The smell may not be one of roses and lilies of the valley. But it is the bottles that command so much attention. Take for example a recent auction in which a 1930's Mickey Mouse perfume bottle sold for over eight hundred dollars. Other rare bottles can sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars more than that!
The earliest perfume bottles can be traced back to the Egyptians and Mesopotamians. These early civilizations used clay to make vessels to hold their cosmetics, essential oils and the perfume with which they anointed their bodies.
Excavators have uncovered the remains of these bottles in tombs and pyramids of the pharaohs showing their importance in the day to day lives of these exalted leaders. Obviously smelling good was of great importance. As far as monetary value goes, these bottles would be considered priceless.
The glass and ceramic eau de parfum bottles came to us from the Greeks and Romans during their reign. But the real collectible beauties came about in the 16th and 17th century, courtesy of the Venetians and their colorful glass. These pretty baubles are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
If you are lucky enough to see and touch one in person, then you have definitely hit a milestone in collecting. A damaged or cracked bottle may sell for over five hundred thousand dollars and a mint condition bottle could easily double that if it is signed by the maker and is rare.
That brings us to a good point. The value of a perfume bottle is determined by demand. If you are not a collector, then paying one hundred dollars for one is going to seem like ninety-nine dollars too much. The value is in the desirability of the object. If you are a collector of perfume bottles, then you need to take a look at the condition of the bottle and pay attention to any damages or cracks.
Look for any type of identification to help you date when it was created. Hand manufactured bottles are obviously more collectible than modern day reproductions. Above all else, remember that a thing of beauty is a joy forever.
