Refined N-RBD Shea Butter for Cosmetics

Recommended specifications for cosmetics

For refined N-RBD in cosmetics, free fatty acid, peroxide value and colour decide performance; unsaponifiables are the honest trade-off against unrefined Grade A. Copy the rows into the purchase order; measured values sit on the COA. See the COA guide, the COA interpreter and the N-RBD process.

Why Refined N-RBD shea butter suits cosmetics

• Bleaching removes carotenoids; white to off-white butter will not yellow a pastel cream or a water-in-silicone emulsion the way ivory unrefined does.
• Deodorisation strips volatiles; fragrance-sensitive and unscented lines can run a lower fragrance load.
• Alkali or physical neutralisation plus bleaching give a much lower acid and peroxide ceiling than Grade A.
• Unsaponifiables are slightly reduced; if the brief is active-rich or raw shea, unrefined Grade A is the honest choice.
• Inclusion stays 2–20 % in emulsions; the INCI name is unchanged.
• EMI's COSMOS, EU Organic and USDA NOP status is in pursuit. Do not publish a COSMOS or organic claim on a refined lot until the certificate exists.

Refined wins when colour must match at scale, when the line is fragrance-free, or when a retailer writes a refined free-fatty-acid and peroxide-value ceiling. N-RBD does not change identity values — saponification value, refractive index and the stearic/oleic profile stay shea. What bleaching and deodorisation do, step by step, is on the refining guide. Synthetic-emollient substitution is compared on shea butter versus synthetic emollients. COSMOS, EU Organic and USDA NOP remain in pursuit; do not print those claims on a refined lot until a certificate number exists.

Bench-test a refined lot against the brief:

• colour of a 10 % oil-in-water pastel cream under D65 against the same base made with unrefined;
• odour panel of an unscented lotion at 0 and 4 weeks at 40 °C;
• viscosity at 10 % versus 20 % load;
• three freeze–thaw cycles.

This page describes composition and performance. It makes no medical or therapeutic claims.

When to choose unrefined Grade A instead

Choose unrefined Grade A for raw, unrefined or active-rich positioning, when the characteristic ivory colour and nutty odour are a feature, or when the brief specifies unsaponifiables at the high end of the 4–11 % literature band. You give up white colour and odourlessness. Unrefined Grade A Shea Butter for Cosmetics.

Supply format

EMI Agro loads at Apapa (Lagos) and Tin Can Island (Lagos). Packaging, sample size, minimum order, Incoterms and lead time are confirmed on the quote for the grade and destination you name.

Quality & traceability

Finished butter is specified on a NIS 571:2013 basis. Parameters in the table are measured on every finished batch; the Certificate of Analysis reports the measured values. Kernel lots are titrated for free fatty acid at intake and kept segregated. Kernels are wild-collected through a cooperative network of 5,000+ women collectors. Certification status: NAFDAC registered, SON approved, HACCP in progress, USDA NOP (Organic) in pursuit, EU Organic (EOS) in pursuit, COSMOS in pursuit. Detail sits on the quality page.

• Every finished batch is tested; measured values are reported on the Certificate of Analysis.
• Kernel lots are titrated for free fatty acid at intake and kept segregated.