BUTTER-C
Signature ingredients
Caffeine scalp serum OEM/ODM manufacturing
Caffeine Scalp Serum · Caffeine Scalp Essence · OEM/ODM
Caffeine is a small, water-soluble molecule that passes into skin quickly — so quickly that it is a classic model compound in skin-penetration research. In people, topically applied caffeine enters the skin much faster through hair follicles, which made it a familiar active in shampoos and scalp serums. But most of the hair data come from a medical context: hair follicles cultured in the laboratory, and an open-label trial in men with androgenetic (hereditary) hair loss comparing a 0.2% caffeine solution with minoxidil 5% — a drug substance banned in cosmetics. Those results do not become cosmetic benefits: a properly made caffeine scalp serum cares for the scalp, absorbs fast without greasiness, and says "helps hair look fuller" only after measuring it on the finished product itself. The technical work is about solubility: caffeine dissolves only to about 2% in water at room temperature and crystallizes easily in the cold, so its level and solvents must be chosen and proven with cold-stability testing. Butter-C offers full-service OEM/ODM manufacturing, from formulation and testing to labeled finished goods and the notification dossier.
Formula base
Fully dissolved caffeine in a fast-absorbing base
The serum is applied to the scalp and left on, not rinsed — contact time is far longer than with a shampoo. The base must be clear, dry quickly and keep caffeine dissolved throughout shelf life.
Caffeine — sourced per order
INCI Caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine, CAS 58-08-2). Caffeine is not yet in Butter-C's existing ingredient list: the source, purity and certificate of analysis (COA) are confirmed for each order.
Water–glycol base
Water, Butylene Glycol or Propanediol hold moisture and help with solubility; Panthenol and Glycerin can be added for a moisturized scalp feel. No heavy oils or film-forming silicones, so hair does not look greasy.
Alcohol: yes or no
A quick-dry version uses a moderate amount of alcohol (Alcohol). Caffeine dissolves less well in alcohol than in water (1 g in about 66 mL of alcohol versus 46 mL of water — Merck Index, via PubChem), so high-alcohol versions need more thorough crystallization testing.
Common companion ingredients
Panthenol and Adenosine are often paired with caffeine in scalp products; each has its own level of evidence and claim limits, and they do not add up to a combined promise.
Key technical points
Solubility, cold crystallization and the follicular route
These four points are where a caffeine serum differs from an ordinary scalp serum; each is settled by testing on samples.
Solubility limit of about 2%
According to PubChem, caffeine dissolves at about 21.6 mg/mL of water at 25°C (about 2.16%) and much more in hot water. At 2–3% and above, the solution is close to saturation at room temperature and crystallizes easily in cold weather; higher levels need heat during dissolution, co-solvents or solubility-boosting salts (benzoate, citrate), and must be proven by stability testing.
Cold testing is mandatory
Samples are stored at low temperature and through hot–cold cycles, checking for crystals at the bottom of the bottle and at the dropper tip. Crystals spoil the look and also leave less caffeine in solution than the label states.
Few pH constraints
Caffeine is practically neutral across the cosmetic pH range (pKa about 14; cation 0.7 — PubChem), so pH is chosen for scalp comfort and the preservative system, not for caffeine.
Follicles are the fast route
In people, with follicles open, caffeine appeared in the blood 5 minutes after applying a solution; with follicles blocked, only after 20 minutes; blood levels stayed at a few nanograms per milliliter, peaking at 11.75 ng/mL after 1 hour (Otberg et al., 2008). These data show caffeine enters the skin via follicles; they are not evidence of an effect on hair.
Three formulation directions
Three types of caffeine scalp serum
Alcohol-free caffeine serum
Water–glycol solution, caffeine well below its solubility limit, Panthenol; gentle for daily use, with little risk of crystallization.
Caffeine–adenosine serum
Combines two ingredients often mentioned in scalp care. Adenosine's hair data also come from a medical context, with evidence ranging from very low to moderate; adenosine is not in the existing ingredient list — sourced per order.
Quick-dry serum with alcohol, lightly cooling
A water–alcohol base for a clean, fresh feel, optionally with a low level of Menthol. Alcohol lowers caffeine solubility and can dry the scalp — choose a lower caffeine level and test thoroughly in the cold.
Packaging is designed with the formula
Dropper or comb-tip dropper bottle; the dropper tip is where the solution evaporates and crystals can form — checked during stability testing.
Parameters we monitor
What our R&D team measures on every sample
Below are the parameters Butter-C tracks during formulation and scale-up. Specific limits are agreed with you on the approved sample and then written into the product's in-house specification.
- Incoming caffeine COA
- Identity, purity and impurities to the supplier's specification — for every batch.
- Clarity and crystallization
- No haze and no crystals after cold storage, hot–cold cycling and at 40°C; the dropper tip is checked too.
- Caffeine content
- Assayed when the label states a caffeine percentage; compared after stability testing to detect loss from crystallization.
- pH
- Measured at 25°C; within the range agreed for the scalp and the preservative system.
- Stability
- Monitor color, odor and separation under each storage condition.
- Microbiology and preservative challenge test
- Tested at a GLP / ISO 17025-accredited laboratory; preservative efficacy test to ISO 11930 for this water-rich base.
- Irritation assessment (recommended)
- Testing on human volunteers at an independent facility for a product left on the scalp daily.
- Efficacy assessment (if claimed)
- Hair density or coverage measured on human volunteers at a testing facility, when you want to state "helps hair look fuller" or a figure.
Claims
Claims for a scalp serum containing caffeine
Caffeine hair data: in hair follicles cultured from 14 scalp biopsies of men with androgenetic hair loss, caffeine at 0.001% and 0.005% counteracted the growth suppression caused by testosterone (Fischer et al., 2007 — laboratory). A randomized, open-label, multicenter trial in 210 men with androgenetic hair loss compared a caffeine-based 0.2% solution with minoxidil 5% for 6 months: the proportion of growth-phase hairs improved by 10.59% versus 11.68%; the authors concluded caffeine was "not inferior" within the study's own statistical design — which does not mean "equivalent"; the corresponding author was an employee of the study sponsor, which also markets the test solution (Dhurat et al., 2017). This is a medical context, the result belongs to the product tested, and minoxidil is a drug banned in cosmetics (Annex II Ref 372). Appendix 03-MP (Circular 06/2011/TT-BYT) does not accept "Stimulates hair growth", "Prevents hair loss", "Thickens the hair shaft" or "Restores hair cells/follicles" for hair products.
Cares for the scalp, absorbs fast without greasiness
Instead of: acts on hair follicles, boosts circulation to nourish follicles.
Helps hair look fuller — only when measured on the finished product
Instead of: thickens the hair shaft, stimulates hair growth, grows new baby hair.
Contains x% caffeine (when assayed in the finished product)
Instead of: "not inferior to minoxidil", "works like minoxidil", citing medical study data from a product with a different formula.
Hair-loss wording
No drug-style language about hair loss. Instead of: prevents hair loss, reduces shedding, stops balding.
Light cooling feel (when Menthol is used, sensory evaluation)
Instead of: "wakes up hair follicles", "energizes the roots".
Label directions (practice)
Avoid the eyes; stop if irritation occurs. Heavy, prolonged or patchy hair loss, or gradual thinning, should be examined by a dermatologist. Pregnancy and breastfeeding: no specific data for topical use — advise asking a doctor.
Manufacturing specifications
Available capabilities
- Texture
- Clear solution, very light gel; with or without alcohol.
- Caffeine material
- Not in the existing ingredient list — source and COA confirmed per order.
- Format
- Dropper bottle, comb-tip dropper bottle. Fill volume agreed when packaging is selected.
- Minimum order quantity
- Agreed per order.
- Testing
- Performed at a GLP / ISO 17025-accredited laboratory; certificates of analysis delivered with every batch.
- Documentation
- Product Information File (PIF) and cosmetic product notification dossier prepared by Butter-C, with the caffeine COA.
- Packaging
- Label design, printing and packing run in parallel with formulation.
Suggested product concept
Alcohol-free caffeine–panthenol scalp serum
A product concept to help you visualize the line — not a ready-made product for sale. The actual formula is built around your brand's positioning and price point.
Caffeine below its solubility limit
Level chosen to keep a safe margin from the solubility limit at low temperature; confirmed by cold testing.
Panthenol and glycerin
A moisturized, non-greasy scalp feel; panthenol is in the existing ingredient list.
Clear water–glycol base
Butylene Glycol, preservative system challenge-tested to ISO 11930, Disodium EDTA.
60 ml comb-tip bottle
The comb-tip dropper delivers the serum straight to the scalp and limits run-off toward the eyes.
Customization options
What you can specify
The same product type can target very different customers. Tell us your requirements in the areas below and our pharmacists will build the formula to match.
Caffeine level
The human trial with a scalp solution used 0.2%; higher levels need solubility work and cold testing. A figure goes on the label only when it can be assayed.
Feel
Gentle alcohol-free, quick-dry with alcohol, with or without Menthol.
Companion ingredients
Panthenol, adenosine, or rosemary oil at fragrance level — each ingredient has its own claim limits.
Target users
Adults, men or women; not positioned for young children.
Choose the right methylxanthine
Caffeine only: theophylline (Ref A1137) and aminophylline (Ref A1136) — from the same methylxanthine group — are listed in ASEAN Annex II and banned in cosmetics.
Product set
Shampoo and scalp serum in one caffeine line; in shampoo, contact time is only a few minutes.
Further reading
Related topics
Caffeine in cosmetics
Mechanisms, follicular penetration, evidence for the eye area, cellulite and scalp, solubility and claims (in Vietnamese).
Scalp essence manufacturing
The general page on bases, actives and packaging for scalp serums; this page focuses on caffeine.
Hair loss vs hair breakage
The hair cycle, what cosmetics can and cannot do, hair claims under Appendix 03-MP and when to see a doctor (in Vietnamese).
Adenosine in cosmetics
An ingredient often paired with caffeine in scalp products, and the real level of evidence (in Vietnamese).
Rosemary scalp serum manufacturing
A scalp line named for rosemary oil — the methyleugenol limit and the herbal story.
How we work
From idea to finished batch
Eight steps and three milestones signed off by both sides: approved sample, notification number, finished batch. Step-by-step details (in Vietnamese) →
Get started
Tell us about the product you plan to launch
Send us your product direction and expected volume. Our team will get back to you during business hours (Vietnam time, GMT+7).
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