Pretty scents and fragrances abound in perfume departments, but it is the beautiful and intricate vintage perfume bottles that many seek. This is nothing new, people have been collecting these lovely bottles for centuries.  

Archaeologists have discovered gorgeous perfume bottles in the tombs of the ancient Egyptian Pharaohs, and it is believed that the Egyptians were the first to incorporate scents and fragrances into their cultural rituals. Egyptians kept their perfumes in bottles made of the most diverse materials such as gold, hard stones and glasses of colors. The most used material for making perfume bottles in ancient Egypt was alabaster which they obtained from their neighbor Libya.

Antique perfume bottles were not created using glass until 1500 B.C. To own a glass perfume bottle produced back then was quite an honor as these bottles were reserved for only the very wealthy. Perfume was used on a regular basis in Rome, Greece, and Venice, all producing their own perfume bottle creations. In the 16th century perfume bottles started to be produced in England, Americans did not start producing perfume bottles until the mid-1700s.

In the 18th century designs for perfume bottles began to be taken seriously. Designers in New England began to experiment in the 1800s with different colors, sizes and shapes creating the wide range of beautiful perfume bottles that we see today. Throughout the 1900s collectors grouped perfume bottles by styles and designs.

There is a vast array of styles, cuts and colors to select from when considering and addition to your collection. Hand painted scenes are prevalent on bottles from the early 1900s, and gold details were used extensively on perfume bottles created during the Victorian Era. Because some of the perfume bottles were so small and exquisite they could even double up as a piece of jewelry, and in fact perfume bottles were extremely fashionable as decorations and enhancements during the 1880’s.

Here are some things to look out for when looking for vintage perfume bottles:

- Is the bottle made out of lead crystal?

- The glass dauber stub hold the top in place and can be used for large spot perfume application.

- Cork stub holds the heavy top in place and the perfume in the bottle.

- Glass dip stick attached to the top and is used for spot or swiping perfume application.

- Atomizer cushion pushes air and perfume out.

- Acid etched insignia or foil sticker on the bottom of the perfume bottle.

- The bottle shape is small or it can’t stand on it’s own like a tube or a vile.

- The bottle is unsymmetrical or misshapen.

- The overall condition of the vintage perfume bottle is another critical consideration. Vintage bottles in good condition (no marks, scratches, chips, stains, or cracks) will fetch a better price. The label should not have any blotches, tears, or discoloring on it. By the very fact that these bottles are old, vintage bottles in good condition are hard to come by. If a vintage perfume bottle is rare and has a minor chip, it should not be too devaluing.

If your perfume has any of these qualities there is a chance that your perfume bottle may be a Czechoslovakian, Victorian or French bottle of perfume. 

When you are searching for vintage bottles of perfume, know the the styles and origins that interest you. There are plenty of books on perfume bottles, you might try going to your local library to locate a book that you like before you buy. Also, the Internet is a great source of information and is most useful. 

Auction sites such as eBay are great to browse, even if you do not intend to buy. They are great sources of pricing information. You can search through antique stores for vintage perfume bottles and question the shop owner about any bottles that you find. If what the shop owner tells you does not jive with your research notes, you will know whether the store owner is reliable.

If you decide to buy from an auction site such as eBay make sure you ask lots of questions and that the pictures are clear. Make sure you have done your research!

Often, collectors are concerned about the contents of the perfume bottle. Many collectors wish to own bottles that still contain the original scent. Perfumes that are sealed will indeed fetch higher prices. Note that perfumes loose their freshness after 7 to 10 years, some vintage perfumes actually stink! Additionally, due to the alcohol content in the perfume, perfumes evaporate over time leaving residue in the bottle.

Vintage perfume bottles need special care. If your vintage perfume bottles are starting to turn cloudy from hard water minerals, drop a denture cleaning tablet in such as Efferdent, fill the bottle with water, and let the fizzing action clean it. The inside of the bottle can be cleaned by swirling lead shot or sand around in the water filled bottle, but you must be careful not to over fill the bottle so the water does not come in contact with the label and damage it. 

Lastly, when storing your perfumes do the following:

- Keep perfumes out of direct light.

- Store in dark cool areas.

- Try to keep excess air exposure to a minimum.

Be creative when storing your perfumes so you can showcase your collection while keeping them safe at the same time.