White label cosmetics involve having a lab manufacture an existing or adapted formula, then selling it under your own brand. For white label cosmetics in France, choose a partner based on its good manufacturing practices (ISO 22716), support with European regulatory documentation (PIF, CPNP notification), R&D and ability to keep pace with your growth.
Key takeaways
- White label manufacturing lets you launch a range using formulas that have already been developed, customized under your brand name.
- Choose a manufacturer based first on compliance: ISO 22716, PIF and CPNP notification, then on R&D, packaging and export experience.
- The number of perfume and toiletry manufacturing establishments rose from 613 in 2011 to more than 800 from 2021 onward (Source: Xerfi, April 2026).
- French companies are investing in white label manufacturing, and an established brand such as Naos has acquired one of its suppliers.
- Manufacturing outside France remains compliant if Regulation (CE) 1223/2009 is followed and the Responsible Person in the EU is clearly designated.
What are white label cosmetics in France?
White label cosmetics are a business model in which a manufacturer produces an existing or adapted formula that the client brand markets under its own name. In France, this model operates alongside custom contract manufacturing and retailer private labels (store brands).
The terms often overlap in business discussions. A cosmetic contract manufacturer manufactures, and sometimes packages, products for another company. A retailer private label cosmetic is a product sold under a retailer’s brand, a model similar to private label manufacturing.
In practice, there are three service levels: a catalog of formulas ready to customize, adaptation of a base formula (fragrance, texture, active ingredient) and custom development. The more customized the project, the more R&D, testing and regulatory documentation it requires.
How do you choose a white label cosmetics manufacturer?
Choose a white label cosmetics manufacturer based first on compliance, then on its ability to support your project over time. The table below summarizes the criteria to check before signing.
| Criterion | What to request | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Good manufacturing practices | Valid ISO 22716 certificate | Regulation 1223/2009 requires GMP (Article 8) |
| Product Information File (PIF) | Who prepares the PIF, safety assessment and tests | Required before placing the product on the market (Article 11) |
| CPNP notification | What information the manufacturer provides for notification | Required before sales in the EU (Article 13) |
| R&D | Formulation team, ability to adapt formulas, stability testing | Differentiate your products beyond the catalog |
| Catalog or custom development | Catalog scope, terms for custom development | Balance launch simplicity with distinctiveness |
| Packaging | Sourcing, product-packaging compatibility testing, customization | The container affects stability and brand image |
| Export | Experience in target markets (EU, United States, Gulf…) | Each market has its own documentation requirements |
| Volumes and MOQ | Minimum order quantity and ability to keep pace with your growth | Avoid a manufacturer running at full capacity when you need to reorder |
GMP (good manufacturing practices) are the organizational, hygiene and control rules that ensure controlled production. The ISO 22716 standard is the international reference describing these practices for cosmetics. The PIF (Product Information File) is the technical and regulatory file demonstrating a cosmetic product’s safety and compliance. It must be available to the authorities, and regulatory support for the PIF can prevent repeated revisions. The CPNP is the European portal where each product is notified before sale. See our CPNP notification guide for step-by-step instructions.
If you are starting from scratch, our article on creating a private label brand in France also explains the positioning decisions to make before contacting manufacturers.
What are the stages of a white label project?
A project with a white label cosmetics supplier generally follows a consistent sequence, from the specification brief to market launch. Each stage has a deliverable you can request.
- Defining your needs: target audience, positioning, sales channels and target markets.
- Formula selection: choosing from a catalog or preparing a custom development brief.
- Samples and adjustments: approving the product’s texture, fragrance and appearance.
- Testing and safety: stability, packaging compatibility, challenge testing and a safety assessment by a qualified assessor.
- PIF preparation and CPNP notification: regulatory documentation before any sales in the EU.
- Production and packaging: manufacturing under GMP, quality control and batch release.
- Reordering and monitoring: volume planning and cosmetovigilance.
A challenge test tests a product’s resistance to microbial contamination. Cosmetovigilance is the monitoring of adverse effects after a product reaches the market. Before committing, prepare the right questions: we have listed twelve in our article on questions to ask a contract manufacturer before signing. For an overview of the model, our complete guide to cosmetic contract manufacturing also explains each party’s responsibilities.
What do recent investments by French companies reveal?
Recent announcements show targeted investments in white label manufacturing and retailer private labels, rather than an industry-wide trend. Three examples reported by the trade press illustrate how the white label cosmetics market in France is taking shape.
Cadentia: a perfume manufacturer investing in white label production
Cadentia, a perfume manufacturer based in Aubagne, plans to invest more than €5 million in a 1 700 m² building in Aubagne for its brands and in a new factory in La Ciotat, expected in 2028-2029. The aim is to meet demand for white label manufacturing, which accounts for 70 % of its revenue according to the Cosmétopôle Provence Côte d’Azur newsletter (Cosmed, 2nd quarter 2026).
Its white label business currently focuses on fragrances. According to Premium Beauty News, the future site should also enable the company to develop a skincare business. The same article reports revenue of nearly €4 million in 2026, which the company aims to double by 2028.
Roval: manufacturing capacity for retailer private labels and major accounts
In Flers, in the Orne department, manufacturer Roval (Anjac group) unveiled a contract manufacturing platform in late 2023 equipped with a 10-metric-ton tank and an auxiliary 7-metric-ton tank. According to the Anjac group, the goal is to produce nearly 4 000 additional metric tons per year. The site serves retailer private labels, major groups and brands sold through health and beauty retailers.
Naos: a brand acquiring one of its suppliers
Naos (Bioderma) outsources the manufacturing of around 35 % of its ranges (Source: Xerfi, April 2026). According to Premium Beauty News, the group secured access to new manufacturing capacity in summer 2025 by acquiring Probionat Provence, a family-owned packaging company that was one of its suppliers.
| Company | Type | Verified fact | What it indicates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cadentia (Aubagne) | Perfume manufacturer (white label), planned skincare business | Factory planned in La Ciotat for 2028-2029 | Investment to meet demand for white label manufacturing |
| Roval (Flers) | Personal care and skincare contract manufacturer | 10 t and 7 t tanks on a contract manufacturing platform | Capacity designed for retailer private labels and major accounts (commissioned in 2023) |
| Naos (Aix-en-Provence) | Dermocosmetics brand | Acquisition of Probionat Provence, one of its suppliers | An established brand takes back control of part of its production |
These investments come amid less favorable export conditions. According to FEBEA, French cosmetics exports fell by 0,1 % in 2025 to €22,4 billion, the first decline since 2008 outside the pandemic. Cosmetics nevertheless remain France’s second-largest export sector. Over the longer term, the number of perfume and toiletry manufacturing establishments rose from 613 in 2011 to more than 800 from 2021 onward (Source: Xerfi, April 2026). For the domestic market (€10,7 billion in 2025, +1 %), see our key figures for the cosmetics market in France.
Retailers’ interest in their own ranges also plays a role. We analyzed this trend in the rise of retailer private label cosmetics.
Manufacturing outside France for the French market: is it compliant?
Yes, a cosmetic product manufactured outside France can be sold in France if it complies with Regulation (CE) 1223/2009. The regulation sets the same requirements regardless of the country of manufacture: good manufacturing practices, PIF, safety assessment, labeling and CPNP notification.
Regulation (CE) 1223/2009 also requires a Responsible Person established in the EU for every product placed on the market (Article 4). For a product imported into the EU, the importer takes this role by default and may appoint another person established in the EU through a written mandate. A distributor selling the product under its own name or brand also becomes the Responsible Person. Clarify this in your contract from the outset.
Compare manufacturing countries using practical criteria: certifications, documentation, logistics and support. Our article on where to manufacture cosmetics in 2026 compares Morocco, Turkey, Poland and China.
The manufacturer’s perspective
At Carmel Cosmetics Labs, a cosmetics lab and manufacturer in Aït Melloul, near Agadir, we support more than 500 brands in over 35 countries, including brands targeting the French market. We manufacture at our factory in Aït Melloul, near Agadir for brands in France and Europe, with our ISO 22716 and ISO 9001 certifications.
For these brands, Regulation (CE) 1223/2009 applies in the same way as it does to a product manufactured in France: production under ISO 22716, a complete PIF and CPNP notification. The brand’s Responsible Person in the EU submits this notification. Carmel does not take on this role and provides the technical information that person needs.
Three mistakes to avoid at the start of a project: choosing a manufacturer solely on its catalog without checking who handles the PIF; failing to test compatibility between the formula and the chosen packaging; and not specifying who acts as the Responsible Person in the EU. These points are easy to resolve when addressed from the outset.
Our advice: request the same documentation from each manufacturer (certificates, sample PIF, list of tests performed) to compare them on an equal basis. We offer a formula catalog and custom development, with an accessible MOQ and regulatory support. Explore our white label manufacturing service, or tell us about your planned range: Free consultation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between white label cosmetics and contract manufacturing?
With white label manufacturing, you start with a formula already developed by the manufacturer, customize it and sell it under your own name. With cosmetic contract manufacturing, the manufacturer produces your own formula, either developed for you or supplied by you. White label manufacturing makes launching simpler. Contract manufacturing offers greater distinctiveness but requires more development and testing.
What must appear on the label of a cosmetic product sold in France?
Article 19 of Regulation 1223/2009 requires, among other details, the Responsible Person’s name and address, the country of origin for an imported product, nominal content, the date of minimum durability or period after opening, precautions for use, batch number, product function and ingredient list. The language of several items depends on the country of sale: in France, the law of 4 August 1994 on the use of the French language requires French.
White label or private label: what is the difference?
The two terms are often used interchangeably. In general, white label refers to a manufacturer’s standard formula offered to several clients and customized mainly through packaging. Private label refers to a more specific product reserved for a brand or retailer. We explain these nuances in our article on the differences between white label and private label.
Can a white label formula be changed after launch?
Yes, a formula can evolve with a new fragrance, an added active ingredient or an adjusted texture. However, every change must be documented, as it may affect the safety assessment. The Responsible Person then updates the PIF and, where applicable, the information submitted through the CPNP. You should also plan new stability and packaging compatibility tests before producing the new version.
Conclusion: preparing to choose your contract manufacturer
White label cosmetics in France follow clear rules: a manufacturer working under ISO 22716, a thorough PIF, CPNP notification submitted by the Responsible Person and a compliant label. Compare manufacturers against these verifiable criteria before signing.
Looking to start your own cosmetics brand or expand a range for the French or European market? Discuss your project with our team: Free consultation.