About Us

At Malabar Apothecary we draw on a rich history of cultural and intellectual exchange that we hope to not only preserve and pass on, but revive and reinterpret. Located on the Arabian Sea, the Malabar Coast has been a maritime hub famous for the trade of spices, gems, ivory, timber, silk, and other goods between East Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean since since 3000 BCE. In keeping with the practices of those who came before and taught us, we incorporate materials and practices from around the world, maintaining a commitment to working with small, independent artisans and producers along the way.

Our coconut oil is sourced from our “tharavadu,” or ancestral home, and other small farmers in Central Kerala. In the coming years, we hope to expand operations on our family farm to produce mango butter, cocoa butter, rice bran oil, vetiver essential oil, and more! In the meantime, we source essential oils from local producers and merchants in the Ernakulam district of central Kerala. Materials and ingredients that are not native to Kerala are purchased from small producers—our shea and cocoa butter comes from skilled Ghanaian women and our olive, Argan, grape seed, and other premium seed oils are sourced through family-owned distributor based in Southern California.

You will not find highly manufactured or processed products with us. Everything is made in house in small batches to ensure quality and consistency. Our formulas are not designed to fight against aging or other natural processes of life, but rather promote healthy hair and skin from the outside in through high-quality, handmade products that draw on a diversity of time tested traditions of natural healing.

We would never sell you anything we would not use on ourselves or those most precious to us. We offer a no questions asked, 100% satisfaction guarantee.