Petroleum Jelly:Snow White vs Ultra Snow White

When purchasing petroleum jelly for cosmetic, pharmaceutical or personal-care manufacturing, buyers may come across different grades such as White Petroleum Jelly, Snow White Petroleum Jelly and Ultra Snow White Petroleum Jelly.

At first glance, the difference may appear to be simply the color. In reality, the terminology can also reflect differences in refining level, color specification, purity and technical performance.

What Is Snow White Petroleum Jelly?

Snow White Petroleum Jelly is a highly refined petroleum jelly with a very light or white appearance and controlled color, odor and consistency.

In some industry standards, snow-white petroleum jelly is distinguished from white petroleum jelly by its degree of decolorization. For example, the Zambian standard defines snow-white petroleum jelly as completely decolourised petroleum jelly, while white petroleum jelly is defined as partially decolourised.

Snow White Petroleum Jelly is commonly used as a base material in:

• Cosmetics and skincare products
• Lip balms
• Baby-care products
• Pharmaceutical ointments
• Personal-care formulations
• Selected industrial applications

Commercial products can be supplied in several consistency grades, meaning that two Snow White Petroleum Jelly products may have different penetration, melting or congealing points while both are sold under the same general grade name.

What Is Ultra Snow White Petroleum Jelly?

Ultra Snow White Petroleum Jelly generally refers to a petroleum jelly that has been refined and processed to achieve an especially low color and high degree of purity.

However, “Ultra Snow White” is primarily a commercial grade designation rather than a single globally fixed standard. Some suppliers use it for their highest-purity or lowest-color petroleum jelly, while others may use names such as Super Snow White for a similar product.

For example, one commercially available Ultra Snow White specification lists a Lovibond color of 0.3–0.5, while another supplier’s Super Snow White grade specifies an even lower color range.

This is why an international buyer should always request the product’s TDS and batch COA.

Snow White vs Ultra Snow White Petroleum Jelly

The main differences generally relate to the degree of color control and refining, but the exact difference depends on the manufacturer.

The table should be treated as a general industry comparison rather than a universal specification. Actual values can differ significantly between suppliers.

Is Ultra Snow White More Pure Than Snow White?

It can be, but the grade name alone does not prove it.

Some manufacturers position Ultra Snow White as their highest-purity petroleum jelly, with tighter color and purity specifications. For example, commercially published specifications for Ultra Snow White products can include very low Lovibond color values and controlled penetration, melting and congealing properties.

But another supplier may use “Snow White” for a product that already meets a very high purity specification.

Therefore, instead of asking only:

“Is this Ultra Snow White?”

a professional buyer should ask:

“What are the actual specifications of this grade?”

Color: One of the Main Differences

Color is often the most visible distinction between different petroleum jelly grades.

Lovibond color measurements are commonly used to quantify the color of petroleum-derived products. Published commercial specifications show that Snow White and Ultra/Super Snow White products can have different color ranges.

For applications where the appearance of the finished product is important, a lower color value may be desirable.

This can be particularly relevant for:

• White creams
• Premium skincare products
• Lip-care products
• Pharmaceutical ointment bases
• Baby-care products
• Products where color neutrality is important

Does Ultra Snow White Have a Different Melting Point?

Not necessarily.

Melting or congealing point depends on the specific composition and grade of the petroleum jelly, not simply whether it is called Snow White or Ultra Snow White.

For example, published Ultra Snow White specifications can show drop melting points around 56–61°C, while other Snow White petroleum jelly grades can have different ranges depending on their consistency grade.

This is why buyers should not select petroleum jelly based on color alone.

What About Penetration and Consistency?

Penetration is another important specification when comparing petroleum jelly products.

It indicates the consistency or firmness of the material under a defined test method. A lower penetration value generally indicates a firmer material, while a higher value indicates a softer consistency.

Commercial Snow White and Ultra Snow White products can be offered in different penetration ranges. For example, one published Ultra Snow White specification gives a penetration range of 110–150 at 25°C, while other petroleum jelly grades are available with substantially different consistency ranges.

For manufacturers, matching penetration to the formulation or production process can therefore be more important than simply choosing the “whitest” product.

Which Grade Should Buyers Choose?

There is no universal answer.

The appropriate grade depends on the final application and the technical requirements of the buyer.

Choose Snow White Petroleum Jelly when:

• A highly refined white petroleum jelly is required
• The application does not require the lowest possible color specification
• The product specification meets the formulation requirements
• The buyer wants a suitable balance between technical requirements and purchasing cost

Consider Ultra Snow White when:

• Very low color is important
• The application requires a highly refined petroleum jelly
• A premium cosmetic appearance is required
• The buyer has tighter purity or color specifications
• The supplier can provide documentation supporting the required specification

For pharmaceutical applications, the important consideration is not the commercial name alone. The product should meet the specific pharmacopoeial or regulatory requirements applicable to the intended use, supported by appropriate documentation.

Petroleum Jelly Supply from Iran

For buyers sourcing Iran petroleum jelly, the same principle applies: compare the complete specification of the offered grade and request the relevant technical documentation before placing a bulk order.

Faragam Paraffin supplies White and Snow White Petroleum Jelly for international B2B buyers, with product specifications and export packaging available according to customer requirements.

Contact Faragam Paraffin for current petroleum jelly grades, specifications, packaging and bulk supply options.