Your Guide to Understanding Glass Vials for Essential Oils, Samples, Lab Work & More!

Glass vials are one of the most versatile and widely used packaging solutions across industries from essential oils and cosmetics to laboratory testing and pharmaceuticals. At Discount Vials, we supply a full range of screw thread glass vials designed to support both small-batch makers and large-scale manufacturers. Whether you need vials for oils, serums, extracts, samples, or scientific applications, understanding the details like dram sizing, glass type, and color helps ensure you choose the right option.

What Are Glass Vials Used For?

Glass vials are trusted for their durability, clarity, and chemical resistance, making them suitable for many different applications. Because vials are compact and lightweight, they are ideal for sample kits, travel sets, subscription boxes, and promotional giveaways. They are essential in a variety of industries including the health and wellness industry for packaging essential oils and aromatherapy blends or in the beauty and fragrance market for perfume samples, serums, and skincare formulations, offering a compact and elegant way to distribute products.

Scientific, educational, and industrial sectors rely on glass vials for laboratory samples, testing, analysis, field sampling, and chemical storage, where clarity and material stability are crucial. Faith-based organizations often use glass vials for anointing oils, while makers, crafters, and small-batch creators choose them for DIY projects and custom blends. Glass vials are also popular in the specialty beverage market for liquor, spirit, and bitters samples, providing a premium, contamination-free way to showcase tasting portions. 

Understanding Dram Sizing for Glass Vials

One of the most common questions customers ask is, “What is a dram, and why are vials measured this way?”

A dram is an ancient unit of measurement that dates back to apothecary and herbal medicine practices.
In modern packaging, a dram is equal to 1/8 ounce, or approximately 3.7 milliliters. How big is a dram vial? For a quick reference, our 1 Dram vial is very close in size to a standard AA Battery.

Here is a breakdown of different dram conversions:

Dram vials are still widely used for essential oils, tinctures, herbal extracts, concentrates, and samples because the sizing aligns well with high-potency formulations or products that only require small dispensing amounts. Looking for exact measurements for your glass vials and what will fit? Use our conversion calculator on the homepage to quickly determine the vial size you need! When in doubt, we recommend to measure how much product you’re dispensing per use and choose a vial that provides enough volume without excess headspace.

Why Choose Type I Borosilicate Glass?

Most high-quality glass vials are made with Type I borosilicate glass, the gold standard for durability and purity. Glass provides excellent barrier protection, does not react with most formulas, and maintains the purity, aroma, and integrity of the product. What makes borosilicate glass special?

Exceptional Chemical Resistance

Type I borosilicate glass is highly resistant to chemical interaction, making it ideal for storing sensitive formulations such as essential oils, medications, reagents, and extracts. It doesn’t absorb or react with the contents, ensuring purity and stability, something especially important in pharmaceutical, biotech, and laboratory settings where accuracy matters.

Thermal Stability You Can Count On

This glass is designed to handle extreme temperature changes without cracking or weakening. It performs reliably through sterilization, autoclaving, and cold storage because it expands and contracts far less than standard glass. That stability makes it a top choice for industries that rely on consistent temperature control.

Strength and Long-Term Durability

Although lightweight, Type I borosilicate glass is incredibly strong. Its durability makes it suitable for daily handling, transport, and long-term storage in both scientific and commercial environments. Users can trust it to protect valuable formulations without degrading over time.

Clean, Clear, and Non-Leaching

Borosilicate glass is non-reactive and will not leach chemicals into the product, helping maintain purity from fill to finish. Its clarity also allows for easy inspection of contents, which is useful in research, diagnostics, and retail packaging.

From laboratories and medical facilities to cosmetic brands and specialty food producers, Type I borosilicate glass offers dependable performance across a wide range of uses. Its durability, purity, and clarity make it suitable for essential oils, serums, fragrances, pharmaceuticals, chemical samples, and more.

Glass Vial Colors: Which Should You Choose?

Color plays an important role in both presentation and product protection. Discount Vials offers several colors:

Cobalt Blue Glass Vials Cobalt vials offer moderate UV protection while giving products a striking, recognizable look often associated with aromatherapy and wellness brands. Best for: aromatherapy blends, CBD oils, sampler kits.

Emerald Green Glass Vials Green vials provide a unique, natural aesthetic with modest light protection. Many brands choose green for earthy, botanical, or herbal product lines. Best for: botanical extracts, tinctures, starter sets.

Glass vials remain a staple in countless industries thanks to their durability, clarity, and versatility. Understanding dram sizing, color options, and borosilicate glass helps customers make confident, informed decisions. With a wide selection of assorted glass vials, plus the right caps and closures to match, Discount Vials is ready to help businesses package their products with confidence. Still not sure?
For more information or to inquire about samples, please call us at 866-509-1834.