INCI Names for Botanical Extracts and Carrier Oils: A Reference for Cosmetic Buyers

How an INCI Name Is Built

The International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients is maintained by the Personal Care Products Council through its International Nomenclature Committee and is used in the EU, the US and most other markets. For botanicals the name is constructed from the Latin binomial (genus and species, without the author), the plant part (root, leaf, seed, fruit, flower, bark, resin) and the preparation (extract, oil, powder, water, juice). In the United States a common name in parentheses may be added after the genus for consumer recognition, such as Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract; the European Union uses the Latin name alone, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, and the same ingredient can therefore appear on the two labels in slightly different form.

The INCI name identifies the ingredient, not its concentration, solvent or standardisation. A 5% withanolide extract and a 2.5% extract share the same INCI name; the difference lives on the specification and the COA.

INCI Names for Common Herbal Extracts

Ingredient	INCI name
Ashwagandha root extract	Withania Somnifera Root Extract
Shatavari root extract	Asparagus Racemosus Root Extract
Bacopa (brahmi) extract	Bacopa Monnieri Extract
Gotu kola extract	Centella Asiatica Extract (leaf-specific names also exist)
Turmeric extract	Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Green tea extract	Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Amla extract	Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract (Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract is the older synonym)
Moringa leaf extract	Moringa Oleifera Leaf Extract
Licorice root extract	Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Tulsi (holy basil) extract	Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Neem leaf extract	Azadirachta Indica Leaf Extract (Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract also appears)
Pomegranate fruit extract	Punica Granatum Fruit Extract
Cranberry fruit extract	Vaccinium Macrocarpon Fruit Extract
Ginger root extract	Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Rhodiola root extract	Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract
Hibiscus flower extract	Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract
Milk thistle seed extract	Silybum Marianum Seed Extract (Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract also used)
Boswellia resin extract	Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract
Black pepper extract	Piper Nigrum Fruit Extract
Paprika / capsicum oleoresin	Capsicum Annuum Fruit Extract (Capsicum Frutescens Fruit Extract for pungent species)

INCI Names for Carrier and Speciality Oils

Oil	INCI name
Sweet almond oil	Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Jojoba oil	Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Argan oil	Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Rosehip seed oil	Rosa Canina Seed Oil (Rosa Canina Fruit Oil for whole-fruit pressings)
Sea buckthorn oil	Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil or Seed Oil, by part
Castor oil	Ricinus Communis Seed Oil
Coconut oil	Cocos Nucifera Oil
Moringa (ben) oil	Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Black seed oil	Nigella Sativa Seed Oil
Evening primrose oil	Oenothera Biennis Oil
Grapeseed oil	Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Pomegranate seed oil	Punica Granatum Seed Oil

Names change when the committee revises a botanical’s accepted Latin name, which is why older synonyms persist on labels; the current dictionary entry governs. Where a species is in doubt, or a preparation is unusual (a CO₂ extract, a glycolic extract on a carrier), confirm the name with the dictionary before printing.

What to Ask a Supplier For

1. The INCI name on the specification and the COA, with the plant part and preparation matching the actual material.
2. Any carrier or solvent that must itself be declared (for example Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil in a diluted extract).
3. A safety data sheet and, for EU cosmetics, the information the responsible person needs for the product information file: composition, impurities, microbiological and heavy-metal data.
4. Allergen and restricted-substance statements where the botanical is known to carry them.

The INCI name for each product appears in the identifier line on its product page alongside the CAS and HS entries; see also HS codes for botanical ingredients.