Antonio Mcgowan
There are several ways to determine the age of a perfume bottle. The style of the bottle, the label, and the box can all provide clues about its age. For instance, Art Nouveau styles generally indicate a bottle from the 1900s-1920s, while Art Deco styles are typical of the mid-1920s to the 1940s. The presence of a zip code on the label indicates a bottle from 1962 or later. Additionally, the colour of the perfume can be indicative of its age, as perfumes tend to darken over time. The presence of certain markings, such as acid stamps or signatures, can also help identify the age and value of a perfume bottle. Online tools like CheckFresh.com can also be used to determine the age of a perfume bottle by deciphering batch codes found on the packaging.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Bottle labels marked "Made in Occupied Japan" | Manufactured from September 1945 until April 1952 |
| Enameled lettering on glass bottles | Used after the 1930s and was a common feature in the 1940s |
| Patent number on the base of the bottle | Common in the 1930s and 1940s |
| Bottle size | Dram bottles were small and purse-sized |
| Sealed perfumes with some perfume missing | Alcohol and water content may have evaporated due to heat, light, and poor storage |
| Vintage perfume colour | Starts to darken over time and the oldest perfumes have a dark, thick, syrupy texture |
| Bottle design | Art Nouveau (1900-1920s), Art Deco (mid-1920s to 1940s), Psychedelic (late 1960s to early 1970s) |
| Lalique perfumes signature | R. Lalique in block lettering until 1945, Rene Lalique or R. Lalique until Rene Lalique's death in 1945, Lalique France (post-1945) |
| Bottle marked with entwined HP | Manufactured by the glass factory of Pochet et du Courval in France after 1930 |
| Bottle marked with S or SGD | Manufactured by the Saint Gobain Desjonqueres glass factory of France after the 1950s |
| Bottle sealed with | Baudruches (gold-beater's skin), gelatin, viscose, acetate, or thin cellulose films |
| Batch codes | Refer to the date of manufacture |
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What You'll Learn
- Check the bottle for labels marked Made in Occupied Japan
- Look for enameled lettering, also known as serigraphy
- Find a patent number on the base of the bottle
- Look for lot numbers, bottle shape numbers, or English Registry Design numbers
- Check the batch code on the bottom or back of the bottle or box (perfumes with alcohol last about 5 years)
Check the bottle for labels marked Made in Occupied Japan
If you're trying to determine the age of a perfume bottle, one of the key things to look for is whether the bottle or its label is marked "Made in Occupied Japan". Such bottles were manufactured from September 1945 until April 1952. This marking is significant because it indicates a specific period in Japan's history when the country was under the control of the Allied Forces following World War II.
The phrase "Occupied Japan" refers to the period between the end of World War II in 1945 and April 1952, when the Treaty of San Francisco came into effect and Japan regained its independence. During this time, Japan was under the occupation and administration of the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers, led primarily by the United States. All exports from Japan during this period were required to be marked with the "Made in Occupied Japan" label, and this included a wide range of products such as porcelain, toys, souvenirs, and of course, perfume bottles.
The purpose of this label was to differentiate products made in Occupied Japan from those made in Allied countries, as well as to indicate that the items were subject to trade regulations and restrictions imposed by the occupying powers. These regulations governed various aspects of production, including the types of goods that could be exported, the quantities, and the destinations to which they could be shipped. The "Made in Occupied Japan" label was, therefore, an important indicator of compliance with these rules.
So, if your perfume bottle has this label, it provides a clear indication that it was produced during this specific seven-year period. This marking is a valuable tool for dating vintage perfume bottles and understanding their place in the historical context of post-World War II Japan.
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Look for enameled lettering, also known as serigraphy
If you want to determine the age of a perfume bottle, one of the things you can do is look for enameled lettering, also known as serigraphy. This method of applying lettering to glass bottles started to be used in the 1930s and was a regular feature in the 1940s and beyond. This type of lettering is fragile and can be easily lost during cleaning.
Serigraphy is a technique that involves applying enamel-based paint to a glass surface through a fine screen, creating a permanent image. In the context of perfume bottles, serigraphy is used to apply lettering, logos, or other decorative elements to the glass surface of the bottle. This method of decoration provides a sleek and elegant finish that enhances the overall aesthetic appeal of the bottle.
The use of serigraphy on perfume bottles became popular due to its ability to create intricate and detailed designs with high precision. It allowed perfume brands to showcase their logos, brand names, or decorative patterns on the bottles, adding a touch of sophistication and uniqueness to their products.
When examining a perfume bottle for enameled lettering, it is important to look closely at the base of the bottle, as well as the sides and the neck area. Sometimes, the lettering or decoration may be subtle or located in less obvious places. Additionally, pay attention to the colour and style of the lettering, as different colours and fonts may provide additional clues about the age or origin of the bottle.
By examining the enameled lettering on your perfume bottle, you can gather important information about its age and historical context. This technique of dating perfume bottles is particularly useful when combined with other methods, such as checking vintage advertisements, batch codes, or the style and condition of the labels.
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Find a patent number on the base of the bottle
If you want to find out how old your perfume bottle is, one way is to look for a patent number on the base of the bottle. Patent dates were frequent in the 1930s and 1940s, and you can look up the number on search engines on US patent webpages online. If you are using a mobile device, look for the "three stacked dots" or "three horizontal lines" (Menu) along the top or bottom of the screen, tap and look for "Find in Page" in the dropdown menu. Select that option, and a keyboard should appear. Type in the patent number to see if it appears within the text or the comments section on that webpage.
If your bottle is marked "Gaillard", "J. Viard", or "J. Villard", it was made between 1900 and the 1920s. Lucien Gaillard was a contemporary of Lalique and designed many Art Nouveau perfume bottles for notable French perfume houses such as Clamy and Violet. Julien Viard was a French glass designer in the 1920s and designed bottles for Richard Hudnut, Isabey, Favolys, and Langlois. Both designers collaborated, so you might find the mark of J. on your bottle.
If your bottle is embossed with or has labels marked "Made in Occupied Japan", it was made between September 1945 and April 1952. If your bottle has enameled lettering, also known as serigraphy, instead of labels, this may indicate that it is from after the 1930s and more likely from the 1940s onwards. This lettering is fragile and can be easily lost with cleaning.
Before 1836, patents were issued without numbers, so if your bottle has a patent that begins with an "X", it was patented before 1836. A "D" at the beginning of the patent number indicates a Design Patent, which is issued for form rather than function.
You can also find information about the manufacturer of your bottle by looking up the logo on the base. For example, the logo of the Owens-Illinois Glass Company looks like an "eye". The Hazel-Atlas Glass Company made huge numbers of bottles and jars for several decades, and their mark is a "large H over a small a".
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Look for lot numbers, bottle shape numbers, or English Registry Design numbers
If you're trying to determine the age of a perfume bottle, one of the things you can do is look for lot numbers, bottle shape numbers, or English Registry Design numbers. These were typically embossed or etched onto the glass base of older bottles, particularly those produced in the 1930s and 1940s. Lot numbers and bottle shape numbers were commonly found on American-made bottles, while English Registry numbers, prefixed with "Rd....." or "Rgd....", were usually found on British-made bottles.
Old glass bottles often had matching etched numbers on the base of the perfume bottle and the bottom of the stopper. This was done at the factory to ensure the correct stopper was paired with the right bottle. French bottles, such as Baccarat, often featured these etched numbers.
In addition to lot and bottle shape numbers, older bottles may also have patent numbers embossed on the glass base. These patent dates were frequently found on bottles from the 1930s and 1940s, and you can look up the patent number online to help determine the age of your perfume bottle.
English Registry Design numbers can be found on perfume bottles from the United Kingdom, and these numbers can also be searched online to help estimate the age of the bottle.
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Check the batch code on the bottom or back of the bottle or box (perfumes with alcohol last about 5 years)
The batch code on a perfume bottle or its packaging can help you determine its age. Batch codes are identification codes assigned to a batch of cosmetics and may contain information such as the manufacturer's code and production date. They are usually stamped or printed with a dot-matrix printer and can be found on the bottom or back of the bottle or box.
Websites like CheckFresh.com can help you determine the production date of your perfume by reading it from the batch code. To use this service, you must first select the brand of your perfume to see instructions on how to find the batch code. It's important to note that batch codes can be confused with catalog numbers or EAN/UPC numbers (barcodes), but these are printed in a standard way, whereas batch codes are applied later to already printed packages.
Once you've located the batch code, you can enter it into CheckFresh.com to determine the production date. Keep in mind that the shelf life of perfumes depends on their chemical composition, and while many perfumes don't have a definite expiration date, the average shelf life of a fragrance is around three to five years.
Additionally, some perfumes may have an open jar symbol on the packaging, indicating the number of months the perfume remains usable after opening due to oxidation and microbiological factors. It's recommended to follow the specific recommendations for each product, which can be found on the container, printed on the packaging, or published on the company's website.
As a cautionary note, online tools for calculating the production date based on batch codes may not always be entirely accurate. Therefore, it's advisable to contact the company or its authorized agents directly for complete and exact information regarding the age and shelf life of your perfume.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several ways to determine the age of a perfume bottle. Firstly, you can check the label or box for any numbers with a degree symbol, which indicate the alcohol percentage and can help date the bottle. For example, if the percentage is 80% or 90%, it is likely from after the 1950s. Secondly, you can look for a zip code on the label; if present, the bottle is from 1962 or later. Finally, you can check the base of the bottle for acid stamps from brands like Baccarat, Lalique, Cristal Nancy, or Cristal Romesnil, which can add value to your bottle.
You can examine the style of the box or label, as certain designs correspond to specific time periods. For instance, the Art Nouveau style is generally associated with the early 1900s to the 1920s, while Art Deco was popular in the mid-1920s to the 1940s. Additionally, if your perfume box or label includes the company's address, you can compare it to known addresses used by the company over time.
You can determine the manufacturing date of your perfume by checking the batch code, which is typically found on the bottom or back of the bottle or box. The batch code consists of numbers and sometimes letters, indicating when and where the perfume was produced. Websites like CheckFresh.com allow you to enter the batch code and find out the exact manufacturing date.
