Writing your first formula brief for a Korean ODM: what to include

The most useful brief isn’t the longest—it’s the one that separates must-haves from preferences. I’d include:

• Product and market: format, target customer, where it will be sold, and the intended price point.
• Texture and use: describe the finish in observable terms (e.g., fast-absorbing, low tack, dewy rather than greasy); include a reference product as a benchmark, not a copy request.
• Performance and claims: rank the claims, note what evidence or testing you expect, and flag claims that need regulatory review in each market.
• Formula guardrails: restricted ingredients, fragrance/allergen preferences, vegan or other requirements, and any packaging compatibility concerns.
• Commercial constraints: target ex-factory cost range, MOQ assumptions, packaging direction, and launch timing—mark which are flexible.

Ask the ODM to identify feasibility risks early: stability, preservative strategy, packaging interaction, and whether the target cost matches the brief. Share a version number and date, then capture decisions in writing; “nice to have” changes can otherwise quietly become requirements. Keep the poll options as-is—texture and cost ceilings often drive very different conversations.