Guidelines for Using Honey in Industrial Scrub Formulations
Asked by: sasikarn.str
On: February 13, 2026
Product Type:
Cosmetics
Question
I would like to inquire about using Honey in a scrub formulation for industrial-scale production:
- What methods can be used to ensure the formula is stable, consistent, and safe?
- Does real honey need to undergo any specific processing before use?
- Does honey extract provide a
Viscositysimilar to real honey? - What type of honey is typically used in commercial scrub products?
Answer
Using honey in industrial-scale scrub formulations requires careful consideration of stability, safety, and texture. Here are the key points to address your questions:
1. Using Real Honey vs. Honey Extract in Factory Production
While real (raw) honey can be used, it presents several challenges in a factory setting:
- Microbial Safety: Raw honey can contain natural yeasts and molds. When mixed into a formula containing water, these can cause spoilage or gas production (bloating).
- Consistency: The composition of raw honey varies by season and source, making it difficult to maintain batch-to-batch consistency.
- Processing: If using raw honey, it must be pasteurized to kill microbes and filtered to remove impurities. However, most industrial manufacturers prefer standardized Honey Extracts because they are pre-processed for safety and consistency.
2. Viscosity and Texture
- Viscosity: Honey extracts are typically low-viscosity liquids (similar to water or glycols). They do not provide the thick, sticky viscosity of real honey.
- Achieving the "Honey Feel": To create a scrub that feels like honey, you must use thickeners (such as sugar-based thickeners or natural gums) to build the desired texture.
3. Recommended Ingredients for Stability and Performance
To ensure your scrub is stable, safe, and effective, we recommend using a combination of specialized extracts:
- For Skin Benefits: Moisturizing Honey (Honey Extract) is an excellent choice. It is rich in oligosaccharides and minerals similar to the skin's Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF), providing deep hydration without the stability risks of raw honey.
- For Natural Scent: Since many extracts lose their natural aroma during processing, you can add specific scent extracts:
- Honey Extract (For Natural Honey Odor, Water-Dispersible): Best for water-based or gel scrubs.
- Honey Extract (For Natural Honey Odor, Oil-Soluble): Best for anhydrous (oil-based) salt or sugar scrubs.
4. Formulation Tips for Stability
- Preservation: Honey is a nutrient source for bacteria. A robust, broad-spectrum preservative system is mandatory.
- Water Activity: If you want to use a higher percentage of honey-related ingredients, an anhydrous (water-free) scrub base (using oils and salts/sugars) is generally more stable than a water-based one.
In summary, for industrial production, the most stable and safe method is to use standardized Honey Extracts for efficacy and scent, while using cosmetic thickeners to achieve the desired honey-like viscosity.
