From idea to bench-proven.
No black box. You will know at every stage what is being tested, what has been decided, and what comes next — including when something is not working.
How long does formulation actually take?
A single straightforward product moves considerably faster than a coordinated multi-SKU range, and the honest answer depends on category complexity and how many rounds of refinement you want. Bench formulation and iteration are the stages that vary most — and the pace of iteration is usually set by how quickly feedback comes back, not by the lab. A realistic timeline is set in the discovery call, before any money changes hands.
Discovery
Your brand, your customer, your claims and your constraints — budget, cost-per-unit, timeline, manufacturer.
- Your brand, customer and the claims you want to own are established
- Constraints get named: target cost-per-unit, timeline, manufacturer, packaging direction
- Scope and fit are assessed honestly — including whether a smaller engagement would serve you better
What you provide: Your brief, your competitive set, and your real budget range.
Concept & benchmarking
Target texture, actives and ingredient story defined against the products you're competing with.
- The products you are competing against are assessed for performance, claims and likely approach
- Target texture, active system and ingredient story are defined
- Claims are pressure-tested for whether they will survive an informed audience
What you provide: Feedback on direction, and any benchmark products you want matched or beaten.
Bench formulation
Lab prototypes developed and evaluated for feel, appearance, performance and formulation integrity.
- Lab prototypes are developed against the agreed brief
- Samples are evaluated for feel, appearance, performance and formulation integrity
- Early stability signals are watched for before time is invested in refinement
What you provide: Availability to receive and assess samples promptly — this is usually the rate limiter.
Iteration
Rounds of refinement on your feedback, then stability and compatibility considerations before sign-off.
- Refinement on your specific feedback, round by round
- Sensory and performance adjustments converge on the target
- Stability and compatibility are considered before sign-off rather than after
What you provide: Specific, consolidated feedback. Vague or contradictory notes add rounds.
Handoff
Final formula, documentation and scale-up guidance delivered to you and your manufacturer.
- Final formula, specifications and batch documentation are prepared
- Scale-up notes explain which parameters matter and where there is latitude
- Your manufacturer’s technical questions are answered during transfer
What you provide: Your manufacturer contact, or a decision on which plant you are using.
Ready to scope a timeline?
Share your category, your target launch and your constraints, and you will get a realistic read rather than an optimistic one.