Table of Contents
Updated November 2026
Kpangnan butter (pronounced "pan-ya") is a firm, pale yellow butter from the seeds of the West African butter tree, and it's close to shea in texture and use. On skin, kpangnan butter melts in easily and leaves dry hands, elbows, and feet feeling soft with a dry, silky finish instead of a greasy one. Below I cover what it is, how it compares to shea, its comedogenic rating, and three easy recipes. Jump to the recipes.
Comparing carriers? See my full list of carrier oils.
What Is Kpangnan Butter?
Kpangnan butter comes from the seeds of Pentadesma butyracea, often called the African butter tree or tallow tree. It grows in the forests and along the rivers of West Africa, and in parts of the region its butter is used in place of shea (review, 2023). You may also see it sold as golden shea butter or Pentadesma butter.
The seeds are dried, roasted, and pressed. The butter is light yellow, firm and a little powdery in the jar, and has a mild, nutty, slightly earthy scent. It's mostly stearic acid (about 40 to 60%) and oleic acid (about 35 to 55%), and it melts at about 95°F (35°C), so it softens as soon as it touches your skin (supplier spec sheet).
Kpangnan Butter Quick Facts
| Detail | Kpangnan butter |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Pentadesma butyracea (seed) |
| Also called | Golden shea butter, Pentadesma butter |
| Scent | Mild, nutty, slightly earthy |
| Feel | Firm and powdery, melts on contact with a dry, silky finish |
| Rich in | Stearic and oleic acids |
| Comedogenic rating | Rarely rated; close to shea (usually 0 to 2) |
| Shelf life | Suppliers list 18 months to several years; I'd use it within 2 years |
Kpangnan Butter Skin Benefits
Kpangnan butter is an emollient, so it smooths and softens dry skin and helps hold moisture in. Like shea, it's rich enough for rough winter hands, but many people find it feels lighter and less greasy.
- Softer dry spots: it smooths rough hands, elbows, knees, and heels.
- A dry, silky finish: it sinks in without leaving skin slick.
- A gentle scent: it's milder than unrefined shea, so your essential oils come through.
- Dry hair ends: a tiny bit warmed between your fingers smooths dry ends.
- A shea swap: it works in almost any recipe that calls for shea butter.
Kpangnan Butter Comedogenic Rating
Kpangnan isn't listed on most comedogenic charts. It's close to shea butter, which is usually rated 0 to 2, so it's likely in that low range, but patch test first if your face breaks out easily. My non-comedogenic carrier oils list explains the ratings.
Kpangnan Butter vs Shea Butter
| Kpangnan | Shea | |
|---|---|---|
| Tree | Pentadesma butyracea (African butter tree) | Vitellaria paradoxa (shea tree) |
| Color | Light yellow | Ivory to off-white (unrefined can be yellowish) |
| Texture | Firm, powdery, silky on skin | Soft, rich, can turn grainy |
| Scent | Mild, nutty | Stronger nutty, smoky (unrefined) |
| Easy to find? | Harder to find, pricier | Easy to find |
If you love shea but want a lighter feel or a milder scent, kpangnan is a fun swap. See my shea butter uses and best essential oils to mix with shea butter.
Using Kpangnan Butter with Essential Oils
Kpangnan softens at room temperature, so you can mash and whip it without melting, or melt it gently for a smooth balm. Add essential oils with these drop counts:
| Kpangnan butter | 0.5% | 1% | 2% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Tbsp | 1 to 2 drops | 3 drops | 6 drops |
| 1 oz (2 Tbsp) | 3 drops | 6 drops | 12 drops |
| 2 oz (¼ cup) | 6 drops | 12 drops | 24 drops |
Body butters stay at 1 to 2% for ages 12 and up. For kids 5 to 11, use 0.5 to 1%; for kids 2 to 4, use 0.5% with the six starter oils only. My dilution chart and calculator does the math for other sizes.
Kpangnan Butter Recipes
| Recipe | Use | Ages |
|---|---|---|
| Cool Comfort Kpangnan Butter | Body butter | 12+ |
| Woodland Kpangnan Body Butter | Body butter | 12+ |
| Little Acorn Body Butter | Body butter | 2+ |
Cool Comfort Kpangnan Butter
Body butter · Ages 12+ · 2%
Peppermint brings a cool, tingly feeling, eucalyptus adds a fresh, open scent, and lavender softens the blend. It's lovely for a slow massage on stiff knees, hands, or shoulders after a long day in the garden.
- ¼ cup kpangnan butter
- 8 drops peppermint (Mentha × piperita)
- 8 drops lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- 8 drops eucalyptus (Eucalyptus radiata)
- Glass jar (2 oz)
Directions:
- Melt the kpangnan butter in a heat-safe cup set in a pan of simmering water.
- Take it off the heat and let it cool for a few minutes.
- Stir in the peppermint, lavender, and eucalyptus.
- Pour it into your jar, let it set at room temperature, and label it with the name, the date, and "2%."
Note: Keep it away from your face and eyes, and wash your hands after using it. Essential oils won't treat arthritis or replace what your doctor recommends, but a cool, slow massage is a nice comfort measure alongside it.
Woodland Kpangnan Body Butter
Body butter · Ages 12+ · 2%
Warm frankincense and woody cedarwood with kpangnan's soft, nutty scent, for dry skin on cold days.
- ¼ cup kpangnan butter
- 2 tsp jojoba oil
- 14 drops frankincense (Boswellia carterii)
- 14 drops cedarwood Virginian (Juniperus virginiana)
- Glass jar for storage
Directions:
- Let the kpangnan butter soften at room temperature, then mash it with the jojoba oil in a glass bowl using a fork.
- Add the frankincense and cedarwood.
- Whip with a hand mixer for a few minutes until light and creamy.
- Spoon it into your jar and label it with the name, the date, and "2%."
Little Acorn Body Butter
Body butter · Ages 2+ · 0.5%
The same woodsy butter, made gentle for little ones.
- ¼ cup kpangnan butter
- 2 tsp jojoba oil
- 4 drops frankincense (Boswellia carterii)
- 3 drops cedarwood Virginian (Juniperus virginiana)
- Glass jar for storage
Directions: Make it the same way as the grown-up butter. Smooth a little on dry elbows, knees, or feet, and keep the jar out of reach.
Note: Label it with your child's name and the dilution, and check with your pediatrician before using it on ages 2 to 4. See my kid safe essential oils list for more.
A Few Safety Basics
• Keep essential oils away from babies under 2, including diffusing in a room they're in.
• Always dilute oils before they touch skin, and patch test a new blend on your inner forearm for 24 to 48 hours.
• Check the age on each recipe. Kids 2 to 4 use only six starter oils at 0.5%, after checking with your pediatrician. Kids 5 to 11 stay at 0.5 to 1%. Peppermint is for ages 6 and up, and eucalyptus for ages 10 and up.
• If you're pregnant, check with your doctor or midwife first. For the first 16 weeks I use only six oils, and only in a diffuser or inhaler: lavender, sweet orange, lemon, ginger, cedarwood (Virginian), and frankincense. After that, skin blends stay at 0.5 to 1%.
• Never put oils on pets, and diffuse with a door open so they can leave. Cats are especially sensitive; see my essential oil pet safety guide.
• Never swallow essential oils. If someone does, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
Share on Pinterest
More Butter and Carrier Oil Posts
- 10 Shea Butter Uses
- Mango Butter Benefits for Skin
- Cupuaçu Butter Benefits for Skin
- Cocoa Butter Benefits
- Best Essential Oils for Dry Skin
- List of Carrier Oils
Ready to make your own blends? My Aromatherapy Supply Kits have the bottles and supplies you need, and my free essential oil guides are full of recipe ideas.
31 PC Deluxe Essential Oils Kit: Aromatherapy Supplies
$ 39.99
NEWLY UPDATED 31 PC Deluxe Essential Oils Kit! Jars added and a BONUS accessories pack. Aromatherapy supplies include a variety of tools needed for making DIY products with your essential oils. Use this kit to make roll on blends, inhaler… Read More
