My monoï has solidified. What should I do?

Monoi contains oil, and like most oils, it congeals when temperatures drop. Don't panic, there are always solutions! Here are a few tips on how to defreeze monoï without altering its properties.

Why does monoi set?

Monoï is obtained from the maceration of coconut oil and tiare flowers. In other words, it's essentially oil. Have you ever seen coconut oil in winter? It congeals! In fact, as soon as temperatures drop below 24 degrees, coconut oil begins to whiten and solidify.

Before becoming completely solid, monoi may show white deposits in the bottle. It is in the process of solidifying. But don't panic. This totally normal phenomenon in no way alters the beneficial properties of monoï. It's simply a natural, non-damaging phenomenon.

And here's an important fact: the more your monoï congeals in winter, the purer it is!

How do I know if my monoï is set?

When the temperature changes (downwards), the monoi starts to solidify. It will begin to show white lumps on the sides of the bottle. Its texture will become much less oily. It will become more like butter.

As soon as the bottle turns white, you can be sure that your monoi has completely congealed. To find out if there's any liquid oil left in the center of the bottle, simply open it and try to pour it into your hand. If nothing comes out, simply heat the oil to soften it. But don't do this just any old way, or you risk destroying the benefits of monoi.

Tips for removing monoi residue without damaging it

If your first thought is to put it in the microwave, forget it right away. It could alter the composition of your monoi. On the other hand, if the container is made of plastic, it could be detrimental if you heat it too much. The oil could boil and melt the bottle!

Here's a good tip that's also the simplest. Simply run the bottle under hot water. For ecological and economic reasons, we recommend that you put the bottle in the shower with you. It will then benefit from the warm water and heat generated by your shower. You can also use a glass jar filled with hot water (from the shower, for example), into which you dip your monoï before using it.

You can also leave your monoï above your bathroom radiator in winter. That way, you can be sure it will always be liquid. If you're in a hurry, a hairdryer can be your best friend!

Got a baby at home? Use his bottle warmer to soften your monoi. Professional masseurs use this technique. What's more, applying warm oil to the body is very pleasant.

There may be other techniques, such as placing the monoi at the bottom of the bed so that it benefits from your body heat, wrapping the bottle in insulation such as bubble wrap, plaid, etc., running the bottle under pasta cooking water, leaving the bottle in the kitchen, above the oven if you cook a lot, etc.

How best to store monoï?

Monoï bottles take an extremely long time to defrost in winter. To speed up the liquefaction process, we recommend that you store the monoi after separating it into several small quantities. In fact, you can simply pour it into small empty cream jars that you've cleaned thoroughly beforehand. The smaller the quantity, the shorter the reheating time.

There's another way to preserve monoï: by pouring it into an airtight storage container. For example, small foie gras jars are ideal. They don't let air in, so there's no smell of coconut oil oxidation. And the other advantage is that during winter, you won't need to remove the snow. All you need to do is scoop out the desired quantity with a wooden spoon.

If you can, always keep your oil near a source of (moderate) heat. The longer it remains at room temperature, the less quickly it will set. You can therefore leave it near a fireplace, radiator, towel dryer, oven, etc. Likewise, if you live in a sunny region (even in winter), leave your bottle behind glass, so that it can keep in place naturally with the rays of light.

To avoid having a rancid smell emanating from your monoi, it's advisable to always keep it in a liquid or semi-liquid state. Although its properties are not altered by going from a solid to a liquid state, its fragrance may "turn". Of course, it will still be usable, but much less pleasant to the nose.