Perfume bottles are still a staple of modern vanity tables and beauty stations. Designed not just to be functional but as miniature pieces of art, perfume bottles come in many forms and sizes and can make the perfect accent piece for modern decor. In this article, we’ll be taking a closer look at the rich history of perfume bottles, as well as some of the more valuable examples, and lastly, we’ll be giving you the rundown of our favorite pieces currently for sale online.
Perfume Bottles: A Short History
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.
Today perfumes still come in their own unique bottles, with the appearance of the bottle having almost as much worth as the scent held inside.
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Are Old perfume Bottles Worth Anything?
One of the reasons why perfume bottles are such a popular item to collect is because they can be picked up for a few pounds or hundreds of pounds; meaning that these items are accessible to all. Many factors dictate the value of a perfume bottle such as its age, the brand, the condition of the bottle, and whether the bottle still contains perfume or comes in its original box. Glass perfume bottles made by French glassmaker Lalique, for example, carry a higher value because of the provenance of the maker. The materials the bottles are made from such as hand-blown glass, gold, or silver will also impact the inherent value of the piece.
Our Favourite Vintage and Antique Perfume Bottles
Listed below are our top picks for the most stunning, stylish, and unique vintage and antique perfume bottles currently for sale online. We’ve created subcategories to our list to help you find the perfect bottle that you’re looking for from whatever era most excites you.
I) 1920s perfume bottles
1. Rare Antique 1920’s Irice Mini Perfume Bottle w/ Jeweled Lid & Glass Dangles
Color: Green
Price: $47.00
Lovely 20/30s era antique bottle with the original brass filigree screw on lid. The condition is very good and still good for use. Perfect for a collectors present.
2. Antique Art Deco Czech Perfume Bottle Pink Cut Glass Stopper BIG vtg 1920s glam
Color: Pink
Price: $99.00
Antique art deco Czech perfume bottle in the color pink. Dating back to the 1920s glam, the bottle measures 5” wide and 5 ½” tall.
3. 1920s Vintage Colibri Dralle Perfume Bottle Original Brass Case Germany Hamburg
Color: Clear
Price: $552.00
A 1920s vintage Colibri perfume brass case Germany perfume bottle. An expensive rarity, the bottle is in good condition for the age it is. Perfect for a collector who likes more historical trinkets.
4. 1920s Vintage Rare LT Piver Volt Bulb Shape Perfume Bottle Paris In Original Box
Color: Milk White
Price: $499.00
A rare 1920s vintage Piver Volt Bulb Perfume Bottle Paris (Original Box Included), No Crack or Chips, and in excellent condition. This is a very good object for some who is looking to add something special to a collection.
5. Vintage Rare 1920s/20s Grossmith Phul-Nana PERFUME BOTTLE & BOX Boudoir Display
Color: Green
Price: $60.28
Vintage and beautiful perfume box and bottle by Grossmith & Son. This perfume bottle was created in 1891 is made from glass and has a lovely graphic on the label with the original glass stopper.
6. Pair of Antique Art Deco Satin Glass Perfume Bottles
Color: Satin Glass Texture
Price: $30.00
Two sculptured and textured glass perfume bottles with original stoppers, the shape and design are perfect for someone looking to add a really rich feeling to their decor.
II) 1930s Perfume Bottle
1. Vintage Perfume Bottle Bouton Red Bakelite Scotty Dog Lid 1930’s AS-IS
Color: Clear White and Red
Price: $25.00
A great 1930s bouton gardenia perfume bottle is in great condition with a slight crack down one side which doesn’t affect the overall structure. A very rare piece and great for any collector.
2. Vintage 1930s GUERLAIN LIU Perfume Extract 30ml / 1oz Bottle in Box excellent
Color: Grey, Gold, Black
Price: $499.99
A vintage 1930 Guerlain Liu perfume extract 30ml/1oz bottle in box excellent. This box was made in France and is in excellent condition.
3. A Pair Of Antique Eroy “ Adoree “ Perfume Bottles Empty Kneeling Nudes 1930S
Color: Cloudy Glass
Price: $24.54
A pair of antique Eroy Perfume bottles empty kneeling nude girls in great condition with little to no errors in the bottles. These perfume bottles stand at 4” tall and are great for use or a collector’s piece.
4. Czech Bohemian Amber Glass Perfume Bottle Antique Art Deco
Color: Amber
Price: $115.20
This lovely Czech atomizer features a ray of sunlight captured in an ambered bottle. The warmth of the glass shines perfectly whatever the lighting. It is in great condition and is still in perfect working order. The diameter is 4 ¾” and stands at 3” in height.
5. Exceptional Rare Art Deco Antique Bow Tie Shaped Guerlain Perfume Bottle By Baccarat Blue & Gold.
Color: Gold
Price: $749.17
An excellent conditioned vintage Dawamesk Perfume Bottle made by Baccarat Crystal. This gold bottle is very rare and in exceptional condition ready for the perfect collector to come and swoop it up.
III) 1940s Perfume Bottles
1. 1940’s Mosell gold-toned goose with gold egg and mini perfume bottle
Color: Gold
Price: $43.00
This 1940s Mosell Gold Toned Goose with gold egg and mini perfume bottle. It has dark red ruby eyes and is in very good condition. Stands at 4 ½” in length and is perfect for any shelf or dressing table.
2. VINTAGE HATTIE CARNEGIE – PERFUME BOTTLE – 1940s
Color: Clear Glass
Price: $59.99
A vintage item with a Hindu design. The bottle is in excellent condition and is a Vintage 1940s Hattie Carnegie Perfume and has little to no chips or errors to the bottle.
3. Lalique Vintage Nina Ricci Coeur-Joie Perfume Bottle. 1940’s Heart 4″ Empty
Color: Dark Grey
Price: $198.84
A vintage 1940s Nina Ricci ‘Coeur-Joie’ love-heart-shaped perfume bottle made in France. This item is etched with some marks on the bottle as shown by the images. Stands at 4” in height and is in VERY good condition.
4. 1940s Novaya Zarya Perfume Bottle with Original Box
Color: Green, Milky Glass, Black
Price: $50.81
A vintage perfume bottle and stopper are both in semi-good condition. The top of the little bottle is broken but is easily glued back together, and the buyer has left this for the potential new owner to decide. Either way, the bottle stands at 4” tall 1½” wide.
5. Clear Lucite vintage 1940s Art Deco Perfume Bottle with glass applicator
Color: Clear Glass
Price: $33.60
A silver geometric lid with glass dabber tops. This vintage bottle dates back to the 1940s with clear Lucite Artwork. It is perfect for reusable use and can be used as a collector’s item.
6. Vintage 1940s Perfume Bottles / Matching Set / MarkedLALIQUE Beautiful floral Stoppers
Color: Clear Glass
Price: $199.00
A vintage 1940s bottle of perfume that comes in a matching pair. Sticker-marked rice with beautiful floral stoppers. The set is rare to find and is very nice for a collector looking for a paired item.
7. Vintage Antique Pressed Glass Perfume Bottle With Peacock Stopper
Color: Milky Glass
Price: $54.00
This pressed glass perfume bottle has a great pattern to represent its design. The bottle stands at 4” tall with a small chip in the stopper. The bottle is almost 25 years old and has an unknown marker.
IV) 1950s Perfume Bottles
1. VINTAGE 1950s “TRESOR” of LANCOME DROP TEARDROP SHAPE PENDANT PERFUME BOTTLE
Color: Pink, Clear Glass, and Gold
Price: $49.00
A vintage 1950s “Tresor” bottle. The bottle is polished glass and beautifully smooth. It is in very good vintage condition with little to no damage on the bottle.
2. VINTAGE 1950’s ORMOLU STYLE PERFUME BOTTLE
Color: Gold
Price: $124.89
A vintage 1950s Ormolu Style perfume Bottle in very good condition. The bottle is stunning and in usable condition for anyone looking to have a glamorous perfume bottle.
3. Vintage Mini Perfume Bottle ATOM BOMB Jergens 1950s
Color: Clear Glass, Red, and Labeled.
Price: $124.99
A small miniature glass perfume bottle measures a 2 ½” high bottle with a red plastic top lid. The Paper label is printed Atom Bomb.
4. Lot Of 14 Assorted Vintage 1950s Perfume Bottles Of All Kinds — 5530
Color: Various Colours
Price: $29.00
Here we have a lot of assorted vintage 1950s perfume bottles of all kinds. The conditions vary from bottle to bottle but you can see the different conditions via the pictures the seller has presented.
5. Vintage Amberina Pressed Glass Perfume
Color: Black, Red
Price: $33.60
A beautiful vintage amberina pressed glass perfume bottle. This bottle is made of dark amberina glass with a red and yellow cap. The bottle stands 3 ¾” tall with a 2 ⅞” square bass.
V) 1960s Perfume Bottles
1. Vintage 1960s Castagnon Nogaro Empty Liquor or Perfume Bottle. Knight & Horse
Color: Clear Glass
Price: $20.57
A great conditioned bottle with no chips. The bottle comes with a well-conditioned glass stopper. The measurements are 2.9” tall, 4.7” wide, and 1” in depth.
2. Irice Blue vintage perfume bottles – duck egg 1960s art glass bottle – boudoir
Color: Blue
Price: $23.17
Irice Blue vintage perfume bottle. The bottle is a Duck egg design from the 1960s art glass bottle. The stopper is chipped but can still provide good use. The bottle is great for a collector’s gift.
3. Mid Century Avon Perfume Bottle1960s Wild Country Green Glass 6” Retro Vintage
Color: Dark Green
Price: $13.70
An Avon cosmetics perfume bottle dating back to the 1960s. The bottle is green in color with a plastic lid. The measurements are 6” tall with a square base of 1½” x 1½”. The bottle is empty but a faint whiff of “Wild Country” perfume still resides.
4. 1960’s Vintage Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver (925) Shell Perfume Bottle w/Pouch
Color: Tiffany Blue
Price: $350.00
A vintage Tiffany and Company vial with a stopper and satchel. This item is a perfect gift for anyone in love with the brand or for a collector looking to get another piece of the companies history.
5. Iconic 1960’s Prince Matchabelli Perfume Bottles
Color: Pale Blue and Pale Pink
Price: $19.20
An iconic pair of Prince Matchabelli perfume bottles. The larger bottle is clear glass with a measurement of 4oz. The smaller bottle volume is 2oz but they are both in great collectible condition.
6. 1960s Ceramic BIRD Perfume Bottle – hand painted, made in Japan – Hollywood Regency Vanity
Color: Cream with accent colors
Price: $33.60
An amazing Japanese-crafted ceramic bird perfume bottle from the early 1960s. The bottle features a bird protecting its eggs painted in stunning green, black, blue, and brown. Great condition.
VI) Vintage perfume bottles with atomizer
1. SALE – BLACK Hand Painted Perfume Bottle DeVilbiss Atomizer
Color: Black and Clear Glass
Price: $48.00
A vintage 1940s mid-century black hand-painted perfume bottle DeVilbiss Atomizer. Condition is used but still in good enough condition to use or display.
2. Vintage Rose Perfume Bottle with Atomizer, Small Glass Scent Bottle, Romantic Gift Her, Ladies Holiday Gift
Color: Pink
Price: $36.00
A vintage rose perfume bottle with an atomizer. The bottle is clean and perfect for use. The bottle stands nice at 3” while being 2” wide. Great condition and perfect for collectors.
3. Vintage Perfume Bottle/Atomizer
Color: Clear Glass
Price: $38.40
A vintage glass atomizer in 3.5” diameter. The glass bottle is in great condition with no chips or cracks. The bulb is made of green woven cloth and is slightly faded but still a perfect addition for any collector.
4. Vintage Maroon Perfume Bottle with Maroon Atomizer, Maroon and White Perfume Bottle, Ceramic Perfume, Gold Metal Dispenser, Maroon Atomizer
Color: Red
Price: $31.20
A beautiful vintage maroon atomizer perfume bottle in great working condition. This fantastic perfume bottle stands at 5” tall with a 3” diameter. No Chips or Cracks and perfect for use or display.
5. Antique Perfume bottle Art Deco purple lilac lavender vintage Retro perfume bottle Refillable Perfume Atomizer Spray bottle Bathroom decor
Color: Dark Red
Price: $69.60
A beautiful glass bottle made out of purple glass which is refillable and in great condition. This bottle works perfectly and is measured at 4” high and 3” wide.
VII) Vintage perfume bottles with pump
1. Vintage HOLMSPRAY PERFUME BOTTLE – Pale Yellow Crackle Glass Perfume Bottle with Petit-Point Pump-Sprayer
Color: Pale Yellow
Price: $72.00
A vintage hold sprays perfume bottle in pale yellow. The bottle is in great condition with no cracks or chips. The bottle will make a great petit-point pump-sprayer for anyone looking for something stunning.
2. Antique crystal perfume bottle with original pump mechanism. Sterling silver collar, scent bottle, mister, cut crystal
Color: Clear Glass
Price: $180.00
An antique empty bottle of perfume with the original pump mechanism still working. The stunning heavy nozzle is silver and holds a gilt nozzle.
3. Antique Perfume Scent Bottle With A Silver Collar And Pump Action Base Ref:2
Color: Clear Glass
Price: $43.06
An antique perfume bottle with a silver collar and pump action base. The condition is fantastic for the 40-year-old item which has been carefully stored for two decades.
4. Vintage Perfume Bottle Pump Atomizer with Poke-a-dots marked Western Germany
Color: Pale Glass, Black, Gold
Price: $45.60
A vintage perfume bottle with a pump-action design. The bottle is from Western Germany dating back to the late 1940s to early 1950s. The body is stunning and in great condition.
5. Baccarat Crystal Edwardian Perfume Pump Atomizer with Castor Stand – Gifts for Her – Vanity Set – Perfume Bottle – Ruby Glass – Cut Glass
Color: Pale Glass, Red, and Silver
Price: $350.00
A stunning Edwardian gold ruby cut perfume bottle with a working pumping action atomizer. The fittings are decorated with flowers and birds in relief. A great item for a collector looking for something truly vintage and valuable.
VIII) Vintage French perfume bottles
1. 1920’s La Castillere Etched Perfume Bottle Silvertone Top Made in France
Color: Silver
Price: $37.20
A beautiful etched glass french perfume bottle with silvertone top in great condition. The bottle measures at 2 ¾” tall from the top of lid to the bottom. The bottom reads “La Castillere – Made in France”.
2. Signed LALIQUE Frosted Crystal Perfume Bottle Duex Fleur (Two Flowers) France
Color: Crystal
Price: $96.00
A very collectible Lalique two flowers perfume bottle. The bottle is signed and measures 4” tall by 3.5” wide. In great condition except for the dauber.
3. Antique French Perfume Decanter
Color: Clear Glass, Gold
Price: $72.00
A vintage 19th-century perfume bottle made from Gold, Enamel, Glass, and Crystal. This item is deluxe and great for all collectors.
4. Vintage French Etched Crystal Filigree Silver Dauber Miniature Perfume Bottle
Color: Clear Glass
Price: $28.80
A vintage French glass etched crystals perfume bottle, the design features a silver filigree cap and glass dauber. The measurements for the bottle are 2⅝” high and the base reads “Made in France”.
5. LALIQUE Perfume Bottle – Signed – Clear – Frosted – Twisted – Samoa – with Stopper – Made in France
Color: Clear Glass
Price: $220.00
A vintage perfume bottle with a stopper made in France that was designed by Marrua Claude in 1979. A Clear/Frosted/twisted design. Standing at 3” tall and approx. 3 ½” across. No Chips or Cracks, great condition.
6. SMALL 1920s/1930s French Jeweled Top Perfume Bottle with Dauber and Silver Metal Overlay of Woman Holding Torch, French Perfume Vial Bottle
Color: Glass, Metal, Glass Feeling Cabochon
Price: $48.00
A very petit French glass perfume bottle with a jeweled top and silver overlay of a woman enrobed in a long flowing gown. The condition of the body is used but certainly of good quality for something dating back to the 1920s/1930s. Great item for any French item collectors.
7. Vintage Crystal Perfume Bottle Made in France
Color: Clear Glass, Metal
Price: $38.40
A rare vintage French Glass Perfume Bottle with a great simple design. The bottle is small and is perfect for any collectors looking for something usable and well-rounded.
IX) Small Scent Bottles
1. Vintage Silver Tone Flower Perfume Bottle. A Cute Addition to Your Collection. Very Beautiful and Unique Style
Color: Silver Tone
Price: $30.00
A vintage silver tone flower perfume bottle, great for collectors out there looking for something that is uniquely styled and perfect for decor.
2. Antique Victorian Scent Bottle
Color: Glass, Sterling Steel
Price: $325.00
An incredible vintage scent bottle for any collector looking for something truly special. This item is in great condition and can be used for your favorite essential oil scent
3. Antique Victorian scent bottle, green glass, Vinaigrette
Color: Dark Green
Price: $357.40
An antique combination of a scent bottle/vinaigrette. The condition is used with signs of wear and commensurate with age. The outer silver caps have some dents and dings but the item is still in usable condition.
4. Victorian Turquoise Glass Chatelaine Scent Bottle
Color: Turquoise
Price: $435.00
This Victorian glass scent bottle is vibrant and eye-catching. The item is in working condition and can be enjoyed for use or decorative purposes.
5. Antique Bird Head Glass Scent Bottle
Color: Dark Red, Brass
Price: $45.93
A miniature red glass scent bottle with a bird head topper. The measurements are approximately 4cm high excluding the loop. Sadly it doesn’t seem possible to unscrew the top meaning this item is reserved for display purposes.
6. Vintage Avon perfume bottle Gas Pump/ Avon collectible/ vintage glass bottle.
Color: Red
Price: $14.40
This vintage Avon bottle dates back to the 1970s perfect for an entry-level collector. The bottle has No damage and is empty with none of the original contents.
Final Thoughts
Perfume bottles have played an exciting and essential role in the day-to-day lives of women (and men) for centuries and it’s unlikely this will stop in the centuries to come. The 19th century was when perfume bottles started to become art forms in themselves, and we can thank the early examples; such as those on this list for the wast array of stunning bottles we can purchase off shop shelves today.
