The packaging system's flexibility came from designing around vendor constraints. Each size came in two colors with uniform printed information, allowing higher-quantity orders at better pricing while maintaining flexibility.

The three-label approach created visual continuity and functional clarity:

• Front labels carried branding, scent name, and scent family color accent, appearing on both bottle and box.
• Bottom bottle labels contained company information, location, volume, batch number, and flammable warning in subtle placement.
• Box back labels wrapped underneath as seals, integrating ingredients and UPC rather than appearing as afterthoughts.

This modular approach solved the minimum order quantity challenge while looking intentional and elegant rather than obviously economical.

Each element required careful material selection balancing sustainability, aesthetics, durability, and cost:

• Recycled vellum for front labels provided elegant texture and subtle translucency, elevating presentation beyond standard label stock while being a sustainable choice. The unlaminated finish created tactile contrast against matte boxes.
• Biostone for box back labels was more sustainable than standard stock while durable enough for handling, with texture closely matching the boxes for seamless integration.
• Clear BOPP for bottle bottom labels prioritized longevity over immediate sustainability—labels that fail and peel prematurely create worse waste than durable materials lasting the product's lifetime.
• Boxes used 17.2pt SBS C1S Paperboard with matte laminate, sourced from a regional manufacturer prioritizing sustainability and workplace human rights.

Canadian market requirements meant some products needed bilingual English/French labeling at equal hierarchy—a significant design constraint. I removed some descriptive text to make space for doubled ingredients, usage instructions, and warning copy. Label design needed to maintain elegance while accommodating significantly more text, requiring careful typographic refinement to keep everything readable without feeling cramped. I suggested using navy for bilingual packaging and blush for US-only, making it immediately clear which boxes were appropriate for which markets.

Beyond the core line, I designed special edition packaging.

The discovery set used a custom-made box with magnetic closure and foam/paperboard insert securely holding all 12 scents in 2ml sizes. Minimal labeling on bottles with all information on the box itself required particularly careful planning to ensure all required information fit elegantly.

For gift boxes, I identified existing boxes in the exact navy and blush colors with debossed logo space and ribbon closure—perfect size for three 15ml bottles. Rather than custom manufacturing, we found existing packaging that matched the brand perfectly, saving costs while maintaining luxury presentation.

The packaging refresh positioned Molly Ray Parfums for growth and professionalization. She secured her first retail location in Pioneer Square's historic neighborhood in Seattle, where the packaging's sophisticated presentation made retail placement possible while the modular system made it financially sustainable. Products entered multiple stores and gift shops, and she began co-branding partnerships starting with a wedding apparel shop—the packaging system's flexibility made custom collaborations feasible. She successfully expanded to Canadian markets with the bilingual packaging system ready to support that growth.