About Monoi

The original Monoi Tiki Tahiti, imported direct from Tahiti

Since 1942, Parfumerie Tiki has made Monoi Tiare Tahiti in Papeete by steeping hand-picked tiare blossoms in refined Polynesian coconut oil. Hawaiian Resources Co. in Honolulu is the official U.S. importer of Monoi Tiki Tahiti. We bring every bottle and bar in directly from Parfumerie Tiki and ship from Hawai'i, so what you receive is the original: made in Tahiti, labeled with the Monoi de Tahiti Appellation d'Origine, with a dried tiare flower in every bottle of oil.

  • Made in Tahiti since 1942
  • Monoi de Tahiti Appellation d'Origine
  • Imported direct by Hawaiian Resources Co., Honolulu

Try the original: start with Monoi Tiki Tahiti Tiare oil, the classic scent with a dried tiare flower in every bottle, or browse all monoi oils. Any two oils ship free in the U.S. (orders of $30 or more).

Monoi Tiki Tahiti Tiare monoi oil 4 oz bottle with a dried tiare flower inside
Shop Monoi Tiki Tahiti Tiare oil

MONOI TIARE TAHITI is a French-Tahitian cosmetic oil made of pure coconut oil and the fragrance of “tiare”, the Tahitian Gardenia flower. This product is a refinement of an ancient Polynesian beauty secret and has been manufactured commercially in Tahiti since 1942. Centuries ago the people of Polynesia discovered that pure coconut oil is an essential secret for beautiful skin and hair. Coconut oil is a natural replacement for your body’s skin and hair oils. The coconut oil used in Monoi Tiare Tahiti is so highly refined that it is quickly absorbed by your skin. This level of cosmetic refinement is what makes Monoi so unique and special. Monoi Oil, the Tahitian beauty secret, is now available to you.

 

Skin Moisturizer

Monoi is a rich moisturizing oil that leaves your skin soft, smooth and supple. In Polynesia, Monoi is used as a full-body moisturizer to keep skin soft despite intense tropical sun, wind and saltwater. For soft, supple skin, use MONOI TIKI TAHITI as both a moisturizer and a bath oil. It massages quickly into the skin, smoothing away the feeling of dryness and leaving behind a delightful natural fragrance of island flowers. Coconut oil is very close in nature to the oils that your own skin and scalp produce, so it moisturizes without stripping away your natural oils. Be sure to apply the right amount of Monoi to your skin. If you feel oily, you have used too much.

 

Hair Conditioner

MONOI TIKI TAHITI may be used as a conditioner for dry hair. In many of the low-lying islands of Tahiti and throughout Polynesia, freshwater is a precious commodity. People will often bathe and shampoo in salt water and then rinse with fresh water. Saltwater, wind and sun have a harsh drying effect on the hair. So, after bathing, Tahitians will use Monoi as a natural conditioner on their hair. Monoi conditions and moisturizes hair of all types, giving it body and sheen, and leaves it soft, supple and shiny. Pour a small amount into the palm of your hand and massage it into your hair. Shampoo out after 10 or 15 minutes. The oil conditions your hair, giving it natural body and sheen.

 

Monoi in the Sun

In Tahiti, Monoi is a beach-day tradition: islanders smooth it on for its glow and its fragrance, and use it after a day outdoors to moisturize dry skin. MONOI is absorbed quickly by your skin so it does not feel oily or greasy. Important: Monoi Tiki Tahiti oils contain no sunscreen and do not protect against sunburn. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen and limit time in strong sun, especially during peak hours.

Rouge, or the Red Monoi, is one of the two original products of Parfumerie Tiki, made commercially since 1942. Its red color can tint skin, hair, swimwear and beach towels.

 

A Family Tradition

In Tahiti, mothers and grandmothers pass down the custom of using Monoi every day to keep skin soft and moisturized, including during pregnancy. We share this as island tradition and folklore, not as a proven benefit.

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration). These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

 

A Subtle Perfume

Monoi smells good! Throughout Tahiti, one will constantly be aware of the aromas from the many people using Monoi. Coconut oil has a fragrance all its own. To this natural fragrance, the oils and smells of several tropical flowers are infused onto Monoi. The Tiare, or Tahitian Gardenia, is the original fragrance with its roots in the ancient past. This flower grows everywhere in Tahiti and its aroma is an integral part of Polynesia. Next in line, evocative, powerful and highly fragrant, Pitate, known as Pikake in Hawaiian, is a jasmine flower that produces the strongest and most profuse of all Monoi fragrances. Tipanie, also called plumeria or frangipani, has a lush, complex and rich floral fragrance that is also the most delicate or subtle fragrance found in Monoi. Vanille, or Vanilla, is not just a flavor. It is a very popular Monoi fragrance in combination with coconut oil. Vanilla is one of the major exports from Tahiti. Ylang Ylang, native to Asia and Australia, is called the perfume tree. This heavy, sweet and slightly floral fragrance is one of the most popular perfume aromas of today. Santal, or the sandalwood fragrance, is well known around the world and is the most popular of monoi fragrances for men. Finally, Coco, or coconut as a fragrance, is the natural aroma of the highly refined coconut oil used in Monoi. A very small amount of Tiare is in this fragrance from the dried flower in the bottle.

 

Monoi Will Turn Solid

Please note that because of the natural properties of coconut oil, the true Monoi oil will solidify at temperatures below 68 F (20 C). This is a natural process that occurs because genuine MONOI contains no emulsifiers to keep it in a liquid state. Solidification is one of the ways to prove that you have the real Monoi. Just as it starts to solidify, the oil can look cloudy or streaky on the walls of the bottle. The dried flower in the bottle will further give the impression that the oil has gone bad. Simply place the bottle in warm water or hold the bottle in a warm grasp to return the oil to a golden liquid form. Solidifying and warming will not affect the original properties of MONOI. Do NOT use a microwave oven to warm MONOI.

 

The Flower in the Bottle

The original MONOI TIKI TAHITI has been made by Parfumerie Tiki since1942. Inferior counterfeit copies of Monoi began to appear throughout Europe from other parts of the world in the 1970s. None of these copies have ever come close to the qualities found in Monoi Oil. Ever since this time, Parfumerie Tiki has placed a dried tiare flower in every bottle of Monoi it sells in order to show that this is the true Monoi. The flower in the bottle is a trademark.

 

Spread the Word

Unlike many highly promoted cosmetic and beauty products, Monoi is a hand-crafted cosmetic oil sold in a cough syrup bottle. There is no powerful advertising budget and slick packaging. The bottle looks the same as it did in 1942. Yet it really belongs in every woman’s cosmetic cabinet around the world. The oil is so simple, natural and elegant.

The dollars that go into Monoi are spent on the especially sourced oil and flowers and the methods of production and not the advertising, the packaging and the promotional budget.

Accept no imitations. Insist on the Original Monoi Oil from Parfumerie Tiki.

 

Monoi history and origin

Read the full story of monoi, from Polynesian tradition to the Appellation d'Origine:

Try the original Monoi

Ready to try it? Shop the original Monoi Tiki Tahiti Tiare oil (Monoi Tiare Tahiti, with a dried tiare flower in every bottle), warm Vanille, or the classic Rouge tanning oil. Prefer a bar? Try our French-milled monoi soaps.

Giving monoi as a gift? The Monoi Oil Duo (Tiare and Vanille, $30) and the Monoi Oil Gift Set (Tiare, Vanille and Coco, $45) are ready-made Tahitian gifts. Add any one $15 oil to the Gift Set to reach $60 for free Priority Mail to the mainland through Dec 31.

Shop all monoi oils → Made in Tahiti since 1942, shipped from Honolulu by the official U.S. importer. Free U.S. shipping on orders of $30 or more.