Why unrefined
The active substances have not been extracted from this butter with chemicals, so it retains all the important vitamins A, E and F, together with the fatty acids and oleic acid that balanced, well-cared-for skin needs. Used on its own it is a genuine all-purpose balm: dry and even cracked skin regains its appearance in a short time. This is why it appears in almost every natural cosmetic.
Made by women in Ghanaian villages
The butter is made in the traditional way by women in the villages of Ghana, in tested, organic quality. It is one of the maker's most popular products: the base of natural balms and soaps, and almost everyone adds a little of it to home-made creams because it is very rich. The food industry also uses it widely.
Smoky scent and changing texture are not faults
If this is your first unrefined shea butter, three things may surprise you. The scent is characteristic: natural, smoky, nutty or earthy. This is not a sign of spoiling but a guarantee that the active substances stayed in. The texture depends on temperature, as it contains no synthetic texture improvers: harder in winter, creamier in summer. If it feels grainy, that is the natural crystallisation of the fatty acids, which melts instantly from the warmth of your skin. Finally the colour can range from ivory to yellowish and the texture can vary between batches, depending on the growing area and the rainfall.
How to use it
Applying a thin layer on its own is the simplest way. If the characteristic scent bothers you, mix in a few drops of essential oil: it becomes easier to like and easier to spread. For creams, balms and soaps count it as part of the fatty phase, and since it is a very rich butter, a small amount goes a long way.
Sizes and storage
Four sizes are available. The 10 ml is for trying it out, the 100 and 450 ml for regular home use, and the 1000 ml for soap and cream makers and resellers. As the hardness of the butter changes with temperature, in summer keep it in a cooler place away from sunlight, and close the jar well after use.