Trademark Class 3 under the NICE Classification covers non-medicated cosmetics, toiletries, perfumes, soaps, shampoos, skincare, haircare, oral care, fragrances, and household cleaning preparations. It is the most filed class for beauty, personal care, and D2C cosmetic brands in India. The government fee is ₹4,500 per class for individuals, startups, and MSMEs and ₹9,000 per class for companies, LLPs, and partnership firms. Medicated cosmetics, supplements, and therapeutic products are excluded — they fall under Class 5.
If you run a beauty, skincare, fragrance, soap, perfume, or personal-care brand, trademark registration under Class 3 is essential to secure exclusive rights and stop copycats. Some of India’s most recognised brands — Lakmé, Mamaearth, Forest Essentials, Plum, Sugar Cosmetics, Nykaa, Colgate, Dove, Surf Excel, and Mysore Sandal — protect their identity under Class 3, alongside thousands of new D2C beauty startups.
This guide explains Trademark Class 3 in India as per the NICE Classification 13th Edition (NCL 13-2026), effective 1 January 2026. It covers every product included, exclusions, government fees, the step-by-step filing process, and how to plan multi-class protection for your brand.
Trademark Class 3: Quick Facts
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Class Number | 3 |
| Type | Goods |
| Covers | Non-medicated cosmetics, toiletries, soaps, perfumes, haircare, oral care, cleaning preparations |
| Excludes | Medicated cosmetics (Class 5), cosmetic ingredients (Class 1), electric beauty devices (Class 11), cosmetic tools (Class 8/21) |
| Governing Law | Trade Marks Act, 1999 |
| Classification System | NICE Classification (12th Edition, version 2026) |
| Filing Form | Form TM-A |
| Government Fee | ₹4,500 (individual / startup / MSME) or ₹9,000 (company / LLP) per class |
| Validity | 10 years from the date of filing |
| Renewal | Form TM-R, renewable indefinitely every 10 years |
| Filing Mode | Online via the IP India e-filing portal |
Overview of Trademark Class 3 in India
Trademark Class 3 in India covers non-medicated personal care, beauty, fragrance, hygiene, and non-industrial cleaning products. It operates under the Trade Marks Act, 1999, which governs trademark protection in India. It also aligns with global classification standards set by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) for international brand protection.
With the D2C beauty boom and the rise of clean-beauty labels, businesses increasingly file trademarks in Class 3 to secure brand identity and prevent imitation.
Trademark Class 3 helps you:
- Prevent competitors or counterfeiters from using similar names, logos, or labels.
- Ensure others cannot register identical or confusingly similar marks in Class 3 or related categories.
- Provide a solid foundation to take action against imitation, counterfeiting, or misuse.
- Enable expansion of your product range and entry into new markets under the same trademark.
- Build a recognizable brand image, inspiring customer confidence and loyalty.
- Establish your products as safe, reliable, and high-quality, boosting overall market reputation.
- Offer opportunities for brand licensing or franchising, creating additional revenue streams.
Who Should File Under Trademark Class 3?
You should register your trademark under Class 3 if you manufacture, sell, or distribute:
- Cosmetics and makeup products
- Perfumes, essential oils, or aromatic products
- Skincare and haircare products
- Soaps, deodorants, bath products, and other toiletries
- Toothpastes, mouthwashes, denture care, or other oral hygiene products
- Household cleaners, polishes, and laundry products
- Pet care, grooming, or cosmetic products
Goods Included in Trademark Class 3
Trademark Class 3, under the 13th edition of the Nice Classification (NCL 13-2026), spans 9 major product groups. Below is a detailed breakdown:
1. Toiletries and Personal Care Products
These products support daily hygiene, grooming, and personal care routines.
| Category | Details |
| Toiletries & Personal Care | Toilet soaps, antiperspirant soaps, almond soaps, deodorant soaps, cakes of soap |
| Bath & Body Preparations | Bath preparations (non-medical), bath salts (non-medical), cosmetic bath products, shower gels, body washes |
| Cotton & Wipes Products | Cotton wool, cotton swabs, tissues impregnated with cosmetic lotions, and make-up removing wipes |
| False Lashes & Nails | False eyelashes, false nails, and adhesives for affixing false eyelashes and false nails |
| Nail Care Products | Nail varnish, nail polish, nail polish removers, nail care preparations |
| Cosmetic Creams & Gels | Cosmetic creams, non-medicated balms, cosmetic greases, massage gels (non-medical) |
| Talc & Deodorants | Talcum powder for toilet use, deodorants for personal use, and antiperspirants for human use |
Examples: Dove, Pears, Lux, Cinthol, Santoor, Fiama, Nivea, Mysore Sandal.
2. Cosmetics and Makeup
Class 5 trademark includes products that enhance appearance, style, and personal grooming.
| Category | Details |
| Lip Products | Lipsticks, lip glosses, non-medicated lip balms, lipstick cases |
| Base Makeup | Foundations, BB creams, CC creams, concealers, make-up powder, blush, highlighters, contour kits |
| Eye Makeup | Mascara, eyeliner, eyebrow pencils, eyebrow cosmetics, kajal, kohl |
| Cosmetic Tools & Kits | Cosmetic pencils, cosmetic kits, cosmetic dyes, henna for cosmetic use |
| Nail & Decorative Cosmetics | Decorative transfers for cosmetic purposes, nail art stickers, cosmetic preparations for slimming |
| Cleansing & Makeup Removal | Make-up preparations, make-up removing preparations, cleansing wipes (non-medicated) |
| Cosmetic Adhesives | Adhesives for cosmetic purposes |
Examples: Lakmé, Maybelline, MAC, Sugar Cosmetics, Nykaa Cosmetics, Renee Cosmetics, Faces Canada, L’Oréal Paris, Revlon.
3. Skincare
This category encompasses non-medicated products used for cleansing, styling, colouring, and treating hair.
| Category | Details |
| Face Care | Face creams, moisturizers, anti-aging creams, night creams, day creams |
| Body Care | Body lotions, body butters, body milk, hand creams, foot creams |
| Sun Protection | Sunscreen preparations, sun-tanning preparations |
| Face Masks | Beauty masks, sheet masks, peel-off masks, clay masks |
| Cleansers & Toners | Cleansing milks, facial cleansers, face washes, toners, serums (non-medicated) |
| Cosmetic Natural Bases | Petroleum jelly for cosmetic purposes, aloe vera preparations for cosmetic purposes, and almond milk for cosmetic purposes |
| Treatment Cosmetics | Astringents for cosmetic purposes, skin whitening creams, and brightening creams |
Examples: Mamaearth, Plum, Minimalist, Dot & Key, The Derma Co, Forest Essentials, Biotique, Olay, Pond’s, Neutrogena.
4. Haircare and Hair Oils
Class 3 covers all non-medicated haircare products. Medicated and Ayurvedic-claim hair oils fall under Class 5.
| Category | Details |
| Hair Oils | Almond oil, coconut oil, argan oil, onion oil, amla oil, bhringraj oil (non-medicated cosmetic use) |
| Hair Cleansing | Shampoos, dry shampoos, hair conditioners |
| Hair Color | Hair dyes, hair colorants, beard dyes, henna for hair |
| Styling Products | Hair sprays, hair gels, hair mousses, hair styling creams |
| Hair Treatments | Hair lotions, hair tonics, hair waving preparations, hair straightening preparations |
| Finishing Products | Bleaching preparations for hair, pomades for cosmetic purposes, moustache wax, beard wax, neutralisers for permanent waving |
Examples: Parachute, Bajaj Almond Drops, Dabur Amla, Pantene, Garnier, Schwarzkopf, TRESemmé, Streax, BBLUNT.
5. Shaving and Depilatory Products
This category includes grooming products used for shaving, pre-shave preparation, and hair removal.
| Category | Details |
| Shaving Preparations | Shaving foams, shaving gels, shaving creams, shaving soap, shaving preparations |
| After & Pre Shave | After-shave lotions, pre-shaving preparations |
| Hair Removal | Depilatory waxes, depilatory creams, hair removal preparations (non-medicated) |
| Supporting Tools | Alum stones, shaving stones (astringents for cosmetic purposes), pastes for razor strops |
Examples: Gillette, Veet, Bombay Shaving Company, Beardo, The Man Company, Ustraa, Letsshave, Old Spice, Nivea Men.
6. Perfumery and Fragrances
The trademark class for perfume covers personal fragrances, aromatic extracts, and room fragrances.
| Category | Details |
| Perfumes | Perfumes, eau de cologne, eau de toilette, eau de parfum |
| Fragrant Waters | Scented water, toilet water, lavender water, rose water for cosmetic use |
| Essential Oils | Rose, jasmine, lavender, sandalwood, mint, bergamot, almond, cedarwood, lemon, citron, geraniol, ionone |
| Perfume Bases | Bases for flower perfumes, extracts of flowers, ethereal oils, ethereal essences |
| Incense & Aroma | Incense, joss sticks, potpourris, sachets for perfuming linen |
| Air Fragrance | Room fragrancing preparations, air fragrancing preparations (vehicle air fresheners fall under Class 4) |
Examples: Fogg, Engage, Wild Stone, Park Avenue, Set Wet, Yardley, Denver, Bella Vita Luxury, Skinn by Titan, Calvin Klein, Bvlgari, Jo Malone, Davidoff.
7. Oral Hygiene Products
Class 3 includes non-medicated products used for cleaning, whitening, and freshening teeth and the mouth.
| Category | Details |
| Tooth Cleaning | Dentifrices, toothpastes (non-medicated), tooth gels, tooth powders |
| Mouth Fresheners | Mouthwashes (non-medical), oral rinses, breath freshening sprays, breath freshening strips |
| Whitening Products | Dental bleaching gels, tooth whitening preparations (cosmetic) |
| Denture Care | Denture polishes, preparations for cleaning dentures |
Examples: Colgate, Close-Up, Pepsodent, Oral-B, Sensodyne (cosmetic range), Aquafresh, Perfora, Promise.
8. Cleaning, Laundry, and Household Products
Non-industrial cleaning, polishing, and laundry preparations for home, vehicle, and surface use are all covered under Class 3.
| Category | Details |
| Surface Cleaning | Cleaning preparations, all-purpose cleaners, floor cleaners, glass cleaners |
| Laundry Care | Laundry detergents, fabric softeners, laundry bleach, laundry starch, soap for brightening textiles, laundry blueing |
| Dishwashing & Stain Removal | Stain removers, scouring solutions, dishwashing liquids, and drying agents for dishwashing machines |
| Polishing Products | Floor wax, furniture polish, flooring polish, shoe polish, shoe cream, leather creams, waxes for leather |
| Household Maintenance | Degreasers (non-industrial), non-slipping wax for floors, non-slipping liquids for floors |
| Vehicle Cleaning | Vehicle cleaning preparations, windscreen cleaning liquids, car wax, and car polish |
| Abrasives | Abrasive paper, sandpaper, polishing stones, pumice stone, polishing creams, polishing wax |
| Drain Care | Preparations for unblocking drain pipes, scale-removing preparations for household purposes |
Examples: Surf Excel, Tide, Ariel, Vim, Pril, Comfort, Godrej Ezee, Kiwi, Mr. Muscle, Genteel, Cinthol Magnet, Ujala.
9. Pet Care and Animal Grooming Products
This category includes non-medicated grooming and hygiene products used for animals.
| Category | Details |
| Pet Cleaning | Shampoos for pets, dry shampoos for pets |
| Pet Fragrance | Deodorants for pets, pet colognes, pet fragrances |
| Pet Grooming | Cosmetics for animals, animal grooming preparations |
| Pet Conditioning | Conditioners for pets, detangling sprays for pets |
Examples: Captain Zack, Beaphar, Wahl, PetSutra, Wiggles, Heads Up For Tails, Furrendz, Bark Out Loud, Drools.
Items Not Covered Under Trademark Class 3
While Class 3 trademark covers a wide range of cosmetics, personal-care, and cleaning products, some items do not fall under this class and belong to other trademark classes. Filing in the wrong class can delay registration, limit your legal protection, and expose your brand to disputes. These include:
- Medicinal or pharmaceutical products, such as medicated creams, ointments, or therapeutic gels (Class 5)
- Dietary supplements, vitamins, and health tonics (Class 5)
- Devices or tools for applying cosmetics, like electric facial brushes or hair straighteners (Class 8 or 9)
- Perfumed candles, incense sticks for ritual purposes, and vehicle air fresheners (Class 4)
- Household cleaning machines, vacuum cleaners, or laundry appliances (Class 7 or 11)
- Essential oils for food flavoring or beverages (Class 30 or 32)
- Fabric applicators or cosmetic brushes sold separately without cosmetic content (Class 21)
As soon as products like soaps, perfumes, or shampoos become medicinal, ingestible, or equipment-based, they move to a different class. This is why brands like Himalaya, Dabur, and L’Oréal often file their trademarks across multiple classes.
How to Register a Trademark in Class 3?
Here is the step-by-step process to secure your trademark Class 3 and avoid legal issues:
1. Trademark Search: Check if your desired brand name or logo is available in Class 3 using the IP India database or a free trademark search tool. This helps avoid conflicts with existing cosmetic, soap, perfume, or personal-care marks.
2. Application Filing: Select the type of trademark (wordmark, logo, or symbol), list your Class 3 goods, and file the application with IP India along with required documents and fees (₹4,500 for individuals/startups or ₹9,000 for companies/LLPs).
3. Examination Stage: The Trademark Office reviews your application for legality, clarity, and similarity with existing marks. They may accept it, reject it, or raise trademark objections that must be answered within the deadline.
4. Journal Publication: Once accepted, the mark is published in the Trademark Journal for a 4-month opposition period, during which third parties can challenge it. If unopposed or successfully defended, it proceeds further.
5. Registration & Renewal: If approved, you receive a registration certificate and can use the ® symbol. The trademark remains valid for 10 years and must be renewed every decade to maintain protection.
A class 3 trademark registration typically takes 12–18 months if there are no objections or oppositions.
Trademark Classes Similar to Class 3
Many cosmetic and personal-care brands operate across multiple categories. Class 3 alone does not fully protect your brand, so you often need to file in related classes as well. These include:
| Trademark Class | What It Covers | Why It Matters for Class 3 Brands |
| Class 1 | Raw chemicals, cosmetic ingredients, preservatives, antioxidants, vitamins | File if you manufacture or supply cosmetic ingredients to other businesses (B2B). |
| Class 4 | Candles, scented candles, car air fresheners, and industrial oils | Protect fragrance extensions like candles or car perfumes that Class 3 does not cover. |
| Class 5 | Medicated cosmetics, therapeutic creams, medicated soaps, supplements | File if you make Ayurvedic, antibacterial, or medicinal skincare or haircare products. |
| Class 8 | Grooming tools like razors, scissors, tweezers, manicure/pedicure instruments | Protect non-electric personal grooming tools sold under your brand. |
| Class 11 | Hair dryers, facial steamers, and electric beauty devices | Cover electronic beauty and skincare appliances. |
| Class 18 | Cosmetic bags, toiletry kits, vanity cases, travel pouches | Protect packaging accessories and premium cosmetic storage products. |
| Class 21 | Makeup brushes, sponges, applicators, combs, dispensers | Cover cosmetic tools and accessories used with beauty products. |
| Class 35 | E-commerce, retail, marketing, and online selling platforms | Essential if you sell on Amazon, Nykaa, Flipkart, or your own website. |
| Class 41 | Beauty training, courses, tutorials, academies | File if you run beauty education programs or online courses. |
| Class 44 | Salons, spas, skincare clinics, wellness services | Protect physical beauty and personal-care service businesses. |
Mapping your brand across the right classes can get complex, especially when one product line includes cosmetics, tools, packaging, and online sales. RegisterKaro’s trademark experts identify all the classes you need and manage the entire filing process from search to registration. Get in touch with us today to secure complete trademark protection for your cosmetics and fragrance brands!
