Guest guest Posted February 12, 2007 Report Share Posted February 12, 2007 A while ago I ordered some unrefined shea butter from an online company. It was very smooth feeling, tan/olive in color with a very nutter smell. It melted nicely. I just received a new order, grade A by the Shea Butter Institute. It's yellow, much harder in the container and has an underyling nutty scent but a less pleasant scent. It also doesn't seem to liquify so readily. I know there are many variations of shea butter-does this new one I received sound about right? I actually prefer the first one I bought eventhough it's not certified by the Shea Butter Institute. Thanks, Susan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 13, 2007 Report Share Posted February 13, 2007 Hi Susan, Your shea butter sounds just fine. There are so many variances in unrefined shea butter that it's impossible to say that it should be just one way. Sometimes you get a butter that's graded as A and it doesn't have a smoky scent because it was expeller pressed and not traditionally boiled over the wood fire. Based on the region it comes from, it will have a different color, scent and feel. And even though I am a " Certified Shea Butter Technician " since I took the workshop from the Shea Institute I do not think it is imparative that the shea butter is Certified by them. The grading system is good but not great. Just trust your supplier and make sure it's butter that's been tested for mold, mold spores, iron, peroxide etc... -- Margaret Helm-Duell Mohea Natural Beauty LLC -------------- Original message -------------- " susan " <ripple95 A while ago I ordered some unrefined shea butter from an online company. It was very smooth feeling, tan/olive in color with a very nutter smell. It melted nicely. I just received a new order, grade A by the Shea Butter Institute. It's yellow, much harder in the container and has an underyling nutty scent but a less pleasant scent. It also doesn't seem to liquify so readily. I know there are many variations of shea butter-does this new one I received sound about right? I actually prefer the first one I bought eventhough it's not certified by the Shea Butter Institute. Thanks, Susan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 13, 2007 Report Share Posted February 13, 2007 snipped lots of tailings Thanks for the info-they both seem fine in their own way, just different and the grade A butter is a bit less appealing in scent and texture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 13, 2007 Report Share Posted February 13, 2007 snipped again... One more thing-does the quality of shea butter differ based on cold pressed or the boiling extraction method? Thanks, Susan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 13, 2007 Report Share Posted February 13, 2007 , " susan " <ripple95 wrote: > > A while ago I ordered some unrefined shea butter from an online > company. It was very smooth feeling, tan/olive in color with a very > nutter smell. It melted nicely. I just received a new order, grade A > by the Shea Butter Institute. It's yellow, much harder in the > container and has an underyling nutty scent but a less pleasant scent. > It also doesn't seem to liquify so readily. I know there are many > variations of shea butter-does this new one I received sound about > right? I actually prefer the first one I bought eventhough it's not > certified by the Shea Butter Institute. Thanks, Susan > Now I have a question. What is the difference between refined and unrefined shea butter? I want to start making body butters and now don't know which to use. Kitty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 13, 2007 Report Share Posted February 13, 2007 The quick easy answer is yes, a little. According to ASBI, more butters processed the traditional way test at Grade A. All unrefined shea butter is good/has advantages as long as it's not contaminated with mold, spores etc.... and as long as it's not to old or rancid. -- Margaret Helm-Duell Mohea Natural Beauty LLC -------------- Original message -------------- " susan " <ripple95 snipped again... One more thing-does the quality of shea butter differ based on cold pressed or the boiling extraction method? Thanks, Susan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 13, 2007 Report Share Posted February 13, 2007 Hi Kitty, Unrefined shea butter has all the nutrients intact. It has more than likely been made and filtered and that's it. Refined shea butter can be refined a couple different ways. Refined butter lacks most of the nutrients found in shea butter in its raw state. It is a very effective moisturizer however and still has a small portion of the unsaponifiables (where the good stuff is). If you are going to make body butters and you are looking for mostly moisturizing properties and you don't want to have any scent interference, then look at using a naturally refined butter. If you want more healing properties and don't mind the smoky/nutty scent of unrefined shea butter, then choose that one. Hope this helps in your decision making. Margaret Mohea Natural Beauty LLC > Now I have a question. What is the difference between refined and unrefined shea butter? I want to start making body butters and now don't know which to use. Kitty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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