How are carrier solvents shown in the INCI list?

When an extract or dilution is delivered in a carrier — water, glycerin, a vegetable oil or glycol — the carrier is a co-ingredient and appears in the INCI list, typically before the botanical because it is present in greater quantity. Declaring the botanical alone would misrepresent the material.

Why must 'Parfum' be followed by allergen names?

Fragrance compositions are declared collectively as Parfum (Fragrance), but specified allergens above the regulatory threshold must be listed individually by their own INCI names, such as Linalool or Limonene. This lets sensitised consumers identify substances of concern.

INCI Naming for Natural and Blended Cosmetic Ingredients

Quick answers

›What is INCI?

INCI stands for International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients — a standardised naming system used to declare ingredients on cosmetic labels worldwide. It gives every raw material a single, language-independent name so the same ingredient is recognised across markets regardless of the trade name a supplier uses.

›Why is a single botanical oil named in Latin?

Plant-derived ingredients use the binomial Latin (Linnaean) species name plus the part and process, for example Lavandula Angustifolia Oil. The Latin root avoids the ambiguity of common names — 'lavender' covers several species — so the label states exactly which plant and which fraction was used.

›What is the difference between an essential oil and an extract in INCI terms?

An essential oil is the volatile distilled fraction and is named with 'Oil' (e.g. Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil). An extract is the soluble fraction obtained with a solvent and is named with 'Extract' (e.g. Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract). The two are different materials and must not share a name.

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INCI naming looks like a clerical detail until a label is rejected at import or an audit flags an undeclared carrier. For buyers and formulators working with botanicals, naming is where chemistry, sourcing and regulation meet on a single line of the pack. This guide explains how natural and blended ingredients are named — and where the common errors hide.

What INCI actually is

The International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients assigns one standardised name to each raw material, independent of trade names or language. A label declares what is in the product using INCI names, in descending order of concentration. The system lets a regulator, retailer or consumer in any market read the same ingredient identity — so the name a supplier prints on a drum is not the name that belongs on a pack.

Naming a single botanical

A plant-derived material is built from the Latin species name plus the part and the process. The pattern is Genus species, plant part, process:

Material	INCI name
Lavender essential oil	Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Sweet almond carrier oil	Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Calendula flower extract	Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract

The Latin root is deliberate: "lavender" spans several species with different profiles, while Lavandula Angustifolia Oil names exactly one.

Extracts, macerates and the word that changes

The process word is not decorative. An essential oil (volatile, distilled) ends in Oil; a solvent extract ends in Extract; a botanical macerated in a carrier oil is declared as the carrier oil plus the macerated plant, not as a standalone "oil." Calling a CO2 or solvent extract an "oil," or vice versa, declares a different material than the one in the bottle — a frequent and consequential slip.

Carriers and solvents belong on the list

Many natural ingredients arrive diluted. An extract carried in water and glycerin, or a resinoid cut with a vegetable oil, is a blend, and every component is an ingredient. The INCI list reflects this in descending order, so the carrier often appears first:

Aqua, Glycerin, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract

Omitting the solvent understates what the consumer is applying and breaks the descending-order rule. The supplier's specification sheet should state the full breakdown so you can transcribe it correctly.

Parfum and the allergen sub-list

A fragrance or essential-oil blend used for scent is declared collectively as Parfum (or Fragrance). However, individual fragrance allergens above the regulatory threshold must be named separately by their own INCI names — Linalool, Limonene, Citronellol, Geraniol and the rest. This is why a natural product scented with Lavandula Angustifolia Oil may also list Linalool: the constituent is disclosed because a sensitised consumer needs to see it.

Why correct INCI is compliance, not pedantry

The INCI list is the legally controlling statement of what a product contains. A wrong process word, a missing carrier or an unlisted allergen can mean a non-compliant pack, a customs hold or a failed retailer audit — regardless of how good the raw material is. At TeraVella we issue full per-component INCI breakdowns with every blend so the line on your pack is right the first time, and stays defensible under scrutiny.

#INCI#ingredient labelling#natural ingredients#regulatory compliance#essential oils#botanical extracts

Frequently Asked Questions

What is INCI?: INCI stands for International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients — a standardised naming system used to declare ingredients on cosmetic labels worldwide. It gives every raw material a single, language-independent name so the same ingredient is recognised across markets regardless of the trade name a supplier uses.
Why is a single botanical oil named in Latin?: Plant-derived ingredients use the binomial Latin (Linnaean) species name plus the part and process, for example Lavandula Angustifolia Oil. The Latin root avoids the ambiguity of common names — 'lavender' covers several species — so the label states exactly which plant and which fraction was used.
What is the difference between an essential oil and an extract in INCI terms?: An essential oil is the volatile distilled fraction and is named with 'Oil' (e.g. Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil). An extract is the soluble fraction obtained with a solvent and is named with 'Extract' (e.g. Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract). The two are different materials and must not share a name.
How are carrier solvents shown in the INCI list?: When an extract or dilution is delivered in a carrier — water, glycerin, a vegetable oil or glycol — the carrier is a co-ingredient and appears in the INCI list, typically before the botanical because it is present in greater quantity. Declaring the botanical alone would misrepresent the material.
Why must 'Parfum' be followed by allergen names?: Fragrance compositions are declared collectively as Parfum (Fragrance), but specified allergens above the regulatory threshold must be listed individually by their own INCI names, such as Linalool or Limonene. This lets sensitised consumers identify substances of concern.

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