When perfume bottles were still hand-made

History of glass making and perfume bottles production

Photo by author. Guerlain’s perfume Flacon Bouchon Coeur (Heart Shaped Stopper), in production since c.1912. Originally created for L’Heure Bleue, Mitsouko and Fol Arôme perfumes. Later used for Le Petite Robe Noir, Mitsouko Fleur de Lotus and Shalimar perfumes. Designed by Raymond Guerlain and produced by Baccarat.

Perfume bottles are exquisite pieces of packaging art. Meticulously designed and finished, they adorn many dressing tables and vanity desks. Their unique features distinguish them from other types of cosmetic packaging and make them collectable and decorative items.

A perfume bottle is also an important marketing tool. Its design adds a unique visual identity to the brand’s message and the product’s fragrance. It actively communicates to customers the quality and class of the perfume they contain and tangibly illustrates the product’s benefits, distinctions and ambitions.

Perfumes are often advertised through emotions and fantasies, such as increased confidence, sexual attractiveness, femininity/masculinity or by accentuating personal traits like innocence, honesty, individuality and identity. It is the responsibility of the perfume bottle to instantly relay these qualities to customers and trigger a desired response — most commonly the impulse to buy.

Over the centuries, the design and production of perfume bottles have advanced considerably. The 19th century, for example, saw the introduction of automated production lines, which increased efficiency and precision. The beginning of the 20th century…