Are All Butters and Oils the Same? The Answer is No

Are All Butters and Oils the Same? - Part 1

I was asked this question by someone who stated that she always assumed “a butter is a butter and an oil is an oil”. Then she went on to say the only butter that she’s ever known is shea butter and she wasn’t sure what cocoa butter was. My assumption is that she, like many others, aren’t aware of the many different types of butters and oils that exist in nature because they aren’t readily available in the US due to our lack of natural resources. Most of the world’s best natural resources are sourced from other countries in far away places some of us never think about.

One similarity all oils and butters have in common is that they’re classified as emollients which are used to soften the skin and hair. The differences are based on their chemical structure and they have very different additional properties. In addition, both fats and oils are glycerol esters composed of glycerol and fatty acids and are called triglycerides.
Fatty acids can be saturated or unsaturated which determines the stability and properties of the oil. Oils with a higher degree of saturated fatty acids (lauric, myristic, palmatic, and stearic acids) include coconut oil and palm oil. These oils are more stable and don’t become rancid as quickly as unsaturated oils. Oils with a higher degree of unsaturated oils (oleic acid and linoleic acid) include corn oil, almond oil, safflower oil, castor oil, avocado oil, and olive oil. Unsaturated oils are smoother, less greasy, and better absorbed by the skin.
In Part 2 we will begin discussing the different acids and how they affect the properties of various butters.


Naturally You