To provide an accurate formulation assessment, pricing, and manufacturing feasibility, NOC Cosmetics requires a physical benchmark product for all custom formulation requests where an existing product is being duplicated or closely matched.

Benchmark Product Requirement

If a customer is requesting a custom formulation and references an existing product, they must provide one of the following:

  • The actual benchmark product.
  • The benchmark product together with its retail box showing the ingredient list (INCI).
  • If the original box is unavailable, a document containing the complete ingredient list (INCI).

A benchmark product is required because our chemist must physically evaluate:

  • Texture and consistency
  • Appearance
  • Colour
  • Fragrance (if applicable)
  • Product performance
  • Absorption and feel
  • Viscosity
  • Stability characteristics
  • Overall manufacturing feasibility

This evaluation allows NOC Cosmetics to determine:

  • Whether the product can be successfully manufactured.
  • The raw materials required.
  • Manufacturing complexity.
  • Production costs.
  • An accurate quotation.

Without a physical benchmark, NOC Cosmetics cannot provide an accurate quotation for products that already exist in the marketplace.

Feature & Benefit Requests

If a customer does not have an existing benchmark product and only provides desired features and benefits (for example, "hydrating," "anti-aging," "contains peptides," "oil-free," etc.), NOC Cosmetics can prepare a quotation based on those requirements without requiring a benchmark.

Specific Ingredient Requests

If a customer specifies an exact ingredient list or requests that a product match another product on the market, a benchmark product becomes mandatory.

The presence of specific ingredients generally indicates that an existing product already exists, and our chemist must compare against that product before pricing can be completed.

Homemade Formulations

If the customer has personally developed a formulation and manufactures it themselves (for example, a small handmade batch), they should send a sample of their formulation to NOC Cosmetics.

Our chemist will evaluate the sample to determine:

  • Manufacturing feasibility
  • Ingredient compatibility
  • Production process
  • Scalability for commercial manufacturing
  • Estimated manufacturing cost

This sample will serve as the benchmark product.

Sales Process Requirement

Before requesting that the customer send a benchmark product, the Account Manager should first determine whether NOC Cosmetics already manufactures a comparable product.

If an equivalent product exists within the NOC product library, the Account Manager should present that product to the customer first.

Benefits include:

  • Already formulated and tested.
  • Registered where applicable with Health Canada.
  • Faster development timeline.
  • Lower development costs.
  • Reduced technical risk.
  • Faster time to market.

If the customer accepts the equivalent product, the custom formulation process is no longer required.

If the customer insists on duplicating or closely matching another product, the benchmark product must be received before the chemist begins formulation review or pricing.

Pricing Policy

No quotation for a benchmark-match custom formulation shall be issued until the benchmark product has been received and evaluated by the chemist.

This policy ensures:

  • Accurate costing.
  • Realistic manufacturing expectations.
  • Proper formulation planning.
  • Higher product quality.
  • Reduced project risk for both NOC Cosmetics and the customer.


Benchmark Product Ownership

The benchmark product submitted by the customer becomes part of the project file and will be retained by NOC Cosmetics throughout the formulation and development process.

Customers should submit only the quantity required for evaluation and understand that benchmark products will not be returned after they have been received.

During product development, the benchmark may be:

  • Opened for inspection.
  • Tested by the chemist.
  • Sampled for texture, fragrance, colour, viscosity, and performance.
  • Used for comparative testing throughout formulation development.
  • Stored for future quality comparisons during the project.

Because the benchmark product may be opened, sampled, altered, or partially consumed during the evaluation process, it cannot be returned to the customer.

By submitting a benchmark product, the customer acknowledges and agrees that the sample becomes part of the development process and is non-returnable.