Senior R&D Formulator

HYSSES (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD; Singapore; On-site; SGD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Hysses Singapore is seeking a Senior R&D Formulator to lead the development and reformulation of skincare, haircare, body care, and home fragrance products. This hands-on role requires owning projects from concept through commercial launch, balancing clean-ingredient philosophy with sensory quality and regulatory compliance.

You will mentor junior formulators and collaborate with sourcing, QA, regulatory, marketing, and manufacturing to scale innovations while upholding Hysses’ natural-beauty

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Cosmetic Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Pharmacy, or a related field.
• 5–8 years of hands-on formulation experience in cosmetics/personal care with ownership from concept through commercial launch.
• Experience formulating with natural/essential oil–based ingredient systems; aromatherapy or fragrance formulation is a strong plus.
• Experience across multiple product categories (skincare, haircare, body care, and/or home fragrance) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of new products and reformulation of existing ones across skincare, haircare, body care, and home fragrance/essential oil ranges.
• Own projects end-to-end from concept briefs to scale-up and handover to production.
• Mentor junior formulators and coordinate with sourcing, QA, regulatory, marketing, and manufacturing partners.
• Ensure formulations meet regulatory requirements (Singapore HSA cosmetic notification, ASEAN Cosmetic Directive) and are manufacturable.

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Cosmetic Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Pharmacy, or a related field

Job description

About Hysses

Hysses (乡术 — “arts from the village”) is Singapore’s leading aromatherapy and natural wellness brand, with a retail footprint of essential oil-based skincare, haircare, body care, and home scent products across Singapore, Malaysia, and beyond. All formulation, research, and development is done in-house at the Hysses Singapore HQ.

Hysses formulates with natural botanicals and bioactive ingredients, sourced from farmers and native communities worldwide, and is committed to genuine efficacy over ingredient trends — avoiding synthetic silicones, parabens, paraffin, artificial colours, synthetic fragrances, and unrefined petroleum-derived ingredients. The brand’s growth has been driven by a small, hands-on R&D team responsible for everything from raw material sourcing to finished product launch.

Role Summary

The Senior R&D Formulator will lead the development of new products and reformulation of existing ones across Hysses’ skincare, haircare, body care, and home fragrance/essential oil ranges. This is a senior, hands-on technical role for an experienced formulator who can independently own projects from concept to commercial launch — balancing natural/clean-beauty ingredient philosophy, sensory and olfactory quality, regulatory compliance, cost, and manufacturability.

The role also carries a mentorship component, guiding junior formulators and coordinating closely with sourcing, QA, regulatory, marketing, and manufacturing partners.

Key Responsibilities

Formulation & Product Development

• Independently develop, trial, and optimise formulations for skincare, haircare, body care, and home/car scent products using natural botanical actives, essential oils, and bioactive ingredients.

• Lead formulation projects end-to-end: concept briefs, bench trials, stability testing, pilot batches, scale-up, and handover to production.

• Reformulate existing SKUs to improve efficacy, sensory experience, stability, cost, or compliance with Hysses’ clean-formulation standards (free from synthetic silicones, parabens, paraffin, artificial colours, synthetic fragrances, and unrefined petroleum derivatives).

• Design and refine essential oil blends and fragrance accords for both leave-on/rinse-off body products and ambient home scent

• formats (diffuser oils, room mists, candles).

Technical & Quality Ownership

• Conduct and oversee stability testing (accelerated & real-time), compatibility testing, challenge testing, and preservative efficacy studies in coordination with QA/QC and external labs.

• Troubleshoot formulation issues arising in pilot or full-scale production runs (viscosity, separation, discolouration, scent drift, microbial stability, etc.).

• Maintain rigorous documentation: formulation records, batch trial data, INCI listings, safety data, and version control for all formulas.

• Ensure all formulations meet applicable regulatory requirements across Hysses’ markets (e.g., Singapore HSA cosmetic notification,

• ASEAN Cosmetic Directive, and relevant requirements in export markets).

Ingredient & Supplier Management

• Source, vet, and qualify new natural and bioactive raw materials, essential oils, and botanical extracts, working directly with farmers, growers, and ingredient suppliers.

• Evaluate raw materials for purity, sustainability, traceability, and consistency with Hysses’ natural-ingredient philosophy.

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the aromatherapy and natural ingredient landscape, including emerging actives, extraction techniques, and sustainable sourcing practices.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Marketing and Product teams to translate brand and consumer briefs into technically sound, launch-ready formulations.

• Work with Manufacturing/Operations to ensure formulas are scalable, cost-effective, and manufacturable within existing production capabilities.

• Liaise with Regulatory/QA on labelling, claims substantiation, and safety documentation.

• Support packaging compatibility testing in coordination with the packaging development team.

Leadership & Process

• Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior formulators and R&D associates.

• Help establish and improve R&D processes, documentation standards, and lab protocols as the team and product range scale.

• Contribute to long-term R&D roadmap and innovation pipeline planning.

Requirements

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Cosmetic Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Pharmacy, or a related field.

• Minimum 5–8 years of hands-on formulation experience in cosmetics/personal care, with demonstrated ownership of products from concept through commercial launch.

• Proven experience formulating with natural, naturally-derived, and/or essential oil-based ingredient systems is strongly preferred; aromatherapy or fragrance formulation experience is a strong plus.

• Experience across multiple product categories (skincare, haircare, body care, and/or home fragrance) preferred.

Technical Skills

• Strong working knowledge of cosmetic chemistry: emulsions, surfactant systems, natural preservation/preservative-boosting strategies, rheology, and natural emulsifiers/thickeners.

• Familiarity with essential oil chemistry, blending, and safe usage levels (IFRA guidelines knowledge a plus).

• Working knowledge of ASEAN Cosmetic Directive and/or Singapore HSA cosmetic product notification requirements; familiarity with international regulatory frameworks (EU, US, China) is an advantage.

• Comfortable with stability protocol design, analytical/QC basics, and reading INCI/safety documentation.

• Proficient with formulation costing and understanding manufacturing/scale-up constraints.

Personal Attributes

• Strong sensory evaluation skills (texture, scent, colour, performance) and genuine passion for natural/botanical ingredients.

• Detail-oriented with excellent documentation discipline.

• Able to work independently and take ownership of multiple concurrent projects in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.

• Strong cross-functional communicator, comfortable working closely with sourcing, marketing, and operations teams.

• Interest in sustainability, ethical sourcing, and holistic wellness aligned with Hysses’ brand values.

Location & Work Arrangement

Based at the Hysses Singapore Headquarters / R&D Lab. This is an on-site, lab-based role given the hands-on nature of formulation and bench work.