Coconut oil - refined or not?

[boysmom2]

I've never bought it before, but have been thinking of trying it.  My grocery store had refined and unrefined coconut oil.  Is one better?  Also, they had both organic and non, is this something that is important to buy organic?

Thanks!

[treemom2]

I prefer the unrefined for eating and cooking with and the refined for soap making and body oil.

[staceychev]

The unrefined has a coconut odor & flavor while the refined does not. We mostly use the unrefined, but it did take getting used to.

[LeahBoo]

Unrefined is better for you, but I can't stand it.  It smells so bad to me, like rotten soapy coconuts.  I've tried several brands, I can't stomach them.  So I use refined.  It has no smell or taste, and works great for cooking just about anything.  I use my unrefined stuff (trying to use up a jar that I've had for a year), on my hair and skin, It doesn't usually bother me unless I know I'm gonna have to eat it.