Unrefined Shea Butter

[perfectsoap]

Hello ~
I ordered some unrefined Shea Butter and have a question!
I have had this before and it had the signature scent and was kinda yellowish.
I ordered more from a different supplier for a better cost for ordering more. This time the smell was a little less and it is gray. I have read online that various colors from off white-yellow-gray-green are ok and are depend on the time of year picked and/or type.
I have since found two website that contradicts this and am wondering what everyone else has experienced?

1st batch was from WSP yellow smokey smell - worked well
2nd batch from Soaper Choice - gray and less smell. "Shea Butter, UNREFINED, Ghana"

The 1st site is: http://www.sheainstitute.com/21reasons.html
The second is the MSDS sheet for Shea Butter, UNREFINED, Ghana :http://www.libertynatural.com/msd/175.htm

I am really happy with Soaper's Choice, but am starting to think the Shea I got was either old, somewhat processed or other.
Please let me know if anyone else has had gray unrefined Shea!
Thanks!
Jeff

 

[Soapmaker Man]

Great question Jeff. Personally, all the unrefined shea I have ever got, from various suppliers, have always been yellowish with a smokey, nutty order. All I have ordered from Soaper's Choice has been refined, and of great refined quality. :wink: Looking forward to others observations also.

Paul

 

[perfectsoap]

Thanks Paul.
How about can I ask where others purchase their unrefined shea?
Also what is the difference between raw and unrefined?
Thanks!
Jeff

 

[skeel]

I get my unrefined shea from Thesage.com. I think I will go with refined next time. The smokey scent kind of gets to me...but at least it doesn't come thru in the soap.

I also LOVE their avocado butter. I prefer it to unrefined shea and use the avo butter as a moisturizer straight on my skin.

 

[dragonfly princess]

I have gotten both refined and unrefined, don't prefer one over the other. Ordered my refined from Coastalscents.com and unrefined from Columbus Foods

 

[perfectsoap]

Dragonfly - What was your unrefined from Columbus like? Color and constancy?
Thanks!
Jeff

 

[Soapmaker Man]

I buy 10 pound lots from http://shop.agbangakarite.com/product.s ... roductId=3
I like theirs a lot.

Paul

 

[itsmeroro]

Thanks Paul.
How about can I ask where others purchase their unrefined shea?
Also what is the difference between raw and unrefined?
Thanks!
Jeff

Hi Jeff - I read about the coloring indicating that its not a higher grade of Shea butter on the Shea Institute. I prefer only the best Shea from Agbanga Karitie and have ordered exclusively from them. The last time I ordered I got in on a monthy sale of 25# for just over $100, which was a steal! I do have to say the color is a light yellow and the color is a nice nutty essence. I also am very interested in helping to support Fair Trade products and am willing to pay a slight bit more in doing so. The smell does not seem to affect the overall finished product. I just made two batches this evening of whipped shea and am quite happy with the end results. I can't stop using it! I also will note that my first 1 lb batch was packaged into tall jars and I have since ordered the low profile jars which are much better. Hope it helps you.

Cheers!

 

[perfectsoap]

This is the reply I received from Soaper's Choice.
They did not really answer my question about the color. I really like
Soaper's Choice (Columbus) and plan to continue buying from them, but I think I will buy my unrefined Shea from Agbanga Karitie.
Thanks for the input!
Jeff

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Jeff,

Our Shea comes from one of the best producers in the business here is a little background on her I have removed her name as all our supplier information is confidential.
---- She is a frequent Key-note Speaker at conferences and workshops in the US , Ghana , Mali and Burkina Faso on Shea Butter-related issues, including quality control and chemical composition and properties. ------ presented a case study on Shea Butter at the Monterey Conference in Monterey, CA .She is also a member of the committee that reviewed Shea nut and Shea Butter standards for the Ghana Standards Board, the government regulatory body that oversees commodities quality standards in Ghana. She serves as an independent consultant and trainer for many producers in Ghana , Nigeria and Mali .

I have no worries about the quality of the product from our supplier, as far as shea 21 reason goes Im familiar with them it is MY opinion they are self proclaimed specialists who charge big money to test oil so they can put a seal of approveal on it that means nothing..


o Ivory Shea Butter is from the Tamale and North Eastern part of Ghana



o Beige Shea Butter is from the North Western part of Ghana .



o Yellow Shea Butter is a combination of Ivory Shea with a natural root color added to it to give it the beautiful vibrant yellow color. The root has mild antiseptic properties giving the Shea Butter slightly more shelf life.



I hope this helps ease your concerns, we stand behind all our suppliers 100%



Regards,

Mike Lawson

Columbus Foods Company http://www.soaperschoice.com

Exotic Base Oils, Butters, Glycerin Soap Base, and More....

Toll Free: 800-322-6457 ext. 230 Chicago, Illinois 60612

 

[perfectsoap]

Anyone want to buy some gray unrefined Shea butter?
lol just kidding. I find it hard to use, knowing there is better out there!
It may very well be ok, it just makes me feel like I have the store brand of steak sauce on my porterhouse!
Jeff

 

[Bret]

This is the reply I received from Soaper's Choice.


o Yellow Shea Butter is a combination of Ivory Shea with a natural root color added to it to give it the beautiful vibrant yellow color. The root has mild antiseptic properties giving the Shea Butter slightly more shelf life.

Isn't yellow shea butter Kpangnan butter?

http://www.agbangakarite.com/newsletter ... ry2005.htm