-
Do you have formulating secrets you’ll never share?
Just wondering if during the course of your formulating experience if any one here has discovered ingredients, processes, techniques, etc. that are so amazing, unique and little known/unknown that you would never share them on say a public internet forum?
And are there any less amazing ones that you WOULD share?
i have no secrets to keep because i am a beginner, but i imagine of you do this for decades you might learn some things that you would want to keep close to the chest..
to me, without even college level chemistry education, even the most basic things are epiphany moments for me when it comes to formulating. Thats why i am so grateful to chemists corner, without this resource i would have given up a long time ago…or just be making really mediocre stuff.
-
11 Replies
-
I think we all have a style. Idk if they are secrets.
-
As an example, I make pretty unique deo. It is a multi-faceted attack on bacteria that produce odor. I will often discuss the common aspects it shares with other professional formulas, the triethyl citrate, the EHG, and so on.
I never discuss in open forum…what I consider to be the ‘secret weapon’ in the formula. Granted every self-respecting chemist is familiar with it….but often don’t put two and two together…and say…WOW…that would make the perfect deo ingredient. (Obviously all secrets are exposed on the INCI… but I have seen brands really try and hide things when they explain their ingredients…. things like calling their most potent antimicrobial….a structuring agent…you know sleight of hand…and …. smoke mirrors and misdirection…etc.)
This product was co-developed with two of the genius chemists on this site. And at no time did we ever discuss the most important aspects in open forum. Secret…I don’t think so. Maybe just business acumen?
-
Graillotion said:As an example, I make pretty unique deo. It is a multi-faceted attack on bacteria that produce odor. I will often discuss the common aspects it shares with other professional formulas, the triethyl citrate, the EHG, and so on.
I never discuss in open forum…what I consider to be the ‘secret weapon’ in the formula. Granted every self-respecting chemist is familiar with it….but often don’t put two and two together…and say…WOW…that would make the perfect deo ingredient. (Obviously all secrets are exposed on the INCI… but I have seen brands really try and hide things when they explain their ingredients…. things like calling their most potent antimicrobial….a structuring agent…you know sleight of hand…and …. smoke mirrors and misdirection…etc.)
This product was co-developed with two of the genius chemists on this site. And at no time did we ever discuss the most important aspects in open forum. Secret…I don’t think so. Maybe just business acumen?
Marketing is so good at turning good formulating into one of a kind secrets! ????
-
@Graillotion When i see something like your example where a brand will call a preservative a structuring agent or something along those lines, i always assumed it was because for the natural-minded people ‘structuring agent’ sounds better than ‘preservative’. I never considered that perhaps in some situations they are trying to deflect attention away from their “secret weapon” in the formula.
-
No secrets for me. But I fancy myself more of an educator than a formulator. Formulating just happens to be the topic I try to educate about (and in which I’m quite interested).
-
Ya know I started this in 2019 and all I will say is that I am flaberghasted by what I dont see on the market. I also know a particular brand that has a INCI list that is completely and intentionally inaccurate. So yes, I do believe most of us have our secrets.
-
GeorgeBenson said:I never considered that perhaps in some situations they are trying to deflect attention away from their “secret weapon” in the formula.
The (more or less natural) brand I am referring to…would be considered a ‘benchmark’ brand/product for the copycat, so every mommy blogger is gonna look at that INCI for the first 3 benchmarks they will be looking at. Without basic chemistry knowledge, they will be completely deflected from the prize….and will fall for the more interesting story line they presented for the insignificant microbial/s. As the ‘prize’ would be a rather costly ‘structuring agent’, then one could assume that a more economical structuring agent would be selected by the potential copycat. Effectively averting the copycat (on the mommy blogger level).
-
@Graillotion oh come on spill the beans, let us know which product you are referring to!
-
Never kiss and tell.
Check your messages in a few min.
-
Yes, absolutely. I never post anything in a public forum that I think will give me a unique competitive advantage.
-
Agree with @MarkBroussard .
I think most people has secrets. Maybe it is not so unique for public but when you think it is unique and important, you become secretive.
Some people who make products as a hobby, they may share everything and feel good about that sharing. Some people who do business of it or work in this field, they want to be competitive. So they have to keep some secrets.
Log in to reply.