Kokum Butter

CAS NUMBER:-68956-68-3

Kokum butter is an oil derived from the seeds of a fruit-bearing tree called the kokum tree.

Kokum trees — formally known as Garcinia indica — are primarily cultivated in tropical regions of India. The fruit and seeds of the kokum tree are used in a variety of culinary, cosmetic, and medicinal applications.

Kokum butter usually has a light gray or pale yellow tint and predominantly comprises a type of saturated fat known as stearic acid (1).The chemical structure of the fat allows kokum butter to remain solid at room temperature — hence why it’s typically referred to as a butter instead of an oil.

Kokum butter is edible and occasionally used to make chocolates and other confections. However, it’s most popularly used as an ingredient in topical cosmetic and personal care products, including makeup, lotions, soaps, balms, and salves (1).

Unlike many other types of plant butter, kokum butter naturally has a very hard texture that melts easily when applied to the skin.

Although it can be used by itself, commercially prepared products often mix kokum butter with other kinds of plant oils or butters to create a more spreadable consistency.