The candlenut tree is widely distributed through
Polynesia and
Madagascar, and is found in
Hawaii,
South Asia, and
China, and has been introduced into the
West Indies. The oil from the nut is of commercial value, and is included in the
drying oils and is used as an illuminating oil. Solvent extraction of the oil from the crushed kernel yields a light yellow oil (density ); when obtained by expression (pressing), the oil may be dark from impurities. Analysis of nut oil samples from Polynesia (Hawaii, Tonga) over a 10-year period showed no change in fatty acid composition - that is about 6%
palmitic acid, 2-3%
stearic acid, 15-18% linoleic acid, and 30-33% linolenic acid. Oils from
Maritime Southeast Asia (
Indonesia,
East Timor) had different unsaturated content, with 20-25% oleic, 34-42% linoleic, and 27-32% linolenic acid, with palmitic and stearic acid contents similar. Analysis of a different sample of candlenut kernel seed oil from either solvent (
hexane soxhlet) or
supercritical carbon dioxide extraction showed around 54% stearic acid, 16% oleic acid, 20% linoleic acid, and less than 3% linolenic acid. In Indonesia, the candlenut oil can often be found in hair care products. Historically, it has been valued as an
emollient, and is currently used primarily in
skin-care products. ==Synonyms==