Mink oil
Mink oil is an oil used in medical and cosmetic products. It is obtained by the rendering of mink fat which has been removed from pelts destined for the fur industry.
Mink oil is a source of palmitoleic acid, which possesses physical properties similar to human sebum. Because of this, mink oil is used in several medical and cosmetic products. Mink oil is also used for treating, conditioning and preserving nearly all kinds of leather.
Botanical alternatives to mink oil as a source of palmitoleic acid include macadamia nut oil and sea buckthorn oil, both of which contain as much or more palmitoleic acid than does mink oil.
Mink oil and its fatty acids are unique among animal-derived fats and oils, and can be used as a hair treatment for growing dreadlocks. The unsaturated fatty acids in mink oil account for more than 75% of its fatty acid content, but the oil, nevertheless, has a greater oxidative stability than other animal or vegetable oils.
