Mono

An ancestral Polynesian product, monoï is an oil derived from the maceration of plant elements (flowers, wood, bark, leaves, etc.) in coconut oil. The term mono'i in traditional language ma'hoi (the first humans to populate the Pacific islands) refers generically to a fragrant oil; it would therefore be more accurate to speak of "monoïs" in the plural to designate all the combinations of macerations traditionally used.

The monoï base traditionally most widely used (pharmacopoeia and cosmetics, sacred rites) is the combination of Tahitian Tiaré flowers in coconut oil, and it is this that has given rise to the development and industrial mastery of its production. It is this product that is now internationally associated with the term "monoï".

An industrial production chain has thus been developed in French Polynesia, standardizing the steps involved in obtaining industrial Monoï de Tahiti: cultivation and harvesting of raw materials, oil extraction, plant maceration, standardization of quality controls and scientific validation of the product's biological activities.

Controlling the technical aspects of all stages in the industrialization of production in Polynesia has also led to the creation of an appellation d'origine (AO) – unique in the cosmetics industry –, making a major contribution to the economic and commercial development of the industry.

The development of production techniques standardized by the AO and the new directions in the use of Monoï de Tahiti are detailed in this article.