Amber vs Clear Glass Bottles: How to Choose the Right Glass for Your Product
When choosing glass packaging for your product, colour is far more than an aesthetic decision. The glass you select directly affects product preservation, shelf life, brand perception, and customer trust. Whether you are formulating essential oils, pouring candles, or launching a skincare line, the choice between amber and clear glass is one of the most important packaging decisions you will make.
At Colorlites, we have supplied glass packaging to businesses across the UK for over 35 years. In that time, we have helped thousands of brands find the right bottle, jar, or container for their product. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about amber and clear glass so you can make the best choice for your business.
What Makes Glass Amber or Clear?
Glass colour comes down to chemistry. Amber glass gets its distinctive warm brown tone from iron oxide and sulphur compounds added during manufacturing. These compounds absorb ultraviolet (UV) and short-wavelength visible light, typically filtering wavelengths between 200nm and 450nm. This is what gives amber glass its well-known protective qualities.
Clear glass (also called flint glass) is standard soda-lime glass without added colourants. It transmits the full visible light spectrum, offering complete transparency and product visibility.
Amber Glass Dropper Bottle
Clear Glass Dropper Bottle
Understanding this difference is the foundation for choosing the right glass. The question is: does your product need protection from light, or does it need to be seen?
The Benefits of Amber Glass
Amber glass is the gold standard for protecting light-sensitive products. It blocks approximately 99% of UV radiation below 450nm, making it the preferred choice across several industries where product integrity is critical.
Key benefits of amber glass bottles:
- UV protection — Shields contents from harmful ultraviolet light that degrades active ingredients, fragrances, and natural compounds.
- Extended shelf life — Products stored in amber glass retain their potency and quality significantly longer than those in unprotected packaging.
- Preserves essential oils and fragrances — Volatile organic compounds in essential oils are particularly susceptible to photodegradation. Amber glass slows this process dramatically.
- Pharmaceutical-grade protection — Amber glass meets pharmacopoeia standards for light-resistant containers, which is why it has been the default in medicine for over a century.
- Premium brand positioning — The warm, apothecary-style appearance of amber glass communicates heritage, naturalness, and craft. It is widely associated with artisan and wellness brands.
Amber glass is especially popular in aromatherapy, pharmaceuticals, natural skincare, herbal medicine, and craft cosmetics.
100ml Amber Glass Boston Round Bottle — View Product
The Benefits of Clear Glass
Clear glass is the most versatile option in glass packaging. Its full transparency puts the product on display, which is a powerful tool for brands that want their customers to see exactly what they are buying.
Key benefits of clear glass bottles:
- Full product visibility — Customers can see the colour, clarity, and fill level of the product inside. This builds trust and can be a strong selling point, especially for coloured liquids, wax melts, and reed diffuser oils.
- Maximum branding flexibility — Clear glass works as a blank canvas. It pairs beautifully with spray coating, screen printing, hot foil stamping, and any label design or colour scheme.
- Showcase your formulation — If you have invested in a visually appealing product — a tinted fragrance, a layered candle, a vibrant diffuser oil — clear glass lets it do the selling.
- Broad industry appeal — Clear glass suits candles, diffusers, perfumes, food and drink, premium cosmetics, and spirits.
- Perceived cleanliness and purity — In food, beverage, and cosmetics, clear glass conveys hygiene and quality.
100ml Clear Glass Round Karen Diffuser Bottle — View Product
Amber vs Clear Glass: Quick Comparison
| Feature | Amber Glass | Clear Glass |
|---|---|---|
| UV Protection | Excellent — blocks ~99% below 450nm | None — transmits full spectrum |
| Product Visibility | Low — tinted view of contents | Full — complete transparency |
| Shelf Life Impact | Extends shelf life for light-sensitive products | No inherent protection from light |
| Brand Positioning | Natural, apothecary, heritage, wellness | Modern, clean, luxurious, versatile |
| Best For | Essential oils, pharmaceuticals, skincare serums, herbal products | Candles, diffusers, fragrances, spirits, cosmetics |
| Customisation | Labels, closures, dropper assemblies | Spray coating, screen printing, hot foil, labels, closures |
| Cost | Comparable to clear glass | Comparable to amber glass |
Which Glass Colour for Your Industry?
The right choice depends on your product type and what matters most to your customers. Here is a breakdown by industry.
Essential Oils & Aromatherapy — Amber Glass
Essential oils are highly volatile and degrade rapidly when exposed to UV light. Amber glass is the undisputed choice for aromatherapy products, including dropper bottles, reagent bottles, and roll-on applicators. Most aromatherapy brands and practitioners will not accept anything else.
100ml Amber Glass Reagent Bottle — View Product
Candle Making — Clear Glass
For candles, visual appeal is everything. Clear glass showcases the wax colour, allows the warm glow of the flame to shine through, and lets customers see the quality of the pour. Whether you make soy candles, beeswax candles, or paraffin blends, clear glass enhances the aesthetic and creates the ambience your customers are looking for.
100cl Clear Deep Tub Candle Glass — View Product
Home Fragrance & Diffusers — Clear Glass
Reed diffusers are a decorative product as much as a functional one. Clear glass lets the colour of the diffuser oil show through, complementing the room's decor. Elegant bottle shapes like the Lia Round or the Karen Diffuser Bottle add a premium touch to any shelf or mantelpiece.
100ml Clear Glass Lia Round Diffuser Bottle — View Product
Skincare & Cosmetics — Both
Skincare is one of the few industries where both amber and clear glass are equally at home. Amber glass is the better choice for serums, facial oils, and formulations containing vitamins (especially Vitamin C) or retinoids that degrade in light. Clear glass works beautifully for creams, lotions, body mists, and luxury cosmetic lines where the packaging needs to feel premium and modern.
100ml Clear Glass Cosmetic Bottle with Atomiser — View Product
Pharmaceuticals & Medical — Amber Glass
Amber glass has been the pharmaceutical industry standard for well over a century. Medicines, tinctures, herbal extracts, and clinical preparations all require protection from UV degradation. Regulatory standards in many countries specify amber glass as the default for light-resistant pharmaceutical packaging.
100ml Amber Glass Alpha Bottle — View Product
Spirits, Fragrances & Beverages — Clear Glass
In the spirits and fragrance industry, presentation is paramount. Clear glass allows customers to appreciate the colour and clarity of the liquid inside — whether that is a craft gin, a premium eau de parfum, or an artisan vinegar. The elegance of a well-designed clear glass bottle communicates quality before the customer even picks it up.
100ml Clear Charlotte Fragrance Bottle — View Product
Beyond Amber and Clear: Specialty Glass Colours
Amber and clear are the two most popular glass colours, but they are not the only options. Depending on your brand and product, a specialty glass colour could help you stand out on the shelf.
- Blue glass — Offers moderate UV protection and a distinctive, calming aesthetic. Popular in aromatherapy and natural wellness brands.
- Green glass — Associated with organic and eco-friendly brands. Provides some UV filtering, commonly used in herbalism and natural products.
- Black glass — Maximum UV protection and a striking, ultra-premium appearance. Ideal for high-end skincare, niche perfumery, and luxury brands.
- Miron violet glass — A specialist option that blocks visible light while allowing UV-A and infrared through, claimed to preserve biophotonic energy. Used in high-end natural health products.
Blue Glass
Green Glass
Black Glass
How to Make Your Decision: 3 Questions to Ask
Still not sure which glass colour is right for your product? Ask yourself these three questions:
- Is your product light-sensitive? If your formulation contains essential oils, vitamins, retinoids, or any ingredient that degrades in UV light, choose amber glass. It is the safest option for preserving product integrity.
- Does your customer need to see the product? If the visual appearance of your product is a key selling point — a coloured wax, a tinted diffuser oil, a crystal-clear spirit — choose clear glass. Let the product do the talking.
- What brand story are you telling? Amber glass says "natural, artisan, trusted." Clear glass says "modern, clean, luxurious." Match your glass to your brand identity and the expectations of your target customer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does amber glass protect essential oils?
Yes. Amber glass blocks approximately 99% of UV radiation below 450nm, which is the primary cause of photodegradation in essential oils. Storing essential oils in amber glass significantly extends their shelf life and preserves their therapeutic properties. It is the recommended packaging across the aromatherapy industry.
Can you customise clear glass bottles?
Absolutely. Clear glass is highly versatile for decoration. It can be spray coated in any colour, screen printed with logos and text, hot foil stamped for a metallic finish, or acid-etched for a frosted look. At Colorlites, we offer a full range of decoration services for clear glass bottles and jars.
Is amber glass more expensive than clear?
In most cases, amber and clear glass are priced comparably. The cost difference is negligible for standard bottle shapes and sizes. Pricing is more influenced by bottle shape, volume, closure type, and order quantity than by glass colour alone.
What glass colour is best for candles?
Clear glass is the most popular choice for candles. It allows the wax colour to show through and lets the candlelight glow warmly when lit. Some candle makers use coloured or frosted glass for decorative effect, but clear glass remains the industry standard for showcasing the product.
Does clear glass affect product shelf life?
Clear glass does not inherently degrade products, but it offers no protection from UV light. For products that are not light-sensitive — such as candles, diffusers, and most fragrances — clear glass has no negative impact on shelf life. For light-sensitive products, amber or opaque glass is recommended.
Can I spray coat clear glass to look amber?
Yes, clear glass can be spray coated in amber or any other colour. However, it is important to note that a spray-coated finish is cosmetic only — it does not provide the same UV-filtering properties as true amber glass. If UV protection is essential, always choose genuine amber glass rather than a coated alternative.
What is the difference between amber glass and brown glass?
In the packaging industry, "amber glass" and "brown glass" refer to the same thing. The amber colour is produced by adding iron oxide and sulphur compounds during manufacturing. Both terms describe glass that filters UV light and is used to protect light-sensitive contents.
Find the Right Glass for Your Product
Whether you need amber glass for protection or clear glass for presentation, Colorlites stocks a comprehensive range of bottles, jars, and closures in both options — all available with custom decoration to match your brand.
Need help choosing? Our team has over 35 years of experience helping brands find the perfect packaging. Get in touch and we will be happy to guide you.
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