Serum and dropper carton
18pt SBS with cradle200 minimum · 10 to 14 business daysA serum and dropper carton is a folding carton sized for a glass dropper bottle, on 18pt SBS with a die-cut paperboard cradle that holds the bottle upright and keeps the bulb from touching the lid. We produce them from 200 units in 10 to 14 business days after proof, for 15, 30 and 50 ml bottles, usually 1.5 by 1.5 by 4 to 2 by 2 by 5 inches.
When to choose it, and when not to
Choose a serum and dropper carton when the product is a glass bottle with a pipette bulb, because that bulb is the part that breaks. The cradle holds the bottle by the shoulders so the bulb never carries the weight and never rubs against the top flap. It is the carton for serums, facial oils, tinctures, beard oils and essential oils, on a shelf or inside a mailer. The claims panel is laid out before you place artwork.
Choose a plain skincare carton if the bottle has a pump or a screw cap and no bulb, since the cradle is then extra board you do not need. Choose a magnetic closure box for a serum sold as a gift or in a set, where the box is kept and the reveal matters more than the shelf.
Specifications
| Board | 18pt SBS, 24pt for 100 ml glass |
|---|---|
| Offset CMYK, one color, Pantone match | |
| Finish | Soft-touch lamination, matte aqueous, foil, blind deboss, spot UV |
| Closure | Straight tuck end with friction lock |
| Insert | Die-cut paperboard cradle with shoulder collar, glued in |
| Bottle fit | Sized to the bottle you send, 15, 30, 50 or 100 ml |
| Minimum | 200 units |
| Lead time | 10 to 14 business days after proof |
| Ships | Flat, glued, cradle fitted, in bundles of 50 |
| Sizes we run | 1.25 x 1.25 x 3.5 in 1.5 x 1.5 x 4 in 1.75 x 1.75 x 4.5 in 2 x 2 x 5 in any size from 1 x 1 x 3 to 4 x 4 x 8 in |
Materials that suit it
Questions people ask
Why does a dropper bottle need a cradle?
Because the bulb is rubber and the pipette is glass, and neither one likes to be pushed. Without a cradle the bottle slides down in transit and the bulb takes the impact against the top flap. A cradle holds the bottle by the shoulders, keeps it centered and leaves a quarter inch of air above the bulb. It cuts breakage inside a mailer to close to nothing.
Which bottle sizes do you fit?
15, 30, 50 and 100 ml as standard, in the common Boston round and cylinder shapes. Anything else, send us the bottle or its drawing and we fit the cradle to it. The carton outer size follows the bottle: a 30 ml Boston round usually lands in a 1.5 by 1.5 by 4 inch carton with the cradle in place.
Is the cradle glued in or loose?
Glued in, as standard. It is a single die-cut piece that folds and is glued to the carton floor before the carton ships flat, so when you square the carton the cradle rises with it. Nothing to assemble. A loose cradle is available if you want to fill on a line that inserts it separately.
Can I print the claims panel in small type?
Yes, down to about 0.06 in cap height on offset, which keeps an ingredient list legible on a 1.5 inch panel. We set the back panel and one side for ingredients, net contents and batch code before you place artwork. Anything you are not sure you can claim, leave off; we are packaging people, not regulators.
Does it work for essential oils and tinctures?
Yes, the same bottle shapes are used across skincare, aromatherapy and herbal tinctures. For oils that might leak we recommend a matte aqueous coating rather than soft-touch, because an oil mark shows on soft-touch and wipes off aqueous. For products in a regulated category, reserve panel space for any required text.
How is the serum and dropper carton different from a tincture box?
The serum carton is built for skincare glass. It has a die-cut cradle with a shoulder collar glued in so the bottle stands upright and the bulb never touches the lid, moves to 24pt for 100 ml bottles, and takes soft-touch, foil and deboss. The tincture box holds the same kind of bottle but is laid out for dosage, batch and compliance text for CBD, herbal and supplement tinctures. The serum carton starts at 200 units in 10 to 14 business days after proof; the tincture box at 300 units in 10 to 12 business days. Pick by what is in the bottle.
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Ready to price your serum and dropper carton?
Send the size and quantity for a quote and a dieline, usually within one business day. Your digital proof follows, usually within one business day of your artwork. Design help and the Swatch Book of materials are free.