The Evolution Of Perfume Bottles（1）

In the 1950s, American photographer Vega’s montage photographs, he photographed a swimsuit model in a giant Chanel No.5 perfume bottle.

The Egyptians were the first to use perfume. They built a perfume room next to the temple. The perfume made of myrrh and cinnamon was placed in a jar to cover the smell of the mummy. The origin of perfume bottles can be traced back to 1500 BC, when glassware was still a symbol of power and dignity.

In the Greek and Roman times, perfume bottles began to be used as personal pleasure items. Perfume bottles that can be placed indoors have appeared, many of which mimic the forms of birds, humans and other animals. Until 50 BC, the glass blowing process was greatly improved in Syria. Transparent glass perfume bottles decorated with stained glass became the treasures of the upper class ladies in Rome. At the same time, metal and enamel containers appeared in the perfume market.

In the 18th century, oriental fragrances in ceramic bottles became a trend. The fragile and difficult-to-transport characteristics of ceramics made these fragrances precious. In the movie "The Peerless Queen", Queen Marie Antoinette was deeply fascinated by oriental ceramics and led the aristocracy.

Among all the materials, glass is the most suitable for holding perfume. It will not cause any chemical interaction with the liquid to cause the scent to change. Its bottle cap is denser, which is beneficial to lock the taste. Perfume and glass bottles became regulars on women's dressing tables until the late 19th century. In the 20th century, perfume bottle design accelerated the frequency of trend changes.

In the first 10 years of the 20th century, Art Nouveau reached its peak, when the design of perfume bottles was full of whimsical ideas. The most commonly used form is the brocade flower. For example, the Floramye perfume designed by L.T Piver in 1905, the bottle stopper is crystal, the purple phalaenopsis is decorated with golden squiggles, and the carvings are very exquisite. Perfume bottles of this period often used cork stoppers to store perfume like wine

In 1907, the spray bottle was born. A balloon was connected to the outside of the bottle. When the balloon was pressed, the perfume liquid was atomized and sprayed out. A spray perfume called De Vilbis was very popular at the time. It had a smooth body like a wine glass, with a few transparent glass flowers "opened" at the top, and slender tassels fell on the tail of the balloon. This kind of design now seems a bit outdated and cumbersome, but it just caters to people's daydream about "feminization" at that time.

In the 1920s, the First World War led to the decline of the beauty industry in Europe, and the United States became a major perfume manufacturer. The new perfume bottle design reflects the gorgeous beauty of Hollywood luxury. In Europe, the prevalence of decorative arts and the inspiration from urban life inspired designers. Lentheric's Miracle, A. Euziere's Atakor, and three perfumes from Jean Patou, Le Sien, Amour-Amour and Que Sais-Je, are all representatives of this period.

The most successful perfume in the 1920s was the famous Chanel No.5. It is packed in a simple square bottle with a simple paper label and a glass mouth. The linear design reflects Coco Chanel's non-obtrusive character and simple modern design concept.