The origins of the Cucumber can be traced back to India, where it was eaten as a food and the juice rubbed onto the face as a natural early suntan. Cucumber was brought to Europe by early Roman traders in the ‘great spice and gold trade’ between the two continents around 100 AD.

Today the Cucumber which is classed as a fruit (related to the tomato, pumpkin and squashes family of fruits) is grown throughout the world including Southern Europe, the Caribbean, South Asia and in parts of South America.

Hermitage Cucumber oil originates from South America. The oil is produced by cold pressing the Cucumber seeds and then filtering to produce oil that possesses a faint cucumber and earthy aroma. It is a light, non greasy oil which can be easily absorbed into the skin.

It contains three main fatty acids namely palmitic (typically 11%), oleic (typically 17%) and linoleic (typically 65%) acids. The oil also contains natural tocopherols, phytosterols and a variety of minerals including potassium and silica.