Product Containers for Small Businesses with Little Storage

Updated: January 18, 2024

Tried and Tested Product Containers

In each section read about the product containers I use and get a link to a dedicated list of suppliers and container options for that category. You’ll also get a few tips, too!💚

Product Container Categories

• Cosmetic Jars
• Cosmetic Tubes & Tins
• Product Containers for Body, Face & Lip Serums & Mists
• Aromatherapy Containers: Reducer Bottles, Rollers, Misters, & Inhalers
• Travel Containers
• Minis for Product Samples & Gift-Giving
• Storage for Infusions, Glycerites, & Hydrosols
• 💚Some Extra Tips – Presentation, Sealing, Labeling, and More
• More non-Container Favorites (separate post)

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Sourcing Product Containers on Amazon

For the most part, I tend to rely on Amazon for my bottles, jars, and other product containers. I don’t have a lot of storage space, so the boxes of containers I get from Amazon, not to mention the shipping speed, make this an easy choice for me.

Since I ship product to clients, I want to ensure that the containers I use don’t leak, allow full access to the product inside, and that they can be repurposed when empty.

I support small businesses whenever I can, so you’ll find most of the product containers discussed below are sold by small businesses.

If you are looking for bulk suppliers Glass Bottle Outlet (who also have a storefront on Amazon) and ULine are good options.

Cosmetic Jars

Glass Jars

My most used product containers are the 1/2oz (15ml) glass jars from Vivaplex. My favorite is the green glass—if I could find all my product containers in green I would be very happy!

Vivaplex also carries these in clear and amber and in 1oz (30ml) and 2oz (60ml) sizes. I love that these jars come with an inner seal, which is a lovely touch for gifting or selling a butter, salve, balm, or rich emulsified cream.

Juvitus has some nice, standard 1/2oz (15ml), 1oz (30ml), and 2oz (60ml) amber and clear glass jars. For my personal use, I go for these basic jars, since I sanitize and refill them (clients get the fancier inner seal!).

PET Plastic Jars

When using a product around a tub or shower, I prefer PET plastic containers. This is the only time I go with a larger 4oz jar as I am typically using them for bath additives, like herbal salts, oatmeal-herbal bath teas, or oil-based sugar scrubs. Juvitus has some very nice PET BPA-free jars in fun colors: green (my fav!), amber, cobalt blue, white, clear, and even purple!

Find all these and more on my Product Containers idea list on Amazon.

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Cosmetic Tubes & Tins

Lip Balms & Glosses

For lip balms, I generally use the standard roll-up lip balm container. My favorites are the Mary Taylor lip balm tubes which are BPA-free and made in the USA. For beginner lip balm makers, I highly recommend their complete kit which includes the tubes, a lip balm tray for ease of filling, and a scraper to remove any over-pour.

For packaging softer, more luxurious lip balms, the slide top tin is my preference.

And for even softer lip gels and glosses, I use a syringe to fill a squeeze-type lip gloss container.

Salves for Body

When packaging skin soothing salves or first aid balms for use while camping or hiking, I prefer round screw top tins.

These also, by the way, make excellent portable candle cases for melt and pour beeswax candles.

All of my favorite product containers for Balms and Salves can be found on my Amazon idea list.

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Product Containers for Body, Face & Lip Serums & Mists

One of my favorite skincare products is the serum—facial serums and after-bath body serums.

Lip and Facial Serums

For facial serums I prefer a colored glass bottle with a drop dispenser. I blend my personal facial serum blends, which I know my skin loves, right into a 1oz (30ml) or 2oz (60ml) green or amber dropper bottle.

When trying out a new serum, or providing one to someone for the first time, I generally use a 1/3oz (10ml) or 1/2oz (15ml) dropper bottle. Vivaplex has them in clear, amber, green, blue, and a fun variety pack!

The tiny 2ml, 3ml, and 4ml droppers are great for travel or if your face needs a little TLC mid-day. They’re perfect for slipping into a bag or desk drawer, too. And they also come in a variety of jewel-tone colored glass.

Since a single drop is all that’s needed, I use the mini droppers for lip serums. I also use a small roller bottle for lip serums—the roll-on option is especially good for travel as you’ll avoid finger to lip contact.

Body Oils and Serums

For ease of application of after-bath body serums, I recommend a 2oz amber glass bottle with treatment pump. I also use these for handcrafted lotions.

The treatment pump reduces oxygen exposure and potential contamination from skin contact. I’ve never had in issue with the pumping action and the custom fit straw means you can cut it to go all the way to the bottom of the bottle!

A 1oz bottle with a treatment pump is great for handcrafted hand cleansers and sanitizers. So far I’ve not experienced any leakage issues with these more liquid products. The small sturdy bottles are perfect to slip into bags and backpacks.

For a face mist or body spray, I always prefer amber glass. And because these are water-based, and being applied directly to my skin, I prefer to use a spray bottle no larger than 2oz so that it is used up quickly. For travel I prefer a 10ml atomizer.

All the containers I use for Serums & Mists are in my Amazon idea list.

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Aromatherapy Containers: Reducer Bottles, Rollers, Misters, & Inhalers

Essential Oil Bottles

I can never have enough 5ml essential oil bottles with reducers. Aromatics International has my favorite green bottles which I especially love for my Seasonal Scent essential oil blends.

For every-day and aromatherapeutic stock blends I typically use 5ml amber bottles. Occasionally, I will make a favorite stock blend in a 10ml bottle which holds about 200 drops of essential oil.

Roll-Ons

When it comes to aromatherapy roll-ons, I prefer rollers with stainless steel balls rather than plastic. I find stainless steel rolls consistently, while plastic balls tend to get a bit gummy over time. You can find them in amber, green, cobalt blue, and clear, and in sizes ranging from 1ml to 10ml.

For testing out an aromatherapy roll-on blend I like to use the 3ml or 5ml size. And the tiny 1ml steel ball rollers are fun to give as sample sizes or to refill with your favorite aromatic stock roll-on blend and store in your bag, desk drawer, or center console.

Room & Linen Sprays

Aromatherapy room sprays are one of my favorite methods of freshening the air or instantly cleansing a room’s energy. On any given day I have two or three different blends to choose from. I like 2oz and 4oz amber glass for home use. For travel or in my car I use a 10ml atomizer—Lavender hydrosol in an atomizer is great for misting hotel bed sheets!

Aromatherapy Inhalers

And then, of course, inhalers are the easiest and most discreet form of portable and targeted aromatherapy available. Inhalers come in a wide range of colors.

For illness, or trying out a new blend, I prefer the plastic “disposable” version. These are also really great for travel, since they are inexpensive and allow you to bring with you several travel-focused blends.

For general supportive blends that are used consistently, the reusable aromatherapy inhalers, like those sold by Plant Therapy (PT and Amazon) or Aromatics International are excellent, because they allow for easy refreshing of the wick.

All of my favorite Aromatherapy Containers are on my Amazon idea list.

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Travel Product Containers

Inhalers

Inhalers make taking aromatherapy on the go very easy. Travel tends to tax our immune systems and disrupt our sleep patterns. I find aromatherapy inhalers are especially helpful for immune support and encouraging restful sleep.

I start using an immune system supporting inhaler blend several days before travel and continue to use it regularly until my return home.

Roll-Ons

In addition to inhalers, aromatherapy roll-ons to support energy, restful sleep, and general wellness, as well as a Peppermint roll-on for headaches, can be very helpful. The 5ml roller bottles are perfect for these.

Lotions, Creams & Cleansers

When traveling, I use a 1oz or 2oz PET bottle with treatment pump for body serums and hand cleansers or hand sanitizers. For products with a thicker consistency, like lotion, shampoo, or conditioner, I use a PET bottle with disc cap. Juvitus carries a variety of PET product containers that are compact, lightweight, and air travel-friendly.

Toners, Mists & Spritzers

I also like to carry a variety of hydrosols with me when traveling. These are useful for skincare, air freshening, and aromatherapy sprays. The 10ml atomizer makes it easy to bring several.

These atomizers are also excellent for on the go “before you go-go” toilet sprays!

Facial Serums

A 5ml amber dropper is my container of choice for facial serums while traveling. The compact size of these bottles means I can bring along a couple of versions (one rich for overnight care and one light for day-wear) to meet my skin’s needs.

My lips tend to dry out when I travel, so I also like the small dropper bottles for moisturizing lip serums.

See my Travel Needs list on Amazon for these and other ideas.

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Mini Product Containers for Samples & Gift-Giving

If you want to make miniature sizes for gifting or product samples, I love these tiny cosmetic and aromatherapy containers. A collection of sample sizes makes a lovely gift basket.

The miniature dropper bottles are perfect for sample-size facial serums. They come in itty-bitty 1ml, 2ml, and 3ml sizes. I use the 3ml size most often for serums.

A tiny 1ml with reducer is great for sampling an essential oil blend, or providing multiple blends in a gift box.

I like the tiny steel-balled roller bottles for testing out new pulse-point aromatherapy or oil-based perfume blends.

And finally, the cutest mini cosmetic containers are, according to the Beauticom’s website, BPA-free acrylic. At 3ml they are perfect for sample size balms, salves, and solid perfumes. Plus they come with a variety of lid colors.

Check out my list of Tiny Things on Amazon.

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Extracts: Storing Infusions, Glycerites, & Hydrosols

Herbal Infused Oils

I am a huge fan of infusing botanicals into oils. Herbal infused oils are wonderful, natural ingredients to enhance fragrance and therapeutics of creams, butters, and serums.

I grow Chamomile, Basil, Tulsi, and several varieties of Lavender, so these are my favorite herbs to infuse. These herbal infused oils have so many uses in skin care. And Lavender, as a naturally calming herb, makes a beautiful herbal oil for after-bath/before-bed massage for little ones (and adults, too!).

Because light can reduce the shelf life of herbal oil infusions, I prefer to store mine in amber Boston round glass bottles. I use either the 4oz or 8oz size, depending on how much I will use between infusions.

Hydrosols & Floral Waters

Hydrosol is another product I craft from my lavender and other fresh organic herbs. Because most hydrosols are made using fresh herb (although dry can be used as well), these tend to be seasonal. Therefore, I like to make as much as I can while the herb is in season. Like botanical infusions, I use amber glass for storing hydrosols. I store the bulk in large 16oz or 32oz bottles then decant into 4oz bottles as I use it.

Glycerites

One of my favorite botanicals to craft is the glycerite. These extracts are so beautiful with their amazing array of colors that I like to store them in clear glass bottles so I can enjoy their beauty—the clear bottle also helps me monitor for changes in color and clarity. My lab is cool and dim, I make them in small volumes, and I use them quite rapidly, so I don’t worry (much) about degradation. I generally make enough of each glycerite to fill one or two 4oz bottles.

Find my favorite bottles for botanical infusions and extracts on Amazon.

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A Few Extra Tidbits!

💚PRO TIP: Remember to always sanitize all product containers just before use.

• Clean PET plastic with hot soapy water (wear gloves to protect your hands), air dry, then spray with 70% isopropyl alcohol (IPA), and allow to air dry again before filling.
• Glass containers can be sanitized by placing in water, bringing to a gentle simmer, and allowing to simmer for 10 minutes. Then don some heat protective gloves and using grippy silicone tongs remove the glassware carefully from the simmering water, turn upside down into a drying rack or container lined with a clean paper or cloth towel, and allow to air dry. These can also be misted with IPA before filling.

💚PRO TIP for a Smooth Surface: After filling your lip balm tubes, re-melt the surface with a heat gun to create a smooth silky look. Hold the heat gun several inches above the surface and keep it moving at all times to avoid melting the lip balm tube plastic. This technique works for salves, too! A low temperature craft heat gun works great.

💚Sealing for Extra Protection from Leaks: While I have never had an issue with leakage when shipping my jars and bottles, I do like to take the extra step and seal the connection between the lid and the glass. After a bit of outside the box thinking and chatting with fellow aromatherapists, I found a short length of clear, stretchy, garden grafting film does the trick! Just run it two or three times around the connection, cut the film, fold a bit over to create a tab to grab, et viola, sealed!

💚Label Now to Avoid Confusion Later! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said to myself, “I don’t need to label this; I won’t forget what it is.” Wrong! Now I always (okay well, almost always) label everything as soon as I make it. This is made easier by my nifty handheld Phomemo Label Maker—these are great temporary labels.

💚Print Product Labels on Your Home Printer! It’s hard to find water and oil proof labels that can be used on an Ink Jet printer which is what I have. I’ve tried a lot of them and have settled on the brands Mr Label and Crinklee who have a wide range of sizes available on Amazon.

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This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is for educational purposes only.
All recipes provided are for personal use and are not designed for re-sale or large-scale manufacturing.
Please consult your doctor, naturopath, herbal practitioner, or other qualified health professional for medical advice and before starting any herbal regimen, particularly if you are pregnant or nursing, have any existing medical conditions, or are taking any medications.