what is hexane in castor oil

Hexane is a chemical solvent used for the extraction of castor oil. It is a colorless liquid that is highly flammable and does not mix with water. It gives off a subtle, gasoline-like odor but it is odorless when pure. Some manufacturers of beauty products use hexane as a solvent for natural seed oils such as castor oil, almond oil, and argan oil. However, hexane-free castor oil is also available, which is extracted using the cold-pressed technique and is free from harmful impurities. Organic castor oil is also cold-pressed and hexane-free.