Overview
The Formuley Ingredient Database is the shared reference catalog behind ingredient matching in Formuley. It is separate from My Ingredients on purpose:
- Formuley Ingredient Database = the shared master catalog
- My Ingredients = the records saved in your own workspace
This separation keeps your working library clean while still giving you access to a much larger search surface.
When to use it
Use the Formuley Ingredient Database when you want to:
- search the shared catalog before creating a new ingredient
- compare names, INCI, CAS, EC, and category data
- prefill a new ingredient record from a trusted reference entry
- avoid cluttering your workspace with thousands of records you do not actually use
How to open it
You can reach the page in several ways:
- Open Raw Materials or Ingredients from the sidebar.
- Click Formuley Database.
- You can also open it from the command palette.
The page route is /ingredients/reference.
What you can do on the page
The Formuley Ingredient Database page lets you:
- search by common name, INCI, or CAS number
- filter by category
- review source badges like Reference, CosIng, IFRA, and GRAS
- inspect identity details before saving a record into your workspace
Each result card is meant to help you answer one question first: "Is this the material I actually mean?"
What happens when you click Add to My Ingredients
When you click Add to My Raw Materials or Add to My Ingredients, Formuley opens the normal add-ingredient form and prefills the record with the reference data.
This includes, when available:
- display name
- INCI name
- category
- CAS and EC numbers
- allergen and IFRA detail
- regulatory and chemistry metadata
The prefilled record is still saved into your library only when you choose to save it.
Important difference: reference record vs workspace record
The shared reference catalog does not replace your own ingredient library.
Your workspace record is still where you manage:
- supplier-specific material names
- preferred and approved sources
- stock and lot history
- purchasing detail
- batch readiness and GMP readiness
In other words:
- the reference database helps with identity
- your own ingredient record handles operational reality
Best workflow
For most teams, the cleanest flow is:
- Search the Formuley Ingredient Database first.
- Choose the closest identity match.
- Open the prefilled add-ingredient form.
- Save only the ingredients you actually use.
- Add supplier, source, lot, and document detail later as the workflow becomes stricter.
Tips
- Beginners should use this page first because it reduces manual entry.
- Pros and labs should still confirm that the reference entry matches the exact material grade they buy.
- Saving from the reference database does not automatically make the ingredient batch-ready or GMP-ready.
- If a record is not in the right category yet, you can still prefill it and finish the category inside your own library.
