The Long and Curious History of Daikon Radish Seed Oil — From Egypt over Japan to Oregon

Daikon radish seed oil has gone from an ancient Egyptian crop to a Japanese cuisine staple to a sustainable Oregon-grown ingredient that regenerates  skin and soil alike. Daikon’s deep, deep roots (pun intending) reach thousands of years back to Egypt. Analytical studies of Roman-era Egyptian artifacts have found trace residues of radish or cruciferous seed oils suggesting that it had many ancient uses beyond food and illumination and predated the use of Olive Oil.

Oregon’s Deep Roots in Daikon

White daikon radishes are easy to spot at the farmers’ market and the produce section of grocery stores in Oregon. The hefty white root has a long history here—more than a century of agriculture.

In the early 1900s, Japanese immigrants began farming vegetables in the Hood River Valley and Portland area, bringing seeds from Japan and cultivating crops that reminded them of home. Daikon radish did well in our moist but temperate winters and became a staple in pickles, soups, and hot pots.

During World War II, those same families were forcibly removed from their land and sent to internment camps. Many returned to find their farms lost. Yet some farms where able to continue where they left off or rebuild (there are even a few fourth generation Japanese American farms in Oregon!), and by the late 20th century, daikon had taken root again—now embraced more widely as Western diets began to change and  fresh, local, and plant-forward foods as well as sushi became more popular.

A New Crop for a New Purpose

In 2011, a group of Oregon farmers teamed up with researchers at Oregon State University to explore a new use for daikon—not just for the roots but for its use in cover cropping.  Cover cropping – the practice of growing a crop between crops to avoid having land lay bare in the winter and suffer erosion has become more widespread and with that the need to find suitable crops for cover crops. Turns out that Daikon is an exceptional cover crop:

• Its deep taproot naturally breaks up compacted soil
• The leaves grow quickly and shade out weeds
• The roots decompose into organic matter that feeds the next crop
• The plant captures excess nitrogen, returning it slowly to the soil
• Its flowers feed pollinators in early spring

It's another one of these instances where we pause to marvel just for a moment at  the intricate, cascading beneficial effects that natural system have to offer!  

Oregon Growers are good at growing Daikon seed for cover crop use all over the country. When the daikon is harvested for seed, some seeds crack and can’t be used for replanting. Instead of discarding them, Oregon farmers began pressing those 'imperfect' seeds into oil.

That’s how daikon seed extract was born—a clear, lightweight oil packed with long-chain fatty acids and antioxidants. It’s a sustainable byproduct turned beauty ingredient, embodying everything we love about farm ingenuity: nothing wasted, everything useful.

Ancient Origins, Modern Innovation

There’s evidence that ancient Egyptians used radish seed oil before olive oil was even commonplace. Thousands of years later, Oregon farmers have brought that tradition into the modern age—refining the process with cold pressing and gentle filtration to preserve all the natural antioxidants and plant compounds that benefit our skin.

Oregon is one of the few regions in the U.S. where daikon seed extract is produced on a commercial scale, linking local agriculture to global skincare innovation.

Why we love to use it in our balms:

Daikon seed extract (INCI: Raphanus Sativus [Radish] Seed Extract) is sometimes called a 'plant-based silicone.' It’s rich in long-chain fatty acids that give it a silky, quick-absorbing texture—without any of the synthetic feel. Our balms do not include water- they are “anhydrous” and having an oil with such a silky feel is great for their “skin feel” and absorption. It balances out the richer oils and butters like Murumuru and Bakuchiol that we use for their own particular benefits.

A short list of Daikon’s Seed extracts marvelous qualities: 

• Absorbs instantly—no greasy residue
• Softens and conditions skin
• Helps balance oil production
• Supports elasticity and natural glow
• non-comedogenic and suitable for all skin types
• Supports regenerative Oregon agriculture

From Soil Health to Skin Health

Few ingredients connect soil regeneration and skincare so beautifully. Daikon seed extract started as a soil-building cover crop, and now it’s nourishing skin all over the world.

Every balm or serum we make with it carries that story—of farmers, collaboration, and a deep respect for nature’s cycles. From ancient Egypt to Oregon’s Willamette Valley, the journey continues.