Finishing is where most OEM decisions get made, and it is also where quotation confusion happens most often. Four processes are common in pressed glass, and they are not interchangeable in price, lead time, or durability.
Colour spraying
A sprayed opaque or translucent colour layer over the glass body. This is the most common finish for home fragrance and mass-market candle lines.
- Why buyers use it: hides the glass tint, gives a solid premium look, protects light-sensitive wax colours
- Price impact: moderate. Our high-temperature white spray on standard jars adds roughly ¥0.5 per piece at volume
- Durability: good. The layer is fired onto the glass, not sprayed and left loose
- Watch for: the finish must be oven-safe for the wax temperature you intend, and it must be applied before the jar goes to any further decoration
Acid frosting
A chemical etch that produces a uniformly matte, textured surface across the treated area.
- Why buyers use it: premium feel, hides fingerprints, softens the appearance of the glass
- Price impact: moderate to high, and it is a slow process
- Durability: good, though aggressive washing with abrasive products will eventually cut the matte surface
- Watch for: frosted areas cannot take silk-screen printing well without special handling. Decide your decoration order before production
Silk-screen printing
Ceramic or organic ink pushed through a mesh and kiln-fired onto the glass. Multiple colours are standard.
- Why buyers use it: logos, product names, batch information, brand storytelling on the jar itself
- Price impact: low for simple single-colour work, moderate for multi-colour
- Durability: very good when kiln-fired. This is the finish that survives dishwashing and handling
- Watch for: set-up fees for new screens. First-time artwork usually carries a screen charge; repeat runs do not
Decal application and kiln firing
A printed transfer applied to the glass and fired. Similar end result to silk-screen but practical for very small batches and for complex artwork.
- Why buyers use it: low-volume custom branding without committing to a screen
- Price impact: lower set-up, similar per-piece cost
- Watch for: decals sit slightly proud of the glass and need care in packing. Tell your customer this if the jar is a gift item
Electroplating and engraving
A metallic coating or carved relief applied for premium positioning.
- Why buyers use it: luxury gift positioning, metal-lid and metal-base coordination
- Price impact: high, both per piece and in setup
- Watch for: longest lead time of any finish. Book this early. Also confirm the plating is skin-safe and food-contact-safe if the jar may hold anything other than wax
How to decide
Work through these in order:
- Decide the position. Mass market home fragrance, mid-tier gift, or luxury gift. Finishing options follow directly from this.
- Pick one hero finish. Usually the body colour or texture. Do not compete finishes against each other.
- Add decoration only where it earns money. A logo on the base sells retail. A logo across the whole jar does not.
- Confirm the decoration order. Frosting and plating both affect what can be printed afterwards. Always get the sequence confirmed in writing.
Questions to include in your RFQ
\”Please quote base price for the clear jar, then each finish as a separate line item with its own price and lead-time impact. Confirm which finishes are oven-safe and at what temperature.\”
If a supplier will not break the quote into line items, they are not pricing properly and you cannot compare them against anyone else.
Send us the jar and the look you want, and we will tell you which finishing route is realistic and what it costs. See our customization options or request a quote.