Argan oil comes only from southwest Morocco. The best place to buy it is a women's argan cooperative, where you see it made by hand and pay fair prices — about 150-300 MAD for 100-250 ml of pure oil, approx.
An argan oil cooperative in Morocco is a local association, usually run by Amazigh women, where argan nuts are cracked by hand and pressed into cosmetic and culinary oil that is sold directly to visitors. Visiting one — most easily on the road from Marrakech to Essaouira — is the best way to see the traditional process, buy genuine 100% argan oil at a fair price and make sure your money supports the women who produce it.
What is argan oil and where does it come from?
Argan oil comes from the kernels of the fruit of the argan tree (Argania spinosa), a thorny, drought-resistant tree that grows naturally only in southwest Morocco. Its forests cover the Souss plain, the Haha region around Essaouira and the slopes of the Anti-Atlas. Because they protect the land from desertification and support local communities, the argan forests were declared the Arganeraie Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1998, and the know-how around argan was added to UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list in 2014.
For generations, Amazigh families used argan oil for cooking, skin and hair care, and as a remedy. Since the 1990s, its global popularity in cosmetics has transformed the sector — and created many women's cooperatives that bring income and independence to rural villages.
How do women's argan cooperatives work?
A cooperative groups local women who share the work and the profits. Members gather the fruit, dry it, crack it and press the kernels, and the co-op sells the oil and derived products. Many also run literacy classes or childcare for members. A protected geographical indication (IGP "Argane") exists to guarantee origin, and some co-ops display it on their labels.
The traditional process, step by step
- Harvest: fallen fruits are collected in summer, mainly June to August.
- Drying: the fruits dry in the sun for several weeks.
- Peeling: the dry pulp is removed (in the past it was fed to goats).
- Cracking: the nut, one of the hardest in the world, is cracked between two stones by hand — the slowest step.
- Roasting (culinary oil only): kernels are lightly roasted for a nutty flavour.
- Pressing: traditionally ground on a stone hand mill and kneaded with water; today most co-ops use mechanical cold presses for better hygiene and yield.
- Filtering and bottling.
Figures vary, but it typically takes dozens of kilos of fruit and many hours of hand cracking to produce a single litre of oil — which explains the price. During a co-op visit, women usually demonstrate each step and let you try cracking a nut yourself.
Cosmetic vs culinary argan oil: what is the difference?
| Cosmetic argan oil | Culinary argan oil | |
|---|---|---|
| Kernels | Raw, unroasted | Lightly roasted |
| Colour | Pale golden | Darker amber |
| Smell | Very light, slightly nutty, fades on skin | Toasted, hazelnut-like |
| Use | Skin, hair, nails, after sun | Drizzled on salads, couscous, bread; amlou |
| Price in a co-op (approx.) | 150-250 MAD per 100 ml | 150-300 MAD per 250 ml |
Never cook at high heat with argan oil: it is used raw, as a finishing oil. Do not leave without tasting amlou, a spread of roasted almonds, culinary argan oil and honey — a Moroccan breakfast treasure. Our Moroccan food guide lists other dishes to try.
How to buy real argan oil (and avoid fakes)
Diluted or fake argan oil is common in tourist markets and online. These checks will help you avoid disappointment:
- Price: if a large bottle costs the same as a bottle of olive oil, it is not pure argan.
- Label: look for "100% argan oil" (INCI: Argania spinosa kernel oil) and nothing else on the ingredients list.
- Bottle: dark glass protects the oil from light; avoid clear plastic bottles left in the sun.
- Smell: cosmetic oil should smell faint and nutty, never rancid or perfumed; a strong smell may mean roasted, old or mixed oil.
- Texture: it absorbs into skin within a minute or two without a greasy film.
- Place: buy in a real cooperative (ask how many members it has and see the women at work) or from a reputable shop.
A small natural deposit at the bottom of the bottle is normal. The popular "freezer test" is not a reliable way to detect fakes, so trust the source rather than tricks. Our Marrakech souks shopping guide explains how to haggle on other crafts — but in co-ops prices are usually fixed.
Visiting an argan cooperative on the Essaouira road
The road from Marrakech to Essaouira (approx. 190 km, 2h45-3h by car) runs through the argan forest in its final third, after Chichaoua and especially between Sidi Mokhtar and Ounagha. Several women's cooperatives line the road and welcome visitors free of charge for a short demonstration and tasting.
| Stop | Distance from Marrakech (approx.) | Time to allow |
|---|---|---|
| Chichaoua area (start of argan landscape) | 75 km | Short photo stop |
| Argan forest viewpoints | 110-150 km | 15 min |
| Women's cooperative (demonstration and shop) | 140-170 km | 30-45 min |
| Essaouira medina and port | 190 km | 4-5 h on a day trip |
About the "goats in argan trees"
Goats really do climb argan trees to eat the fruit, especially in late summer. However, the roadside trees full of goats near the main road are often staged for tourists, with animals placed on platforms all day. If you stop, you will be asked for a tip. In our experience, travelers who care about animal welfare prefer to look for free-roaming herds further from the road, which our drivers can point out in season.
Our private day trip to Essaouira from Marrakech includes a stop at a women's argan cooperative, and the full context is in our Essaouira day trip guide. Argan co-ops also exist around Agadir, Taroudant and Tafraoute if your route goes further south.
Other argan products worth buying
- Amlou: approx. 60-120 MAD per jar, depending on size and honey quality.
- Argan soap and creams: good-value gifts, but check ingredients for argan percentage.
- Black soap (savon beldi) with argan: for the hammam.
- Argan honey and wild thyme honey: from the same region, often sold in co-ops.
Liquids above 100 ml must travel in checked luggage on most flights; ask the co-op to seal bottles well. More about the argan tree is available on Wikipedia's argan oil page.
Want to visit a genuine argan cooperative on a relaxed private day trip? Browse our day trips from Marrakech and contact us for a free quote — we answer within 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions
How much does real argan oil cost in Morocco?
In a women's cooperative, genuine cosmetic argan oil costs approx. 150-250 MAD per 100 ml, and culinary argan oil approx. 150-300 MAD per 250 ml. Prices vary with the season, bottle size and certification, so check on site. Oil sold much cheaper in souks or at roadside stalls is often diluted with other oils or of poor quality.
How can I tell if argan oil is real?
Check that the label lists only argan kernel oil, that it comes in dark glass, and that the price is realistic. Cosmetic oil should be pale golden with a faint nutty smell and absorb quickly into the skin. Culinary oil is darker and smells toasted. Most importantly, buy from a real cooperative or reputable shop rather than relying on home tests.
Are the goats in argan trees real?
Goats do naturally climb argan trees to eat the fruit, especially in late summer and autumn. But the trees full of goats right next to the Marrakech-Essaouira road are frequently staged for photos, with herders asking for tips. If animal welfare matters to you, skip these stops and ask your driver to look for free-roaming goats in the countryside instead.
Is it worth visiting an argan cooperative?
Yes, especially on the way to Essaouira. A visit is short and usually free, you see the hand cracking and pressing process, can taste amlou and culinary oil, and buy authentic products whose profits go to local women. There is no obligation to buy. Choose a genuine women's cooperative rather than a shop that only uses the name.
