There is something unmistakably right about this butter the moment you open it.
The color is a clean, luminous ivory - the kind of naturally beautiful cream tone that only comes from shea that has never been bleached, refined, or altered in any way. The texture is silky and smooth, with a rich, buttery body that melts into warmth the instant it meets your skin. The aroma is mild and naturally earthy - faintly nutty, subtly sweet - the honest scent of a botanical straight from the Karite tree, nothing added, nothing masked.
This is ASBI Grade A Ivory Shea Butter - the highest classification in the shea butter grading system - wild-harvested, traditionally processed, and completely unrefined. Grade A is the standard that cosmetic formulators, herbalists, and serious makers seek out when only the best will do.
ASBI Grade A . Wild Harvested . Cold Pressed . 100% Unrefined . Fair Trade . West Africa
ASBI Grade A - What That Means and Why It Matters
Shea butter is graded A through F by the American Shea Butter Institute (ASBI). Grade A is the highest tier - it means the butter is raw and unrefined, traditionally processed without chemical solvents or industrial heat, and retains its full complement of natural vitamins, phytosterols, triterpene alcohols, tocopherols, and fatty acids. Grades B through F involve increasing levels of refinement, each stage removing more of the bioactive compounds that make shea genuinely effective for skin and hair.
You can see and feel the difference Grade A makes:
- The color tells the story. Grade A shea presents as a beautiful clean ivory to creamy off-white - the natural, unaltered pigment of the Karite nut. Refined shea is bleached to pure, paper white. That ivory warmth in ours is not a flaw - it is the grade.
- The texture confirms purity. Grade A butter has a dense, silky, buttery body with just the right amount of resistance before it yields. It is smooth and consistent from the moment it touches your skin, melting at body temperature without greasiness or drag.
- The aroma is authentic. Grade A shea has a characteristic mild, nutty, gently earthy scent - the natural signature of the Karite tree. Odorless shea has been deodorized, which is a refinement process that removes beneficial compounds alongside the scent.
The Butter
Our Grade A Ivory Shea Butter comes from the wild Karite trees of West Africa - trees that grow naturally across the shea belt, untouched by cultivation, drawing nutrients from the rich West African soil as they have for centuries. The nuts are wild-harvested, cold-pressed to extract the butter without heat or solvents, and left completely unrefined so every vitamin, fatty acid, and bioactive compound remains exactly as nature made it.
What you receive is a Grade A butter with:
- A beautiful clean ivory color - the luminous, warm cream tone of authentic Grade A unrefined shea, naturally radiant and never bleached
- A silky, luxurious texture that softens and yields gently at body temperature, spreading effortlessly without greasiness or drag
- A rich, deeply nourishing feel that absorbs into skin beautifully - substantive and conditioning without sitting heavy on the surface
- A mild, pleasant natural aroma - warm, faintly nutty, genuinely earthy - the authentic scent of real Grade A shea that blends effortlessly with any essential oil or botanical
- A complete fatty acid profile - oleic, stearic, and linoleic acids preserved intact by cold pressing - the foundation of shea's legendary skin-softening and barrier-repair properties
- Full vitamin and phytosterol content - vitamins A and E, triterpene alcohols, and tocopherols all kept whole because this butter was never refined, bleached, or deodorized
What It Feels Like to Use It
On skin, it melts at the warmth of your palms into a smooth, gliding oil that sinks in and leaves skin feeling genuinely soft - not coated, not greasy, just nourished. Dry elbows, rough heels, tight facial skin, and eczema-prone areas respond beautifully. Used on damp skin after a shower, it seals in moisture in a way few ingredients can match.
On hair, it behaves like a true conditioning butter - rich enough to seal and protect ends, smooth enough to work through lengths without weight. Use it as a pre-shampoo treatment, a leave-in sealant, or a finishing touch on styles. It brings softness and shine without build-up.
In DIY formulations, it is a pleasure to work with - melts cleanly, blends smoothly with carrier oils and butters, and gives finished products the kind of skin-feel that is hard to achieve with anything less than the real thing.
Ethically Sourced, Fairly Traded
The women of West Africa who wild-harvest and process shea have been doing so for generations. We work with supply chains that pay fair prices, support the communities behind the harvest, and treat the sourcing relationship as a long-term partnership - not a commodity transaction. When you choose this butter, you are part of that.
Product Specifications
| Botanical Name | Vitellaria paradoxa |
| INCI Name | Butyrospermum parkii (Shea) Butter |
| Origin | West Africa (wild-harvested Karite trees) |
| Processing | Cold Pressed . Unrefined . Minimally processed |
| Sourcing | Fair Trade . Ethically sourced . Origin-verified |
| Grade | ASBI Grade A - highest classification . Raw, unrefined, traditionally processed |
| Color | Clean ivory to creamy off-white |
| Texture | Silky, smooth, buttery - melts at body temperature (~90°F / 32°C) |
| Aroma | Mild, faintly nutty, naturally earthy - authentic and pleasant |
| Shelf Life | 24 months sealed . Store cool, dry, away from direct light |
| Best For | Skin care . Hair care . Eczema . Whipped butters . Balms . Soaps . DIY formulations |
How to Use
Skin: Warm a small amount between palms until it melts, then apply to dry areas, the whole body, or face. For deep moisture, layer over damp skin immediately after bathing to seal hydration in.
Hair: Work a pea-sized amount through lengths and ends as a leave-in sealant on damp hair, or apply generously as a pre-shampoo deep conditioning treatment - leave for 30 to 60 minutes before washing out.
DIY: Melt gently and blend with your choice of carrier oils, essential oils, and botanicals for whipped butters, balms, lip care, soap, and skin care formulations.
Pairs Beautifully With
- Cocoa Butter . Mango Butter . Murumuru Butter
- Batana Oil . Argan Oil . Jojoba Oil . Rosehip Seed Oil
- Lavender, Chamomile, or Frankincense Essential Oil
A Note on Natural Character
Because this is a wild-harvested, minimally processed botanical, natural variation between batches is part of its beauty - slight differences in firmness, color depth, or aroma are signs of a genuine, unrefined ingredient, not inconsistency. You may also notice natural speckling or slight graininess, particularly after temperature changes. This resolves with gentle warming and does not affect quality in any way.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ASBI Grade A and why does it matter?
The American Shea Butter Institute grades shea butter from A to F based on processing method and purity. Grade A is the highest tier - raw, unrefined, and traditionally processed, retaining its full natural profile of vitamins, fatty acids, phytosterols, and tocopherols. Grades B through F involve increasing levels of refinement, bleaching, and deodorizing, each stage stripping more of the bioactive compounds that make shea genuinely effective. Our butter meets Grade A standards - you can verify it by its characteristic clean ivory color, its silky texture, and its mild natural aroma, all of which disappear in refined grades.
Is this butter refined?
No. This is 100% unrefined and cold-pressed. Refining involves bleaching and deodorizing, which strips the vitamins A and E and the fatty acids that give shea its nourishing properties. Everything that makes this butter exceptional has been preserved exactly as nature produced it.
What does it smell like?
Authentic unrefined shea has a warm, faintly nutty, naturally earthy aroma - subtle and pleasant, not sharp or overpowering. It is the genuine scent of real shea butter and blends beautifully with essential oils in any DIY formulation.
Can this be used on hair?
Absolutely. Ivory Shea Butter is one of the finest butters for natural hair. It seals, conditions, and protects without build-up. Use it as a pre-shampoo treatment, a leave-in sealant on damp hair, or a finishing butter on styled hair for shine and softness.
Is this suitable for eczema or sensitive skin?
Yes. Unrefined shea butter is widely used and trusted for eczema-prone, sensitive, and reactive skin because it contains no added fragrances, preservatives, or processing chemicals. Its natural anti-inflammatory fatty acids and vitamins make it one of the safest and most soothing botanicals available.
Is this suitable for DIY formulation?
Yes - it is one of the most beloved butters in DIY beauty for good reason. The INCI name (Butyrospermum parkii (Shea) Butter) is correct for cosmetic labeling. Available from 2 oz through 55 lb to support home formulators, indie brands, and professional manufacturing.
Packaging and Storage
Ships in a resealable pouch to preserve freshness and protect from oxidation. Store tightly sealed in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Refrigeration is not required but extends shelf life in warm climates.
Warm Weather Notice
Shea butter naturally softens or melts during transit in warm months. Simply allow it to cool and re-solidify at room temperature or briefly in the refrigerator - quality and performance are completely unaffected. We recommend expedited shipping between June and September.
Disclaimer: This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. For external cosmetic use only.
