Shea Nuts

NaturalFRUITS, VEGETABLES & NUTSnutty · creamy · musky

BasePyramid

3/5Strength

—Tenacity

5Origins

Specimen

Vitellaria paradoxa

Definition

Shea nuts are the seeds of the shea tree, known for their rich oil used in perfumery and cosmetics.

SWEET WARM CREAMY NUTTY ROASTED

Shea fruit, Karité nuts

Type: Ingredient
Olfactive family: Fruity
Subfamily: Classic fruits
Cluster: Nutty notes
Source: fruit
Chemical class: complex natural (expressed oil)

Instruments

Pyramid

TTop

HHeart

BBase

3/5Strength

Medium

odour strength

Producing countries

Nigeria Mali Burkina Faso Ghana Ivory Coast

Scent

Shea nuts have a warm, nutty aroma that is subtly rich and creamy. The scent has a soft, buttery quality, like toasted nuts. This gentle scent can carry feelings of warmth and indulgence.

Scent Evolution

The aroma of shea nuts can be compared to that of soft caramel or lightly roasted almonds, with a hint of earthiness that grounds its sweetness. This complexity makes it an excellent base note in perfumery, where it rounds out and enhances other more volatile top and heart notes.

In PREMIEREPEAU

DISCOVERY SET7 × 2 ml →EXTRAIT DE PARFUMThe seven extraits →

The Full Story

Shea nuts come from the shea tree, or Vitellaria paradoxa, native to West Africa. This tree can live for more than 300 years and produces fruit that resembles a small plum. Inside this fruit lies the valuable nut, which is rich in oil. The harvesting of shea nuts is an important economic activity for many communities in the region, where the nuts are traditionally collected and processed by hand. The oil extracted from these nuts has been used for centuries in African culture for cooking, skin care, and medicinal purposes.

Origin and Production

In perfumery, shea nut oil is valued for emollient properties and It can nourish the skin. It appears in a base in various fragrance formulations. Shea nut oil has a low comedogenic rating, meaning it does not clog pores.

Chemistry and Scent Profile

Shea nuts have a significant impact on sustainability and fair trade, as many producers are women's cooperatives that ensure fair wages and community development. In this way, the use of shea in perfumery contributes to beautiful scents and supports social initiatives. Shea nuts exemplify how natural ingredients can be ethically sourced while, giving rich benefits in fragrance and skincare applications.

Did You Know?

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method

Cold pressing

Formula: Complex mixture — Oleic acid C₁₈H₃₄O₂, Stearic acid C₁₈H₃₆O₂
CAS: 91080-23-8 (Butyrospermum parkii butter)
Botanical: Vitellaria paradoxa
Appearance: Ivory to yellowish solid butter (raw) — light yellow liquid when melted
Odour strength: Medium
Synonyms: Shea fruit, Karité nuts

IFRA status

See note

No IFRA Standard for the material itself (51st Amendment)

Physical properties

Melting point: 32–42 °C

In Perfumery

In perfumery, she a nuts is a base note, giving soft, creamy foundation that supports other fragrance elements. They works with floral, woody, and gourmand notes, improving richness of compositions. Shea nut oil's emollient properties also help to fix other fragrance ingredients, so that longevity and depth in the overall scent profile. Its ability to blend smoothly with other materials makes it useful material in both niche and mainstream fragrances.

Role in the formula

01fixative

02modifier

03backbone

04blender

05volume builder

Available as

butter oil