Ingredient Glossary

We believe in being open and honest about the ingredients in our products. We strive to use only the finest ingredients possible, and have created the following ingredient glossary for your information. For more information on Handcrafted, Unrefined Shea Butter, visit our shea butter information page.

African Wild Honey

Honey is a natural humectant and therefore has the ability to attract and retain moisture.Honey also has significant natural antioxidant properties. Recent articles have revealed honey’s effectiveness as an antimicrobial agent that inhibits the growth of certain bacteria. Our wild African honey is unfiltered, unpasturized, and contains all its natural vitamins, minerals and amino acids to nourish the skin.

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera has traditionally been used to treat various skin conditions, burns and wounds. Aloe Vera alleviates discomfort associated with dry and cracked skin, burns, insect bites, and allergic reactions.

Baobab

Baobab trees (Adansonia digitata) are special and distinctive features of the African savanna. Baobab leaves, bark, fruit and oil have also been part of African healthcare for centuries. Recent studies in Europe have revealed a multitude of skin benefits from Baobab. Leaf and bark extracts tighten and tone skin, while oil from the seeds moisturizes and encourages skin cell regeneration with vitamins A, D and E.

Cocoa Powder

Powder from ground cacao beans is added to our soaps as an exfoliant and natural coloring agent. This powder is one of the byproducts of traditional cocoa butter extraction.

Calendula

The petals of Calendula (Calendula officinalis) have long been used medicinally to treat sunburns, chapped hands, insect bites, and other instances of inflamed or damaged skin. Calendula’s primary active compounds include anti-inflammatory triterpenoids and flavonoids.

Emulsifying Wax NF

Vegetable wax that has been treated with detergents to emulsify oils and water.

Extra Virgin Cocoa Butter

Cocoa butter is the oil from the seeds of the cacao tree (Theobroma cacao), and is an excellent moisturizer. Cocoa butter also has antioxidant properties due to tocopherols as well as certain polyphenols that suppress free radicals and soothe skin irritation. As with our other butters, we make our cocoa butter without any harsh chemicals and do not refine it in any way. Therefore, it retains all its natural healing and preventative properties. In addition, it has a lovely natural chocolate mocha scent.

Green Tea

Green tea (Camellia sinensis) contains several phytochemicals, especially polyphenols (catechins), that have been shown to be highly effective protectors against skin cancer, as well as providing other beneficial effects. It is a natural astringent and antibacterial agent that can help to detoxify and purify the skin at the same time that it helps to ward off the ravages of sun-related skin aging.

Handcrafted Shea Butter

Shea Butter is the oil from the nuts of Vitellaria paradoxa Gaertner (Sapotaceae), which is also known as Butyrospermum parkii. Shea trees grow across 19 countries in the African savanna zone from Senegal to Ethiopia. Shea Butter contains high levels of UV-B absorbing triterpene esters, including cinnamic acid, tocopherols (vitamin A), and phytosterols. Shea Butter also contains a high percentage of unsaponifiables, which account for its superior moisturizing and healing properties.

Kpangnan Butter (Pentadesma butyraceae Butter)

Kpangnan (Pan-ya) is the oil extracted from the seeds of the Pentadesma butyracea tree that grows along rivers and streams in central Togo. We extract our Kpangnan Butter using traditional and organic methods. Kpangnan has similar properties to both Shea Butter and cocoa butter and adds silkiness to creams and lotions.

Lavender

Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia) is an aromatherapy relaxant, stress reliever, and aphrodisiac. It is also a natural insect repellent.

Lemongrass

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citrates) has natural antiseptic properties known to tone and revitalize the skin. Our lemongrass is wild harvested in Togo, West Africa. Lemongrass essential oil uplifts, refreshes and calms strained nerves.

Melon Seed

The seeds of African Melons (Colocynthis spp.) are a valuable food source in West Africa. The oil is also a wonderful moisturizer for the skin. Ground melon seeds are mildly exfoliating when used in soaps.

Neem

The neem (Azadirachta indica) is an evergreen tree indigenous to South Asia, but it grows in most tropical nations the world over including West Africa. Every part of the neem tree has been used in traditional medicine in India and other countries. Multiple studies have shown neem oil as well as leaf and bark extracts to have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant and antifungal properties. Furthermore, neem oil is very rich in fatty acids and is an excellent moisturizer.

Papaya Seed and Leaf Extracts

Papaya (Carica papaya) extracts sooth skin irritations and help tighten and tone skin. We make our extracts from organic papayas grown on small farms in Togo, West Africa.

Patchouli

Deep earthy, sensual, grounding oil, which uplifts the spirit whilst clearing the mind. Patchouli oil is extracted from Pogostemon cablin (a.k.a. Pogostemon patchouli) from the Labiatae family.

Peppermint

A piercing menthol fragrance that is stimulating and penetrating. Clears the head and soothes the emotions.

Potassium Sorbate

Food grade preservative, synthesized from a naturally occurring molecule.

Raspberry (Rubus idaeus) Extract

Contains tannins, vitamin C and has a natural astringent effect, antiseptic, anti-bacterial.

Red Palm Oil

Red Palm Oil is the oil from native, organically grown Dura oil palm fruit (Elais guineensis) from Togo, West Africa. We produce our red palm oil in small batches using traditional techniques to retain its full beneficial properties. This beautiful red oil is very high in vitamin A and other antioxidants.

Rooibos Tea

Rooibos Tea is the leaves from the South African