Class 3 covers non-medicated cosmetics, toiletries, perfumery, and cleaning preparations. The word "non-medicated" is the dividing line: medicated soaps, disinfectant soaps, antibacterial soaps, and medicated shampoos were moved to Class 5 under the 11th edition. As of the 13th edition (January 2026), essential oils are further split by intended use across Classes 1, 3, 5, and 29.
In This Article
Class 3 is home to most of the beauty and personal care industry — but it's narrower than "cosmetics" as a category feels in everyday language. The class draws a hard line around medical claims, and a product that crosses that line, even slightly, moves somewhere else entirely, regardless of how similar it looks on the shelf.
What Class 3 Actually Covers
The official heading is "Non-medicated cosmetics and toiletry preparations; non-medicated dentifrices; perfumery, essential oils; bleaching preparations and other substances for laundry use; cleaning, polishing, scouring and abrasive preparations." In practice, that spans:
- Skincare, makeup, and personal care products
- Shampoos, soaps, and toothpaste — all non-medicated versions
- Perfumes, deodorants for humans and animals, and essential oils for cosmetic use
- Household cleaning products, detergents, and laundry preparations
- Polishing and abrasive products — shoe polish, furniture polish, metal polish
The Word That Decides Everything: Non-Medicated
Under the 11th edition of the Nice Classification, "medicated soap" and "disinfectant soap" were specifically transferred out of Class 3 and into Class 5, and "antibacterial soap," "medicated toiletry preparations," and "medicated shampoos" were added to Class 5's list. If your product identification doesn't specify medicated, antibacterial, or disinfectant, it's generally presumed non-medicated and classified in Class 3 — but to avoid an ambiguity objection, it's worth being explicit about which one your product actually is.
What's Commonly Mistaken for Class 3
| Often Assumed to Be Class 3 | Actual Class |
|---|---|
| Medicated soap, antibacterial soap, medicated shampoo | Class 5 |
| Make-up brushes, cleaning cloths and rags | Class 21 |
| Nail files, emery boards (hand tools) | Class 8 |
| Massage candles for therapeutic purposes | Class 5 (cosmetic-purpose candles remain Class 3) |
| Industrial oils, waxes, and lubricants | Class 4 |
| Beauty and salon services (the service itself) | Class 44 |
Swipe to see all columns
The 2026 Essential Oils Split
The Nice Classification's 13th edition, effective January 1, 2026, redistributed essential oils based on their intended use rather than treating them as a single Class 3 category. Essential oils for cosmetic purposes remain in Class 3. Those intended for manufacturing use move to Class 1. Those for therapeutic or aromatherapy purposes move to Class 5. Those for food use move to Class 29.
If you're filing an essential-oil product registered before this change, or filing a new one now, it's worth checking which of these four categories your specific use case actually falls into, rather than assuming Class 3 covers all essential oils the way it once did.
Who Typically Files in Class 3
Cosmetics brands, skincare lines, perfume houses, personal care product makers, and household cleaning product manufacturers all typically file here. Businesses that also offer beauty or salon services alongside their product line often need Class 44 as well, since the physical products and the services rendered to customers are classified separately — a product-and-service business needs both. Before filing in either class, it's worth running a free trademark search to confirm your chosen name isn't already registered or applied for within Class 3 or a related class.
Cost for Class 3
The government fee is the same as for any other class: ₹4,500 per class for individuals, sole proprietors, DPIIT-recognised startups, and MSMEs filing online, or ₹9,000 per class for companies and other entities. If your product line spans both Class 3 (products) and Class 44 (services), that's two separate government fee payments. Our cost calculator can total this up for your specific combination.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not Sure If Your Product Needs Class 3, 5, or Both?
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