Sourcing conversations with a glass packaging supplier move faster — and with fewer costly misunderstandings — when both sides are using the same terminology. This glossary covers the core anatomy of a glass perfume or cosmetic bottle, from the neck finish to the closure system, so buyers can spec out an order accurately on the first attempt.
Bottle Body Terminology
Bottle body — the main glass vessel holding the liquid, excluding the neck and closure. Body shape (round, square, faceted, flat-sided) affects both shelf presence and how spray-coated color and silkscreen printing will read visually.
Shoulder — the transition area between the wider bottle body and the narrower neck. Some brands place silkscreen-printed logos or brand marks on the shoulder specifically, since it's visible on shelf even with certain cap styles.
Base — the bottom of the bottle. Base thickness affects both bottle stability on a shelf or vanity and, to a degree, perceived weight and quality.
Wall thickness — the thickness of the glass itself. Consistent wall thickness matters for both perceived quality (thin, uneven walls can feel cheap) and manufacturing consistency across a production run — a detail worth confirming with sample inspection before bulk ordering.
Neck Finish Terminology
Neck finish (or "finish") — the precise shape, thread pattern, and dimension of the bottle's opening, which determines which caps, pumps, or sprayers are compatible. This is one of the most commonly miscommunicated specs in packaging sourcing — two bottles that look nearly identical can have incompatible neck finishes, meaning a cap that fits one won't seal properly on the other.
Crimp finish — a neck finish designed for a metal-collared sprayer that's mechanically crimped (rather than threaded) onto the bottle neck. Common on fine fragrance sprays where a secure, tamper-resistant seal is important.
Screw (threaded) finish — a neck finish with molded threads designed for a screw-on cap or pump. More common on rollerball perfume bottles and cosmetic jars than on fine fragrance sprays.
FEA code — an industry-standard numeric code (maintained by the Fragrance Extract Manufacturers Association's collaborative packaging body) used to specify certain standardized neck finish dimensions, particularly for crimp-finish fragrance sprayers. Referencing an FEA code when available helps ensure a cap/sprayer ordered from one supplier will actually fit a bottle ordered from another.
Closure and Dispensing Terminology
Sprayer (atomizer) — the mechanism that dispenses fragrance as a fine mist, typically consisting of a pump, actuator (the button pressed), and a dip tube extending into the liquid. Sprayers are common on 5ml and 10ml sample-size and full-retail fragrance bottles.
Rollerball (roll-on) fitment — a small ball, typically glass, metal, or plastic, set into the bottle's neck that rolls fragrance oil onto skin during application. Common on 3ml and 10ml oil-based perfume formats, since rollerball application suits oil viscosity better than a fine mist sprayer.
Dropper — a closure combining a cap with a glass or plastic pipette, used for cosmetic serums and some perfume oils where precise, drop-by-drop dispensing is preferred over spray or roll-on application.
Dip tube — the thin tube extending from a pump or sprayer down into the liquid, drawing fragrance up to the actuator on each press. Dip tube length must match bottle height precisely — too short, and the bottle can't be fully emptied; too long, and it may bend or fail to seat correctly during assembly.
Overcap — an additional outer cap that fits over a sprayer or pump mechanism, both protecting the actuator during shipping and providing a finished, premium look consistent with the bottle's overall branding.
Tamper-evident band (or shrink band) — a plastic or foil band around the cap/neck junction that shows visible damage if the bottle has been opened, reassuring retail and marketplace buyers that a product hasn't been previously accessed.
Decoration-Related Terminology
Silkscreen printing — direct application of ink through a fine mesh screen onto the glass surface (body or cap), cured to bond permanently with the glass. Differs from adhesive labels, which sit on top of the glass rather than fusing with it.
Color spray coating — an applied color layer sprayed onto the exterior (or occasionally interior) glass surface, allowing a transparent bottle to be finished in matte, frosted, metallic, or brand-matched Pantone colors.
Frosting (acid etching or coating) — a semi-opaque, matte surface finish achieved either through chemical etching of the glass itself or a frosted spray coating, giving a soft, diffused look popular in clean beauty and minimalist fragrance packaging.
Compliance Terminology Buyers Should Also Know
Prop 65 (California Proposition 65) — a California regulation requiring warnings for certain chemicals, including cadmium and lead, relevant to decorative coatings and finishes on glass bottles sold into the US market.
RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances, Directive 2015/863) — an EU framework restricting substances including lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)), PBB and PBDE flame retardants, and four specific phthalates (DEHP, BBP, DBP, DIBP), commonly referenced by EU importers when vetting packaging components.
SGS report — a test report issued by SGS, an internationally recognized independent testing and certification body, verifying specific compliance results (such as "Not Detected" findings for restricted substances) for a defined product sample — distinct from a manufacturer's self-issued compliance statement.
Why This Terminology Matters for Sourcing Accuracy
Specifying "a 5ml glass bottle" without neck finish, closure type, and decoration details leaves enormous room for miscommunication between buyer and supplier. A complete, accurate spec for a custom glass perfume bottle order typically includes:
- Bottle size (volume) and body shape
- Neck finish type (crimp or screw, plus FEA code if applicable)
- Closure/dispensing mechanism (sprayer, rollerball, dropper) and dip tube length
- Decoration method (silkscreen printing location/colors, spray coating color/finish)
- Compliance documentation required (Prop 65, RoHS) for the specific decorated configuration
Buyers who use precise terminology when requesting quotes — rather than general descriptions — consistently get more accurate first-pass quotes and fewer costly revision rounds once samples arrive.