The label "cold-pressed" appears on premium oils for a reason — but what does it actually mean, and is it worth paying for? Here is the difference between cold-pressed and refined oils, in plain language.
What "cold-pressed" means
Cold-pressing extracts oil purely by mechanical pressure, without external heat or chemical solvents. Keeping the temperature low protects the heat-sensitive nutrients — vitamin E, antioxidants, and delicate fatty acids — that give an oil its colour, aroma and benefits.
How refined oils are made
Refined oils are typically extracted with heat and solvents (such as hexane), then bleached and deodorised. The result is a cheap, clear, near-odourless oil with a long shelf life — but much of the original nutrient profile and character is stripped away in the process.
Cold-pressed vs refined: the quick comparison
- Extraction: mechanical pressure (cold-pressed) vs heat + solvents (refined)
- Nutrients: retained vs largely stripped
- Aroma & colour: natural and characteristic vs neutral and pale
- Best for: skin, hair and finishing use (cold-pressed) vs high-heat cooking and low cost (refined)
Bottom line: for anything you put on your skin or hair, cold-pressed is the clear choice — you are paying for the nutrients that actually do the work. Every Brewoil oil is cold-pressed and lab-verified for purity.
Shop all cold-pressed oils
39 single-origin oils, lab-verified
This article is for general educational purposes and is not medical advice. Cold-pressed oils are for cosmetic and topical use; do a patch test before first use and consult a doctor for any medical concern.