A bottle is not a packaging system.
A factory sells the formats it has moulds for. A trading company sells price. Neither takes responsibility for whether the pump seals on the neck, the formula survives the resin, the carton fits the flacon, or the tool belongs to you when the factory changes hands. A packaging solutions provider does — and puts the standards in writing before you pay a deposit. That is the difference between five suppliers and one contact, and it is the whole of what Vella is for. If you want to check the type of supplier you are dealing with, read how to evaluate a Chinese packaging supplier: factory, trader or solutions provider.
Six modules, six deliverables.
| Module | What happens | You receive |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · Spec | Turn the brief into a factory-readable specification: volume and true internal capacity, neck finish (20/410, 24/410, 18/415, FEA 15), material grade, decoration process, tolerances, compatibility requirements. | Packaging Spec Sheet |
| 2 · Source | Route each component to the partner factory already tooled for it; quote at three levels — stock mould, stock mould with custom decoration, private mould — with indicative FOB ranges and lead times. | Quote + Supplier Options |
| 3 · Sample | Structure sample, decoration sample, then a signed golden sample; compatibility protocol at 48°C for 30 days plus pump-cycle, torque and drop tests where relevant. | Golden Sample + Compatibility Report |
| 4 · Mould | Decide whether a private mould is worth it; quote from eight cost items; 30/40/30 payment tied to DFM sign-off; ownership, custody and transfer clauses written to the brand. | Mould Ownership Agreement |
| 5 · QC | Four gates — IQC, IPQC, FQC, OQC — with AQL to ISO 2859-1, vacuum leak −0.08 MPa / 15 min ≤0.5%, 3M tape cross-hatch adhesion, 48°C / −15°C cycling, 76 cm–1.5 m drop, pump life ≥1,500 cycles. | Inspection Report (photographed) |
| 6 · Ship | Ten-node production calendar with ×1.3 buffer and Chinese New Year +15 days; ISTA-based transit packing; freight consolidation across factories; empty packaging only — filled goods stay the brand's DG responsibility. | Production Calendar + Packing Standard |
The numbers behind every module are published in the engineering reference library and the QC standards page; the process itself is described in how we work.
Solution pages.
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Skincare packaging
Serums, creams, oils, toners, actives — format by formula, compatibility rules, airless and dropper specs, 3-SKU launch example.
See the solution →
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Fragrance & home fragrance packaging
Perfume flacon + pump + cap + collar + box as one system; diffusers and candle vessels; crimp vs screw; Pantone one-run.
See the solution →
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Makeup packaging
Lipstick mechanisms, gloss tubes, compacts, foundation bottles — stock mould vs private mould, decoration MOQs, QC thresholds.
See the solution →
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Haircare & bodycare packaging
200–500 ml PET/HDPE/PCR bottles, lotion pumps, D35–D45 tubes, refill pouches, transit packing.
See the solution →
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Indie brand launch plan
First 1–3 SKUs: 10-node timeline, budget at 3k/5k/10k units, sample policy, MOQ floors, the 8 first-time mistakes.
See the solution →
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Sustainable & refillable packaging
PCR content and colour limits, GRS/RCS, mono-material tubes, refill formats, what changes in QC.
See the solution →
Fragrance is the flagship program — see the perfume bottle full-pack supply page for flacon, pump, cap, collar and box as one colour-matched system.
Questions brands ask before choosing a packaging partner.
What is a beauty packaging solutions provider, and how is it different from a factory or a trading company?
A packaging solutions provider takes responsibility for the whole packaging system of a product — bottle, pump, closure, carton and transit packing — from specification through sourcing, sampling, tooling, quality control and shipping. A factory sells the formats it has moulds for; a trading company sells price. Vella is a solutions provider working with vetted partner factories operating to ISO 22716 / GMP: we write the specification, route each component to the factory already tooled for it, run a golden-sample and compatibility protocol, inspect to AQL ISO 2859-1 and consolidate freight, so a brand deals with one contact instead of five suppliers.
What does Vella's six-module packaging program include?
Six modules, each with a named deliverable: Spec (a Packaging Spec Sheet with volume, neck finish, material, decoration and tolerances), Source (a quote with supplier options at stock-mould, modified-mould and private-mould levels), Sample (a signed golden sample plus a 48°C / 30-day compatibility report), Mould (a mould ownership agreement with 30/40/30 payment terms), QC (a photographed inspection report across IQC, IPQC, FQC and OQC gates) and Ship (a production calendar with ×1.3 buffer and an ISTA-based packing standard). A brand can enter at any module; most first launches use all six.
What are realistic minimum order quantities for a complete packaging system from China?
Published industry floors are 5,000–10,000 pieces per item. Through partner factories already tooled for small runs, indicative minimums are about 500 for undecorated stock components, 2,000 for stock plus screen print, 2,000–5,000 for sprayed custom colour, around 10,000 for electroplated closures, and 3,000–10,000 for a new mould. Glass is the exception: custom glass moulds usually carry 30,000+ pieces, which is why fragrance programs typically run on stock flacons with custom decoration.
How long does a complete packaging program take from brief to delivery?
A stock-mould program with custom decoration typically runs 8–12 weeks from approved brief to ex-works; a private-mould program 90–120 days for tooling plus production. We plan on ten timeline nodes and apply a ×1.3 buffer to the factory's own estimate; Chinese New Year adds about 15 days to any program crossing late January to February. Sea freight adds 30–45 days to North America or Europe, air 5–10 days.
Which categories does Vella cover as packaging solutions?
Skincare (serums, creams, oils, toners, actives), fragrance and home fragrance (perfume flacons, diffusers, candle vessels), makeup (lipstick, gloss, compacts, foundation), haircare and bodycare (large-volume bottles, pumps, tubes, refill pouches), sustainable and refillable formats (PCR, mono-material, glass, refill pouches), and a launch program for first-time indie brands. Every category is backed by the same published engineering reference library and QC standard.
Does Vella manufacture packaging?
No. Vella is a sourcing and solutions company, not a factory. Components are made by vetted Chinese partner factories operating to ISO 22716 / GMP, selected per component; Vella owns the specification, sampling, quality control and consolidation. That structure is what makes low minimums and multi-component matching possible — each part goes to the factory already tooled for it — and it is why mould ownership is written to the brand, so a tool can move if a factory stops performing.
All solutions · Skincare · Fragrance & home fragrance · Makeup · Haircare & bodycare · Sustainable & refill · Indie brand launch · How to evaluate a Chinese packaging supplier
Not sure what to specify? Use the Packaging Spec Builder — formula, volume, quantity and launch date in, a 12-line spec sheet with MOQ verdict and order-by date out.
Send a brief — we quote against published standards.
Category, formats, quantity, target look and timeline. Within 24 hours you get options, indicative FOB pricing and the QC plan for your components.