Lance Carson
Coty perfumes have been packaged in a variety of ways over the years, and the boxes can provide some clues as to the age of the fragrance. For example, in 1923, Coty introduced a new cylindrical bottle style for several perfumes, which was fitted with a frosted stopper and packaged in a rectangular paper-covered box. The box included the message: The bottle, label and box of this item have been registered in accordance with the law and are the property of Coty. In 1927, Coty introduced the Etui a Cigarette presentation, which stood 3 1/8 tall and was also made by Coty's own glassworks in France. In 1935, Coty floral parfums were packaged in limited-edition boxes featuring mimosa prints on yellow backgrounds, with the name Feuilles d'Automne (Autumn Leaves). Other indicators of the age of a perfume bottle or box include the presence of clear labels, which were first used in the 1950s, and labels stating SDA (Specially Denatured Alcohol), which date the perfume to the 1940s or 1950s.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Bottle shape | Cylindrical |
| Bottle material | Glass |
| Bottle colour | Various |
| Bottle markings | "Coty France" |
| Bottle capacity | 1/4 oz, 1 2/3 oz |
| Stopper material | Frosted glass |
| Stopper design | Moulded stepped or scale design |
| Box type | Rectangular, paper-covered |
| Box markings | "The bottle, label and box of this item have been registered in accordance with the law and are the property of Coty." |
| Box colour | Yellow (limited edition) |
| Box design | Mimosa prints on a yellow background |
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What You'll Learn
- Boxes from 1923 onwards were labelled with The bottle, label and box of this item have been registered in accordance with the law and are the property of Coty
- Boxes from 1927 featured the Etui a Cigarette presentation
- Boxes from 1929 featured the Louvre presentation
- Boxes from 1935 featured limited-edition mimosa prints on yellow backgrounds
- Boxes from the 1940s-1950s feature labels stating SDA (Specially Denatured Alcohol)
Boxes from 1923 onwards were labelled with The bottle, label and box of this item have been registered in accordance with the law and are the property of Coty
If you are in possession of a Coty perfume box with the label "The bottle, label and box of this item have been registered in accordance with the law and are the property of Coty", then this indicates that the box is from 1923 or later. This specific wording was included on Coty perfume boxes from 1923 onwards, indicating that the product and its packaging were legally registered and owned by the Coty company.
This label can be considered a precursor to modern product labelling requirements, which mandate certain information to be displayed for consumer protection and compliance with regulations. While specific requirements vary by region, standard information includes manufacturer identification, product identification, warnings, and ingredient lists.
In the context of the Coty perfume boxes, the label served to assert ownership and legal registration. It provided consumers with assurance that they were purchasing a legitimate Coty product. This was particularly important in an era when the illegal trade in alcohol and refilling of bottles by black-market businesses was prevalent, prompting legislation to prevent such practices.
The label on the Coty perfume boxes also highlights the historical evolution of product packaging and labelling. Over time, packaging styles changed, and mass production techniques were adopted. Colourful labels with graphics became more common, and in the 1950s, clear labels indicating contents began to be used, providing additional transparency to consumers.
Today, product labelling requirements are extensive and vary based on the region and product type. However, the foundation of providing accurate and transparent information to consumers remains, building upon the early examples of labelling practices seen on boxes like those of Coty perfumes from 1923 onwards.
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Boxes from 1927 featured the Etui a Cigarette presentation
In 1927, Coty introduced a new presentation box for its perfumes called the "Etui a Cigarette". The box featured a small dotted circle with "Coty Paris" inside and was topped with fanciful ribbons. This presentation was used for the perfumes Emeraude, L'Origan, Paris, and Chypre. The box had a brown suede-like effect, and the bottle inside stood 3 1/8" tall. The bottle was made by Coty's own glassworks in France and was moulded or acid-stamped with "Coty France" on the base.
The "Etui a Cigarette" presentation box was introduced the same year that Coty launched L'Aimant, which means "magnet" in French. L'Aimant was one of the final products that Coty himself collaborated on before his death in 1934. The fragrance has top notes of bergamot, neroli, peach, and aldehydes; heart notes of geranium, rose, orchid, jasmine, and ylang-ylang; and base notes of vetiver, musk, vanilla, sandalwood, tonka bean, and cedar. L'Aimant was available in a range of sizes and formats, from powder to bath salts, and was accessible to consumers both then and now.
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Boxes from 1929 featured the Louvre presentation
François Coty, the founder of Coty, was a French millionaire perfume manufacturer. Coty perfumes were aimed at the luxury market, with their Baccarat bottles, but were also sold in smaller, plainer bottles affordable to middle and working-class women. Coty invented the idea of a fragrance set, a gift box containing identically scented items, such as a perfume and matching powder, soap, cream, and cosmetics.
In 1903, Coty studied perfumery and began work on a fragrance, La Rose Jacqueminot. On his return to Paris in 1900, he visited the Exposition Universelle and, in 1904, set off to sell his scents to department stores, boutiques, and barbershops, initially with little success. His fortunes changed when he dropped a bottle of La Rose Jacqueminot on a countertop at the Grands Magasins du Louvre, the Parisian department store. Attracted by the scent, customers swarmed the area, demanding to buy the perfume. Coty's entire stock was gone in a few minutes and the store offered him a place on the selling floor for his products.
After 1929, Coty's fortunes began to diminish considerably. Both Figaro and L'Ami du peuple had been losing money for years, and his perfume business was affected by the 1929 Wall Street crash. However, it was his divorce from Yvonne that year that most contributed to his financial ruin. By 1929, his fortune was estimated at US$34 million, but after his divorce settlement, he defaulted on the last payment of several million francs in 1931, citing financial hardship. Over the next few years, divorce courts ruled in Yvonne's favour, granting her ownership of most of Coty's fortune and his newspapers.
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Boxes from 1935 featured limited-edition mimosa prints on yellow backgrounds
One way to date Coty perfume based on its packaging is to look at the box's design. In 1935, Coty released a limited-edition packaging design for their floral parfums, featuring mimosa prints on yellow backgrounds. This design was likely also named Feuilles d'Automne, or Autumn Leaves. The following perfumes were included in this limited-edition release: Muguet, Oeillet France, La Rose Jacqueminot, Ambre Antique, Lilas Pourpre, and Violette Pourpre. Eventually, other Coty perfumes were added to the packaging design, including Emeraude, Iris, L'Aimant, and L'Origan.
The mimosa print boxes were not the only notable packaging design in Coty's history. As early as 1923, Coty introduced a new style of bottle for several perfumes, including Chypre and L'Origan. These bottles were cylindrical in shape and fitted with a frosted stopper. Two types of stoppers were available for these bottles. This new style of bottle was also used for Coty's perfumes Paris, Lilas Blanc, Iris, Heliotrope, Violette Pourpre, and L'Effleurt. The bottles came in several different boxes, including a rectangular paper-covered box that stated: "The bottle, label and box of this item have been registered in accordance with the law and are the property of Coty."
In 1927, Coty introduced the "Etui a Cigarette" bottle presentation, which stood 3 1/8" tall. This bottle was also made by Coty's own glassworks in France and was moulded or acid-stamped with "Coty France" on the base. Another bottle design introduced in the same year was the "Lilas Pourpre Flacon", which featured an arched shape with sloping shoulders and was fitted with a frosted glass stopper featuring a moulded stepped or scaled design. This bottle was used for all of Coty's perfumes in the 1910s through to the 1930s.
In 1929, Coty introduced a new bottle as part of its "Louvre" presentation, advertised as a "new flacon". The bottle held 1 2/3 oz of parfum and was housed in a faux reptile skin-covered presentation box. According to newspaper ads, the bottle was still being used in 1930 for several perfumes, including Emeraude, L'Origan, and Chypre. The name "Louvre" was chosen because the bottle was originally made by Lalique and used for the Magasins du Louvre department store's signature perfumes.
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Boxes from the 1940s-1950s feature labels stating SDA (Specially Denatured Alcohol)
Coty is an old perfume house with a history of creating luxurious perfumes and packaging. The brand was founded by François Coty in 1904, with its first fragrance, La Rose Jaqueminot, being introduced in the same year.
One way to date Coty perfume based on its box is by examining the labels. Boxes from the 1940s-1950s feature labels stating SDA (Specially Denatured Alcohol). This label was used by American companies who imported perfume essences and oils, and then mixed them with American alcohol in their factories to cut costs and increase profits.
In addition to the SDA label, there are other indicators on boxes and labels that can help determine the age of a Coty perfume. For example, the style of the box or label can provide a clue. Art Nouveau styles generally indicate the perfume is from the 1900s-1920s, Art Deco styles are typical of the mid-1920s to 1940s, and psychedelic designs suggest the late 1960s to early 1970s.
The presence of a company address on the box or label can also be useful. By researching the address, you can potentially date the perfume by identifying when the company was located at that address. Revenue stamps on imported scents coming into America can also help identify the age of a Coty perfume, as these were commonly found on containers in the early 20th century.
Furthermore, the absence or presence of certain packaging features can indicate the age of a Coty perfume box. For example, if the box has cellophane packaging, it is likely from the late 1930s onwards, as cellophane started to become a regular feature of perfume packaging during this period. On the other hand, if the box has an EAN barcode, it dates to after 1989, as these barcodes were introduced in that year. Similarly, the Green Dot recycling symbol indicates a box from 1992 onwards, and the presence of an e-sign next to the volume denotes a perfume made after 1976.
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Frequently asked questions
Coty perfume bottles from the 1920s and 1930s were often made of glass and had etched numbers on the base and the bottom of the stopper plug. These numbers were added at the factory to ensure a precise, airtight fit between the bottle and the stopper. You can also look for acid stamps that say "Coty France" on the base, indicating that the bottle was made at Coty's own glassworks in France.
Older Coty perfume bottles may have been housed in boxes with distinctive designs. For example, the "Louvre" presentation box from 1929 featured a faux reptile skin cover. Another example is the "Etui a Cigarette" presentation box introduced in 1927. Additionally, bottles from the 1910s through the 1930s often featured frosted glass stoppers.
One way to identify the age of a Coty perfume box is to look for any labels or markings that indicate the alcohol percentage. If the box has a number with a degree symbol, it represents the alcohol percentage of the perfume or cologne. Additionally, clear labels indicating contents were first used in the 1950s, so their presence can help narrow down the age of the box.
Vintage Coty perfume bottles may have unique characteristics. For example, some bottles from the 1920s and 1930s had cylindrical shapes and were fitted with frosted stoppers. Bottles from this era were also made in various sizes. Additionally, older bottles may have been coated with plastic, which was introduced in the early 1950s and used by Coty and other perfume companies.
Yes, you can look for specific details associated with certain eras. For example, in 1935, Coty floral parfums were packaged in limited-edition boxes featuring mimosa prints on yellow backgrounds. Additionally, certain perfumes were associated with specific presentations, such as the \"Louvre\" presentation box for Emeraude, L'Origan, Chypre, Paris, and La Jacee in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
