Glass bottle, vial, green, 18 mm, 30 ml

Glass bottle – a green glass vial with a nominal volume of 30 ml is a small container for facial serums, oils, tinctures, essential oil blends, and trial batches of new formulations. Green glass filters part of the light while still allowing you to see the fill level and colour of the contents. Glass does not react with oils, alcohol, or concentrated fragrance components, so the vial is also suitable for contents that could degrade a plastic container over time. The 18 mm neck thread allows fitting a dropper, pump, or spray top depending on how the contents are to be dispensed.

What the vial is suitable for

• Facial serums and concentrates – the small volume matches the typical usage rate of a leave-on product with active ingredients that is dosed by drops and should not stand open for many months.
• Facial and body oils – glass does not absorb oil or fragrance, so the vial can be reused for a different oil blend after washing without transfer of scent.
• Essential oil blends and fragrance oils – concentrated fragrance components can soften or cloud certain plastics; glass does not have this problem.
• Tinctures and alcohol extracts – alcohol dissolves nothing from glass, so the contents remain clear and clean.
• Samples and test batches – when trying a new formulation, a small quantity is sufficient to prepare and observe how it behaves over time.

Nominal volume and total volume

Nominal volume is the quantity the vial is intended for under normal filling conditions. Total volume to the brim is the physical volume up to the neck and is slightly larger. The difference provides headspace for a dropper or pump that protrudes into the contents when screwed on, and for expansion of the fill with temperature changes. The vial should therefore be filled to the nominal volume, not to the brim. Exact values for both volumes are listed in the product specifications.

Preparation before filling and working with glass

Before first use, the vial is washed with warm water and detergent, rinsed thoroughly, and sanitised with isopropyl alcohol or ethanol. It is important to let it dry completely with the neck facing down, because residual water in an oil-based or anhydrous fill promotes microbial growth. When filling, it is worth using a small funnel to prevent contents from running down the thread.

Glass is resistant to most cosmetic ingredients, but sensitive to sudden temperature changes. A hot oil phase or solution poured immediately after heating should be left to cool to near room temperature before filling. It is equally inadvisable to take the vial from the refrigerator and place it directly into hot water.

Choosing a closure

Closures with the same neck type as specified in the product parameters fit the vial. Ready-made bottle-and-closure combinations as well as individual closures are available in the Handymade range. When assembling your own combination, we recommend verifying seal integrity, dispensing performance, and container behaviour with the specific formulation, especially with thin oils and alcohol extracts that readily seep through an insufficiently tightened thread.

Good to know

Based on technical documentation, the container is suitable for use with cosmetic products. A declaration of conformity is available with the product.

The vial can be used repeatedly. After emptying, it is prepared in the same way as before the first fill. Residual fragrance oils are removed from glass more easily than from plastic, but for strong scents it is worth leaving the vial to air without the cap.

Green glass gives the contents partial light protection, not complete protection. Ingredients sensitive to light, such as vegetable oils with a high proportion of unsaturated fatty acids or vitamin C in solution, are recommended to be stored away from direct sunlight even in a green vial.

A label adheres well to the cylindrical body. Label dimensions are listed in the product parameters; for a small diameter, a narrower label works better and will not overlap itself.

An empty vial belongs in glass recycling. Remove the closure and dropper before disposal, as these are made from different materials.

Frequently asked questions