Glass Bottles Key Terms

Be a smart shopper for glass bottles by learning the terminology

By Emily Lugg

Some glass bottles are made for specific purposes and should only be used for their intended purpose to get the best result. Others are multi-purpose and can serve any number of functions. No matter what the eventual purpose, though, most glass bottles start out as just raw ingredients in the batch house that eventually make their way through the forehearth. From there, the glass is formed into a decorative bottle or perhaps an amber bottle. Whatever you're planning on using glass bottles for, it is important to do your research and learn your glass bottles terminology.

Batch house

The batch house is the portion of the glass production facility that stores all of the raw ingredients. The ingredients are delivered to the batch house and then distributed to the other portions of the plant.
Try: The Glass Packing Institute describes how the batch house is involved in the glass production process.

Forehearth

The forehearth is the canal that the molten glass passes through to keep it liquid before it is formed into a glass bottle. The forehearth is extremely important in the glass making process because the molten glass needs to stay liquid and at a certain temperature in order for it to properly form into a shape. Glass production facilities often have numerous forehearths to maximize production.
Try: McCann Science describes the function of a forehearth.

Decorative glass bottles

Decorative glass bottles can serve a specific purpose and also be used for decor. Decorative bottles come in different shapes and sizes and are appealing to the eye. Many cosmetic glass bottles are also considered decorative glass bottles.
Try: Blown Art Glass discusses the idea of using glass bottles for aesthetic purposes.

Lid droppers

Small glass bottles with oils, chemicals, or perfumes have a lid that has a small dropper attached to it. The lid dropper allows you to only dispense the liquid a drop at a time.
Try: Earthen Magick discusses the uses and the benefits of a lid dropper on a glass bottle.

Shrink bands

Shrink bands are small strips of plastic that can be melted to provide a seal on a glass bottle.
Try: Specialty Bottle shows the process of adhering shrink bands to a glass bottle.

Amber glass bottles

Amber glass bottles are a deep orange/brown color. The amber color acts as a protective barrier for the liquid that is inside.
Try: SKS Bottle & Packaging outlines their amber glass bottle selection.