Bottles In Ancient Times • Early European Bottles • Early 1800 & 1900's • Next Page

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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