Shea butter is a popular ingredient in many skin and beauty and hair products. It is known for its moisturizing properties and has been used for centuries.
It has a high concentration of vitamins A, E, and F, which are great for your skin. Shea butter also contains anti-inflammatory properties that can help soothe irritated skin.
A lot of people, however, find the smell of the shea butter to be overpowering. Fortunately, there are ways to get rid of the smell of shea butter if you find it difficult to use because of how strong it is.
These simple steps will help get rid of the strong smell of shea butter.
- Add fragrance oil
- Add essential oils
- Add deodorizer
- Add lemon juice
- Mix with other products
- Use refined shea butter
6 Ways of Getting Rid of Shea Butter Smell
Shea butter has a nutty smell that can be strong to some people, and at times, shea butter smells bad to those with sensitive noses. If you’re wondering how to make shea butter smell good and looking to get rid of the unpleasant shea butter odor, here are six suggestions to enhance its fragrance:
1. Add fragrance oils
The most common way to get rid of the shea butter smell is by adding fragrance oils to your product. The best thing about fragrance oils is that they’re affordable and easy to work with.
Just add them to your product at an appropriate point during the process based on your recipe. Some people even add them to their base recipe before adding any other ingredients to prevent any unwanted smells from occurring later on down the line.
How to infuse shea butter with fragrance?
To infuse shea butter with fragrance,
- Gently melt the shea butter using a double boiler or a heat-safe glass bowl over a pot of simmering water.
- Once the shea butter is melted, remove it from the heat and allow it to cool slightly.
- Add a few drops of your preferred essential oil or fragrance oil, stirring well to ensure even distribution.
- Allow the mixture to cool and solidify before using it.
You can also use the same process mentioned earlier to make shea butter smell like vanilla. The only difference is that in step 3, you will add a few drops of vanilla essential oil instead of a different fragrance.
2. Add essential oils
Another way to mask the smell of shea butter is by adding essential oils to your product. Essential oils such as lavender, rosemary, and peppermint are natural and have antibacterial properties that help keep your shea butter smelling good.
They also have additional benefits for your skin, making them an excellent addition to any recipe for homemade skincare products.
3. Add deodorizer
You can also try adding an odor neutralizer like baking soda or cornstarch to your product before adding any other ingredients, such as fragrance or essential oils. This will help reduce some of the smell without adding any extra scent to your final product.
If you use this method, make sure that the deodorizer has been dissolved before adding anything else, so it doesn’t affect the consistency of your final product too much.
4. Add lemon juice
If you want to use shea butter as a natural moisturizer for your hair or skin, but don’t want the smell, add lemon juice to it before applying it to your skin. The acidity of the lemon juice will neutralize the odor of shea butter and leave behind only its beneficial properties.
5. Mix with other products
To get rid of its nutty scent, you can also mix shea butter with coconut oil, sweet almond oil, or argan oil. These oils have unique scents that will blend nicely with shea butter’s aroma and make it less noticeable.
However, it is advisable not to mix too many products because this may cause an adverse reaction to your skin or hair.
6. Use refined shea butter
If you find the natural scent of shea butter to be too strong, using refined shea butter can be a great alternative. Its milder scent and smoother texture make it more versatile and easier to use, while still providing many of the same benefits as unrefined shea butter.
Does Shea Butter Smell Bad?
Shea butter does not smell bad. The nutty scent is a natural part of the shea butter manufacturing process, caused by its natural content of fatty acid compounds. It isn’t harmful and is even considered pleasant to some people.
Because it’s made from an oil extracted from nuts, the nutty odor can be quite strong if your shea butter hasn’t been stored properly or you haven’t mixed it with other ingredients to dilute its scent. In this case, you may have to air out your room before using the product because it can be overpowering at first.
However, once mixed into another product, like coconut oil, the nutty aroma will dissipate and become more subtle over time.
What Does Shea Butter Smell Like?
Shea butter has a distinct smell that is often described as nutty or earthy.
Its natural scent can vary depending on the quality and processing method, with raw or unrefined shea butter having a stronger smell than refined versions. Some people find the scent pleasant and mild, while others may perceive it as strong and even unpleasant.
What Does Shea Butter Smell Bad?
Although shea butter is often associated with a sweet scent, this isn’t always true; sometimes, it smells bad because it has gone rancid, leaving people to wonder why does shea butter stink. Shea Butter can emit an unpleasant odor for a variety of reasons, some of which include the following:
1. Poor quality shea butter
The first thing to remember is that not all shea butter is created equal. Some brands use low-quality ingredients and poor manufacturing processes, which can lead to a foul scent.
This is why it’s important to buy from reputable suppliers who ensure their products are ethically sourced, raw, and of high quality. You should also make sure that the company you’re buying from has been in business for some time and has a good reputation for providing great products at competitive prices.
2. Chemically treated
Shea butter can be chemically treated to make it less yellow and more white. However, this process also destroys many of the beneficial properties of this natural ingredient by altering its chemical composition.
If you notice that your shea butter smells like chemicals, then chances are it has been chemically treated before being sold to you.
3. Refining process
If your shea butter has been processed or refined in any way, then it’s unlikely that it will have a pleasant odor when applied to your skin or hair. Raw shea butter is the only type worth using if you want to get the best results when using this product regularly.
4. Nuts harvested too early
Shea nuts are harvested from the trees once they are mature enough to crack open and expose their creamy white insides. Some companies harvest their nuts before they’re ready and sell them as “raw” or “unrefined” shea butter, even though this reduces their quality and makes them smell bad.
5. Not ethically sourced
Sourcing ethically-harvested shea butter is important for several reasons, including animal welfare, environmental impact, and human rights. It also ensures you get a high-quality product with no chemicals added to it. You should be fine if you buy from a reputable supplier who has verified its sources.
6. Bad storage
Shea butter has a very long shelf life (up to two years), but improper storage conditions can quickly turn it rancid and cause it to smell bad, even beyond its expiration date. Be sure to store your shea butter in an airtight container at room temperature.
How to Deodorize Shea Butter at Home?
Shea butter can be deodorized at home in a few simple steps.
For already melted butter, here’s how to do it:
Step 1. Melt the shea butter
It would be best to place Shea butter in a heat-safe basin before melting it in a double boiler.
Step 2. Check the temperature
When the butter has melted, remove it from the double boiler and measure its temperature. The temperature should be higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit (48 celsius).
Step 3. Place it in the refrigerator
Put it in the refrigerator or freezer for 15 minutes if the temperature exceeds 120 degrees Fahrenheit (48 celsius).
Step 4. Check the temperature again
Take the liquid butter out and check the temperature after 15 minutes. The ideal temperature is 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 degrees Celsius).
Step 5. Add essential oil
You can now add essential oil or fragrance. Verify that the butter is still liquid, and mix well.
Step 6. Place it back in the refrigerator
Once finished, place it back in the freezer to chill until the desired consistency is achieved. Mix rapidly after.
For cold shea butter, follow these steps to deodorize
Step 1. Cut the shea butter into smaller pieces
Butter should be divided into small pieces before being added to a bowl or mixer.
Step 2. Add essential oil and mix
Start mixing at a slow pace and slowly pour in half of your fragrance or essential oil while mixing.
Step 3. Take a break
Now you can stop mixing for a few seconds and mix with a spatula
Step 3. Continue mixing
Add the remaining oil and continue mixing until you get the desired texture.
Does shea butter smell good?
The smell of shea butter comes from its main ingredient, shea nuts, which are crushed into a paste before being processed into butter. The resulting product has a mild nutty scent.
Does the shea butter smell go away?
Yes, the smell will go away after a few minutes. Shea butter absorbs into the skin quickly, so once it is absorbed, no odor will be left behind on your body or clothes.
Why does my shea butter stink?
Shea butter can stink due to some conditions, including poor quality ingredients, manufacturing processing methods, and improper storage.
Which shea butter has no smell?
Refined shea butter has no smell. It has had most of its natural scent removed during processing. However, unrefined shea butter still retains its nutty aroma.
What does raw shea butter smell like?
Raw shea butter has nutty smell
What does rancid shea butter smell like?
Rancid shea butter typically has a sour, off, or unpleasant smell
Does shea butter smell like vanilla?
Shea butter does not naturally smell like vanilla. However, shea butter can be mixed with essential oils, such as vanilla, to create a more pleasant scent.
Does shea butter smell like coconut?
Shea butter does not naturally smell like coconut.
Is shea butter supposed to smell bad?
It should not smell bad or rancid. If it does, the shea butter may be spoiled, contaminated, or of low quality
Conclusion
The reason shea butter is a staple in many beauty routines is because of its versatility, which is what makes it such a great moisturizer. But if you’ve recently been afflicted with the smell and are wondering how to make shea butter smell better, you might have to avoid certain products due to their intensity completely.
So, try out the steps outlined above for anyone who uses shea butter and wants to keep those benefits without the smell, ensuring a more pleasant experience.
