Are soap names regulated?

[soapinintx]

I've made a lovely batch of soap with peppermint, lavender, and lemon essential oils added. This mixture of oils works wonders for my seasonal allergies. I know that essential oils cannot be advertised to help or cure anything, but is there anything saying I cannot name my soap "Allergy Relief Bar"? I've tried to do research on it, but haven't come up with anything. I tried searching old posts, but I guess I haven't typed just the right thing in, because I've yet to find anything.
If someone could point me in the right direction, or any help would be appreciated.
Thank you!!

 

[Meena]

Allergy relief sounds like a medical claim, which would be best avoided, but you might could call them 'Clear Your Head" which is harder to pin down as a claim, since people speak of clearing their head in many subjective contexts.

 

[DeeAnna]

In the US, if you claim ANYTHING about your soap other than it gets you clean, it's not legally soap anymore. It's a cosmetic or drug.

It doesn't matter whether these claims are on the soap label, somewhere on your website, on a piece of paper, or a verbal claim you say to a prospective customer. You simply cannot imply (clear your head) or outright claim (allergy relief) that your soap does more than get you clean and still stay within the laws pertaining to what true soap is and how it can be marketed and sold in the US.

You can clearly state what EOs are used in the soap and leave it to the consumer to decide if that might be nice for their allergies. But YOU can't make any medical/drug claim if you want your soap to legally be just soap.

When I make pine tar soap, I just say it contains pine tar. Nothing more. No medical claims. No innuendo or weasel words about the historic uses of pine tar. People who want pine tar soap for skin conditions will know what it is. Those who like pine tar just for its smoky scent will like it too.

You either have just plain soap-that-gets-you-clean OR you have a cosmetic or drug.

Google Marie Gale and read her blog about labels and labeling. Or find the FDA website section where they discuss soap, cosmetic, and drug labeling.

 

[shunt2011]

Nope, you are now entering the drug areas of things. And I make a bar with the same EO's and have never gotten allergy relief.... And I suffer terribly.

 

[maya]

Yes. Names of soap are highly regulated. No you cannot make a medical claim like allergy relief on soap labels, in print, on a website, in person or any other option. Just no.

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

Well, as you're not selling then it's not a major issue. I don't think that the restrictions apply to personal use

 

[soapinintx]

That's exactly what I was looking for! Thank you very much!

 

[DeeAnna]

Well, as you're not selling then it's not a major issue....

Huh. I obviously missed that small detail.

Regardless, even if I give soap away or use it myself, I follow the guidelines.

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

Huh. I obviously missed that small detail.

Regardless, even if I give soap away or use it myself, I follow the guidelines.

True, it's always good practice, as when people get a soapy present they're used to labelling a certain way.

And I assume that the op isn't selling as this is on the beginner section. Might be a wrong assumption though

 

[earlene]

I've made a lovely batch of soap with peppermint, lavender, and lemon essential oils added. This mixture of oils works wonders for my seasonal allergies. I know that essential oils cannot be advertised to help or cure anything, but is there anything saying I cannot name my soap "Allergy Relief Bar"? I've tried to do research on it, but haven't come up with anything. I tried searching old posts, but I guess I haven't typed just the right thing in, because I've yet to find anything.
If someone could point me in the right direction, or any help would be appreciated.
Thank you!!

As a US citizen (I assume, given your location), I would suggest you read up on labeling requirements for soap, and pay particular attention to what makes a soap soap and what makes it a drug or a cosmetic. The US government sites should answer some of your questions regarding how you would have to label your soap if you choose to sell it someday. I will link some for you at the end of this reply.

As for naming a product, you can also look into things like 'Product Naming' as referenced in this wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Product_naming

In some cases, product names may be copyrighted and you may run into issues using a particular product name if you are selling.

But as pointed out in previous replies, as a beginner, selling may not be on your horizon as yet and you just are wondering what the ramifications may be for the future. That's a reasonable thought process, in my opinion, as many new soapers are told by all and sundry (friends and family and co-workers, etc.) things like, 'Your soaps are fabulous; you should sell them!' So of course your mind might go there when you hear those kinds of comments.

US FDA links about labeling soaps, cosmetics, drugs:
https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/guidanceregulation/lawsregulations/ucm074201.htm
https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/labeling/regulations/default.htm
https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/guidanceregulation/lawsregulations/ucm074162.htm#What_kinds

You can just keep clicking on various links within those links and find all kinds of interesting information.

Here is another useful site for soap labeling in the US:
https://www.mariegale.com/#
Within Marie Gale's site, more useful links:
https://www.mariegale.com/federal-agencies/
https://www.mariegale.com/state-agencies/ (see the information for your particular state)
https://www.mariegale.com/quick-labeling-faq/ (Notice that soap is NOT excempt from labeling requirements, as is often claimed.)

US Fair Packaging & Labeling:
https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/rul...eform-proceedings/fair-packaging-labeling-act

 

[karon L adams]

Soap is one of the few things (maybe the ONLY thing) that the FDA doesn't screw with. you cannot make ANY claims "reduces allergy symptoms". the FDA sees that as making a medicinal claim. what you CAN do is label it as "Containing ingredients that have been used in traditional medicine for...."

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

Soap is one of the few things (maybe the ONLY thing) that the FDA doesn't screw with. you cannot make ANY claims "reduces allergy symptoms". the FDA sees that as making a medicinal claim. what you CAN do is label it as "Containing ingredients that have been used in traditional medicine for...."

Also be careful there. I've heard that having Eos in your soap and having a pamphlet on display which list the benefits of those Eos has caused issues. Association to too greater a degree is taken as being too much

 

[DeeAnna]

"...what you CAN do is label it as "Containing ingredients that have been used in traditional medicine for...."..."

No, not even this is acceptable if you want your soap to be just soap. This is still making a drug claim in your labeling for the product. Read Marie Gale and read the FDA website -- see Earlene's links.

If it's just soap then its only claim is that it can get you clean. Anything more and you're selling a cosmetic or a drug.

 

[karon L adams]

yes, it is a good idea to have a disclaimer that specifically says that "While Lavender has traditionally been used in herbalist medicine to alleviate skin irritation or whatever....." (company Name) makes NO claims one way or another regarding the medical or mental efficacy and only guarantee that you use 100% EO (if you do) in your hand crafted soaps" (Never say hand made, that sounds cheap. Hand Crafted sounds like craftsmanship.

 

[maya]

Soap is one of the few things (maybe the ONLY thing) that the FDA doesn't screw with. you cannot make ANY claims "reduces allergy symptoms". the FDA sees that as making a medicinal claim. what you CAN do is label it as "Containing ingredients that have been used in traditional medicine for...."

Herbalism. Herbalism is the other thing.