| What is it? |
A firm soft butter, made by cold pressing the seeds of the Cupuaçu tree, which is native to Brazil. |
| Appearance |
The unrefined variety has a super cool, bead-like appearance; wee cream coloured blobs roughly the size of seed beads all clumped together. Once it’s been melted and re-solidified it looks just like any other cream coloured butter. The refined variety is white from being bleached, and pretty much just looks like fat. |
| Texture |
A bit stiff at first, but as it melts into your skin it’s wonderfully smooth and silky. |
| Scent |
The unrefined stuff smells like… chocolate combined with something tangy like passionfruit or yogurt. I don’t hate it, but it isn’t amazing. That fades quickly once it’s on your skin or diluted with other ingredients, but most people prefer the refined version. |
| Absorbency Speed |
Quite fast, especially for a butter! A small amount will spread over the skin beautifully and leave a satiny, non-greasy finish in no time. |
| Approximate Melting Point |
34°C/93°F |
| Solubility |
Oil |
| Why do we use it in formulations? |
I love the finish cupuaçu butter has—it’s incredibly silky, and almost silicone-like. I tend to love it in hand products and cosmetics, where I want a fast-absorbing, silky product, but perhaps without, or with less wax, than I’d need if I used entirely liquid oils. It’s also less likely to go grainy than shea butter is. |
| Do you need it? |
I love it, and I’d say so, but you can get away with shea or mango butter in most formulations that call for cupuaçu butter. Everyone I’ve talked into purchasing cupuaçu butter has fallen in love with it! |
| Refined or unrefined? |
I’ve worked with both, and while the unrefined stuff is really neat, its smell can be… not great. I’d probably go with refined. |
| Strengths |
Amazing, silky, almost silicone-like finish on the skin. Fantastically moisturizing and smooth. Not greasy, even when used directly on the skin (in small amounts, at least!). |
| Weaknesses |
It’s one of the more expensive butters, and can be harder to source. |
| Alternatives & Substitutions |
Mango and shea butter are both ok swaps, with mango being the better choice of the two. |
| How to Work with It |
I love it in anything where I’d like the thickness and richness of shea butter without the greasy feeling. I tend to especially love cupuaçu butter in hand lotions and facial products (like cosmetics). |
| Storage & Shelf Life |
Stored somewhere cool, dark, and dry, capuacu butter should last at least two or three years. |
| Tips, Tricks, and Quirks |
Because it absorbs into the skin so quickly and is super hydrating, I love to put a bit in a small tin (15mL/0.5oz) and carry it around in my purse. |
| Recommended starter amount |
100g (3.3oz) |
| Where to Buy it |
Buy it from an online DIY ingredient supplier or Amazon. |
Some Formulations that Use Cupuaçu Butter
