Siang Pure Formula 1 is the warming oil; Formula 2 is the cooling one. Formula 1 is the original amber oil in the red box, with cinnamon and clove giving it heat. Formula 2 is a clear oil in the white box, lighter in scent and led by menthol. The maker lists the same uses for both, so the choice is really about which feel you prefer.
Siang Pure is one of the most recognised Thai medicated oils in Singapore, searched around 1,000 times a month here. It is made by Bertram (1958) Co., Ltd., a Thai company founded in 1958, and the whole range divides on those two formulas. Buyers who come to us usually know which formula they want before they know which format, so this guide takes them in that order.
Formula 1 vs Formula 2 at a glance
| Formula 1 | Formula 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pack | Red box, amber oil | White box, clear oil |
| Active ingredients | 86% | 82.5% |
| Key oils (per the maker) | Peppermint, camphor, cinnamon, clove | Peppermint oil, clove oil, menthol |
| Feel | Warming, spicy | Cooling, lighter scent |
| Listed uses | Insect bites, muscle aches, stomach discomfort, dizziness, feeling faint | |
What Formula 1 is
Formula 1 is the original Siang Pure oil, the amber liquid in the red box that most people picture when they hear the name. Bertram lists peppermint, camphor, cinnamon and clove as its key components, at 86% active ingredients. The cinnamon and clove are what make it feel warm on the skin and give it that spicy, slightly sweet smell.
People tend to reach for Formula 1 for stiff muscles, an unsettled stomach rubbed on the belly, or a mosquito bite. It is the one older users grew up with.
What Formula 2 is
Formula 2 came later, as a clear oil in a white box, and the maker positioned it for younger buyers. Bertram lists peppermint oil, clove oil and menthol as its key components, at 82.5% active ingredients. Leading with menthol makes it feel cool rather than warm, and the scent is lighter, so it suits people who find Formula 1 too strong to wear in an office or on the MRT.
It is the natural pick for a headache rubbed on the temples, or for feeling dizzy or queasy on a long car ride.
Which one should you buy?
- Choose Formula 1 if you want warmth: a stiff neck, sore muscles after exercise, or the traditional smell you already know.
- Choose Formula 2 if you want a cool, lighter oil you can use in public, mainly for headaches, dizziness or travel.
- Not sure? Formula 2 is the gentler place to start. You can always move up to Formula 1.
Either way, keep it away from the eyes, do not put it on broken skin, and wash your hands after use.
The four formats, explained
The same formulas come in several packs, and they are genuinely different products at different prices.
The 5 cc ball tip
A metal roller bottle. You roll the oil straight onto the skin, so there is no tipping and no spills in a bag, which is why it outsells every other Siang Pure format in our orders. It comes in Formula 1 (gold cap), Formula 2 (silver cap) and a separate eucalyptus scent.
The 3 cc plain oil
The traditional small glass bottle with no roller. You tip a drop onto a fingertip. It is the cheapest way to buy Siang Pure and the format older users are used to.
The 12 g balm
A rub rather than an oil, in two versions. The red pack holds what Bertram calls the Yellow Balm, the hot formula with methyl salicylate. The white pack holds the White Balm, the cool formula led by menthol. The hot one warms slowly; the cool one feels cold straight away.
The Formula 2 inhaler
A pocket nasal inhaler for a blocked nose or dizziness, made in Formula 2 only. You breathe it in; you do not put it on the skin. If you are new to Thai inhalers, our guide to what yadom is explains how the stick formats work.
One thing that causes mix-ups
When someone asks for "a dozen Siang Pure in each colour", they almost always mean the 5 cc ball tip in gold and silver, not the 3 cc plain oil. The two look alike in a photo but are different products at different prices. If you are ordering for a shop, name the format as well as the formula.
Buying Siang Pure in Singapore
Siang Pure is sold in provision shops, Thai supermarkets, some pharmacies and online. Check that the box is the Bertram original with the founder's portrait on the label. If you run a shop, we import the full range direct from Hat Yai and list every format on the Siang Pure wholesale page, alongside the other lines on our Thai medicated oil range.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between Siang Pure Formula 1 and 2?
Formula 1 is the original warming amber oil, with peppermint, camphor, cinnamon and clove at 86% active ingredients. Formula 2 is a clear, cooler oil led by peppermint oil, clove oil and menthol at 82.5% active ingredients.
Which Siang Pure is stronger?
Formula 1 has the higher stated active content, 86% against 82.5%, and feels stronger because of its warmth and spicier smell.
Is the white Siang Pure oil Formula 2?
Yes. Formula 2 is the clear oil sold in the white box. Formula 1 is the amber oil in the red box.
What is Siang Pure oil used for?
The maker lists insect bites, muscle aches, stomach discomfort, dizziness and feeling faint for both formulas.
What is the Siang Pure ball tip?
A 5 cc metal roller bottle of Siang Pure oil, in Formula 1 (gold cap), Formula 2 (silver cap) or eucalyptus. It rolls onto the skin without spilling.