Growing up, I was absolutely fascinated by my aunt’s perfume collection. I would spend hours playing at her dressing table, touching and imagining the fancy elixirs that were once contained by the beautiful vintage perfume bottles carefully placed in the corner.
There couldn’t have been more than a few drops left of these once intoxicating scents, but I ‘wore’ them nonetheless; playing ‘grown ups’ by squeezing the puffer on my neck like I’d seen my mum do.
Although it’s scent that holds much of the power, just as much thought goes into the bottle that holds it. Decorative perfume bottles of the past are so ornate because they were treated almost like pieces of jewelry. In fact, even with modern perfumes it can actually take longer to design, create and perfect the vessel than the fragrance itself. Not only must it look good (#Instagram), it should protect the perfume too.
Don’t want your perfumes to go to waste? Treat them like bottles of fine wine.
Your initial reaction may be to toss the box it comes in, but it’s actually the best way to keep your fragrances fresh. If you must remove it, make sure you keep your perfume away from sunlight and at a consistent temperature. Room temperature is ideal. Shifts from hot to cold or even changing environment can trigger chemical reactions between the ingredients causing your perfume to age - and therefore expire - faster.
You might find some fragrances encased in tinted bottles, like MEMO Paris, Hermetica and L'Artisan Parfumeur, designed to protect the fragrance from UV light. So, if you usually keep your perfume bottles sitting decoratively on your windowsill, put them somewhere else. Now.
Sleek bottles may now be more prevalent than the jewel-encrusted, gilded bottles you’ll find in beauty collections and museums, but that’s not to say we’ve done away with extravagance completely.
The perfume that inspires its wearers to live with a heart of gold lives by its own rule. Designed by Pierre Dinand, the renowned designer behind the iconic YSL ‘Opium’ bottle, it’s modelled on the anatomical heart. The smooth gold bottle fits perfectly in your hand, but with irregular contours that disturb the perfect grip. As for the scent, it’s as unique as the bottle. A fiery start with sparks of pink peppercorn, cardamom and cinnamon simmer down to reveal a heart of warm milk, saffron and rose oil that lift a woody base.
No, your eyes do not deceive you; this one really is shaped like a bullet. Consider this your scent secret weapon for travel and everyday. It’s actually an empty perfume atomiser complete with funnel so you can easily fill (and refill) with up to 4ml of your perfume of choice. A cheeky nod both to the brand name and the idea of perfume as a concealed weapon of seduction, I think designer Romano Ricci nailed the target with this one. Stylish with a hint of danger - wield wisely.
If, like me, you love the perfume bottles of times past, this one is for you. A romantic pastel pink, the bottle feels weighty and looks exquisite thanks to its refined yet ornate detailing. A silver domed lid and tassel tie add to the extravagance. The fragrance brand takes its inspiration from King Louis XV’s Court of Versailles. So renowned was it for scent - the King demanded a different one for each apartment - it became known as The Perfumed Court. Evoking passion, luxury and decadence, this long-lasting floral fragrance is fresh and musky, with a leading accord of rose.
If buying a fragrance online feels like a game of Russian roulette, we can totally relate. But don't worry, if you take the plunge and buy from The Scent Room, you'll receive a complimentary vial of your full-size fragrance so you can be sure you love it before you open it. If it's not love at first whiff, you can return the full-size for a refund.
