while botanical oil enthusiasts may be interested in exploring amaranth oil.

There is no single best cold-pressed oil for cooking.

The right choice depends on the flavour you want and how you intend to use the oil.

Best Cold-Pressed Oil for a Mild Nutty Flavour: Pine Nut Oil

Try it with salads, potatoes, grains, vegetables and bread.

Best Berry Oil for Cold Dishes: Sea Buckthorn Oil

Use small quantities in smoothies, yoghurt, dressings and berry-based dishes.

Best Herbal Seed Oil: Milk Thistle Oil

Try it with salads, dips, vegetables and savoury grain bowls.

Best Cold-Pressed Oil for Earthy Grain Dishes: Amaranth Oil

Pair it with grains, roasted vegetables, soups and salads.

Best Beauty-Focused Oil: Rosehip Seed Oil

Rosehip seed oil is particularly well known for skincare. For culinary use, always choose a product specifically labelled as food-grade.

The best natural oil for skin depends on your skin, preferred texture and intended use.

For a lightweight facial oil, consider rosehip seed oil.

For a rich and colourful botanical oil, sea buckthorn may be interesting.

For a mild multipurpose plant oil, consider pine nut oil.

For those who enjoy traditional herbal seed oils, milk thistle provides another option.

If you are particularly interested in plant-derived squalene, amaranth oil stands out.

Natural ingredients are not automatically suitable for every skin type. Patch test unfamiliar oils before applying them extensively.

Cold-pressed botanical oils are commonly incorporated into routines for dry-feeling hair and can help create a smoother, shinier appearance.

Pine Nut Oil for Hair

A versatile option for hair lengths, dry ends and pre-shampoo treatments.

Rosehip Seed Oil for Hair

An interesting option when you prefer a lighter oil texture.

Sea Buckthorn Oil for Hair

Can be incorporated into richer hair masks and botanical oil blends. Use carefully on blonde or bleached hair because of its natural colour.

Milk Thistle Oil for Hair

Can be incorporated into scalp oil blends and pre-shampoo treatments.

Amaranth Oil for Hair

Suitable for experimenting with richer oil treatments for dry-feeling lengths and ends.

Whichever natural hair oil you choose, begin with a small amount.

You do not need a complicated routine to use botanical oils.

At Breakfast

Add a suitable food-grade oil to:

• porridge
• yoghurt
• smoothies
• breakfast bowls

At Lunch

Use it in:

• homemade salad dressing
• hummus
• grain bowls
• vegetable dishes

At Dinner

Drizzle a flavourful cold-pressed oil over a finished dish to preserve more of its characteristic flavour and aroma.

In Your Skincare Routine

Apply a small amount of an oil suitable for topical use to slightly damp skin or blend it into your usual moisturiser.

Before Washing Your Hair

Apply a few drops to dry ends or use the oil as part of a pre-shampoo treatment.

Not every product labelled natural oil is identical.

When choosing a cold-pressed oil, consider the following factors.

The label should clearly identify which plant the oil comes from.

This can make a significant difference.

Sea buckthorn seed oil, pulp oil and whole-berry oil, for example, do not have identical compositions.

Depending on the product, look for descriptions such as:

• cold-pressed
• first cold-pressed
• mechanically pressed
• unrefined

Never assume that a cosmetic oil is edible.

If you intend to consume an oil, choose one specifically manufactured and labelled for food use.

A pure single-ingredient botanical oil should have a straightforward ingredient list.

Light, oxygen and heat can gradually affect plant oils, making appropriate packaging and storage important.

Proper storage can help preserve the characteristic flavour, aroma and quality of natural oils.

As a general rule:

• keep the bottle tightly closed
• protect it from direct sunlight
• avoid excessive heat
• use clean utensils
• follow the storage instructions on the product
• refrigerate after opening when recommended by the manufacturer

Natural variations in colour, aroma or appearance can sometimes occur in minimally processed botanical oils.

Sometimes, but not automatically.

A pure food-grade cold-pressed oil may sometimes be suitable for more than one purpose, depending on the product and manufacturer's directions.

A cosmetic oil should not be consumed unless it is specifically manufactured and labelled as suitable for food use.

Always check the individual product label.

You do not necessarily need all five oils.

Choose according to your main priority.

For everyday culinary use: start with Pine Nut Oil.

For natural facial skincare: consider Rosehip Seed Oil.

For a distinctive berry-derived botanical oil: explore Sea Buckthorn Oil.

For a traditional herbal seed oil: consider Milk Thistle Oil.

For a less common botanical oil naturally containing squalene: explore Amaranth Oil.

Different oils naturally fit different roles in the kitchen, skincare routine and haircare routine.

That is precisely what makes cold-pressed oils interesting.

They are not interchangeable.

Each oil has its own botanical origin, flavour, colour, texture and traditional story.

The world of natural cold-pressed oils extends far beyond ordinary cooking oil.

Different berries, seeds and nuts produce oils with very different flavours, colours, textures and naturally occurring plant compounds.

Sea Buckthorn Oil is bold, colourful and closely connected with northern berry traditions.

Pine Nut Oil is smooth, nutty and particularly easy to incorporate into everyday food.

Milk Thistle Oil combines the character of a traditional herbal seed with culinary and personal-care possibilities.

Rosehip Seed Oil is a well-known botanical skincare favourite with a relatively light texture.

Amaranth Oil is an unusual plant oil notable for its naturally occurring squalene.

Instead of simply asking:

“Which natural oil is best?”

A more useful question is:

“Which cold-pressed oil is best for the way I want to use it?”

Whether you are exploring cold-pressed oils for cooking, natural oils for skin, botanical facial oils, natural hair oils, unrefined plant oils or traditional botanical ingredients, each one offers something different.

Explore cold-pressed natural oils, botanical oils, traditional Siberian ingredients and speciality plant oils from Siberian Green.

Discover distinctive oils produced from berries, nuts, seeds and traditional plants, and find the natural oil that best fits your everyday cooking, skincare or haircare routine.