Cocoa butter is a hard vegetable fat with a distinct, chocolate-y aroma that is extracted from the cocoa bean. A major ingredient in chocolate, cocoa butter is commonly used in bath and body products due to its skin-loving properties. Because of its hard texture and warm smell, cocoa butter makes a fabulous addition to soap, lip products, body butters and more.

Cocoa butter is available in two varieties: deodorized cocoa butter and non-deodorized. Naturally, cocoa butter has a deep eggshell color and a warm, chocolate smell. Deodorized cocoa butter is deodorized via steam injected into the melted cocoa butter to “drive off” the components which contribute to the odor. The product is then treated with diatomaceous earth (clays) which remove the color agents. The result is a butter that is lighter in smell and color. When deciding between the two, consider how your project will be affected by the color and smell of cocoa butter. Because of its naturally chocolatey scent, cocoa butter can hide some delicate fragrances, so keep that in mind when working with more faint fragrances.
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