Question 1

What is Formulary?

Accepted Answer

Formulary is a formula management platform built specifically for perfumers. Upload your formulas, match every ingredient to supplier products at Bulkaroma and Fraterworks, track your inventory, and generate professional shopping lists and bench sheets — all in one place.

Question 2

Do I need to be a professional perfumer to use Formulary?

Accepted Answer

No. Formulary is designed for anyone who creates fragrance compositions, from hobbyists uploading their first formula to studios managing hundreds of scents. The Free plan is a good place to start with no commitment and no time limit.

Question 3

How do I upload my first formula?

Accepted Answer

From the Formula Vault, click “Upload formula” and drag in any PDF or spreadsheet. Formulary's AI parser will extract every ingredient name and amount automatically. You'll review the ingredient list, confirm or adjust any supplier matches, and lock the formula when it's ready.

Question 4

What file formats does Formulary accept?

Accepted Answer

We support PDF, Excel (.xlsx, .xls), and CSV files. If your formula is in a format we can't parse automatically, you can add ingredients manually using the inline editor.

Question 5

Can I try Formulary before subscribing?

Accepted Answer

Yes — the Free plan includes up to 3 formulas, basic ingredient matching, and inventory tracking with no time limit and no credit card required. Pro and Team plans also include a 7-day free trial.

Question 6

Which suppliers does Formulary support?

Accepted Answer

Formulary currently matches ingredients to the Bulkaroma and Fraterworks catalogues. Catalogue data is updated regularly. Enterprise plans can connect a custom Airtable base with your own supplier catalogue.

Question 7

How does AI ingredient matching work?

Accepted Answer

When you upload a formula, each ingredient is matched against supplier catalogues using CAS number lookup first, then AI-powered name matching for ingredients without a CAS number or with non-standard naming. You review and confirm every match — nothing is applied without your approval.

Question 8

What is a bench sheet and when would I use it?

Accepted Answer

A bench sheet is a print-ready PDF listing every ingredient in your formula sorted by weight (heaviest first), with running totals and a tick box for each line. It's designed for use at the workbench — print it, weigh each ingredient in order, and tick as you go. Available on Pro and above.

Question 9

Can I scale a formula to a different batch size?

Accepted Answer

Yes. When generating a bench sheet or recording a production run, enter any target batch weight and Formulary will scale every ingredient amount proportionally.

Question 10

How do substitute suggestions work?

Accepted Answer

The AI substitute finder analyses your full formula context and suggests alternative ingredients that would preserve the character of the scent. Each suggestion includes perfumer notes on expected olfactive changes and recommended dosage adjustments, drawn from what's available in your matched supplier catalogues.

Question 11

Can I use Formulary with my own supplier?

Accepted Answer

On Free, Pro, and Team plans, Formulary matches ingredients to Bulkaroma and Fraterworks only. Enterprise plans can connect a custom catalogue via Airtable. Contact us to discuss your requirements.

Question 12

What payment methods do you accept?

Accepted Answer

We accept all major credit and debit cards via Stripe. Annual plans are billed in full upfront. Bank transfer is available for Enterprise plans on request.

Question 13

Can I change my plan at any time?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Upgrades take effect immediately and you're charged a prorated amount for the remainder of your billing period. Downgrades take effect at the end of your current billing cycle.

Question 14

What happens to my data if I cancel?

Accepted Answer

Your account and all formula data is retained for 30 days after cancellation so you can export everything before you go. After 30 days, data is permanently deleted.

Question 15

Do AI credits roll over month to month?

Accepted Answer

No — AI credits reset on the first of each month and unused credits don't carry over. If you regularly hit your limit, upgrading your plan or adding the Premium AI add-on will give you more headroom.

Question 16

Is there a discount for annual billing?

Accepted Answer

Yes — annual plans include 2 months free, equivalent to roughly 17% off the monthly rate. The annual rate is locked in for 12 months from the date of purchase.

Question 17

What happens to my formulas if I downgrade to the Free plan?

Accepted Answer

Your formulas are never deleted. If you have more than 3 formulas, the extras become read-only — you can still view and export them, but not edit until you upgrade or bring your total under 3.

Question 18

Who can see my formulas?

Accepted Answer

Only you and members of your organisation can see your formulas. Formulary staff cannot access your formula data. We treat your formulations as strictly confidential.

Question 19

Is my formula data secure?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Data is stored in an encrypted Postgres database with encryption at rest and in transit. We use industry-standard security practices and do not share your data with any third parties.

Question 20

Do you train AI models on my formula data?

Accepted Answer

No. Your formula data is never used to train AI models. AI features send the minimum necessary context to Anthropic's API, which is also not used for model training under our agreement.

Question 21

Can I export all my data?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can export any formula as a PDF at any time. A full data export covering all formulas, ingredient matches, and production history is available from your account settings.

Question 22

Where is my data stored?

Accepted Answer

Formula data is stored on servers in the United States. If you have specific data residency requirements, contact us to discuss Enterprise hosting options.

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