How to Create and Label Liquid Products for US Compliance

level:

Intermediate

A group of labeled liquid products including body wash, room spray, lotion, and a reed diffuser.

When making liquid products, such as room sprays, reed diffusers, or cosmetics, it's best practice to formulate using weight for accuracy and ease. However, US regulations require you to label the finished product by its volume in fluid ounces (fl oz) and milliliters (ml). Here’s a simple process to ensure your products meet these label requirements. This process should be repeated for each new product that you introduce.

Step 1: Create your product by weight

Begin by measuring and mixing your ingredients by weight to ensure accuracy, consistency, and repeatability across every batch. This is especially important for liquid products like room sprays, reed diffusers, and bath & body items, where small variations can affect performance, stability, and customer experience.

Step 2: Determine the volume of your finished product

After your product is mixed, place your empty container on a scale. Press tare to zero out the container's weight.

A hand placing an empty glass reed diffuser onto a scale.

An empty glass reed diffuser on a scale, the weight is 155 g.

A hand pressing tare on a scale with an empty glass reed diffuser on it to set the scale to 0.

1. Fill the container:

Pour the finished product into your desired container up to the preferred fill line. Write down the weight.

A funnel pouring pitcher filling a glass reed diffuser bottle on a scale.

A full glass reed diffuser on a scale with lines indicating the fill line and weight.

2. Measure the volume:

Pour the finished liquid product into a measuring tool with volume markings, such as a graduated beaker or funnel pitcher. Record the amount in fluid ounces (fl oz) and milliliters (ml).

A hand pouring liquid out of a glass reed diffuser into a funnel pouring pitcher

A mixture of fragrance a reed diffuser base in a funnel pouring pitcher with a line showing where the fluid ounce measurement is.

3. Record the weight and volume for future use:

This will allow you to fill future containers based on weight, ensuring consistent volume without the need to re-measure each time.
For example, if 100 grams of your product equals 4 fl oz, you can fill future containers to 100 grams and know they contain 4 fl oz.

Step 3: Label your product

Label your product with the volume you recorded in Step 3. Always make sure the labeled volume is equal to or less than the actual volume in the container.

a labeled reed diffuser with lines and text showing what should be on the label.

Step 4: Use weight for future containers

For future batches, you can simply weigh the product to match the volume you've already calculated. This speeds up production while keeping the volumes accurate and compliant with labeling laws.

Notes:

Always round down for compliance: When labeling, round down to ensure the volume listed on the label is equal to or less than what's in the container. If you have slightly over 4 fl oz, label it as 4 fl oz.
Repeat this process for each new product, as product weights and densities vary between product types.

Pro Tip!

Adding reed diffusers, room sprays, or bath and body products is a strategic way to grow your line. These products can be low-cost to produce, simple to customize, and help extend your signature fragrances into new formats.

A finished spray bottle of room spray with a label.

A finished bottle of hand lotion with a label.

A finished bottle of body wash with a label.

Did you make it?

Show off all your handmade creations with the CandleScience community by tagging us @CandleScience and using the #CandleScientist hashtag on Facebook and Instagram. We may feature you in our Stories or on our website!