Vintage Perfume Atomiser

Perfume bottles and scent bottles have existed since ancient times but grew to be an essential part of a ladies dressing table in the 1700s. Perfume was essential to both men and women in these times because of the foul and strong odors of not just the streets, but other people; after all, bathing wasn’t exactly a high priority. The modern perfume industry that we know and love today first grew its roots in 17th Century Paris; a place which is still a perfume heartland. In the 1700s perfume was a solid substance, but the 1800s saw perfume shift to a liquid form, and thus the need for a bottle arose.

Early scent bottles were known as ‘vinaigrettes’; which were small bottles attached to a chain. These scent bottles were made of gilded metal to prevent erosion, and it wasn’t until the late 1800s that scent bottles made from cut glass first made an appearance.

As soon as glass became the common form for scent bottles, perfume bottles became extravagantly designed art pieces, with the value of the interior product being matched by its outer casing for the first time. During the 19th century distinct designs for perfume bottles started to appear; with many brands and scents starting to become recognized by the style of the bottle. Some perfumiers opted for opulent pieces including cut glass and precious metals, while others created fun novelty pieces designed to cheer a ladies dressing table.