A specification sheet for essential oil cartons, single bottle and set. Work through it in order and a quote can be issued without a second round of questions. The essential oil boxes product page is where the order is placed.
1. Bottle data
- Body diameter over the applied label, measured on a filled bottle.
- Overall height with the orifice reducer inserted and the cap fully seated.
- Cap diameter, since many caps on small bottles are wider than the bottle body.
- Fill volume, from the common retail set of 5 ml, 10 ml, 15 ml and 30 ml, noted for reference only.
- Glass colour. Amber and cobalt glass are used to reduce light exposure, which affects whether a window is a good idea.
2. Single bottle carton
Internal footprint is the cap or body diameter, whichever is greater, plus about 1/16 in per side. Internal height is the bottle height plus any base pad plus about 1/16 in so the tuck closes cleanly. Construction is normally a reverse or straight tuck end carton. For a premium line, a two piece rigid box or a sleeve and tray gives a heavier presentation.
3. Multi bottle sets
| Set size | Layout | Retention |
|---|---|---|
| 2 to 3 bottles | Single row | Folded partition or die cut collar |
| 4 to 6 bottles | Two rows, or a single row in a long carton | Partition grid |
| 6 to 12 bottles | Grid in a tray | Die cut tray with individual wells |
| Mixed sizes in one set | Tray with wells cut per bottle | Fitted tray, since a grid will not fit mixed diameters |
Internal length for a single row is bottle diameter multiplied by the count, plus divider thicknesses, plus about 1/8 in of total slack.
4. Leaflet and panel planning
Small cartons and long ingredient or usage copy is the recurring tension in this category. Decide early whether the copy lives on the carton, on a folded leaflet inside it, or on a QR link. A folded leaflet is often the thickest item in a small carton, so measure it folded and include it in the internal depth before the die is cut. Keep batch and expiry fields on flat panels away from folds.
5. Materials and finishing
Material options: standard white cardstock, kraft eco friendly brown cardstock, textured Neenah cardstock, coloured stock, rigid press board, corrugated stock, foil metallic cardstock and holographic stock. Finishing: gloss and matte lamination, spot UV, foil stamping and embossing. Essential oil brands often specify a matte laminate with a foil logo, which handles well and resists the fingerprints that a gloss carton shows in a shop.
6. Transit notes
Oil bottles leak if a cap loosens, and leaked oil stains board and can soften some coatings. Specify a sealed cap and, for ecommerce, an outer shipper rather than sending the retail carton alone. A carton that fits closely and a base pad both help, but neither substitutes for a sealed bottle.
7. Commercial terms
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Minimum order | 100 boxes |
| Price basis | From about $0.48 per unit at bulk volumes, confirmed on a written quote |
| Included | Die and plates, design support, US shipping, digital proof before printing |
| Turnaround lanes | Rush (expedited production plus air freight), standard (air), cost saver (sea) |
| Turnaround floor | From about 7 business days, plus 2 to 5 for delivery |
| Production | West Chicago (US) and Guangzhou (China) |
Order on the essential oil boxes page, or send bottle data and set counts to the quote form. Related: bottle box dimensions.
