Collecting Vintage Perfume Bottles

There are few collectibles out there that hold a certain mystery and elegance comparable to perfume bottles.  Fragrances and  have been around since ancient times, and their containers have always been a work of art.  Who knows why so much time and attention to detail was put into manufacturing those little bottles!  One thing is for sure, their detail and beauty continues to captivate millions of collectors all over the world, year after year.

The History and Evolution of Perfume Bottles
(courtesy of http://www.perfumes.com)

Perfume Bottles in Ancient Times

Perfumes have been a very important part of culture since ancient times. Not only were the perfumes valuable, but so were the containers that held them. The oldest known perfume bottles came from the Ancient Egyptians. They used containers made of stone and alabaster which kept the perfume cool, and did not leak the precious liquids. They also used clay pots made into sculptures of people and animals. They were very creative in their designs.

Many perfume containers have been found in tombs. Perfume was an important part of the Egyptians preparation of the dead. Containers have been found made of wood with different compartments for each perfume.

Glass bottles date back to the fifteenth century BC. The glass bottles were also non-porous, and were also lightweight. Eventually the glass bottles were created in brilliant colors.

Perfume bottles found in Palestine were made of glass, and had narrow long necks. They were primarily found in tombs. Large bottles of perfumes were often found in tombs, believed to cover the smell of the dead bodies.

The Ancient Greeks made beautiful containers for perfume. They hand painted vases which were often shaped as animals. They used lidded bowls for holding less expensive perfumes.

Glass bottles were again reformed upon the invention of blown glass. Bottles were designed in the shapes of animals, bunches of grapes, fruit, shells and fish.

The Roman's used hollowed-out precious stones to carry their most valuable perfumes.

Early European Perfume Bottles

Europeans used many different containers to store their perfumes. They used glass, gold, silver, porcelain, semi-precious stones and shells. Perfume was commonly used in the form of incense. Some incense burners consisted of a container held from chains. It was swung like a pendulum during Mass in the Christian Church. There were also stationary incense burners used in Churches.

Some perfume containers were designed to be worn. Semi-precious stones held perfumes and were pinned to clothing. Silver earrings were worn that contained perfume soaked fabric inside them. Many containers were designed to be hung around the neck, from a belt, or from a finger ring.

Perfume bottles were handcrafted and designed by artists, jewelers and goldsmiths. Many bottles were designed to be worn, or displayed on a table.

Small wooden boxes were created to hold a sponge soaked with perfume. These boxes would fit inside a pocket and could be taken out and inhaled at any time.

Porcelain was used in the Thirteenth Century. Many highly decorative bottles were created. Boxes were created that included perfume and other essentials. Some boxes contained several bottles of perfumes, a funnel and a mixing dish. "Necessaires" became popular in the eighteenth century, and included everything necessary for having tea.

Most perfumes during this time were sold in inexpensive, plain bottles. The perfume was then transferred into the fancy bottles at home.

Perfume Bottles of the Early 1800s and 1900s

The style of perfume bottles changed dramatically in the late 1800's. There was a great incline of the arts movement called Art Nouveau. Most Art Nouveau designs consisted of floral motifs, and were primarily used to design the perfume label and box, leaving the perfume bottles fairly traditional in styling.

Several famous pieces of this time were the Bouquet Nouveau, Royal Vaissier, and Cri du Coeur. The Bouquet Nouveau was a Roger & Gallet perfume. It had a square green-glass bottle with an unusual gilded brass casing. Royal Vaissier displayed magnificent Art Nouveau style paper motifs in the form of a fleur de lys designed by Baccarat. Cri du Coeur (Cry from the heart) was a Lorenzy-Palanca powder box. It had a woman-flower image which is a rare high-style Art Nouveau icon.

Belle Epoque was the preferred style for perfume presentations at this time. The style tended to be traditional, cluttered, very elegant and very French. Examples of perfume bottles of this style were Coronis by Monpelas and Roger & Gallet's Gloire de Paris.

A new trend in perfume bottles was creating luxurious crystal look bottles with elaborate brass caps. The bottles had classic designs, and the brass caps matched the ornate gold labels and boxes. Examples of this style were Rose Ispahan and Prince Igor by Riguard, Rose de Chiraz by F. Wolff & Sohn, Stylis by Delettrez, Eros by Richard Hudnut, Le Lilas by Riguard, and Mavis by Vivaudou.

The 1910's brought a new tradition in perfume bottles. The emergence of psychology and new perfume creations led to much more complex perfume bottles and names. The power of suggestion and dreams was having a huge effect on cultures in general, and perfumes were also effected. Perfumes were being marketed for specific times of day, seasons, and people. Guerlain introduced the perfume "Voila pourquoi j'aimais Rosine" (That is why I loved Rosine). The bottle resembled a vase, and the stopper was concealed under silk flowers. The bottle shape was again used in Guerlain's "Muguet" (Lily of the Valley). It was later re-introduced in all white with a white ribbon replacing the silk flowers. This presentation was an immediate success. Guerlain later introduced "Le Mouchoir de Monsieur" (The Gentleman's Handkerchief) which had an innovative bottle with the shape of a triangle and a spiral motif on each side.


Other creative perfume bottles of this time were "Rediviva" (Revived) by La Compagnie Francais du Lysogene. It was shaped like a porcelain coffeepot, and the perfume was dispensed through the end of the spout. Illusion was presented by Dralle in 1908. It had a silver case shaped like a lighthouse, and the perfume bottle was held in this case.

Rene Lalique was approached in 1906 by the perfumer Francois Coty to design the bottles for his perfumes. Coty was well established in the perfume industry and desired both beautiful and affordable bottles to hold his perfumes. Lalique was successful in fulfilling Coty's wishes, and continued to design bottles for his future creations. His most famous designs include Au Coeur des Calices, L'Entrainement and Ambre Antique. He also designed bottles for other perfumers. Some of his most famous creations were developed for Houbigant, Roger et Gallet, D'Orsay, Forvil, and Arys and Molinard.


The Oriental Movement in Paris began in 1910 by Paul Poiret, a famous designer. Pioret introduced an Oriental style in clothing, furnishings and perfumes. Women who longed to wear the gowns he designed, but could not afford them, could still wear the perfume. For women who did wear his collections, the perfume was the final touch. Poiret developed a new perfume "Chez Pioret" with beautiful and innovative packaging. The bottle was made of clear glass with a colored glass stopper. It was decorated with gold tassels, and had a new label with a classic "R". Pioret used his boxes as a tool for expressing the style of the fragrance.

Bichara Malhame was a very successful perfumer in Paris. His famous label on his perfumes portrayed himself seizing a mythological figure of Fortune by the hair. He also appeared on a Baccarat stopper wearing a wig, and appearing as an English judge.


Perfume Bottles of the 1920s

The 1920's brought a new era to perfumes. After World War I, many American Soldiers brought perfumes back to the states from Paris, and greatly increased the perfume market. The perfume industry expanded rapidly, and many new perfume companies emerged. Many fashion designers entered the perfume industry. Most of these designers knew very little about creating a good perfume, but they did know about style. The visual presentation of the perfume became vital to a successful perfume.

Mascarades were very popular, and had a strong influence on perfumes.

"Masque Rouge" was introduced in a very modern bottle, and the box had a red mask motif. "Mascarades" by Cherigan came in a black bottle with a golden face under a rain of gold dust. "Arlequinade" was a Rosine perfume which resembled a Harlequin costume. It had gilded and clear triangles on the bottle, and a dark-green Bakelite stopper in the form of Harlequin's hat and an orange wood tassel.



"Bakanir" was introduced in 1927 by Honore Payan. The bottle was a simple geometric shape with a stopper resembling an exotic headdress. The box was covered with painted leather with a ceramic plaque. It was one of the most luxurious presentations for perfume.



Baccarat bottles were designed using superior quality crystal. They designed perfume bottles for most perfume companies of the time. Two of their famous perfume bottles were designed in 1927. "Silver Butterfly" by Delettrez was made of pink crystal with silver ornamentation. It was a vertical hexagon with an abstract motif. "Astris" by L.T. Piver was shaped as a star, and featured a silver six-pointed motif.



Chanel No 5 was released by Chanel in 1921. The perfume was revolutionary in scent and presentation. The bottle was very simple in design. It was intended to make the masculine world available to women.

Perfume Bottles of the 1930s

With the stock market crash of 1929, and the depression that devastated the United States, the perfume market slowed down dramatically. There remained a more limited demand in Paris, and only the strongest companies such as Baccarat, and Brosse and Lalique were able to continue. The bottles became less elaborate, tended to be conservative and were often machine made.



Perfume bottles were less frequently inspired by nature, and more often reflected Hollywood movies and metropolitan cities. Lalique designed the presentation for "Je Reviens" by Worth. The bottle resembled New York skyscrapers. It was a tall ribbed bottle in dark-blue glass. The stopper was sky blue, and the box had a chrome surface. It was a very modern presentation.



Jean Patou released the perfume "Normandie" in 1935. It was inspired by the luxury ship the Normandie. All First Class Passengers on the ship's maiden voyage were given a souvenir model of the Normandie. Inside the model of the ship was a crystal bottle of perfume.

Perfume Bottles of the 1940s

World War II caused a decrease in new perfume creations, as well as a decline in the quality of perfume presentations. After the war, the perfume industry was re-established, and many new perfumers emerged. Christian Dior and Nina Ricci both released works of art. "Miss Dior" by Christian Dior was presented in an elegant clear crystal Baccarat bottle. Dior used a classic look that was elegant and luxurious. Nina Ricci was known for feminine and romantic creations. L'Air du Temps was released in 1948 and sold in a sunburst shaped bottle. The stopper was decorated with a dove. The lid of the box was lined with white silk and depicted a woman and a flying dove. The 1951 box was in the shape of a birdcage covered in yellow silk. A battery was supplied to illuminate the birdcage.

Perfume Bottles of the 1950s

Perfumes once again became inspired by romance in the 1950's. Salvador Dali designed the bottle for "Monsieur Marquay" by Marquay. The bottle featured an elegant man with a top hat and bow tie. The box was simple white with Dali's moustache and signature.

Christian Dior introduced "Diorissimo" in 1956. The special edition bottle was designed by Baccarat. The crystal bottle was in the form of an amphora, and the stopper had a magnificent flower bouquet in gilded bronze designed by Chrystiane Charles.

"Magie" was released by Lancome in 1950. Every Christmas a special edition was released. It was presented in a Baccarat spherical bottle with stars, and a box covered in leather or satin.

Modern Day Perfume Bottles

Pierre Dinand was the first perfume bottle designer to produce perfume bottles exclusively. Dinand designs bottles with a modern feel, and uses the bottle as an expression of the perfume. He has produced numerous bottles using state of the art plastics, and has transformed perfume bottles in the 1980's and 1990's.

Serge Mansau is another modern day perfume bottle designer. He prefers to focus his designs on nature's beauty. His prize winning bottle for "Montana" was inspired by a maple seed. He has used flowers, stones and waterfalls as ideas for his bottle designs.

Jewelers have also entered the perfume business. Van Cleef & Arpels were the first jewelers to release a fragrance. Cartier followed with the bottle for Panthere in 1986. Tiffany, Bvlgari, Chopard and Boucheron have also launched fragrances.

Baccarat and Lalique continue to design the highest quality perfume bottles. Perfume bottle collecting has also become very popular. Most collectable perfume bottles come from French perfumes and date from the 19th and 20th centuries.

Modern day perfume bottles are expected to give the feel of the fragrance. The bottle is the first point of contact a person with a perfume, and often determines if the perfume will be purchased.

Tips for Collecting Vintage Perfume Bottles

Always Keep an Eye out for opportunities to add to your collection!  You never know where or when you could stumble upon the perfect bottle to complete your growing collection.  Check out estate sales, garage sales, flea markets, antique stores, and specialty vintage perfume bottle websites online.  You may even be able to find one or two in your own family, so ask around!  What could be more special than a family heirloom perfume bottle in your collection?

Decide how you want to collect your vintage perfume bottles.  Do you want to only collect a certain brand?  Or maybe you want to collect only perfume bottles manufactured during a certain time period?  Creating a theme for your collection will make your collection as a whole more valuable and interesting.

Do your research.  It is good to know a little bit about what you are collecting before you start shopping!  This way you will know if you happen to stumble upon a rare, unique find!  Knowing a lot about your new hobby will also help you stay engaged.  Books such as the Antique Trader Perfume Bottles Price Guide and The Wonderful World of Collecting Perfume Bottles, by Jane Flanagan are great resources for perfume bottle collectors.

Don’t discard the mini bottles!  When you are shopping for perfume bottles, snatch up the mini sizes of your favorite brands.  Sometimes, these are rarer and are worth more than their larger counterparts!

Check local events and conventions.  You never know when a vintage perfume bottle convention could be coming to a town near you.  These are great opportunities to learn more about perfume bottles and find some really great deals and unique bottles.

Become a member of the IPBA – The International Perfume Bottle Association.  Being a member of this association gives you access to exclusive newsletters and information about vintage perfume bottles.  They also hold events each year, including a convention, conference, and perfume bottle auction.

Vintage Perfume Bottle Price Guide