1920's • 1930's • 1940's • 1950's • Modern Day

1920's

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.

1930's

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.

1940's

  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.

1950's

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.

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.