One of the first decisions any shea buyer makes is grade: raw unrefined or refined (RBD). Both are 100% shea butter — the difference is in processing, and it matters more than most people expect.
Raw unrefined shea butter
Unrefined shea is filtered but otherwise minimally processed, retaining its natural colour (ivory to cream), characteristic nutty aroma, and the full profile of vitamins and unsaponifiables prized in natural skincare. It's the choice for brands whose customers want 'as close to the source as possible', and for haircare and body butters where a little natural scent is a selling point rather than a problem.
Refined (RBD) shea butter
Refined, bleached and deodourised shea is processed to a neutral white, near-odourless base. That neutrality is exactly what many manufacturers need: it won't fight a fragrance system, won't tint a white lotion, and delivers highly consistent batch-to-batch colour and scent — critical for scaled production.
How to choose
- Choose raw unrefined for natural-positioning brands, haircare, soap and body butters.
- Choose refined (RBD) for colour cosmetics, fragranced products, white emulsions and large-batch consistency.
- Not sure? Request both as samples and test in your actual formulation before committing.
At Everleigh we stock both grades in bulk, each with full COA/SDS documentation. Request a sample kit and compare them side by side.