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Best way to apply vials?

post #1 of 12
3/10/08 at 3:36pm
Thread Starter 
So Hermes sent me their entire Hermessence collection in neat little 4mL vials, but they're far too small to dab with a Q-tip as I was planning on doing. I think I have some cotton swabs around here but what's your secret to applying from a vial?
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post #2 of 12
3/10/08 at 3:59pm
Take the cotton off of the Q-Tip!
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post #3 of 12
3/10/08 at 4:10pm
Thread Starter 
Brilliant.
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post #4 of 12
3/10/08 at 4:18pm
A decanting pipette is a great way to get the maximum usefulness out of small sample vials.
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post #5 of 12
3/10/08 at 4:35pm
Someone once posted the brilliant idea of using sections of cocktail straw or plastic (hollow) coffee stirrer as a pipette; I find this to be very cheap, easy and convenient.
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post #6 of 12
3/11/08 at 10:57pm
Just tipping the vial onto the palm or fingers and then dabbing it on.
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post #7 of 12
3/12/08 at 4:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Loulilly View Post

Just tipping the vial onto the palm or fingers and then dabbing it on.

Which contaminates the liquid with the oil from your skin.

He's trying to avoid this from happening.
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post #8 of 12
3/12/08 at 6:13am
I've got a couple small creed vials too. I'll try the thin starbucks straws.
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post #9 of 12
3/12/08 at 8:24am
My technique still involves the Q-tip and is probably slightly wasteful:

Tip of swap in vial opening (as if trying to plug it), tip the vial just enough to dampen the tip of the swap, then apply. When I first tried this, I was using too much of the sample - the entire cotton tip would be wet. Now, I've found a slight tip of the vial for just a second or two (just enough to dampen the very tip of the cotton) is usually enough to apply.
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post #10 of 12
3/12/08 at 11:03am
Thread Starter 
samplermike's suggestion actually worked very well, I ripped most of the cotton off the Q-tip and dipped it in the juice. What little cotton was on there held the liquid quite well and I was applying pretty much exactly the amount I wanted. Thanks!
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post #11 of 12
3/13/08 at 4:55am
I usually transfer the juice to a small spray vial- much easier to use.
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post #12 of 12
3/13/08 at 5:13am
Thread Starter 
Maybe later on in this little journey when I have those materials but for now that's not a possibility.
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Basenotes › Basenotes Forums › Fragrance Discussion › Just Starting Out › Best way to apply vials?