After seven years of watching customers arrive with every conceivable container, we have a reasonably clear picture of what works well and what causes problems. This is not a buying guide. It is a practical account of what we have observed at the dispensing counter.
Glass: the reliable choice for most products ¶
Glass is chemically inert, which means it does not react with any of the products we stock. It is easy to clean thoroughly, and you can see the fill level at a glance. The main drawback is weight. A 500 ml glass jar is heavy when full, and it will break if dropped on a tile floor. For products that live on a bathroom shelf or a kitchen counter and are handled carefully, glass is the best option. Mason jars with wide mouths are particularly easy to fill at the dispenser.
Stainless steel: good for cleaning products, less ideal for fragrance ¶
Stainless steel bottles work well for dish soap, laundry liquid, and bathroom cleaner. They are durable and do not leach anything into the product. The limitation is that you cannot see the fill level, which makes it easy to overfill. They are also not ideal for fragrance products. Essential oils can interact with lower-grade stainless over time, though food-grade 304 stainless is generally fine. If you use stainless for cleaning products, make sure the lid seal is in good condition before you refill.
Plastic: it depends on the grade and the product ¶
HDPE (high-density polyethylene, marked with a 2 inside the recycling triangle) is the most suitable plastic for refilling. It is what most commercial cleaning product bottles are made from. PET (marked 1) is fine for water-based products but can absorb fragrance over time. Avoid polystyrene (6) and PVC (3) entirely. They are not compatible with concentrated cleaning products. If you are reusing an old shampoo or dish soap bottle, check the number on the base.
Cleaning your container before you arrive ¶
Rinse the container with warm water and let it dry completely before bringing it in. If it previously held a different product. Particularly a different brand of the same type. A more thorough rinse is worth doing. Residue from a silicone-heavy conditioner, for example, can affect the performance of our unscented conditioner. We will check the container when you arrive and ask you to rinse it at our sink if needed. It takes two minutes and is worth doing.
Our container loan programme is there for days when you forget your bottle. 300-yen deposit, returned when you bring the bottle back clean. No pressure to buy a new container from us. We do not sell them.