Northshea Raw Shea Butter, African Unrefined 100% Pure, for Soap Making Base, 16oz Bag Review (2026)

Where this shea butter comes from

According to the brand, Northshea sources its shea nuts from women artisans in northern Ghana and produces the butter in small handcrafted batches rather than large industrial runs. The brand states the finished butter is a single ingredient product, shea nut only, with no fillers, dyes, or additional processing agents mixed in, which is a meaningful distinction from some soap-making butters that are refined or deodorized using solvents. This 16 oz size is sold specifically as a bag rather than a jar, which is worth knowing ahead of time since it changes how the butter is stored and scooped compared with tub packaging.

Raw and unrefined versus refined shea

Unrefined shea butter retains more of its natural nutty scent and its ivory to slightly yellow color compared with refined shea, which is typically processed to remove scent and color and often to extend shelf stability. For soap makers, unrefined shea is generally chosen specifically because that natural profile signals less processing, and the brand states this butter is filtered to remove shea nutshell debris while otherwise left in its raw state. Makers who are sensitive to the natural nutty smell of raw shea, or who need a scent-neutral butter for a heavily fragranced project, should be aware that unrefined shea carries more of its own aroma than a refined version would.

Working with shea butter in soap

Shea butter is commonly used in cold process and melt and pour soap recipes as a moisturizing addition that also contributes some hardness to the finished bar, and it is a frequent component in superfatting a recipe for extra conditioning. A 16 oz bag gives a hobbyist maker a workable supply for several standard batches without committing to a bulk 5 or 10 lb block, which suits makers still dialing in how much shea they want in a given recipe. As with any raw butter, it should be melted gently rather than overheated, since excessive heat can degrade some of the beneficial compounds naturally present in unrefined shea.

Bag versus jar packaging

Because this butter ships in a bag rather than a rigid jar, scooping solid chunks out mid-use is less convenient than opening a wide-mouth container, and makers may prefer to portion the block into a reusable container once opened for easier access during repeated soap sessions. This is purely a packaging convenience trade off rather than a quality issue, and it is common across raw butter suppliers who ship in bags to keep costs and shipping weight down. Storing the bag in a cool, dry place, resealed tightly after each use, will help preserve the butter's freshness between soap making sessions.

Bottom line

This shea butter suits makers who want a traceable, minimally processed ingredient with a clear artisan sourcing story behind it, and who do not mind repackaging a bag into a jar of their own for easier scooping. The single ingredient, unrefined nature of the butter aligns with what many natural soap makers are looking for in a superfatting ingredient, though anyone wanting a neutral scented or lighter colored shea should look at a refined version instead. The 16 oz size is a sensible starting quantity before committing to a bulk block, letting a maker confirm how the raw scent and texture behave in a finished bar before scaling a recipe up.

Frequently asked questions