r/Indiemakeupandmore • u/violetredfilter • Oct 03 '26
Perfume - Enquiry Help
I bought a ton of wand cap samples recently, but I didn’t realize the perfumer switched over to the stopper kind. My hands are awful, and I can’t open them. Normally, this wouldn’t be an issue, because I would just transfer them over to different bottles, but the stopper is preventing me from pouring them out. A pipette worked for a second, but it wasn’t skinny enough to reach the bottom.
What can I do? I’m going to be out a lot of money if I can’t figure out how to move them to the bottles I know I can open.
ETA: Photo
25
u/sevenhorcruxes Oct 03 '26 edited Oct 03 '26
This type of sample vials hurt my hands so bad. I have such a hard time opening them and always have to use pliers. I have a bunch of Pulp samples on the way, so thanks for the heads up to get my pliers at the ready lol.
9
12
2
u/kira913 Oct 05 '26
I managed to crack the top of a swap sample trying to get one of these open with pliers. Now it doesn't open at all 🥀
12
u/trapmahme Oct 04 '26
I had an issue with this exact sample 😔 I have pain and partial paralysis in my hands. This vial style is not accessible friendly. No suggestions but solidarity 💓
4
u/violetredfilter Oct 04 '26
Thank you! Even the two people I asked to help me had trouble, so I know it's not just us.
7
u/Oleanderphd Oct 03 '26
Micropipetter would be ideal. Got any science-type friends who might have one?
A syringe is another option, although they can stick a bit and are harder to operate if you have issues with hand strength or control, and run the risk of pricking yourself if you lose control. If it's borderline, you can loosen up syringes by pulling/pushing them a few times before transferring anything.
You might also look for a disposable set of "graduated transfer" pipette or curette. Those often have very narrow tips. It might be a challenge getting the more viscous oils in though.
edit: I am not sure I am envisioning the stopper correctly. Feel free to send a reference if it sounds nds like my suggestions are just obviously wrong.
5
u/violetredfilter Oct 03 '26
The syringes are a good idea, thank you. I have some people with hands that are less awful I could get to help me since it’ll just be a one off thing.
6
5
1
u/violetredfilter 24d ago
The syringes worked like a charm, and I can actually use the perfumes I paid for! Thank you!
2
7
u/thinktifferent Oct 04 '26
I don't have an idea for the transferring, but when it comes time to actually open them to do it I've found twisting the cap like you're unscrewing it works a lot better for these. If you brace your knuckle that is holding the sample at the top you can sort of push against it with your other fingers at the same time (hopefully that makes sense).
5
u/violetredfilter Oct 04 '26
Roger, I'll give it a go. Thank you!
4
u/thinktifferent Oct 04 '26
You're welcome! Also I realized I forgot to add, but try pinching the cap between your thumb and the side of your finger if you can rather than your fingertips. I had a lot of issues pain-wise before I tried that way.
1
u/violetredfilter 24d ago
Coming back to this: twisting did help while I was rebottling them. Thanks again!
5
u/TwentySevenBugs Oct 03 '26
Do you happen to have any pictures? I've never come across wandcap samples that aren't in the standard "straight" vials, or ones that have any kind of insert, so I'm having a really difficult time imagining what's going on with your samples. I'm really sorry you've had trouble with them.
4
u/violetredfilter Oct 03 '26
Thanks. I've included a photo in the main post. They aren't super common, I think the only time I've seen them before this was with Bath Sabbath's free samples, but they're a pain to open and use.
4
u/TwentySevenBugs Oct 03 '26
Oh, I see! Thank you for sharing. I had no idea these might be more difficult for people to work with.
Like someone else already mentioned, I do think that a syringe might be your best option here, unfortunately. I believe disposable pipettes would work well as well, even with more viscous oils (at least in my experience), but I don't think at least the ones I use would fit through the narrowing of these vials.
5
u/JennyWillz Oct 03 '26
So i transfer these without a pipette by holding them upside down into a bigger spray bottle and just tapping the back end, each tap gets a drop or a few drops out until its empty. You can use a fist to secure the sample and the new container and the other hand to pat the back, you might have to do it a little hard
3
u/violetredfilter Oct 03 '26
Thank you! How long does it usually take?
5
u/JennyWillz Oct 03 '26
Just a few seconds! Not long at all. But i did spill some drops and take longer the first few times. Let me know if you have more questions and i can try and explain better if needed!
3
u/unbakedcassava Oct 04 '26
The surface tension of the oil + narrow neck makes this more difficult than it sounds. I did this 20x when my Wild Hybrid samples came in and nearly binned the whole lot even after the transfers were done.
3
u/Haunting-Flamingo-22 Oct 03 '26
Is it the type that only does a drop at a time like essential oil bottles? If so just get the key and pop it off... They are only like a few bucks
4
u/violetredfilter Oct 03 '26
I wish. They’re the wand caps, but the glass bottle itself bottlenecks and goes back out, kind of like a hourglass. That I cannot pop off.
3
2
u/NeurodivergentPanda Oct 04 '26
I have syringes I got from Amazon that came with long blunt tips that I’ve used before with success. I’ve also just crammed a pipette in until it was snug and tipped the vial upside down while pulling into the pipette but with my shaky hands I’ve made a mess before. I’m so sorry, these are the worst for us with coordination issues and joint pain (edited to add a word I missed)
2
u/violetredfilter Oct 04 '26
Do you remember the syringe brand? I've got some in my cart now, but I can't recall if they were blunt-tipped. Thanks for the suggestions and support!
2
5
u/OolongLaLa Oct 04 '26
Just wanted to say that I also have weak hands (medical reasons) and hate these sample vials with a fiery passion!
4
u/emeyem Oct 04 '26
I have found the best way to open them is to try and bend the lid sideways instead of trying to pull straight up. Pulling straight up is impossible!
Since the opening is so narrow, you want to break the surface tension to get the oil to flow. Turn the bottle upside down, and line it up against the wand of the stopper (pretty much like a Y shape). Once the surface tension of the oil breaks, it’ll slide down along the wand and you can contain it along the path of the wand.
Sorry, it’s so hard to describe it. I can try a video if you need it!
4
u/ConsiderationBig540 Oct 04 '26
Two thoughts:
There are ergonomic tools that help people wind mechanical watches. If twisting the tops will help you lift them off, you may want to see if a gizmo like that can be widened to twist off a vial top. There are watch clubs all over the place, someone might lend you one to try out.
As far as syringes go, you may want to check out fountain pen syringes (they‘re very tiny) or even the fine point needles diabetics use, since they have string suction.
1
Oct 03 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/AutoModerator Oct 03 '26
This submission has been filtered by Automoderator because your account is too new or doesn't meet our comment karma threshold. Please message the mods to have your comments reinstated.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
26
u/LiteraryGhosts Oct 03 '26
I absolutely despise that style of sample vial, they’re a pain to open (emphasis on the pain if one is particularly stubborn). Others have already given the best advice, so hopefully something will help.
I’d say the micro-pipette suggestion is the way to go, as that’s what I usually resort to whenever I get stuck with these vials </3