As creepy as they may seem, blood vial necklaces are proving to be more and more popular with each passing year.
Believed to have pagan origins, blood vial necklaces became popular in the 21st century thanks to Hollywood.
Couples such as Angelina Jolie and Billy Bob Thornton, and later, Machine Gun Kelly and Megan Fox, were spotted wearing them at big events.
To some, the thought of wearing another person’s blood around their neck will be disgusting.
Yet in reality, vial necklaces and slightly more unique and unusual types of jewelry have become a lot more mainstream.
But what exactly are blood vial necklaces, and why are they so popular? Read on to find out more.
Blood vial necklace meaning?
Blood vial necklaces are very unique types of necklaces.
They are basically necklaces with small, aesthetically pleasing vials attached to them in place of gems or pendants.
Within this small vial, you will find blood. Yes, actual human blood.
Some people wear blood vial necklaces containing their own blood, whereas other people wear blood vial necklaces containing their partner’s blood.
But why? Well, in truth there are several reasons why people choose to wear blood-filled vials around their necks.
The most common reason why, however, is as an expression of love and commitment.
Carrying the blood of your lover is believed to create and strengthen a bond between two souls.
The blood represents the ultimate sacrifice of an individual’s own life force.
This in turn is said to show their lover that they trust them and would sacrifice their own life energy for them.
When Angelina Jolie and Billy Bob Thornton were a couple back in 2001, they wore blood vial necklaces containing each other’s blood and the media went crazy.
News outlets around the world picked up the story and ran with it.
Recently, Machine Gun Kelly and Megan Fox also made headlines when they were spotted wearing them. It isn’t just couples that can wear them, though.
Some people wear vials around their neck containing their own blood, so why is that?
Well, of course, different people will have different reasons for wearing them, but historically, wearing a vial of your own blood around your neck is said to be a symbol of yourself and a way of paying homage to, and celebrating your ancestry.
We’re getting quite deep here, but it’s believed to represent your codes and ethics of which you live, die, and then live once again when resurrected.
Some people wear them because they have an interest in Pagan history, some people interested in, or who even practice witchcraft, choose to wear them.
And some people simply wear them because they look cool and are the perfect piece of jewelry with which to make a statement.
Blood vial necklace origins
Blood is a bodily fluid that is deep-rooted in cultures and traditions all over the globe, yet what significance does it have in relation to blood vial necklaces?
Some people believe that blood vial necklaces have sinister occult origins as they’re commonly associated with witchcraft.
Others believe that they have Pagan origins, and some believe that they can be traced further back still.
The interesting thing about blood vial necklaces is that people can’t seem to make up their minds about whether they’re considered to have positive connotations, or more negative meanings instead.
When you stop and think about it, it’s easy to understand why that is.
Blood is often used as a symbol of life, but it can also be associated with death or injury, which again raises the positive or negative argument.
To complicate matters further, blood can also be used to strengthen relationships or bonds, hence the term ‘bonded by blood’.
This can be in a sense of family and/or friendship, or in a romantic and intimate sense.
As far as the exact origins of blood vial necklaces, therefore, like most things in history, details are a little sketchy.
The general consensus is that blood vial necklaces are connected with witchcraft, and considering witchcraft does indeed place an emphasis on vials containing bodily fluids, that’s a pretty safe assumption.
Before you begin thinking the worst, though, this does not necessarily mean that they have sinister origins.
Many historians believe that blood vial necklaces were not worn by witches concocting potions and practicing spells, but rather, they were worn by people to ward off witches and evil spirits.
People would own vials containing blood, herbs, flowers, and countless other ingredients thought to ward off evil energy, so it would make sense to wear them around your neck.
After all, by wearing them around your neck, you’d be protected at all times, providing you had your necklace on, of course.
These small vials became known as ‘witch bottles. Witch bottles were made by people who were worried that they had been victims of witchcraft.
These bottles were widely used in the 17th century when instructions were actually written down and presented to everyday individuals.
This shows just how concerned people were about witchcraft, in the sense that they wrote down instructions on how to make these witch bottles, just like people write down recipes for Pinterest today.
Initially, witch bottles were made from stone and ceramic, rather than glass, and they were much larger than the vials you find attached to blood vial necklaces nowadays.
It’s easy to see why people assume that blood vial necklaces were used by witches, however, as there are many references to vials of blood in popular works such as Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
In this play, he did indeed include a vial of blood as one of the ingredients used in the witches’ potion that he wrote about.
So, while we don’t know exactly why vials of blood were used, we do know that the witchcraft theme is looking to be a pretty safe bet.
What’s a little trickier, however, is understanding when blood vial necklaces became a thing, and why.
Like many other ancient myths and urban legends, the origins of the blood vial necklace have evolved over the decades to include a whole host of different ideas.
A lot of practicing Pagans, however, are adamant that blood vial necklaces are not associated with their culture, even remotely.
The most likely idea is that blood vial necklaces were never really a thing and that they just sort of happened as the years ticked by.
It could simply be that couples wanted to show their commitment to each other and wear a vial of each other’s blood around their necks, with a similar concept to promise rings.
It could even be a form of interpretive art, in the sense that the vial of blood represents whatever the wearer interprets it to mean.
What we do know is that blood vial necklaces are now very popular, they look stylish, and if you use the correct kits and equipment, they are perfectly safe.
What do you put in blood vial necklaces?
As the name implies, blood vial necklaces are indeed designed to be filled with blood.
Typically, you would fill the necklace with your own blood, the blood of a romantic partner (with their consent of course), or even perhaps a combination of both of your blood.
If the thought of filling one of these vial necklaces with blood is a little too dark and macabre for you, the good news is that you don’t have to fill them with blood.
Some people choose to fill them with the ashes of a dead loved one. Others fill them with sand from the beach or decorative dust or powder.
You could even fill them with water and some coloring to create a bright and vibrant pendant.
A few non-blood ideas for your blood vial necklace include:
- Sand
- Coloured water
- A love letter or poem
- Ashes of a deceased loved one
- Essential oils
- Smelling salts
- Perfume
- Crushed flowers
- Herbs
- Salt
- Spices
- Hair
How do you fill a blood vial necklace?
Assuming that you’re filling a blood vial necklace with blood, there are a number of steps you need to take to ensure that you fill the vial safely.
If you’re squeamish, you might wish to look away now, although a blood vial necklace might not be the best choice if you’re squeamish.
In order to fill the glass vial attached to your necklace with blood, you are going to have to extract some of your own blood.
Now, be very careful when doing this, and don’t take any unnecessary chances.
When extracting your own blood, make sure you use sterile equipment and surroundings, and make sure your hands themselves are clean.
You should also have some anti-coagulant ready to go, which is often included in the blood vial necklace kit.
To extract the blood, don’t even think about cutting a vein or anything like that.
Instead, you will need to visit your nearest pharmacy and pick up a medical-grade finger lancet which is commonly used by diabetics to test their blood sugar levels.
Now, rub your fattest finger together on your thumb for 30 seconds to get it warmed up and to boost blood circulation.
Using the lancet, make the incision and then gently squeeze it to extract around 5 – 10 drops of blood (depending on the size of the vial).
Once you’ve squeezed the blood carefully into the vial, add the anti-coagulant following the instructions and combine the two.
Now, seal the vial closed as instructed, clean your cut, dispose of any used equipment, ensure the vial is clean and sterile, and you’re all set.
How to preserve blood in a vial necklace?
If you’ve ever cut your finger before, you’ll notice that at first the blood flows freely and comes out thin and watery.
As time passes, the blood thickens until it solidifies and clots, usually preventing the cut entirely.
The last thing you want is for this to happen with your blood vial necklace as you’d basically be wearing a nasty-looking blood clot around your neck, so what can you do?
This is where the anti-coagulant is so important.
Once you have extracted your blood and filled your vial, follow the instructions on the anti-coagulant packet and combine it with the blood.
The anti-coagulant mixes with the blood and prevents the platelets in your blood from causing the blood to clot and thicken, keeping it in a liquid state.
Just like when you’re preserving a jar of jam, you should also ensure that the lid to your vial is sealed closed securely.
You want an airtight seal as once blood is exposed to oxygen, oxidation occurs, and this will cause it to change from a deep and vibrant red color to a dark black color.
How long does blood last in a vial?
Despite anti-coagulants helping to preserve the blood, as well as a tight seal, eventually, the blood will oxidize and be considered past its best.
According to official advice from blood banks, blood has a ‘shelf life’ of six weeks.
As the blood in a blood vial necklace is for aesthetic purposes, however, this doesn’t really matter.
The truth is that there is no one true answer to how long blood in a vial necklace will last because it depends on a number of factors.
The anti-coagulants will help, as will an air-tight seal to the vial.
If you can maintain an airtight seal on the vial, the blood will stay red and remain in a liquid state indefinitely.
Top 5 Best Blood Vial Necklaces
Because there are so many blood vial necklaces out there, knowing which one to pick is much easier said than done.
To make your search easier, here are the top 5 best blood vial necklaces currently available on
1. Mealguet Jewellery Stainless Steel Glass Container Tube Urn
This blood vial necklace from Mealguet is not only a popular blood vial necklace, it can also be used as an urn for a loved one’s ashes, or anything else for that matter.
This necklace has a more masculine appearance to it so it is suitable for men and women.
With a stylish cylinder shape and a decorative glass bottle inside, this necklace works incredibly well as a blood vial necklace.
To help keep the blood inside fresh and preserved, the lid to the bottle features a screw lid and rubber gasket seal to ensure an airtight seal to keep the contents inside fresh and preserved.
Key features:
- 24” chain
- 43* 12.6mm pendant
- Rust-resistant stainless steel design
- Comes with a decorative grey velvet bag
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Screw and rubber gasket to provide an air-tight seal
- Unisex design
2. Zysta Personalized Engraving Acrylic Necklace
Available in black, silver, gold, and rose gold, and in a selection of different lengths, the Zysta personalized engraving acrylic urn necklace is sure to turn heads for all of the right reasons.
This necklace is hypoallergenic thanks to its stainless-steel design, so you needn’t worry about any green necks or allergic reactions when wearing it.
It is also rust-resistant and very durable, so it will withstand a lot of punishment and last a considerable amount of time.
This blood vial necklace also features a neutral unisex design as it is not too feminine or masculine.
Ideal for blood, quicksand, ashes, hair, flower, perfume, and more besides, this lightweight necklace feels as comfortable as it looks.
Key features:
- 9*45mm tube size
- 6mm bottle neck diameter
- 15mm depth
- 24 inch/610mm chain length
- Non-fade bottle
- High quality stainless-steel material
- Hypoallergenic
- 90-day money back guarantee
- Custom engraving options available
3. MPRAINBOW Hourglass Necklace
This stunning hourglass blood vial necklace from MPRAINBOW is guaranteed to turn heads.
Whether you want to show a loved one how much they mean to you, or if you’re using it as a commemorative urn to honor a lost loved one, this necklace makes the perfect gift.
Available as a 1 – 5 piece, the sleek and stylish hourglass design of the vial really does look special and as an added bonus.
It even comes with a miniature funnel which you can use to fill the vial with your filling of choice.
This necklace is lightweight at just 10g (empty weight) and is once again hypoallergenic and made from stainless steel to guarantee a durable and versatile finish.
To make this a really special gift, you can purchase this vial necklace with a decorative grey velvet bag, or a gift box.
You can choose this necklace in silver, gold, black, or rose gold, and thanks to the neutral design, it is suitable for both men and women alike.
Key features:
- 10g weight
- Hypoallergenic stainless steel material
- Highly polished, IP plating offers rust and abrasion protection
- Decorative hourglass vial shape
- Fill with blood, ashes, hair, sand, water, perfume, flowers, or mementos of your travels.
- 24” chain length
- 46mm*12mm size
- Miniature funnel included
- 4 colours to choose from
4. Paialco Jewellery Vampire Blood Vial Necklace
For a more gothic and macabre feel, the Paialco Jewellery Vampire Blood Vial Necklace is guaranteed to tick all of the right boxes.
This is the perfect blood vial necklace for those who like the idea of a blood vial necklace, without actually having real blood around your neck.
It comes with a sealed vintage tube that is filled with imitation blood. That’s right, it’s red, it looks like blood, but it isn’t.
With a hand-knotted put leather sliding rope design and a vintage tube filled with red imitation blood that attaches separately.
This is a fantastic necklace for people who are perhaps attending a fancy dress party, dressing up as a vampire for Halloween, or for people that simply want to embrace their gothic sides.
Perfect for men and women, this leather rope necklace comes delivered in a lovely little jewelry gift box to really add the finishing touches.
Key features:
- Imitation blood vial
- NOT suitable to be used as an actual blood vial necklace
- Max rope length is 25.5 inches or 65 centimeters
- Perfect costume jewelry piece
5. Nancy’s Gift Clear Tear Drop Vial Necklace
The 1PC Clear Tear Drop Vial Necklace from Nancy’s Gift features a hypoallergenic stainless-steel chain, a crown cork stopper, a spare beaded cork stopper, and a stunning Murano glass bottle in an artistic teardrop design.
With a total length of 60cm, this chain is perfect for those who prefer a slightly lengthier necklace.
With this vial necklace, you will also receive a handy pipette dropper to dispense your liquid inside.
The glass teardrop vial itself will hold just under 2ml of liquid.
Key features:
- The pendant hangs from the rim rather than the cap
- Stunning Murano glass teardrop bottle design
- Crown cork stopper and spare beaded cork stopper provided
- Costs just $9.19
- Pipette dropper included
- 40MM(H) 17MM(W)
- Handmade lampwork clear glass vial
- Stainless-steel chain
- Can be used to store all kinds of different materials
Blood vial necklace kit
As you can see above, the blood vial necklaces commonly found online are not designed solely for the storage of real blood.
If you wish to store real blood in a vial necklace you will need to purchase a blood vial necklace kit.
Blood vial necklace kits are designed to enable people that use these necklaces to safely, securely, and hygienically, store blood in the decorative glass vials that attach to the necklace chains.
Usually, a blood vial necklace kit will contain the following items:
- Glass vial/vials complete with air-tight stoppers and seals
- Chains
- Full sets of medical supplies such as medical-grade anti-coagulant, sterilizing solution, rubber gloves, gauze, band-aids, and more…
- Tube of super glue to securely seal the lid in place
- Decorative accessories