What is Shea Nilotica?

Shea Nilotica is the soft, creamy variant of Shea Butter, originating from East Africa. Our Nilotica comes from Uganda and is obtained through cold-pressing from the nuts of the East African shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa subsp. nilotica). The butter is unrefined, fair trade and retains all its natural vitamins and scent. The texture is noticeably softer than the more familiar West African shea, with a mild, slightly nutty aroma.

At room temperature, Shea Nilotica is already partially soft and spreadable, and melts completely at skin temperature. A beloved butter for those who find West African shea too hard or too aromatic, and for those seeking a creamy, easily workable butter for both direct use and DIY.

Due to its soft, mild character, Shea Nilotica is also a fine choice for caring for and protecting delicate baby skin. Many regular baby lotions contain synthetic additives, fragrances and colorants. Shea Nilotica is a pure, protective softener directly from nature, and keeps baby skin soft and protected against irritation and dryness.

What is the difference between Shea Nilotica and regular Shea Butter?

Both butters come from the same plant species, but from different subspecies that grow in different places in Africa. This gives a fundamentally different result.

Fatty acid profile
Shea Nilotica naturally contains more oleic acid (around 47 to 62 percent) and less stearic acid (25 to 38 percent) than West African shea, which contains more stearic acid. Oleic acid is a soft, liquid fatty acid and stearic acid is hard. This difference directly determines how the butter feels.

Texture and spreadability
Due to the higher oleic acid content, Shea Nilotica is softer, creamier and easier to spread. At room temperature it is already partially soft, while regular Shea Butter is still quite hard at that temperature.

Scent
Shea Nilotica has a mild, slightly nutty scent. Our West African Shea Butter has a more pronounced, smokier aroma because the nuts there are traditionally roasted before the butter is pressed from them.

Do you want a rich, hard, protective butter that also needs to be hard in body butter and balm? Then choose our Shea Butter (Organic and Unrefined). Do you want a soft, creamy butter that you can use directly from the jar, or that you want to incorporate into lighter formulas? Then Shea Nilotica is the right choice.

How is Shea Nilotica made?

The nuts are collected from fallen trees and sun-dried. In Uganda this is traditionally the work of women's cooperatives who manage the trees and harvest area. The dried nuts are cracked and cold-pressed, without roasting and without external heat. This keeps the butter mild in scent and retains the vitamins and unsaponifiable components that carry much of its effectiveness.

Our Shea Nilotica is fair trade certified, which means that the communities who collect and process the nuts receive a fair price.

Benefits of Shea Nilotica

Ready to use straight from the jar
Unlike regular Shea Butter, Shea Nilotica is soft enough to spread on the skin without preparation. A solution for those who find warming or whipping shea too cumbersome.

Mild in scent
Due to cold-pressing without roasting, the scent is light and discreet. Suitable as a base for products where you want to determine the scent yourself, or for those who don't find the smoky scent of regular shea pleasant.

Nourishing and protective
Shea Nilotica contains the same nourishing fatty acids, vitamin A, vitamin E and unsaponifiable components that have given Shea Butter its reputation. It nourishes the skin, supports the skin barrier and helps retain moisture.

Suitable for sensitive and dry skin
The soft texture and mild composition make Shea Nilotica beloved by those with sensitive, dry or mature skin. Also fine for delicate baby skin.

Fair trade and unrefined
Our Shea Nilotica is fair trade certified and undergoes no refining. This means the original nourishing properties are preserved.

How to use Shea Nilotica?

Directly from the jar
Scoop a small amount from the jar, melt between your hands and apply to the skin. Especially nice after showering on still slightly damp skin. Also works well on the face.

As day or night cream
Shea Nilotica can be used pure on the face as richer care, especially in winter or with dry skin. For combination skin you can combine a smaller amount with a few drops of light Carrier Oil like Jojoba Oil.

For baby skin
Shea Nilotica is a soft, natural choice for caring for baby skin after bathing or for dry spots. Apply a small amount to clean, slightly damp skin.

As hair care
A small amount on the hair ends softens dry or frizzy hair. Also nice as a protective layer in the hair before swimming, to protect the scalp and lengths against chlorine.

In a whipped body butter
Melt Shea Nilotica au bain-marie together with a Carrier Oil, cool back while stirring continuously and whip to a fluffy texture. Due to the softer structure, Shea Nilotica lends itself excellently to whipped body butters that remain spreadable even in winter.

In a Lip Balm
Combine with a wax (for example Beeswax or candelilla wax) and a Carrier Oil. Due to the lower melting point, Shea Nilotica gives a softer balm than regular shea, ideal for creamy lip care.

In homemade care
Shea Nilotica works in virtually any DIY formula where Shea Butter is used. The softer texture makes processing easier.

Tips when using Shea Nilotica

• Store at room temperature, away from direct sunlight. Not in the refrigerator, as cold can cause unexpected grittiness.
• Shea Nilotica can become grainy if it cools slowly or melts and solidifies multiple times. Prevent this by cooling quickly while stirring continuously when melting.
• On a warm day or in a warm room the butter can become liquid. This is normal and does not affect quality. Put it in a cool place for a moment and it will solidify again.
• Always close the jar tightly after use to limit oxidation.

Points of attention

Shea Nilotica comes from the nuts of the shea tree. With a nut allergy it is wise to first test on a small piece of skin and wait 24 hours before using on larger areas. Keep out of reach of children. For external use.