INCI Names for Soap: Complete List for Handmade Soap Labels

Quick Answer

INCI names are standardized ingredient names required by the FDA on product labels. Every soap must list ingredients in INCI format in descending order by weight. Common conversions: "Coconut Oil" becomes "Cocos Nucifera Oil," "Olive Oil" becomes "Olea Europaea Fruit Oil," "Lye" becomes "Sodium Hydroxide." Keep a reference list handy when creating labels.

What Are INCI Names?

INCI stands for International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients. It's a standardized system created by the cosmetics industry and adopted by the FDA and regulatory bodies worldwide.

Key points:

• Every ingredient must have an INCI name on product labels
• INCI names are consistent globally (same ingredient = same name everywhere)
• They typically use Latin scientific names with English descriptors
• They're different from common names you might use in recipes

Example: Your recipe says "coconut oil." On the label, you must write "Cocos Nucifera Oil."

Why INCI Names Exist

Consumers might know an ingredient by different common names. The INCI system eliminates confusion:

• Oil of coconut = Coconut oil = Cocos oil → Cocos Nucifera Oil (INCI)
• Oil of olive = Olive oil → Olea Europaea Fruit Oil (INCI)

FDA Requirements for Soap Labels

Before we list INCI names, understand the rules:

1. Ingredient declaration required - Yes, for handmade soap (changed in 2024)
2. INCI names required - Yes, FDA expects INCI format
3. Listed in order by weight - Yes, highest to lowest
4. Format - Ingredient line should read: "Ingredients: INCI Name, INCI Name..."

Exception: If you make true soap via cold process with oils + lye, ingredient listing is technically optional under old FDA guidance. However, listing ingredients is now standard practice and increasingly expected (check current regulations for your jurisdiction).

Safety note: Never list "Lye" or "Sodium Hydroxide" alone,it's consumed in the saponification reaction and isn't in the final product. You may list it as "Saponified Oils" or list the oils separately.

Complete INCI Names Reference Table

Base Oils & Butters

Butters & Waxes

Additives & Modifiers

Fragrance & Essential Oils

Colorants

Specialty Botanicals

Preservatives (if used in additives)

*Note: Lye (Sodium/Potassium Hydroxide) consumed in saponification isn't typically listed, though technically it may appear on some labels as "Saponified Oils."

How to List Ingredients

Rule 1: Descending Order by Weight

List ingredients starting with the heaviest, ending with the lightest.

Example Cold Process Recipe (100 grams):

• Coconut Oil: 30g
• Olive Oil: 40g
• Castor Oil: 20g
• Shea Butter: 10g
• Fragrance: 2g

Label should read: Ingredients: Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Ricinus Communis Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Fragrance

(Ordered by weight: Olive 40g > Coconut 30g > Castor 20g > Shea 10g > Fragrance 2g)

Rule 2: Ingredients Below 1% Threshold

Ingredients present in very small amounts (typically under 1%) may be listed at the end in any order, after the 1%+ ingredients.

Example: If your soap has 0.5% vitamin E and 0.3% fragrance, they can be listed at the end after main ingredients.

Rule 3: Fragrance Designation

You have options:

• "Fragrance" (generic, covers fragrance oils and EO blends)
• List specific essential oils: "Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil"
• Proprietary blends can be listed as "Fragrance (Natural & Nature-Identical Essential Oils)"

Most makers simply write "Fragrance" unless marketing specific botanical names.

Rule 4: Trade Secrets

If you don't want to reveal your exact recipe, you don't have to list the individual oils,you can use "Saponified Oils" on the label. However, transparency is increasingly expected by consumers.

Label Format Example

Here's what a complete ingredient statement looks like:

Cold Process Soap Example:

Ingredients: Water, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Ricinus Communis Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sodium Hydroxide, Fragrance

Or (without showing lye conversion):

Ingredients: Cocos Nucifera Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Ricinus Communis Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Fragrance

Common Mistakes When Using INCI Names

Mistake 1: Mixing Common and INCI Names

Wrong: "Ingredients: Coconut Oil, Olive Oil, Castor Oil" Right: "Ingredients: Cocos Nucifera Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Ricinus Communis Oil"

Mistake 2: Listing Lye That's Been Saponified

Wrong: "Ingredients: Coconut Oil, Olive Oil, Sodium Hydroxide" Right: If lye was fully consumed, either list "Saponified Oils" or omit lye entirely (it's not in the final product)

Mistake 3: Forgetting "Oil" or "Butter" Suffix

Wrong: "Cocos Nucifera" (incomplete) Right: "Cocos Nucifera Oil" (complete and clear)

Mistake 4: Using Brand Names Instead of INCI

Wrong: "Ingredients: Coconut oil from TropicCo, Olive oil from GreenValley" Right: "Ingredients: Cocos Nucifera Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil"

Mistake 5: Wrong Botanical Latin

Research carefully. Mistakes like "Cocos Coconut Oil" (redundant) or "Oleum Olive" (wrong format) signal amateur labeling.

Finding INCI Names Not on This List

What if you use an ingredient not listed here?

Options:

1. Search the INCI Dictionary - Professional databases exist online; many are free
2. Check the supplier - Your ingredient supplier often provides INCI name
3. Research the botanical name - Look up the scientific Latin name, then add the ingredient type (Oil, Extract, Powder, Butter, etc.)
4. When in doubt, use "Extract" - For plant materials: "Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract"

Example research:

• You use ginger root powder
• Scientific name: Zingiber Officinale
• INCI format: Zingiber Officinale Rhizome Powder

Fragrance Oils vs. Essential Oils in INCI

Essential Oils (Single INCI Each)

If you blend essential oils, list each:

"Ingredients: ..., Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Mentha Piperita Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil"

Fragrance Oils (Blend into One INCI)

Fragrance oils are complex blends. List them as:

"Ingredients: ..., Fragrance" (or "Parfum")

You don't list individual fragrance components,they're proprietary blends.

Mixed EO + FO

"Ingredients: ..., Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Fragrance"

Special Cases & Notes

Cold Process Soap with Superfatting

If you add oils after the lye reaction (superfatting), those unsaponified oils are still in the final product and should be listed in order.

Example: Standard recipe + 5% castor oil (superfat)

• Lye reacts with main oils
• Extra castor oil remains unreacted
• It's listed as part of the recipe by weight

Melt & Pour Soap

Melt & pour bases are already saponified. Your ingredient list includes the base (often listed generically as "Soap Base" with INCI: "Sodium Cocoate, Sodium Tallowate, etc.") plus your additives.

Check your base supplier for the exact INCI declaration.

Liquid Soap (KOH-Based)

Uses Potassium Hydroxide instead of Sodium Hydroxide. Lists similarly:

• "Potassium Hydroxide" if showing lye
• Or list as saponified oils

Salt Bars & Superfatted Soaps

Salt bars include sodium chloride (table salt or sea salt):

"Ingredients: ..., Sodium Chloride, Fragrance"

List salt in order by weight.

Label Compliance Checklist

Before finalizing your soap labels, verify:

• All ingredients use INCI names
• Ingredients listed in descending order by weight
• Fragrance oils listed as "Fragrance"
• Essential oils may be listed by specific INCI names
• No common names mixed with INCI names
• Spelling verified (especially botanical Latin)
• Lye properly handled (either listed as saponified or omitted)
• Percentages not listed (law requires by weight declaration, not percentages)
• No marketing claims (save those for front of label)
• Safe for your jurisdiction (some areas have additional rules)

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to list ingredients?

Legally, yes. The 2024 FDA update requires ingredient listing for all cosmetics, including handmade soap. Some regulations still debate whether true soap is cosmetic, but listing ingredients is safest and most professional.

Can I use common names on labels?

No. INCI names are required by FDA. Using only common names ("coconut oil") violates labeling requirements.

What if I use an oil I can't find INCI for?

Research the plant's scientific name (usually available online), then add the plant part and ingredient type. Example: "Zingiber Officinale Rhizome Powder"

Does water count as an ingredient?

Yes. If you use distilled water, list it first (if it's the heaviest ingredient). INCI: "Water"

Should I list percentages?

No. Federal law requires listing by weight descending, not by percentage.

Can I list "Organic" next to INCI names?

You can note "Organic" on the label, but the INCI name stays the same. Example: "Organic Olea Europaea Fruit Oil" is acceptable on-label.

What about synthetic fragrances vs. essential oils?

Both are "Fragrance" in INCI. You can note on the label "Natural Essential Oils" or "Fragrance (Synthetic)" for marketing, but INCI designation doesn't differentiate.

Is "Soap Base" acceptable on melt & pour labels?

No. You must list the actual soap components. Check your supplier for exact INCI breakdown of their base.

Digital Tools & Resources

Free INCI Lookup Tools

• FDA VCRP (Voluntary Cosmetic Registration Program)
• Paula's Choice INCI Dictionary
• INCIDecoder online
• Your ingredient suppliers (always check first)

Label Creation

PotionHub's free label maker includes INCI name suggestions and ensures compliance for soap makers.

Conclusion

INCI names might seem complicated initially, but they're standardized for a reason: consumer safety and global consistency. Every ingredient has one correct INCI name. Keep this reference guide handy when creating labels, and verify any ingredients not listed here with your supplier.

Remember: Accurate ingredient labeling isn't just legal compliance,it's transparency with your customers and respect for anyone with sensitivities or allergies to specific ingredients.

Ready to create compliant labels? Use PotionHub's free label maker, which automates INCI name suggestions and ensures your ingredient list follows FDA guidelines.