IHL · Butters
Shea Butter
- INCI name
- Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter
- CAS number
- 194043-92-0
- EC number
- 293-515-7 is cited in the trade. We could not confirm it and do not publish it as verified.
- Physical form
- Solid / soft block
- Country of origin
- Burkina Faso · Ghana · Nigeria · Mali
- HS code
- 1515.90
- Grade
- Cosmetic
- Shelf life
- 18–24 months (refined is more stable than unrefined)
CAS note
91080-23-8 also circulates. Confirm which your supplier declares — we declare 194043-92-0 and state it on every COA.
The highest unsaponifiable fraction of any common butter — 3 to 11 percent. That fraction is why shea feels different from every other fat on this page.
| Appearance | Refined: white, smooth. Unrefined: ivory to pale yellow, soft and grainy. |
|---|---|
| Odour | Refined: near-odorless. Unrefined: distinct nutty, faintly smoky. |
| Solubility | Oil-soluble |
| Melting point | 32–45 °C (broad, soft) |
| pH | n/a |
| HLB | Required HLB 8 |
| SAP (NaOH) | 0.128 |
| SAP (KOH) | 0.179 |
| Iodine value | 55–71 |
| Fatty acid profile | Oleic 40–55% · Stearic 35–45% · Linoleic 3–8% · Palmitic 3–7% · Arachidic ~1% · Unsaponifiables 3–11% |
| Storage | Cool, dark, sealed |
| Manufacturing process | Crushing, roasting and pressing of Vitellaria paradoxa nuts. Refined grade additionally bleached and deodorized. |
Certifications
- Fair trade
- Gluten-free
- Heavy-metal tested
- Organic
- Palm-free
- Vegan
In full: Vegan · Palm-free · Gluten-free · Organic grade certified · Fair-trade cooperative sourced · Heavy-metal tested every lot
| Application | Use rate |
|---|---|
| Lotion | 2–5% |
| Cream | 3–10% |
| Body butter | 10–50% |
| Soap | 5–20% |
| Lip balm | 5–15% |
| Conditioner bar | 5–20% |
Formulation notes
- Shea goes grainy when it cools slowly through its melt range. Heat to 80 °C to wipe out the crystal memory, then chill fast. This is the single most common shea complaint and it is entirely a processing issue.
- The unsaponifiable fraction is shea's whole functional signature and unrefined retains more of it. If you are paying for shea and then refining away the reason to use it, use mango butter instead — it is cheaper and harder.
- Organic virgin unrefined at drum scale costs essentially the same as conventional refined. If you want an organic claim on the label, this is the cheapest one in the catalog to get.
Applications
- Body butter
- Lotion and cream
- Cold process soap
- Lip balm
- Conditioner bars
- Hair butter
Not classified as hazardous
Not classified as hazardous under 29 CFR 1910.1200 (HazCom 2012, as amended 2024). Determination to be confirmed against the incoming lot's manufacturer SDS before publication.
- Transport classification
- Not regulated for transport — DOT, IATA, IMDG.
- Allergen statement
- Shea is botanically a tree nut. It is not on the FDA major food allergen list and refined shea is very low in residual protein, but several retailers and marketplaces require disclosure. We flag it so you can make your own call.
California Proposition 65
No listed constituent identified. Heavy-metal COA supplied for the Washington HB 1047 1 ppm lead cap.
- SDS Safety Data Sheet On request
- TDS Technical Data Sheet On request
- COA Certificate of Analysis On request
- Allergen Allergen statement On request
- GMO GMO statement On request
- BSE/TSE BSE/TSE statement On request
- Vegan Vegan statement On request
- RSPO RSPO certificate On request
We send documents on request. No account, no vendor-qualification fee. Ask for Shea Butter documents.