'non-aloe' originates from Modern English, combining the negative prefix 'non-' (from Latin 'non' meaning 'not') with 'aloe' (from Latin 'aloe', ultimately from Greek 'alōē'), where 'non-' meant 'not' and 'aloe' referred to the aloe plant.

'non-' has been a productive prefix in Modern English used to negate nouns and adjectives; 'aloe' entered English from Latin 'aloe', which came from Greek 'alōē' and referred to the plant now called 'aloe'. The compound 'non-aloe' is a recent, transparent formation in English (prefix + noun) used in technical and commercial contexts.

Initially the components simply meant 'not' + 'aloe'; over time the compound has retained this literal meaning and is used specifically to indicate products or materials that do not contain aloe.