Heidi Norton
Salvador Dali, the prominent Spanish Catalan surrealist artist, is known for his eccentric personal style and mastery of several arts, including film, sculpture, and photography. In addition to his artistic pursuits, Dali ventured into the world of perfumery, creating a line of fragrances that reflected his unique sensibility. The distinctive packaging of these fragrances, often featuring lip-shaped bottles and nose-shaped stoppers, has sparked interest among collectors. With their striking designs and association with the renowned artist, the question arises: are Dali perfume bottles collectible?
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What You'll Learn
The design of the bottle
The original signature scent of Salvador Dali was launched in 1982 and came in a limited clear 300ml bacarrat crystal flacon. These bottles were numbered, signed, and given to royalty, celebrities, and art-world glitterati. The commercial release of the fragrance was observed by Salvador Dali in 1985, and the concentrate came in a numbered black crystal bottle, now highly collectible.
The bottle design is just one aspect of the overall artistry of the fragrance. Dali believed that a perfume was incomplete without the person wearing it, as "you are the final ingredient". He also believed that "of the five senses, the sense of smell is incontestably the one that best conveys a sense of immortality".
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The scent of the perfume
The scent of Salvador Dali's perfume, Dali Parfum de Toilette, is as distinctive as its bottle design. It is a rich, warm, spicy, and exotic fragrance with notes of amber, cloves, incense, oakmoss, benzoin, and myrrh. The perfume has been described as "very loud and abrasive" and "boisterous", with a strong aldehydic opening. It is a "very loud and abrasive scent with matching projection, but there's something quite nostalgic about it too".
The perfume is considered to be a classically obnoxious "Perfume" with a capital P, reminiscent of the 1980s. It is a vintage scent, bringing to mind elegant old ladies and fur coats. The fragrance is long-lasting and well-suited to cool or cold weather.
Some have likened it to other perfumes of its era, such as No. 5, Coco Chanel, Opium, Obsession, and Coco Noir. It has also been compared to other strong, spicy fragrances like Youth Dew and Cinnabar.
Dali Parfum de Toilette is considered a unisex scent, though it leans feminine. It was created in collaboration with perfumer Alberto Morillas and launched internationally in 1985, though its release was initially planned for 1982. The scent was inspired by Dali's wife, Gala, an avid perfumista with a fondness for roses, and it pays homage to Aphrodite, the goddess of love.
The fragrance is a unique and memorable creation, much like Dali's iconic artwork, and has become a collectible item for perfume enthusiasts and art lovers alike.
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The history of the fragrance
Salvador Dalí, the prominent Spanish Catalan surrealist artist, is best known for his paintings. However, he also ventured into film, sculpture, photography, jewellery design, and even perfumery. Dalí believed that "of the five senses, the sense of smell is incontestably the one that best conveys a sense of immortality".
The first fragrance, simply named Salvador Dalí, was created in 1983 in collaboration with Gala, his wife and muse. Gala was an avid perfumista with a fondness for roses, which became a prominent feature of the scent. The bottle's design was inspired by Dalí's painting, "Apparition of The Face of Aphrodite of Knidos", with its well-formed lips and nose. The fragrance was intended as a limited edition but was offered internationally in 1985 due to its success.
Following the success of the initial fragrance, a men's companion scent was produced in 1987. To date, more than 25 perfumes have been introduced under the Salvador Dalí label, all with unique packaging inspired by his artwork. The bottles are considered works of art, featuring lip and nose shapes reminiscent of Dalí's iconic imagery.
Dali Parfum de Toilette, launched in 1985, is a notable addition to the collection. It is an Oriental Floral fragrance with top notes of aldehydes, incense, clove, fruity notes, basil, green notes, bergamot, and mandarin orange. The middle notes reveal a bouquet of narcissus, lily, jasmine, tuberose, mimosa, orris root, rose, and lily-of-the-valley. The base notes provide a warm finish with benzoin, myrrh, amber, sandalwood, oakmoss, vanilla, cedar, musk, and patchouli. This fragrance is a classic, intense, and unusual creation, with spicy-grassy top notes contrasting an opulent floral heart.
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Where to buy vintage bottles
Salvador Dalí, the prominent Spanish Catalan surrealist artist, ventured into perfumery in collaboration with several artists. The artist is known for his eccentric personal style, paintings, films, sculptures, and photography.
The first fragrance, Salvador Dalí, was chosen by Dalí and his wife, Gala, and launched in 1983. The bottle's design was inspired by Dalí's painting, Apparition of The Face of Aphrodite of Knidos, with its well-formed lips and nose. The scent pays homage to Aphrodite, the goddess of love, and all the goddesses who would wear it.
The signature scent of Salvador Dalí was launched in 1985, and the concentrate came in a numbered black crystal bottle that is now highly collectible. The bottle alone is a work of art, with its lip-shaped design and nose-shaped stoppers.
You can buy vintage perfume bottles from several online retailers, including:
- Etsy: Etsy is a global marketplace that offers a wide variety of vintage perfume bottles, including Salvador Dalí perfume bottles. Many sellers on Etsy offer personalized, made-to-order items, and some may even offer free shipping.
- Amazon: Amazon offers vintage perfume bottles from brands like YU FENG, which sells empty decorative bottles with dragonfly and butterfly designs.
- EBay: eBay has a dedicated section for vintage perfume bottles, where you can find various options, including empty bottles, atomizers, and commercial miniatures.
These online retailers provide a convenient way to browse and purchase vintage perfume bottles, including those from the Salvador Dalí collection.
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The packaging of the perfume
The original release of the fragrance in 1982 was postponed due to the death of Dali's wife, Gala, and was eventually launched commercially in 1985. The initial offering was a limited clear 300ml Baccarat crystal flacon, which was numbered, signed, and gifted to royalty, celebrities, and art world elites. The black crystal bottle that followed for the commercial release is now a highly collectible item.
Collectors and enthusiasts of the fragrance often seek out vintage bottles, which can be identified by the absence of barcodes and the frosted or clear/shiny finish on the cap. The older bottles are often unboxed, with some bearing the text "Dali - Ray plus 100ml" on the moulded base. The boxes of the vintage bottles feature yellow squares all around, without barcodes.
The unique and artistic design of the packaging, combined with the limited edition and collectible nature of certain releases, makes the Salvador Dali perfume bottles highly desirable for collectors and enthusiasts of both fragrances and Dali's artwork.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Dali perfume bottles are collectible. The bottles are said to be striking, with some in lip-shaped designs and nose-shaped stoppers. The scent is also said to be exotic and spicy.
Collectible Dali perfume bottles can be bought from Etsy, eBay, and Fragrantica Club.
Look out for boxes with yellow squares all around and no barcode. The cap should be frosted, not clear or shiny.
Some vintage Dali perfumes include the Dali Parfum de Toilette, which was released in 1985, and the Salvador Dali fragrance, which was released in 1983.
One notable design is the black crystal bottle of the Dali Parfum de Toilette, which is now highly collectible. Another is the bottle inspired by Dali's painting, "Apparition of The Face of Aphrodite of Knidos," with its well-formed lips and nose.
