Glass bottle, vial, square, 10 ml

Glass bottle, vial, square, 10 ml is a small container made of amber glass for cosmetic preparations whose contents need to be protected from light. Amber glass reduces the penetration of both daylight and artificial light, making it especially suitable for serums, facial and nail oils, essential oil blends, tinctures and samples that would deteriorate more quickly in a clear container. The square shape gives the bottle straight walls and a stable base, making it easy to hold and keep upright on a work surface when filling small quantities.

The 10 ml volume is practical for trial batches, travel packaging or preparations that are dispensed drop by drop and used up in small quantities.

Key benefits

• Light protection – amber glass limits light exposure to the contents, which is important for oils, essential oils and active ingredients that light oxidises or discolours more quickly.
• Chemically resistant material – glass does not react with oils, essential oils, alcohol or most cosmetic ingredients, does not absorb scent and does not alter it. It is therefore also suitable for concentrated blends that plastic may not tolerate.
• Flat walls for labelling – on the flat side of a square bottle, a label does not wrinkle or peel as easily as on a cylindrical container with a small diameter.
• Small quantity without waste – 10 ml holds a trial dose of a serum or oil, so a formulation can be tested before a larger batch is produced.
• Reusable – glass can be washed, disinfected and refilled, which saves packaging when producing samples or making your own products.

Filling and volume

The packaging distinguishes between two figures: nominal volume and total volume to the brim. The nominal volume is the quantity for which the bottle is designed under normal filling conditions. The total volume is the physical capacity up to the neck. The difference between them provides headspace for the closure or dropper, which takes up part of the neck space when fitted, as well as room for slight expansion of the contents when the temperature changes.

Oils and serums are most easily filled into the narrow neck using a small funnel or a needleless syringe. Thicker textures such as gels are harder to get through a narrow neck and are better suited to jars.

Closures

The bottle has an 18 mm thread. Closures with the same neck type and ready-made bottle-and-closure combinations are available in the Handymade range. When combining components yourself, we recommend verifying the seal, dispensing performance and compatibility of the packaging with your specific formulation, particularly with essential oils, which can stress the gasket in the closure.

Preparation and use

Before the first fill, the container is washed with warm water, sanitised with izopropylalkohol or etanol and left to dry completely upside down. Residual water in an oil-based preparation promotes microbial growth, even in anhydrous formulations that would otherwise require no preservative.

The same procedure applies when reusing the bottle. Residues of fatty oils are harder to remove from a narrow neck; warm water with washing-up liquid and thorough rinsing help, or a brief soak in alcohol. If the bottle was used for a strongly scented blend, the closure rather than the glass may retain the scent. The closure should therefore be replaced when changing the contents.

Glass is sensitive to sudden temperature changes. Do not pour a hot mixture into a cold bottle and do not place the container straight from the refrigerator into hot water. Amber glass protects against light, not heat, so storing on a sunny windowsill will not benefit the contents even in a dark container.

Good to know

• Amber glass slows light-induced changes but does not replace an antioxidant in an oil formulation or a preservative in a water-based one. For oils prone to oxidation, it is advisable to combine a dark container with vitamin E or another antioxidant.
• When designing the label, account for the corners of the square shape. The label can be applied to one side or wrapped around; dimensions are listed in the product parameters.
• Water-based preparations such as tonics or water-based serums are just as suitable for glass as oils. Without preservation, however, their contents are prone to microbial contamination regardless of the packaging material.
• Glass is fully recyclable; once empty, simply rinse and place in the glass recycling container. The closure should be sorted separately according to its material.

Frequently asked questions