WHAT'S IT WORTH?

Yes, as of Sept, 2024, I am still offering appraisals, please scroll down and choose which appraisal option fits your needs.

Perfume bottles are highly collectible and there are so many types and styles. You may have something sitting in your attic or in your cabinet and not even realize it is valuable to a collector.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Do you have a mystery perfume bottle?
• Do you have a perfume or vanity item that you would like to know what the age or value may be?
• Is it worth listing on ebay, ruby lane or etsy?
• Are you a collector of vintage perfumes or want to get started?
• Are you a seller who wants to list vintage perfume bottles but don't know where to start?
• Want to bid on a bottle but want to know its value first?
• Did you inherit a bottle or entire collection?
• Are you looking to sell your item or liquidate a collection and need to know its value?
• Anyone handling an estate looking for current values so they can make decisions to keep, sell or donate the items
• Need a Fair Market Value?
• Do you need an appraisal for your homeowner's insurance?

Some of my clientele includes homeowners looking to sell items because of downsizing or moving, executors needing to liquidate an estate, families going through a divorce or bankruptcy, or banks and lawyers needing to liquidate items on behalf of their clients. 

Let me do the legwork for YOU!

I am offering a service to identify, evaluate and research your perfume bottle(s) or vanity item(s). I have numerous reference books on perfume bottles at my disposal and can help you determine how old your perfume is, origin, who the manufacturer is, approximate value, condition ratings and any other pertinent information. The only thing asked of you is for you to email me the pictures of your bottle/item and some specific things about it. You do not have to send me your bottle, just pictures.

Got other items besides perfume bottles?

I can also help you with your vanity/dresser sets too, including: powder boxes, mirrors, brushes, jewel caskets, trays, manicure tools, jars, bronze, gold, sterling silver, brass, crystal, celluloid, bakelite, silverplate, lucite, porcelain, filigree, jeweled, guilloche, enameled, glass, compacts, antique jewelry, French, Bohemian, Czech, Victorian, etc.

Vanity Items Brands: Stylebuilt, Matson, Guildcrest, Apollo, E & JB Empire Art, Tiffany & Co, Cartier, Czechoslovakian and others.


You will receive an emailed identification and appraisal of your bottle with your purchase.


*IDEA!* A completed Appraisal would be nice to include along with your perfume bottle in your ebay, ecrater, OLA.com, bonanza, ubid, craigslist, Ruby Lane listings, auction house or your brick and mortar store too. Your buyers would be delighted to have an appraisal with their purchase.

APPRAISAL COSTS:

Two choices are available to suit your needs:

Option # 1. A Complete appraisal which includes bottle identification, perfume's name, manufacturer info, estimated value and other information. This is best for people who need information for ebay listings, other auctions, store listings, collection catalogs or insurance purposes. In many cases some of these appraisals can take up to a week or more due to the extensive research needed. Cost: $20.00 each.

Option #1 Complete Appraisal

Option # 2. Quick Appraisal which gives you the value of your bottle only. This is good for those who already know who the manufacturer is, the perfume's name and other info and only need an estimate on value. Cost: $5.00 each.

Option# 2 Estimated Value Only

I am sorry but I am unable to refund purchase price for any appraisals. Please note that I cannot be held responsible for prices realized.

EXCLUSIVE PATREON SUBSCRIBER'S BENEFITS!

I have created a subscription account on Patreon that will allow regular users of this website to enjoy exclusive benefits not available to the general public. Want to see posts before the general public? Patrons who have monthly subscriptions will get a variety of additional benefits - including appraisals, access to new posts not published yet on my main site, and/or exclusive patrons-only discounts to use at my three etsy shops: perfumefetish, tresorsduboudoir and pennywiseprimitives. Each tier has its own benefit structure and monthly pricing.

 

APPRAISAL INSTRUCTIONS:

#1. Payment must be made prior to appraisal. I am only accepting PayPal as a payment option, please use the PayPal button below.

 

#2. Send me good, clear pictures of your item to my email address: vintageperfumequeen@gmail.com.

Some people like to to clean the bottles before taking pictures. But do this carefully (be extra careful with labels or applied staining--don't get them wet--it will hurt the value) sometimes it's just better to wipe away the dust with a dry cloth. Try to get photos of the bottle head on, try to get close enough so we can get details. If there is a box, paperwork, extra labels or anything else associated with the item, take pics of that too. Take a pic of the bottle and box next to each other if possible. I usually take pictures with a plain white background, computer paper works great. Also take note of your lighting, make sure it's bright enough for me to see, but not too bright it washes out the bottle. Black backgrounds are best for clear crystal bottles, like Czech ones or cut glass. If you need to focus the item closer in the picture, most cameras have a little tulip sign that will help you focus.

Always take photos of the sealed box before you remove the cellophane or wrapping paper. Take a photo of the sealed box from front and and its labeling on the wrapping paper. You might also want to take a photo of any logos or writing printed on the wrapping paper itself.

If there is cellophane or outer wrapping paper on the box, please carefully remove this at the bottom of the box. Carefully lifting up the corners, remove the cellophane from off the box or slip the box out of the wrapping paper and take photos of the bottle and box, so that I can see how much perfume is left inside of the bottle.

This is extremely useful to see if there is any damage to the glass or any staining that may have occurred from damage or evaporation. Leakage can happen and might not penetrate the outer surface of the box. I know because I have purchased plenty of "surprises" and been very disappointed. I ended up with empty or near empty bottles, cracked bottles, completely stained interiors of boxes and labels. This can severely affect value of a bottle and presentation. Sealed perfumes which look to have some perfume missing, have had their contents evaporated, this is caused by heat, light, and poor storage as well as aging. Also, some buyers such as myself are interested in buying the bottle for the perfume contained inside as we wear it. 

The cellophane does NOT add value to the perfume bottle. However, I also advise sellers/collectors to retain the cellophane or any outer wrapping paper, especially if there are any labels or stickers on the outside that have identification such as the case with Guerlain perfumes. Once removed from the box, if you can, fold down the wrapping paper and place it inside of a large plastic ziploc bag. That way you can store this without it getting damaged or lost until the perfume bottle sells.

Also your potential buyer is interested in seeing what the bottle looks like as some bottles can be worth much more than others as in the case of Baccarat and Lalique examples or limited editions. And the fact remains that bottles have been changed over the years and a newer bottle can oftentimes signal a reformulation.

#3. What is on the base of the bottle? Note any markings on the base (whether molded, acid etched, printed, incised or has a label)

#4. What is the name of the perfume? Who made it? Is there a brand name or company?

#5. Is it parfum (extrait), eau de parfum, eau de toilette, eau de cologne, eau fraîche? Does it have a spray or is it a splash?

#6. How tall is the bottle? What is it's width or diameter?

#7. How much fragrance does the bottle hold? Is it ounces, drams or milliliters (if its marked).

#8. I need the condition of the bottle, box, etc. Is the perfume sealed with a cord or some sort of plastic seal? Are there any chips or cracks, marks, stains, label damage?

#9. Let me know if your appraisal is for insurance purposes. If you are planning to sell the perfume or item, please let me know as I may have additional tips which can help you facilitate the sale.

About the Valuations:

Valuations: are given by means of researching the various reference books on perfume bottles/ladies accessories/jewelry, etc, that I have in my possession. The values given in an estimate is based on a average prices that I find are the current marketplace or comparable item prices found in my reference books, past auctions, online stores, old newspaper articles, and my own sources. You should also use these valuations if you need insurance for your piece in your collection.  Let me know if your appraisal is for insurance purposes. 

Appraisals do take time and the research part of it is the hardest part. Some research can take up to a week or more. I check every book in my personal library that I have which is over 40 different books. I look at every page of those books for your perfume bottle, the name or the company, or similar bottles or items. 

In addition to my books, I search online for references, or scour antique and vintage newspapers for information, that takes a lot of time! I also take time to fix your photo that is included in your appraisal, sometimes people send me very dark pictures and I have to lighten them up, crop them, etc. I add as much info as I can on the perfume companies, the perfume itself, and whatever else. This can often take several days to a week or longer. So if you don't get your appraisal right away, you'll know what is going on.

Please note that I cannot be held responsible for prices realized.

"Evaluation/Comparison: My client above requested online appraisal (not a traditional appraisal, authentication, or certified written appraisal) to evaluate the said antique as stated. The online appraisal serves for personal use only. The online appraisal does not take the place of a certified written appraisal which is conducted in person by the appraiser meeting USPAP standards and can provide for insurance coverage and gift tax benefits use showing a stamped, signed appraisal which is certified by the expert appraiser. The online appraisal may not be suitable for insurance, gift tax, or other legal uses. The online appraisal's information is accurate to the best of the appraiser's ability using information including images provided by the client. The appraisal is not a guarantee of sale. 

The online appraisal represents the opinion of the appraiser. The client requested an online appraisal to receive information about the piece in question. the online appraisal does not take the place of a certified written appraisal conducted in person where the appraiser has reviewed the object on site, in person, and has made a surface analysis and authentication of the work. The online appraisal does not speak to authentication of the piece in question. This appraiser has not evaluated this work in persona and has used images provided by the client to arrive at an evaluation. 

In my opinion and based on the image and information that was provided to me by the client and without viewing the pieces(s) in person, this piece provides strong evidence to a ..."

What happens if I cannot identify your bottle?

Due to the amount of research and personal time I put into each appraisal, I am sorry but I cannot do refunds. It would be like me doing all the work for nothing. Some bottles are so scarce I have to look through at least 40 books, or search online forever just for a hint of the name or company. I try to include as much info about the bottle, the name and the company as I can. It's a great education and perfect for those who wish to catalog your collection. If I cannot actually verify the bottle or identify it, I still give an appraisal and description, so you wouldn't be getting nothing so to speak. I hope this helps to clarify things. if you would like my help, just let me know.

Experience: 

I have been collecting vintage perfumes for over 20 years and have also sold them on ebay for several years. Please read below for the details. For many years, I helped numerous people on ebay with perfume appraisals and would enjoy helping more. I am a member of the International Perfume Bottle Association and frequently answer questions on vintage perfumes and bottles on the ebay discussion boards. I have also written about vintage perfume companies and their bottles on the online magazines Fragrantica.com and The Perfume Magazine. Perfumes are my passion! Please ask any questions as I will be happy to answer!


I can help you with the following types of perfume bottles:

• commercial
• scent bottles
• cologne
• Victorian
• Georgian
• Art Deco
• Lalique
• Baccarat
• cut crystal
• chatelaines
• Art Nouveau
• silver overlay
• Moser
• atomizers
• dresser bottles
• double ended scent bottles
• designer
• factices
• Bohemian
• cameo glass
• porcelain
• Irice
• Apollo
• Empire Art
• Silvercraft
• antique perfumes
• travel atomizers
• French perfumes
• sterling
• DeVilbiss
• Opaline perfumes
• Volupte
• vintage perfumes
• mystery perfumes
• Pyramid
• laydown types
• hand painted
• Edwardian
• Czech perfume bottles
• ivory
• bakelite
• celluloid
• dresser sets
• and more!
• Everything except Avon!