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One of the most common questions I get is how to label soap for selling. And, if you have an addiction to making soap like me, you may eventually get to the point where you are ready to start selling your products.
How to Label Soap for Selling
What type of soap you make, as well as the claims that you make will determine how you have to label your soap. Other than naming convention, all of your products should include the following:
- Clear Labeling of what the product is
- Weight of Product
- Address or Contact Info
Labeling True Soap
True soap is defined as “the bulk of the non-volatile portion consists primarily of an alkali salt of fatty acids”. Which is a fancy and over wordy way of saying that the soap is made of oils and lye. If you are planning on making only true soap, these products would be exempt from INCI labeling. Also, this means you make no other claims besides it is soap and cleans
If you are adding detergents or other ingredients it is no longer considered a true soap. It is important to note that melt and pour soaps are not considered true soap. These products and other products such as lotions and scrubs would fall under the cosmetic category and will be required to follow FDA guidelines.
Labeling Cosmetics
There are very specific guidelines set by the FDA that you will have to follow, one of those guidelines is how you label your ingredients. As a way to keep things uniform across all cosmetic products, the INCI, or International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient are used for labeling purposes.
Not only is naming important but the order to which you list your ingredients matter as well. The ingredient list must be in descending order of predominance. One exception to this is if an ingredient is less than 1%, then it can be listed in any order after the ingredients at more than 1%.
Below I have gathered a list of the most common INCI soap labeling names.
INCI Names
| Common Name | INCI Name |
| Avocado Oil | Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil |
| Aloe | Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice |
| Aloe Vera 10:1 Concentrate | Aloe barbadensis Leaf Extract, Citric acid, Sodium benzoate, Potassium sorbate |
| Aloe Vera Butter | Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil and Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract |
| Aloe Vera Extract | Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil (and) Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract |
| Aloe Vera Juice | Aloe barbadensis Leaf Juice |
| Aloe Vera Oil (31119) | Parffinum liquidum, Cocos nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Aloe barbadensis Leaf Extract |
| Alpha Tocopherol D-Mixed Tocopherols Conc. |
Tocopherol |
| Apricot Kernal Oil | Prunus armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil |
| Arrowroot Powder | Maranta arundinacea, Tacca leontopetaloides or Manihot esculenta |
| Avocado Butter | Persea gratissima (Avocado) Butter |
| Avocado Oil | Persea gratissima (Avocado) Oil |
| Baking Soda | Sodium Bicarbonate |
| Basil Oil | Ocimum Basilicum (Basil) Oil |
| Bay Laurel Oil | Laurus nobilis Oil |
| Bay Oil (West Indian) | Pimenta acris (Bay) Leaf Oil |
| Beeswax Pellets | Cera alba |
| Bentonite Clay | Bentonite |
| Bergamot Oil | Citrus aurantium bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil |
| Bitter Orange Oil | Citrus aurantium amara (Bitter Orange) Peel Oil |
| Black Pepper Oil | Piper nigrum (Black pepper) Seed Oil |
| Black Raspberry Seed Oil | Rubus Occidentalis (Black Raspberry) Seed Oil |
| Borage Oil | Borago officinalis (Borage) Seed Oil |
| Cade Oil | Juniperus oxycedrus wood Oil |
| Cajaput Oil | Melaleuca leucadendron Cajaput Oil |
| Calendula Flower Extract | Calendula Officinalis (Flower) Extract |
| Calendula Oil Infused | Prunus amygdalus dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Calendula officinalis Flower Extract |
| Calendula Petals | Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) Flowers |
| Camphor Oil | Cinnamomum camphora (Camphor) Bark Oil |
| Cardamom Extract | Elettaria Cardamomum (Cardamom) Oil |
| Castor Oil | Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil |
| Cedarwood Essential Oil | Juniperus Virginiana (Cedarwood) Oil |
| Cedarwood Oil Atlas | Cedrus atlantica Bark Oil |
| Cedarwood Oil Virginian | Juniperus virginiana Oil |
| Chamomile Blue (German) | Chamomilla recutita (Matricaria) Flower Oil |
| Chamomile maroc | Ormenis multicaulis Oil |
| Chamomile Roman | Anthemis nobilis Flower Oil |
| Cinnamon Oil | Cinnamomum zeylanicum Leaf Oil |
| Citric Acid | Citric Acid |
| Citronella Oil | Cymbopogon nardus (Citronella) Oil |
| Clary Sage Oil | Salvia sclarea (Clary) Oil |
| Clove Bud Oil | Eugenia caryophyllus (Clove) Flower Oil |
| Clove Leaf Oil | Eugenia caryophyllus (Clove) Leaf Oil |
| Cocoa Butter | Theobroma cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter |
| Cocoa Butter, Deodorized | Theobroma cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter |
| Cocoa Butter, Organic | Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter |
| Cocoa Butter, Pure Pressed | Theobroma cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter |
| Cocoa Powder | Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Powder |
| Coconut Oil | Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride |
| Coconut Oil (RBD) | Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil |
| Coconut Oil Fractionated | Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride |
| Coconut Oil Hard | Cocos nucifera (Coconut) Oil |
| Coffee Bean Butter | Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Seed Oil |
| Coffee Seed Oil, Arabica | Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Seed Oil |
| Comfrey Root Powder | Symphytum Officinale (Comfrey) Root Powder |
| Coriander Seed Oil | Coriandrum sativum (Coriander) Seed Oil |
| Corn Starch | Zea Mays (Corn) Starch |
| Cranberry Seed Oil | Vaccinium macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil |
| Curcuma Oil | Curcuma zedoaria Root Oil |
| Cypress oil | Cupressus sempervirens Leaf/Stem Oil |
| Dead Sea Mud | Maris Limus (Black Mud) |
| Eucalyptus Citriodora Oil | Eucalyptus citriodora Oil |
| Eucalyptus Oil | Eucalyptus globulus Leaf Oil |
| Evening Primrose Oil | Oenothera biennis (Evening primrose) Oil |
| Frankincense Oil | Boswellia carterii Oil |
| Geranium Oil | Pelargonium graveolens Flower Oil |
| Geranium Oil Bourbon | Pelargonium graveolens Flower Oil |
| Ginger Oil | Zingiber officinale (Ginger) Root Oil |
| Glycerine | Glycerin |
| Grape Seed Oil | Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil |
| Grapefruit Oil | Citrus grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil |
| Grapeseed Oil | Vitis vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil |
| Green Tea Leaf Powder | Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea |
| Hazelnut Oil | Corylus avellana (Hazel) Seed Oil |
| Hemp Seed Oil | Cannabis sativa Seed Oil |
| Honey Powder | Honey and Maltodextrin |
| Hypericum Oil Infused | Hypericum perforatum Oil |
| Jasmin Absolute | Jasminum officinale (Jasmine) Flower Extract |
| Jojoba Beads | Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil |
| Jojoba Esters | Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil |
| Jojoba Oil | Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil |
| Juniper Oil | Juniperus communis (Juniper) Wood Oil |
| Juniperberry Oil | Juniperus communis Fruit Oil |
| Coral Kaolin Clay | Kaolin (and) Red Iron Oxide |
| White Kaolin Clay | (White Clay) Kaolin |
| Yellow Kaolin Clay | Kaolin (and) Illite |
| Lavender Bud Extract | Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract |
| Lavender Oil | Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Oil |
| Lemon Oil | Citrus medica limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil |
| Lemon Tea Tree Oil | Leptospermum petersonii Oil |
| Lemongrass Oil | Cymbopogon schoenanthus Oil |
| Lime Oil | Citrus aurantifolia (Lime) Oil |
| Liquid Paraffin (Mineral Oil) | Parffinum liquidum |
| Litsea Cubeba Oil | Litsea cubeba Fruit Oil |
| Mandarin Oil | Citrus nobilis (Mandarin Orange) Peel Oil |
| Mango Butter | Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter |
| Marigold (tagettes) Oil | Tagetes minuta flower Oil |
| Marjoram Oil | Origanum majorana Leaf Oil |
| Melissa Oil | Melissa officinalis Flower Oil |
| Mica Powder | Mica |
| Mimosa Abs | Mimosa tenuiflora Bark Extract |
| Murumuru Butter | Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter |
| Myrrh Oil | Commiphora myrrha Oil |
| Myrtle Oil | Myrtus communis Oil |
| Neem Oil | Azadirachta Indica (Neem) Kernel Oil |
| Niaouli Oil | Melaleuca viridiflora Leaf Oil |
| Nutmeg Oil | Myristica fragrans (Nutmeg) Kernel Oil |
| Olive Oil | Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil |
| Olive pomace Oil | Olea europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil |
| Orange Oil Sweet | Citrus aurantium dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil |
| Palm Kernal Oil | Elaeis guineensis (Palm) kernel oil |
| Palm Oil | Eleais Guineensis (Palm) Oil |
| Palmarosa Oil | Cymbopogon martini Oil |
| Papaya Seed Oil | Carica Papaya (Papaya) Seed Oil |
| Patchouli Oil | Pogostemon cablin Oil |
| Peach Kernal Oil | Prunus persica (Peach) kernel Oil |
| Peppermint Essential Oil | Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil |
| Peppermint Oil | Mentha piperita (Peppermint) Oil |
| Peppermint Oil (corn mint oil) | Mentha arvensis Leaf Oil |
| Peru Balsam | Myroxylon pereirae (Balsam Peru) Resin. |
| Petitgrain Oil | Citrus aurantium amara (Bitter Orange) Leaf Oil |
| Pine Oil | Pinus sylvestris (Pine) Leaf Oil |
| Pomegrante Oil | Punica granatum Seed Oil |
| Pumice Powder | Pumice |
| Pumpkin Seed Oil | Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Seed Oil |
| Rice Bran Oil | Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil |
| Rose Abs | Rosa centifolia Flower Oil |
| Rose Clay | Kaolin (White Clay) (and) Iron Oxide |
| Rose Geranium Oil | Pelargonium Roseum Leaf Oil |
| Rose Hip Powder | Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Fruit Powder |
| Rose Otto | Rosa damascena Flower Oil |
| Rosehip Oil | Rosa canina Fruit Oil |
| Rosemary Oil | Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil |
| Rosewood Oil | Aniba rosaeodora (Rosewood) Wood Oil |
| Safflower Oil | Carthamus tinctorius (Safflower) seed Oil |
| Sage Oil | Salvia officinalis (Sage) Oil |
| Sandalwood Oil | Santalum album (Sandalwood) Oil |
| Sea Butter, Organic Refined | Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter |
| Shea Butter | Butyrospermum parkii (Shea Butter) |
| Shea Oil | Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Extract and Citric Acid (0.001% added for stability) |
| Soya Bean Oil | Glycine soja (Soybean) Oil |
| Spearmint Oil | Mentha viridis (Spearmint) Leaf Oil |
| Sunflower Oil | Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil |
| Sweet Almond Oil | Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil |
| Tamanu Oil | Calophyllum Tacamahaca (Tamanu) Oil |
| Tangerine Oil | Citrus reticulata (Tangerine) Leaf Oil |
| Tea Tree Oil | Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil |
| Thyme Oil | Thymus vulgaris (Thyme) Oil |
| Turmeric Powder | Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Powder |
| Vanilla Extract | Vanilla Planifolia (Vanilla) Fruit Extract |
| Vegetable Glycerin | Glycerin |
| Virgin Coconut Oil | Cocos nucifera (Coconut) Oil |
| Vitamin E | Tocopherol |
| Vitamin E Oil | d-Alpha Tocopherol |
| Wheatgerm Oil | Triticum vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil |
| Whole Milk Powder | Buttermilk Powder |
| Wintergreen Oil | Gaultheria procumbens (Wintergreen) Leaf Oil |
| Witch Hazel | Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Distillate (and) Benzoic Acid |
| Witch Hazel | Hamamelis virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Alcohol |
| Yarrow Oil | Achillea millefolium Oil |
| Ylang Ylang Oil | Cananga odorata Flower Oil |
Knowing What You Are Making
If you plan on making claims about a bar of soap or other cosmetic products you make, it is important to note it may change or require additional labeling. If you advertise it as repelling bugs, it would no longer be considered a cosmetic and would now fall under the EPA labeling guidelines.
Do you plan on claiming a soap is anti-bacterial or even if you claim it helps with acne or eczema? It could now fall under the FDA drug approval and labeling regulations.
Want to learn how to make soap? Check out our YouTube channel! Need help keeping your soaping organized? Check out our Free Soaping Printables!
Need More INCI Names?
If you are new to soap making or need a little more help, Soap Calc has a new INCI feature! Once you input all of your ingredients, hit the view print recipe button.
Then, at the top of the page you will see a button that says INCI names, just simply click it!
Once you click it, it will list all of your recipes in the correct order with INCI names. The only thing you will need to do is add any liquids or additives to your list, and you are done!
