Cold-pressing means the seeds or kernels are pressed mechanically, without added heat, and the oil is filtered rather than refined. It is slower, and it gives less oil per kilo than pressing with heat or extracting with solvents.
What stays in the bottle
Oils pressed this way keep more of their natural colour and scent, and more of the vitamin E and other compounds that heat can break down. That is why a cold-pressed argan oil looks golden and smells faintly nutty.
What to look for
Look for “cold-pressed” and “unrefined” on the label, a dark glass bottle and a best-before date. Keep the oil somewhere cool and dark, and use it within a year of opening.