Custom Deodorant Formulation Services | Billed Hourly

Custom Deodorant Formulation Services

Limited Formula Customization & Scent Development for Private Label Deodorant (USA)

Island Deodorant offers limited customization of our established deodorant formulas for private label clients. We do not develop new deodorant formulas from scratch or troubleshoot partially developed formulas.

Customization is intended for relatively simple changes to one of our proven base formulas. Examples might include adding fragrance or essential oils, substituting a comparable ingredient, such as arrowroot for corn starch, or adding a compatible ingredient such as activated charcoal. All requested modifications are evaluated individually to determine whether they are appropriate for our formulas and manufacturing process.

Rate: $150/hour (prepaid before work begins) + cost of any additional supplies/ingredients (if applicable).
Lead time for samples: typically 3-4 weeks.

What this service is for

  • Scent-strength testing using a fragrance oil or essential oil you provide
  • Minor modifications to one of our established deodorant formulas
  • Research directly related to an approved modification
  • Developing samples of the modified formula for you to test

If a requested modification requires an ingredient we do not normally stock, you are responsible for sourcing and sending that ingredient to us.

What you receive

  • Sample deodorants incorporating the agreed-upon modification for you to evaluate and test
  • Clear confirmation of the final ingredient list once a modified formula is finalized for production

Important: Customization fees cover the work involved in creating samples. Payment for customization does not include a production run, and you are not required to place an order after testing.

What is billed hourly

Time spent on formula customization may include:

  • Formula adjustments and sample development
  • Research related to requested modifications
  • Scent testing and preparing multiple sample strengths
  • Extended correspondence necessary to clarify an approved customization project

Please read through all materials and emails thoroughly to minimize back-and-forth communication and keep costs down.

Scent work (you provide the scent)

We do not stock scents—you'll send us what you want to use. Bulk Apothecary’s natural fragrance line is very popular since it is more natural, but they also sell essential oils as well as have a full conventional fragrance collection. However, you can use any supplier you like for your scent—it just needs to work with a wax/oil base.

How scent samples work:

  • You send us a 2 oz bottle of the fragrance or essential oil you want to use.
  • We prepare three sample deodorants per scent at 3%, 4%, and 5% scent strength so you can choose the strength you prefer.
  • Sample work is billed at $150/hour and is prepaid before work begins.

Scent sample time:
1 scent: 1 hour
2 scents: 1.5 hours
3 scents: 2 hours
4 scents: 2.5 hours


A note on custom ingredients

We specialize in oil/wax based deodorants - this means that any ingredient you want to use must be compatible with an oil/wax base.

When researching ingredients, pay close attention to how they are intended to be used. Indicators that an ingredient will not work in our formulas include:

  • Ingredient descriptions that mention water solubility or being “water soluble”
  • Directions that require dissolving, hydrating, or activating in water
  • References to emulsions, emulsifiers, or a “water phase”
  • Ingredients designed specifically for sprays, roll-ons, gels, or liquid deodorants

These are strong indicators that an ingredient is intended for a water-based or emulsified formula and we can't work with it.

Testing is your responsibility

Any formula changes can affect texture, stability, and performance. Please order enough samples to test in real-world conditions (heat, cold, humidity) and with your chosen packaging. Limited testing can miss issues like efficacy, formula cracking, or melting in shipping.

Testing is your responsibility before placing a production order. If you want added assurance, consider third-party testing, or choose one of our proven base formulas without changes.

Formula ownership

To keep costs low, formula ownership remains with Island Deodorant. Paying for customization and sample development does not transfer ownership of our formula or the resulting modified formula.

Not Sure If Custom Formulation Is the Right Step?

These resources may help you decide whether custom formulation makes sense for your project at this stage:

Next step: Before contacting us about formula customization, scent samples, or manufacturing your own completed formula, please review our Private Label Deodorant Manufacturing page first.

Payment for custom formulation work is collected up front (prepaid before work begins).

Shipping for sample orders will be calculated based on your address. Local pick up is not available.

Documents and Certifications: Cosmetic products are not required to be FDA-approved before going to market in the U.S., and the FDA does not certify cosmetic manufacturing facilities. If certifications or specific documentation are required, please let us know upfront, as we may not be able to provide them. Learn more from the FDA here.

We do not hold third-party certifications such as USDA Organic or Leaping Bunny, and to keep our prices low we do not facilitate certification applications for private label clients. If your product will require such certifications, you would need to pursue them independently.

If you require production in a certified facility (such as FDA-registered, GMP, or ISO certified), we do have access to a USA-based manufacturing partner that meets those standards. However, this option is only available for large production runs of 10,000+ units per formula, and costs are significantly higher.

We cannot provide:
- Product stability testing
- GMP or ISO certification
- FDA certification (the FDA does not issue this for cosmetics)
- Certificates of Analysis (COAs)
- Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
- Exact percentage breakdowns of the formula

International Orders: We do not accept international orders. Manufacturing and shipping are available within the United States only.

Please contact us with any questions you have!

MSDS / SDS The items do not pose a danger to persons handling the products in the forms in which they are supplied. Therefore, these products are exempt from SDS Requirements under OSHA Hazard Communication Standards 1910.1200(b)(6)(vii) and 1910.1200(b)(5)(iii), which provide the following exemptions:

- 1910.1200(b)(6)(viii) Cosmetics which are packaged for sale to consumers in a retail establishment, and cosmetics intended for personal consumption by employees while in the workplace;

- 1910.1200(b)(5)(iii) Any food, food additive, color additive, drug, cosmetic, or medical or veterinary device or product, including materials intended for use as ingredients in such products (e.g. flavors and fragrances), as such terms are defined in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.) or the Virus-Serum-Toxin Act of 1913 (21 U.S.C. 151 et seq.), and regulations issued under those Acts, when they are subject to the labeling requirements under those Acts by either the Food and Drug Administration or the Department of Agriculture;

https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.1200

ALL GOODS ARE PROVIDED “AS IS,” “WITH ALL FAULTS.” SUPPLIER HEREBY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS, AND THE RECIPE OF FORMULA FOR THE GOODS IS THE SUPPLIER'S CONFIDENTIAL, PROPRIETARY, TRADE SECRET INFORMATION, AND PURCHASER ACQUIRES NO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS BY VIRTUE OF ANY PURCHASE WITH SUPPLIER.