Why We Use Violet Glass Containers
Why We Use Violet Glass Containers
Seemingly a modern invention, it is not! Early Egyptian civilizations used violet and gold glass containers to keep their natural products, including essence oils, stored away for safe keeping. Other materials, such as viable seeds, have been found stored in ancient tombs throughout Egypt and other nearby regions. Today we understand that alchemists during the Middle Ages uncovered the importance of this special glass and it’s not only preservation qualities, but its enhancement qualities as well.
This special glass comes to us as more and more companies are discovering the difference in violet glass. And after 50 years of research those in the glass making industry found that violet glass jars and bottles were capable of the following:
- Protection against decomposition
- Preservation of health benefits and bioactive constituents
- Protection from heat, harmful light, and air
- The increased potency of stored materials
- Inhibition of chemical damage and changes in molecular structure
In 1995 it was first reproduced by small artisan glass makers. The company we chose to use for our organic body care products, Miron Violetglass Co., was one of the first.
A Mini Lesson on Light
So exactly how does this glass not only prolong, but also preserve, the materials within? It goes like this:
The sun's rays as we know them are so beneficial. They bring life and warmth to this place we call Earth. However, too much exposure to certain sun rays can be harmful causing death, decay, and degradation. This is no secret. We see this occurrence every day of our lives if we pay any attention to the living things all around. However, when it's broken down a bit more we learn that both life and death can be triggered by the sun because its rays not only include visible light, but also ultraviolet light, and infrared radiation.
Those of us who have been using natural products for some time may have noticed that most companies choose to use black, amber, or very dark mixed glass to block the harmful effects of sunlight on their products, as dark glass allows no light to pass through to the materials inside the way clear or even green glass might. This is good, but not good enough, however, as some of that light is beneficial to the contents inside.
You can also order your own samples straight from Miron here.
Resources:
Shelf life modeling of photosensitive food: the case of colored beverages
Photodegradation of Foods and Beverages
Cosmetics Preservation: A Review on Present Strategies
