Attention Collectors! Caron Baccarat Perfume Fountain for Sale

Attention Collectors! You've heard of those gorgeous Baccarat crystal perfume urns or perfume fountains at Caron, right? Now is your lucky chance to finally own one!

A Little Background:

Step into the haute couture of Paris' fragrance boutiques with Parfums Caron, Montaigne. This luxe boutique showcases the Haute Parfumerie, featuring the glittering "Les Fontaines Baccarat" crystal and ormolu urns in the sumptuous "Louis XVI" style. Originally filled with one of Caron's six iconic perfumes, customers could have their chosen scent decanted into an elegant flacon. These gleaming urns contained exclusive, in-store-only parfums, once lost and discontinued, but revived as some of Caron's finest compositions.

The ritual of filling a perfume bottle from the fountain preserves the rich heritage of these perfumes. The parfums are collected from small bronze taps into bottles of all sizes, which are then adorned with an antique-style golden braid. Typically, the urns measure 18.5" tall (with lid) x 7" wide and have an 8" diameter. The square base measures 5" x 5" and is acid-stamped with the Baccarat logo.

In the New York Caron boutique, 12 Caron fountains modeled after those in the Paris boutique sold perfume by volume (7.5 milliliters for $80; 200 milliliters for $500). A full urn in Paris, priced at around $10,000 in 2000, equals approximately $18,575.12 in 2024. By 2009, a fountain containing perfume would set you back $25,000, equivalent to $37,125.08 in 2024.

I was just notified that one of these fabulous treasures is up for sale. This example, once containing the lovely perfume En Avion, boasts an exquisite ormolu plaque on the front. Normally, these urns have the name painted directly onto the glass, making this example even more special.

These Baccarat urns DO NOT come up for sale very often. Don’t miss your chance to own a piece of perfume history! In 2015, an empty urn, even without its lid and in chipped and damaged condition, sold for $4,000 (equal to $5,366.51 in 2024). Get it before someone else does!

Get it on Ebay

 

Fleurs Precieuse by Caron c1910

Fleurs Precieuse by Caron, launched in 1910, is often misunderstood as a single fragrance. In reality, it was a collection named "Les Fleurs Precieuses," encompassing three distinct floral fragrances: Violette Precieuse, Rose Precieuse, and Jacinthe Precieuse. These exquisite scents were crafted by the renowned perfumer Ernest Daltroff, who brought his expertise to the creation of these luxurious fragrances.

An advertisement from 1913 highlights that these fragrances were elegantly presented in "artistic opaque bottles," emphasizing their refined and artistic packaging, which added to their allure. This collection not only showcased Caron's commitment to high-quality perfumery but also their dedication to artistic presentation, making "Les Fleurs Precieuses" a memorable and cherished part of Caron's storied history.

Vintage Counterfeit Perfumes and Fantasy Fakes

During the 20th century, the perfume industry was rife with counterfeiting at every turn. There was some trickery going on in the 1930s-1950s regarding designer named perfumes. I can find famous names on bogus labels for perfumes in bottles that you would never see used by that brand. Various con men had boxes and labels printed up, then decanted or adulterated, refilling cheaper bottles with even cheaper perfume, then slapping the newly printed labels on them, and passing them off as genuine.

I have created a comprehensive guide for fake vintage perfumes going back to the 1920s and into the 1970s. Much of the crucial information I have gathered has been revealed nowhere else and it can answer a lot of questions regarding so called "rare" editions or bottles of designer perfumes. 

Discussed in this guide are rebottlers, fake pricing schemes, and outright counterfeits. A significant portion of the guide is devoted to what I call "fantasy fakes." Fantasy fakes are, in my own parlance and definition, is the usage of bottles and labels that a genuine perfumery brand would have never used. This also includes names of perfumes that were never part of their catalog such as "Ce Soir Ou Jamais" by Christian Dior. I have done extensive research on these in order to determine whether they are genuine or fake. You might be surprised, delighted or even disappointed at the information I uncovered.

Before you shell out hundreds for a rare "Poiret" perfume bottle, please see my guide first!

Nuit de Noel by Caron c1922

Nuit de Noël by Caron: launched in 1922, created by Ernest Daltroff. Pronounced "NUWEE-DUH-NO-EL", the name means "Christmas Night" in French.

Bellodgia by Caron c1927

Bellodgia by Caron : launched in 1927, created by Ernest Daltroff. Pronounced "BELLO-JEE-AH". The perfume was inspired by the Italian town of Bellagio on Lake Como.

Or et Noir by Caron c1949

Or et Noir by Caron: launched in 1949. Pronounced "OR-AY-NWAR", the name means "gold and black" in French. Created by Michel Morsetti, in homage to Ernest Daltroff and the tradition of Parfums Caron.

Collecting Opalescent Glass Commercial Perfume Bottles

In this guide, I will introduce you to the wonderful world of commercial perfume bottles made up of opalescent glass. The allure of these bottles lies not only in their aesthetic appeal but also in the history and craftsmanship behind them. Most of the bottles in this guide date to the 1920s and 1930s period.

Starting a collection with a specific focus, such as opalescent glass perfume bottles, can add a unique dimension to your hobby. It provides a clear direction and allows you to curate a cohesive and visually stunning collection.

When embarking on this journey, consider exploring various sources such as antique shops, flea markets, online auctions, and specialized collector forums. You may encounter a diverse range of designs, from simple and utilitarian to ornate and intricately decorated bottles.

It's essential to educate yourself about the different styles, manufacturers, and historical context surrounding these bottles. This knowledge will not only enhance your appreciation for the pieces you acquire but also help you make informed decisions when assessing their value and authenticity.

As your collection grows, documenting each acquisition with details such as the maker, design characteristics, and acquisition date can enrich your understanding of the evolving trends in perfume bottle design and production.

Additionally, connecting with fellow collectors can be a rewarding aspect of the hobby. Exchanging insights, sharing discoveries, and participating in community events or exhibitions can deepen your engagement with the subject and foster meaningful connections with like-minded enthusiasts.

Remember, collecting is as much about the joy of discovery and appreciation as it is about the tangible objects themselves. So, immerse yourself in the enchanting world of opalescent glass perfume bottles, and let your collection reflect your passion and individual style!

Edie Adams and Perfumes c1956

Actress Edie Adams and her perfume bottle collection in 1956.

I can see several bottles of:
Balmain perfumes
Lanvin perfumes
Guerlain watch bottle for eau de cologne
Le Galion bottles
Narcisse Noir by Caron
Succes Fou by Schiaparelli (leaf shaped flacon)
Fille d'Eve by Nina Ricci (Lalique apple flacon)
Nuit de Noel by Caron
Cairo by Kesma
Ecusson by Jean Desprez (she is holding this flacon)
1940s pressed glass flacons imitating the Czech styles of the 1930s with the large stoppers.

Barbara Pepper and Perfumes c1930s

Vintage movie still photographs by John Miehle of the 1937 film Coast Patrol (later retitled as Sea Devils) starring Barbara Pepper.

Barbara Pepper (1915 - 1969) - Photo via Rantings of a Modern Day Glamour Girl.

In this vintage 1930s photo I can identify several perfume bottles of Guerlain's Vol de Nuit/Sous Le Vent, Chanel, Caron's Bellodgia, Caron's Pois de Senteur de Chez Moi, a Lalique perfume bottle, Ciro's Reflexions, Patou's Joy, Houbigant's Essence Rare, Elizabeth Arden''s Blue Grass, as well as a few Czech bottles and unknown bottles. She is holding the largest size of the Ybry perfumes.

Here is another angle of the same vanity table. I can also see a bottle of : Caron's Narcisse Noir. She has placed that large Ybry bottle at the back of her vanity.

Tabac Blond by Caron c1919

Tabac Blond: created in 1919. Pronounced "TAH-BAH-BLAWN", its name means "blond tobacco " in French. Created by Ernest Daltroff. It was a unique perfume, because at that time it was the only the only feminine fragrance with tobacco notes.

With Pleasure by Caron c1949

With Pleasure by Caron: launched in 1949. Created by Michel Morsetti.

Perfume Nips and Perfume Typers

Perfume nips, small plastene or glass vials, were a charming and practical way to experience luxury fragrances in sample-sized amounts. These miniature vials, often containing just enough perfume for a few uses, were designed for on-the-go convenience, offering women a way to try new scents or carry their favorites without the need for bulky bottles. The elegance of perfume nips was in their simplicity—by breaking off the end of the vial, the perfume could be applied directly to the skin, or delicately dabbed onto a handkerchief for a more refined and subtle scent experience.

The most notable companies in the production of perfume nips were Nipola Products Company and Nips, Inc., who popularized this form of fragrance sampling. These companies recognized that perfume nips not only served as a practical solution for women but also acted as a brilliant marketing tool for perfume houses. By offering their fragrances in these small, portable vials, brands could entice customers to try perfumes they might otherwise have overlooked. The convenience of nips made them widely accessible and collectible, contributing to their lasting appeal in the perfume industry.

Their delicate design and ease of use made perfume nips a beloved accessory during the mid-20th century, combining functionality with a sense of glamour. Today, they remain an iconic piece of perfume history, a nostalgic nod to a time when even the smallest details in fragrance were crafted with elegance.

Farnesiana by Caron c1947

Farnesiana by Caron: launched in 1947. The man who created Farnesiana was Michel Morsetti who started recreating the perfume in 1941, based on Ernest Daltroff's notes.

Voeu de Noel by Caron c1939

Voeu de Noel by Caron: launched in 1939.

La Fete des Roses by Caron c1936

La Fete des Roses (The Festival of Roses) by Caron was launched in 1936. Created by Ernest Daltroff.