A container for paste-form substances such as shoe polish comprises a bottom portion 10 and a lid 11. The bottom portion has at the upper end of its sidewall 13 an inwardly depressed margin 14 and the edge has an outward curl 15 extending outward beyond the undepressed part of the sidewall. The lid has two downwardly pivot points 28 angularly spaced apart by 100 DEG and a shoulder 23 extending over the major arc between the pivot points rests on the outward curl on the bottom portion, the skirt 17 of the lid engaging the outermost surface of the outward curl 15 to form a seal. Over the 100 DEG arc the top of the lid is spaced away from the outward curl to enable the lid to pivot open under squeezing pressure applied between the base and the lid at the middle-of the 100 DEG arc. An axial groove 30 is formed on the inner surface of the skirt of the lid and extends from the edge of the skirt to a location just below the radially outermost surface of the outward curl 15 for venting the container until the lid is almost fully home on the bottom portion.