Sample Vials

Small Glass Vials with Caps for Samples, Oils, and Fragrance

What small glass vials are used for

A glass vial is a small container that holds a few drops or a few milliliters of liquid. Small glass vials are used for perfume samples, essential oil blends, serum trial sizes, tincture samples, lab samples, and product testers in a sample card or a discovery set. Beauty, fragrance, wellness, and home brands buy empty vials to fill at their own site. A vial is small, light, and easy to mail, so it works well for a trial offer, a gift with purchase, or a subscription insert. Glass looks clean, does not take on the smell of the contents, and can be recycled.

Sizes and how to measure

Vials are sold by the volume they hold. Common sizes are 1 ml, 2 ml, 3 ml, 5 ml, 10 ml, 15 ml, and 20 ml. The 2 ml glass vials are the most popular size for fragrance samples, and 5 ml and 10 ml suit oils and serum trials. Check the total height with the cap on, because that sets the size of your sample card or box. Measure the vial diameter and the area for a label. The cap must match the neck of the vial, so send us the size you want and we confirm the match.

Example sizes (approximate and for reference only; we confirm the exact size before you order):

• 2 ml: about 0.5 in wide x 1.3 in tall with cap
• 3 ml: about 0.6 in wide x 1.5 in tall with cap
• 5 ml: about 0.8 in wide x 1.8 in tall with cap
• 10 ml: about 0.9 in wide x 2.4 in tall with cap
• 20 ml: about 1.1 in wide x 3 in tall with cap

Glass, colors, and caps

Vials come in clear glass, which shows the color of the liquid, and in amber glass, which blocks more light. Glass vials with caps use a screw cap in black or white, often with a liner that seals the neck. Other caps include a cork top, a rubber stopper with an aluminum crimp, a dropper cap, and a plain snap cap. A screw cap suits samples and repeat use, and a crimp cap suits a sealed vial. Tell us how your customer will use the vial and we suggest the best match. We confirm the vial and cap match on the proof.

Printing, coating, and finishes

Custom glass vials can carry a logo in several ways. A pressure sensitive label gives full color and room for text, and a small label wraps around the vial neatly. Screen printing puts one or two colors straight on the glass. Hot stamp foil in gold or silver gives a sharp metallic mark. Custom vials can be printed with the same design on every vial, or left plain if you prefer to label them yourself. Because vials are small, a short name or a single mark works better than a long line of text.

Labeling notes

If your vial holds a skincare, fragrance, or essential oil product, the label must carry the text that the law requires for your product, such as ingredients, net contents, and warnings. A small vial has little room, so plan a short label or a larger sample card. You supply the text and the layout, and we print what you send. We do not write or check label text or claims, so please have your final label reviewed by a person who knows the rules for your product.

Artwork and dieline

We send a free dieline that shows the print area on your vial, or the size of your label. Supply artwork as a vector AI or PDF file with fonts outlined and images at 300 DPI in CMYK. Screen print and foil designs work best as single color vector files. If you have no artwork yet, free design support and a free consultation are included, and our team can help lay out the logo and the text from your brand colors. You review and approve the artwork before production starts.

How to order custom glass vials

1. Choose your vial size, glass color, and cap.
2. Send your quantity, starting at 5,000 units.
3. Receive your free dieline and add your artwork, or ask for help.
4. Review and approve the artwork and the cap match.
5. Production takes 25 to 30 business days after artwork approval.
6. Your order ships free to one U.S. address.

The final price depends on vial size, glass color, cap type, printing, finishing, and quantity. The 5,000 unit minimum suits a first launch and a bulk order alike, and glass vials wholesale orders in one size can share a single dieline across several products.

What comes with every order

• Free shipping to one U.S. address
• Free thank-you cards equal to the units ordered
• Free design support, free dieline, and free consultation
• Orders start at 5,000 units
• Eco-friendly materials sourced from certified suppliers