Glass bottle, vial 5 ml

A glass 5 ml vial made of amber glass is a small container for samples, essential oils, fragrance blends, and concentrated serums that are dispensed drop by drop or in small amounts. Amber glass limits light penetration, making it particularly suitable for light- and oxidation-sensitive contents: essential and carrier oils, oil serums, tinctures, extracts, and fragrance composition samples. Glass does not react with its contents and does not absorb scent into its walls, so it can hold even concentrated substances that would eventually damage a plastic container. The packaging is suitable for direct contact with cosmetic products as well as for technical purposes such as raw material samples, test batches, and fragrance trials.

What the 5 ml vial is suitable for

• Samples and testers – the small volume is suitable for trial packaging of serums, oils, and fragrance blends for customers, as well as for comparing formula variants before producing a larger batch.
• Essential oils and fragrance blends – amber glass slows down light-induced changes in scent, and aromatic components do not penetrate the walls the way they do with plastic.
• Oil and anhydrous serums – concentrated active ingredients in oil remain more stable in dark glass than in a clear container.
• Tinctures and alcoholic extracts – glass withstands ethanol and high solvent proportions that may damage certain plastics.
• Travel blends and small gifts – a small bottle with a dropper or spray fits in a handbag and works well as a companion to a larger product.

Nominal and total volume

When filling, it is important to distinguish between two volumes. Nominal volume is the amount the vial is intended for during normal filling and the figure stated on the label. Total brim-full volume is the physical capacity up to the neck and is slightly larger. The difference provides clearance for the closure, dropper, or spray pump, which displace some space once fitted, as well as room for the contents to expand with temperature changes. Fill to the nominal volume, not to the brim. An overfilled vial will overflow when the closure is screwed on or will not seal properly.

Closure and neck

The vial has a standard threaded neck, the type of which is specified in the parameters. Closures with the same neck type — caps, droppers, spray pumps, and ready-made bottle-and-closure combinations — are available in the Handymade range. With your own combination, we recommend checking seal integrity and dosing with the specific formulation, especially with essential oils, which can soften the rubber components of some droppers over time.

Preparation, filling, and reuse

Before the first fill, wash the vial with warm water, optionally disinfect with isopropyl alcohol or ethanol, and leave it to dry completely, neck down. Residual water in oily contents promotes microbial growth and cloudiness. Glass is suitable for reuse: after emptying, simply wash the vial, remove traces of oil and scent with ethanol, and disinfect again. Scent traces tend to linger in the neck and thread, so when switching to a markedly different fragrance, it is better to use a new vial.

For labelling, a narrow label for the cylindrical body is suitable; label dimensions are listed in the specifications. With a small diameter, we recommend a label with shorter text or a full wrap-around label.

Good to know

• Light protection is not complete – amber glass limits light penetration, but prolonged exposure to direct sunlight still harms the contents. Store light-sensitive active ingredients in the dark.
• Aqueous contents – the vial can also be used for tonics or hydrolats in sample packaging, but a water-based formulation requires preservation. Glass alone does not protect the contents from microbial growth.
• Weight and fragility – glass is heavier and more fragile than plastic. When shipping, protect the vials individually and account for the package weight when ordering a larger quantity.
• Recycling – this is packaging glass that, once emptied and rinsed, belongs in glass collection.

Frequently asked questions