Liquid drops need the packaging decided early
A drop product is only as good as the bottle and dropper that deliver it. The packaging controls how much solution comes out per drop, how well the product protects against light and air, and how the consumer experiences the dose. Choosing the bottle after the formula is finished often forces a reformulation, so decide the packaging in the first conversation.
Our liquid drops format covers the production route. This article covers the decisions that come before production.
Choosing the bottle and dropper
Common options are amber glass or opaque plastic bottles with a dropper or a dropper cap. Glass protects light-sensitive ingredients better than most plastics, but it is heavier and more fragile. The dropper must match the bottle neck and the viscosity of the solution. A thin, water-like solution drips differently from a thick oil or a glycerin-based product.
Setting the dose per drop
A drop is not a fixed volume. It depends on the solution's density, viscosity, surface tension and the dropper's tip. For a labelled dose in millilitres, test the actual drop volume with your dropper and your solution, not with water. Record the average drops per millilitre, and state the dose on the label in both drops and millilitres where your rules allow.
Check the dose across the life of the bottle. Viscosity can change with temperature, and some droppers deliver less as the bottle empties.
Stability and light protection
Many active ingredients degrade in light, heat or air. Choose an opaque or amber bottle for light-sensitive actives, keep the closure tight, and set a storage temperature on the label. Stability testing should cover the shelf life you plan to claim, and the sample should be stored in the same bottle that the consumer will use.
Labelling checks
- The dose per drop and per millilitre, and the number of servings per bottle.
- The storage instructions and the opening-date advice, where needed.
- The allergen statement and the ingredient list in descending order.
- The batch number and the best-before date, placed where they cannot be rubbed off.
Minimum order and first run
Liquid drop lines have a minimum batch size set by the filling equipment and the bottle order. The bottle supplier's minimum often sets the first order size, so ask for the bottle and dropper minimums early and plan the launch volume around them.
What to send us to start
- The active, the target dose per drop and the dose in millilitres.
- The bottle size and the number of servings per bottle.
- The launch volume for the first six months.
- Your target markets and any claims you plan to make.
We reply with a quote, a proposed production route and documents within one hour on business days. You can also start with a sample request.