About Yasmins Argan
Yasmins Argan was born from a deep connection with Moroccan argan oil and the traditions surrounding it. Years ago, I saw a TV commercial for a major brand that advertised, "Now with Moroccan argan oil." That was a real trigger for me.
Argan oil wasn't anything new to me. My mother always made it herself, by hand, in our kitchen. I grew up with it. My parents are from southern Morocco, from the Idaougnidif region near Agadir – a region where the argan tree grows, a species that has even been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site .
Besides argan oil, my mother also made Amlou , a traditional almond paste with argan oil. Whenever we went to Morocco, my parents would bring argan nuts back to the Netherlands. There, they would crack and press the nuts into fresh, pure argan oil and Amlou for their own use.
The real story of argan oil
What struck me at the market: I saw luxurious bottles of argan oil everywhere, but nowhere was the real story. Yet argan oil is more than just a Western beauty product. It's a craft , a culture , and a heritage .
In Morocco, it's a tradition: when the argan nuts are ripe, women in colorful traditional costumes travel the countryside to gather them. With song and rhythm, they carry the nuts in handmade bags—a tradition passed down through generations.
I completely missed that artisanal feel in the marketing of major brands. And that frustrated me. Because argan oil should tell a story: one of handwork, purity, and culture. So I decided: I'm going to do it myself .
Pure, honest and pressed in the Netherlands
Instead of importing ready-made oil, I choose to source only the hand-cracked argan nuts from southern Morocco. The women there remove the oil-rich almonds, which we then press into oil ourselves in the Netherlands. All the cosmetic products we develop are made with this foundation: our freshly pressed argan oil.
For years, we were at markets and the Beverwijk Bazaar, where we also used our traditional stone press – carved from the hard rock of Tafraout. The nuts are ground stone by stone, just like grain in a mill. Visitors were always fascinated: they stopped to watch, took photos, and sometimes even helped turn the press.
It's more than just pressing oil. It's an experience . You're not just buying a bottle; you're buying a piece of culture, history, and craftsmanship, all fresh.
Why Yasmins Argan?
Unfortunately, argan oil is often tampered with, particularly with rarer oils. Many oils are diluted or of low quality. That's why we place so much value on our own process: pressed in-house, 100% pure, with care and love .
The name Yasmins Argan is an ode to the women of southern Morocco – the strong women who gather and press nuts at sunrise, and with their knowledge and perseverance keep this heritage alive.
Our mission is simple: to bring you the purest and most honest argan products , straight from the tradition of southern Morocco.