Hidden Masterpieces: Highlights from This Year’s Perfume Bottles Auction

Ken Leach, founder of the Perfume Bottles Auction, is regarded as one of the leading experts in historical perfume bottles. Together with him, we dive into the world of these small design icons that combine history, artistry, and elegance.

They are small, made of glass, often ephemeral – yet they embody some of the most ambitious design expressions: we’re talking about perfume bottles. At the Perfume Bottles Auction 2025, these often-overlooked artworks took centre stage. With 149 exquisite lots, the auction celebrated not only the 100th anniversary of the 1925 Paris Art Deco Exhibition, but also the bottle itself as a cultural object of museum-worthy relevance.

Louis Chalon’s design for Roger & Gallet
Auction price: $24,000

Heinrich Hoffmann
Auction price: $18,000

Whether it’s a turn-of-the-century presentation piece by Roger & Gallet or the symbolic porcelain bird Xiuhpili by Schafer & Vater – each object speaks of its era, conveying symbolism and its own design language. Some resemble surrealist objects from an imaginary boudoir; others appear as miniature modern sculptures, designed by creators such as Lalique or Devlin – masters who once united art and perfumery into one seamless form.

Paul Poiret and Georges Lepape for Rosine (left)
Auction price: $43,750

Rare Art Deco bottle, c. 1926 (right)
Auction price: $10,800

Cartier Paris (left)
Auction price: $27,000

Depinoix glassworks (right)
Auction price: $6,600

Jewels of Perfume by Ybry

left to right:
​“Désir du Coeur” in ruby, auction price: $54,000
​“Femme de Paris” in emerald, auction price: $17,500
​“Devinez” in topaz, extremely rare, auction price: $11,400
​“Mon Âme” in amethyst, auction price: $13,200

Babani-Kimono (left)
Auction price: $17,500

Heinrich Hoffmann (right)
Auction price: $13,200

Armand Rateau’s design for Lanvin ​“L’Âme Perdue”
Auction price: $10,200

Revlon Lipstick Dolls
Auction price: $4,800

A quick chat with Ken Leach: on bottles, fascination, and fabulous finds

What surprised you most at this year’s auction?
Ken Leach: I was honestly surprised by the Bakerfix hair pomade jars – but considering two of them were unopened, and factoring in the growing interest in vintage cosmetics and Josephine Baker’s iconic status, I probably shouldn’t have been.

Do you have a personal favourite?
KL: I had two favourites: the Art Nouveau Bouquet Nouveau bottles for Roger & Gallet by sculptor Louis Chalon, sold at the 1900 Paris World Fair, and the Fumée by Lubin – a 1934 visual illusion perfume presentation that looks like a cigarette pack.

Any advice for new collectors?
KL: Trust your instincts. Buy what you can be proud of and what you’ll love seeing in your collection day to day. If you come across a ​“perfect” bottle, there may not be another one like it in that condition – so go for it! That was a mistake I made decades ago while building my book collection, and the last thing a collector wants is regret. Do your research and always buy from reputable sources.

Don’t miss a thing — we’ll keep you up to date!

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