Shea butter ranges from an ivory white to a light yellow or tan in color. When purchasing it raw and plain, it should never be a bright golden color, because this generally indicates oils have been added for preservatives.
It should have smoked wood or nutty scent.
If it has been chemically processed it may have first been extracted using solvents, then chemically bleached and deodorized, and lastly, had synthetic preservatives added such as butylated hydroxyanisole or butylated hydroxytoluene!!!
WHAT ABOUT ORGANIC?
Using an organic product should protect you against chemically extracted products. And the best protection is to find a brand that is Certified Organic.
This is because sometimes it is processed in a plant or factory that is also used for chemical processing. With a Certified Organic product it is much more likely that the plant and product have been inspected and tested.
This goes for almost all products you purchase - just because it is natural does not mean it has not been handled badly!