Using Formula Templates

What Are Formula Templates

Formula templates are pre-built starting points that give you a head start when creating new products. Instead of building a formula from scratch, you can apply a template that comes pre-filled with a common ingredient list, phase assignments, and suggested percentages. You then customize the template to match your specific ingredients and preferences.

Browsing Templates

1. Navigate to the Formulas page from the sidebar.
2. Click the Templates button to open the templates library at /formulas/templates.
3. Browse templates by product type -- for example, lotions, serums, balms, cleansers, or soaps.

Each template card shows the product type, a brief description, the number of ingredients, and the estimated complexity level.

Applying a Template

1. Find a template that matches the product you want to create.
2. Click the template to preview its full ingredient list, phases, and suggested percentages.
3. Click Apply Template to create a new formula pre-filled with the template's data.
4. The formula builder opens with all ingredients, phases, and amounts already populated.
5. Customize anything you like -- swap ingredients, adjust percentages, change the batch size, add procedure steps.
6. Save the formula as your own.

The template itself is never modified when you apply it. Your new formula is an independent copy that you can edit freely.

Creating Your Own Templates

If you have a formula that you use as a base for multiple products, you can turn it into a reusable template:

1. Open the formula you want to use as a template.
2. Select the option to Save as Template.
3. Give the template a name and description that will help you (and your team) recognize it later.
4. The template appears in your templates library for future use.

Custom templates are especially useful for product lines that share a common base -- for example, a lotion base template that you customize with different fragrances and active ingredients for each SKU.

Starter Kits

For makers who are just getting started or exploring a new product category, Formuley offers Starter Kits at /starter-kits. Each kit is a curated bundle of templates, ingredient suggestions, and guidance tailored to a specific product type:

• Soap Making -- cold process and hot process soap formulas with common oil blends.
• Lotion Making -- basic emulsion templates for lotions and creams.
• Lip Products -- lip balm and lipstick base formulas.
• Hair Care -- shampoo, conditioner, and hair mask templates.
• Bath Products -- bath bombs, salts, and soaks.

You can access starter kits from the dashboard Quick Actions grid by clicking Starter Kits, or navigate directly to /starter-kits.

Using a Starter Kit

1. Open a starter kit and browse its included templates.
2. Select a template from the kit to preview it.
3. Click Apply to create a new formula from the template.
4. Customize the formula in the builder and save.

Starter kits are a great way to learn formulation patterns for product types you have not worked with before. They provide sensible defaults that you can refine through testing and iteration.

Tips

• Start from templates when exploring new product categories. Even experienced formulators benefit from a well-structured starting point.
• Build a library of custom templates for your core product bases. This ensures consistency across your product line and speeds up new product development.
• Combine templates with starter kits -- use a starter kit to understand the fundamentals of a product type, then create your own refined template once you have a base you are happy with.