A butter based on oleic and stearic acids
LaboratoryOleic and stearic acids are the major components in all four varieties. The fats melt slowly and are fully liquid around 35 °C; the β' crystal form dominates3.
Mango butter
Mango butter is the fat of the kernel of the mango stone, Mangifera indica9. It is mostly made of oleic and stearic acids3, with one dominant triglyceride, 1,3-distearoyl-2-oleoyl-glycerol2. CosIng classifies it as a skin conditioning agent9. Dedicated cosmetic trials are rare: this page relies mostly on material analyses.
Mango butter at a glance
Entry from our cosmetic ingredient glossary. Regulatory data from the European Commission's CosIng database9. Copy the identifiers in one click for your files.
- INCI name
- MANGIFERA INDICA SEED BUTTER
- Other names
- Mango butterMango butter; mango seed butter; US INCI name MANGIFERA INDICA (MANGO) SEED BUTTER
- CAS number
- 90063-86-8
- EC number
- 290-045-4
- Botanical origin
- Mango tree (Anacardiaceae)Fat obtained from the seeds of Mangifera indica L.9
- Kernel fat content
- 6 to 15.2% of dry matterValues from the review on the mango kernel; the kernel also contains tocopherols and phytosterols1
- Main fatty acids
- Oleic and stearicIn a Mexican study: oleic 40.81%, stearic 39.07%, palmitic 9.29%4
- CosIng function
- Skin conditioning"Skin conditioning"9
- EU status
- No restriction specific to the ingredientNo annex or restriction is indicated in CosIng9; the name and the CAS and EC numbers do not appear in the consolidated text of Regulation (EC) 1223/2009 on 1 May 2025
- Allergen to declare
- NoAbsent from Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 and from the consolidated Annex III
- Safety
- No CIR or SCCS assessment foundWe found no official opinion specific to mango butter
What the research says
Each result shows the protocol and the level of evidence. The higher the level, the better the result carries over to a finished formula.
Clinical trialReview or consensusLaboratory
Composition and materialChemistry
One dominant triglyceride and good oxidation stability
ReviewThe fat contains 28.9 to 65.0% of 1,3-distearoyl-2-oleoyl-glycerol and shows an oxidation stability index of 58.8 to 85.2 h at 110 °C. Long, hot drying of the kernels hydrolyzes the triglycerides: free fatty acids rise and quality drops2.
Close to cocoa butter
LaboratoryThe solids profile of mango kernel fat is very close to that of cocoa butter4. Its palmitic, oleic and stearic acids are similar to those of cocoa8. This is why it is used as a cocoa substitute in confectionery.
Skin and bodySkincare, bodycare
A foot cream with mango butter: case studies
Clinical trialThe authors report complete restoration of worn and chapped skin in all volunteers and conclude good emollience. The abstract gives no sample size, control group or measurement: an indicative result that cannot be generalized6.
A texture modifier for anhydrous formulas
LaboratoryIn oleogels based on beeswax and moringa oil, adding mango butter changed the physicochemical properties of the gel and increased the permeation of a model active7.
What reviews sayValorization
A by-product of the mango industry
ReviewKernels and peels, discarded by the juice industry, are presented as sources of ingredients for the food, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and cosmetic sectors5.
Cosmetic trials still rare
ReviewThe review lists kernel butter among the possible products of the kernel and cites food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical uses; it reports no controlled cosmetic trial on the butter alone1.
This page summarizes published literature on a cosmetic ingredient. It does not describe the effect of a finished product, which depends on its formula, and it is not medical advice. Several studies cited were run or funded by manufacturers; this is stated in the sources.
Which products use mango butter?
Our white label catalog includes 2 formulas with mango butter: the key active in 2 of them, a supporting ingredient in the others. Every category can be customized (formula, fragrance, packaging).
2Body
Massage butter and body balms, paired with shea butter for texture.
Mango, shea or cocoa?
Three solid vegetable butters often compared as the base of a balm. Their composition is close; their place in a formula depends on the texture you want.
| Mango butter | Shea butter | Cocoa butter | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical nature | Butter rich in oleic and stearic acids, with 28.9 to 65.0% of an SOS triglyceride2 | Butter: stearic (28 to 56%) and oleic (34 to 61%) acids10 | Close to mango in its palmitic, oleic and stearic acids8 |
| EU regulation | No restriction | No restriction | No restriction |
| Carmel catalog formulas | 2 formulas | 65 formulas | 1 formula |
Frequently asked questions about mango butter
What is mango butter?
It is the fat extracted from the kernel of the mango stone, Mangifera indica. It is mostly made of oleic and stearic acids3. Its INCI name is MANGIFERA INDICA SEED BUTTER.
What are the benefits of mango butter for skin?
Is mango butter good for hair?
It is used in nourishing care for dry hair, but we found no published study that measures its effect alone on hair. It is a formulation use, not a demonstrated effect.
What is the difference between mango butter, shea butter and cocoa butter?
Is mango butter suitable for oily or blemish-prone skin?
We kept no official or peer-reviewed source giving a comedogenicity rating for mango butter: this page therefore gives no figure. Tolerance is checked with tests on the finished formula.
Is mango butter safe?
No restriction applies to the ingredient in the EU9 and it is not among the allergens to declare under Regulation (EU) 2023/1545. We kept no CIR or SCCS assessment for this page. During pregnancy, as with any skincare product, a healthcare professional's advice remains the rule.
Can you manufacture a mango butter balm or massage butter for my brand?
Yes. Our ISO 22716 certified lab offers 2 mango butter formulas (shea and mango massage butter, castor and mango balm) that you can customize, or a custom formula. Samples are free.
Further reading
Sources
Peer-reviewed studies and official regulatory sources, checked on November 3, 2026.
- Mwaurah PW, Kumar S, Kumar N, et al. Physicochemical characteristics, bioactive compounds and industrial applications of mango kernel and its products: A review Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf. 2020;19(5):2421-2446. doi:10.1111/1541-4337.12598
- Jin J, Jin Q, Akoh CC, et al. Mango kernel fat fractions as potential healthy food ingredients: A review Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2019;59(11):1794-1801. doi:10.1080/10408398.2018.1428527
- Sonwai S, Ponprachanuvut P Studies of fatty acid composition, physicochemical and thermal properties, and crystallization behavior of mango kernel fats from various Thai varieties J Oleo Sci. 2014;63(7):661-9. doi:10.5650/jos.ess14036
- Solís-Fuentes JA, Durán-de-Bazúa MC Mango seed uses: thermal behaviour of mango seed almond fat and its mixtures with cocoa butter Bioresour Technol. 2004;92(1):71-8. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2003.07.003
- Jahurul MH, Zaidul IS, Ghafoor K, et al. Mango (Mangifera indica L.) by-products and their valuable components: a review Food Chem. 2015;183:173-80. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2015.03.046
- Mandawgade SD, Patravale VB Formulation and evaluation of exotic fat based cosmeceuticals for skin repair Indian J Pharm Sci. 2008;70(4):539-42. doi:10.4103/0250-474X.44615
- Indu GK, Habibullah S, Kumar Shaw T, et al. Effect of mango butter on the physicochemical properties of beeswax-Moringa seed oil-based oleogels for topical application Drug Dev Ind Pharm. 2024;50(5):432-445. doi:10.1080/03639045.2024.2334314
- Kaur G, Kaur D, Kansal SK, et al. Potential cocoa butter substitute derived from mango seed kernel Food Chem. 2022;372:131244. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.131244
- European Commission. CosIng, entry MANGIFERA INDICA SEED BUTTER (CAS 90063-86-8, EC 290-045-4). ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing
- Akihisa T, Kojima N, Katoh N, et al. Triterpene alcohol and fatty acid composition of shea nuts from seven African countries J Oleo Sci. 2010;59(7):351-360. doi:10.5650/jos.59.351
Tell us about your project
A product specialist reviews your request and gets back to you on the channel you prefer.
No obligation. Your information stays confidential and is used only to prepare your quote.