How to Use Formulate 360

A complete guide to every feature in your formulation workspace. Each section includes a quick overview and step-by-step walkthrough.

Last updated: September 3, 2026 · By Formulate 360 Team

📊

Your command center. The dashboard gives you an at-a-glance view of your formulas, recent activity, AI credits, and subscription status so you always know where things stand.

Key Features

  • View formula count and recent activity
  • Monitor AI credit usage
  • Quick-access recent formulas
  • Subscription tier overview

Step-by-Step Walkthrough

1

Log in

Navigate to formulate360.com and sign in with your email and password. New users can create a free account from the signup page.

2

Understand the layout

The sidebar on the left is your main navigation. Click any section to jump there. The main area shows your dashboard widgets.

3

Check your stats

The top cards show your total formulas, active formulas, and remaining AI credits for the month.

4

Use the activity feed

Scroll down to see recent changes — formula updates, document generations, and team activity.

💡 Tip: Bookmark the dashboard URL to land here every time you open the app.
📦

Products represent your finished goods — the items you sell. Link formulas to products to track which recipes power which SKUs, and keep your product catalog organized.

Key Features

  • Create product records with name, category, and description
  • Link one or more formulas to each product
  • Duplicate products to quickly create variants
  • Export product-formula mapping for your ERP or label system

Step-by-Step Walkthrough

1

Navigate to Products

Click "Products" in the sidebar. If you have no products yet, you'll see an empty state with a "Create Product" button.

2

Create your first product

Click "New Product" and fill in the name, category, and optional description. Categories help organize products by type (topical, tincture, edible, etc.).

3

Link formulas

Open a product detail page. In the Formulas section, click "Link Formula" and select from your existing formulas. A single product can have multiple formulas (e.g., different strengths or flavors).

4

Manage your catalog

Use the product list to search, filter by category, or duplicate products. Duplicating copies the product metadata and linked formulas — perfect for creating flavor variants.

💡 Tip: Set up your products before building formulas so you can link them as you go.
🧪

Batches

pro+Open in app →

Track every production run from mixing to packaging. Batches connect formulas to real-world manufacturing, with built-in QC (Quality Control) checklists and pass/fail tracking.

Key Features

  • Create a batch from any formula
  • Adjust batch size with automatic ingredient scaling
  • Complete QC checklists with pass/fail criteria
  • Track batch status: planned → in-progress → completed → quarantined

Step-by-Step Walkthrough

1

Navigate to Batches

Click "Batches" in the sidebar. You'll see all your batches with their current status.

2

Create a new batch

Click "New Batch" and select the source formula. Set the batch size — all ingredient quantities auto-scale from the formula's base batch size.

3

Add QC checkpoints

Open the batch detail and navigate to the QC tab. Add checkpoints like "pH test", "viscosity check", or "visual inspection" with pass/fail criteria.

4

Complete the batch

As you progress through manufacturing, update the batch status. Once all QC checks pass, mark the batch as completed. The system records timestamps for full traceability.

💡 Tip: Create a template batch with standard QC checkpoints, then duplicate it for each production run.
⚗️

The heart of Formulate 360. Build precise formulations with percentage-based ingredient lists, automatic batch scaling, version history, AI-assisted drafting, and flexible import/export.

Key Features

  • Build formulas with ingredients, percentages, and phases
  • Auto-scale ingredient quantities when batch size changes
  • Version history tracks every change
  • AI-powered draft generation (Pro+)
  • Import from CSV/JSON or share via link
  • Export to PDF, CSV, or JSON

Step-by-Step Walkthrough

1

Create a new formula

Click "Formulas" → "New Formula". Name your formula, select a product type (topical, tincture, edible, etc.), and set the base batch size.

2

Add ingredients

Search the ingredient library by name, INCI name, or function. Click an ingredient to add it to your formula. Set the percentage and assign it to a phase (e.g., "Oil Phase", "Cool Down").

3

Use the AI assistant

On Pro+ plans, click "AI Draft" to have the AI suggest a complete ingredient list based on your product type and goals. You can accept, reject, or modify individual suggestions.

4

Adjust and balance

The formula panel shows real-time totals. Adjust percentages until they sum to 100%. Switch batch size to see quantities auto-recalculate.

5

Version and share

Click "Save Version" to snapshot the current state. Share your formula via a secure link — recipients see a read-only view with optional expiration.

6

Import formulas

From the Formulas page, click "Import". Upload a CSV with columns: name, percentage, function, phase. Map columns and confirm — your formula is created instantly.

💡 Tip: Use phases to organize ingredients by mixing stage. This makes SOP generation much more useful.
🎨

Canvas

pro+Open in app →

A visual formula builder that lets you design formulations on an interactive graph. Drag ingredients onto a node-based canvas, connect phases, and see the formula take shape in real time.

Key Features

  • Drag-and-drop ingredients onto a visual canvas
  • Connect nodes to build ingredient relationships
  • Real-time percentage and quantity updates
  • Switch between canvas and traditional list view
  • Export canvas layout as a shareable diagram

Step-by-Step Walkthrough

1

Open the Canvas

Click "Canvas" in the sidebar, or open a formula and click "Open in Canvas". The canvas shows your formula as an interactive node graph.

2

Add ingredients visually

Drag ingredients from the sidebar palette onto the canvas. Each ingredient becomes a resizable node showing its name, percentage, and phase color.

3

Connect and organize

Drag connection handles between nodes to show ingredient interactions. Group nodes by phase for a clean layout. The canvas auto-saves your arrangement.

4

View and export

Zoom and pan to explore complex formulas. Toggle between canvas view and the traditional table view. Export the canvas as a PNG for presentations or documentation.

💡 Tip: Use the Canvas for client presentations — the visual layout makes formulations easy to explain.
🔬

Ingredients

Open in app →

A searchable library of thousands of cosmetic, supplement, and cannabis ingredients. Browse by category, search by INCI name, view supplier catalogs, and quickly add to any formula.

Key Features

  • Browse 5,000+ ingredients with INCI names and functions
  • Filter by category: emollients, emulsifiers, actives, preservatives, etc.
  • View supplier catalogs with pricing and MOQ
  • Quick-add to any formula from the ingredient detail page
  • Chemical property data: solubility, pH range, HLB value

Step-by-Step Walkthrough

1

Navigate to Ingredients

Click "Ingredients" in the sidebar. You'll see the full library with category filters across the top.

2

Search and filter

Use the search bar to find ingredients by name, INCI name, or function. Apply category filters to narrow results. Click any ingredient to see its full profile.

3

Explore ingredient details

The detail page shows chemical properties, common usage rates, supplier listings, and which of your formulas use this ingredient.

4

Add supplier data

Link supplier catalog entries to ingredients with pricing, MOQ, and lead time. This data flows into your formula cost calculations.

5

Quick-add to formulas

From any ingredient detail page, click "Add to Formula" and pick the target formula. The ingredient is added at a default percentage ready for adjustment.

💡 Tip: Favorite your most-used ingredients — they appear at the top of search results for faster formula building.
📄

Documents

pro+Open in app →

Generate professional documentation from your formulas with one click. SOPs, Certificates of Analysis, Safety Data Sheets, ingredient labels, and product spec sheets — all AI-generated and formatted for print.

Key Features

  • Generate SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures)
  • Create COAs (Certificates of Analysis)
  • Produce SDS (Safety Data Sheets)
  • Design product labels (INCI, full, supplement facts)
  • Export as PDF for printing or sharing
  • Job queue tracks generation progress

Step-by-Step Walkthrough

1

Navigate to Documents

Click "Documents" in the sidebar. You'll see all your generated documents with type, status, and date.

2

Generate a document

Click "New Document" and select the document type (SOP, COA, SDS, Label, or Spec Sheet). Choose the source formula and click "Generate".

3

Monitor progress

Document generation runs in the background. The status updates in real time: pending → generating → completed. Large or complex documents may take 30-60 seconds.

4

Review and download

Once complete, click the document to preview it. Review the AI-generated content for accuracy. Click "Download PDF" to save or print.

5

Regenerate or customize

Need changes? Click "Regenerate" to produce a fresh version. The original is preserved in your document history.

💡 Tip: Generate your SOP during formula development — it helps catch missing steps before production.
🧠

Intelligence

pro+Open in app →

AI-powered research assistant that searches PubMed, formulation databases, and regulatory references. Ask questions in natural language and get cited, evidence-backed answers.

Key Features

  • Natural language research queries
  • PubMed integration with citation markers
  • Regulatory reference search (FDA, cGMP, EU cosmetics)
  • Conversation history with branching threads
  • Export research summaries to PDF

Step-by-Step Walkthrough

1

Open Intelligence

Click "Intelligence" in the sidebar. The research interface opens with a chat-like input.

2

Ask a research question

Type a question like "What preservatives are effective in water-based topicals?" or "FDA regulations on CBD in cosmetics." The AI searches its knowledge base and returns a structured answer with citations.

3

Review citations

Citations appear as [P1], [P2] markers linking to PubMed articles. Click any citation to open the source in a new tab.

4

Manage conversations

Your research history is saved as conversation threads. Start new threads for different topics, or continue existing ones to build on prior research.

💡 Tip: Use specific, detailed questions. "What is the maximum usage rate for phenoxyethanol in leave-on products per EU regulations?" gets better results than "preservative limits".
⚙️

Manage your profile, subscription, API keys, and team members. Everything you need to configure your workspace.

Key Features

  • Update profile: name, email, avatar
  • Manage subscription and billing (via Stripe)
  • Generate API keys for programmatic access
  • Team management: invite members, set roles (Enterprise)
  • Organization settings: name, logo, defaults

Step-by-Step Walkthrough

1

Open Settings

Click "Settings" at the bottom of the sidebar. Your profile page opens showing your account details.

2

Update your profile

Change your display name, email, or upload a profile photo. Changes save automatically.

3

Manage subscription

View your current plan, usage limits, and billing history. Click "Upgrade Plan" to change tiers — you'll be redirected to Stripe's secure checkout.

4

Create API keys

Navigate to the API Keys tab. Click "New API Key", give it a name, select scopes, and copy the key (it's shown only once). Use it with the X-Api-Key header.

5

Invite team members

Enterprise plans: go to Settings → Team. Enter email addresses to send invites. Assign roles: Admin, Editor, or Viewer. Members appear in the team list with status.

💡 Tip: Create separate API keys for different integrations (e.g., "Label Printer", "ERP Sync") so you can revoke individually.

Pricing & Plans

Open in app →

Choose the plan that fits your needs. Free to start, Pro for full AI capabilities, and Enterprise for teams with advanced permissions and dedicated support.

Key Features

  • Free: 3 formulas, basic ingredients, no AI
  • Starter: 25 formulas, limited AI credits
  • Pro: Unlimited formulas, full AI suite, documents, unlimited exports
  • Enterprise: Everything in Pro + team management, SSO, priority support

Step-by-Step Walkthrough

1

View plans

Click "Upgrade Plan" in the sidebar or visit the Pricing page. Compare features side by side across all four tiers.

2

Choose and upgrade

Click "Upgrade" on your chosen plan. You'll be redirected to Stripe's checkout page. Complete payment to instantly unlock features.

3

Manage billing

Visit Settings → Billing to update payment method, view invoices, or cancel. Downgrades take effect at the end of your billing period.

Published January 1, 2025· Last updated September 3, 2026· By Formulate 360 Team

Content developed by formulation chemists and reviewed for accuracy. Formulate360 is an AI-powered formulation workspace — AI-generated output should be reviewed by qualified professionals before production use.

Need more help? Check the API Reference or contact support@formulate360.com.