Here are important and helpful tips when choosing your shea Butter.

Color

Color of a true traditionally processed shea varies from ivory, to light yellow or even light green. There are several variables that lead to color variation, including the season when the butter is made, the method of crafting the butter, and variations of fatty acid ratio within the shea nuts. Seasonal changes can have a direct impact on the color of shea butter. For instance, we have found that shea butter made in the fall with shea nuts that have been freshly gathered is not as yellow as shea butter made with shea nuts that have been aged for a longer period. Which may be due to the water content of the shea nuts.

The method of extracting the oil may have a greater impact on color of unrefined shea butter, however. The traditional method in Togo involves grinding the nuts into a paste after roasting them, then mixing the paste with water and whipping it by hand for one to three hours until the fat separates from the water. The fat is then collected and heated to further remove moisture. The next step is the crystallization process, which involves stirring the oil as it crystallizes so that fat crystals form smoothly and it becomes a butter. This step influences the color, since the amount of stirring, speed and duration determine how light the color will be. The longer it is stirred, the lighter the color will be.

Furthermore, if the shea nuts were not properly washed before grinding, the dust will remain in the butter, darkening the color. This can also occur if the shea nuts are roasted too long or if they are roasted over a wood fire and the smoke is incorporated into the butter.

Good handcrafted, unrefined shea butter will be ivory, light yellow, or light green. The color variation depends on a number of factors and should be expected with a handcrafted, natural product.

Scent

The naturally nutty scent of traditionally handcrafted shea butter can also vary depending on extraction method and geographical location of the shea tress. The main factor that affects the scent is the process of extracting the oil. If wood is used to roast the nuts or heat the oil, and the fire is too smoky, the smoke can infiltrate the butter and give it a smoky smell. Also, if the shea nuts are burned during the roasting to reduce moisture content, the resulting butter will have a strong smoky scent.

Again, handcrafted shea butter is a natural product that has not been refined, and as a result, it has a scent. The natural scent of shea butter is pleasant, but can also be masked with essential oils  easily enough. You should expect some variation in scent, especially since shea butter is produced across a wide geographical area and by multiple people with different extraction methods. What is most important is to know your supplier, the origin of the shea butter, the extraction process, and when it was made.

Demand Only The Best!

This is an update July 25th 2006

I received this wonderful email just when I needed it most!

"This isn't really a question about your item - it's a serious compliment. My family has imported essential oils for almost 400 years so I grew up in the business. I have worked with Shea Butter for many years, using it to make skin care products for people who have specific problems. Your information on using shea butter is the best I've read. It is helpful and easy to understand. Congratulations. It's wonderful to see someone passing along great information - especially in a free format. Thanks for helping give this business some much needed integrity. Pat Boudreau"

My respnse to this letter was to let them know what an honor it was to receive such a high compliment and that it came
in one of my darkest hours. When I see so many sellers making
so many sales for thier bad product and I know they paid little of nothing for that low quaility, I was thinking why
am I doing this? Why do I pay such high prices and sell at
such low prices where I barely make a profit? This email was
a reminder of the unspoken code of ethics, that people really
do want and deserve high quality products.
This is the response from my response.

"Of course you can reprint. And I do understand how difficult it is to keep your standards high. Most people don't even begin to get it. However, the ones that do are so happy to find you and so appreciative of what you have it negates the others. My friends describe my customers as Pat's loyal junkies. It does seem accurate when they grab me in a movie theater to rave about their favorite fragrance or go into a store that's out of stock on one of the oils they love and they raise heck with the store owner. Then call me and tell me what they did. How long have you been doing this? Where do you do business? Perhaps I can send some leads your way. Pat+

Now this is what it is all about folks!
This is why I will continue to sell only the best African
Shea Butter! For my integrity and yours!

Best Regards

claudette