Lance Carson
Vintage perfume atomizers, also known as perfume bottles, are usually described by the age and type of glass bottle. They are bottles with flexible stoppers that pump air into a liquid to create a mist. Atomizers were popular in the Victorian era, as they allowed people to spray themselves with light perfumes to combat the heat without having to remove their clothing, which was considered socially unacceptable at the time. These atomizers often featured unique designs, such as elaborate pressed-glass or hand-painted patterns, and had a flexible ball on a tube that pumped air into the bottle to create a mist.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Atomizers, perfume atomizers, bulb atomizers |
| Parts | Flexible stoppers, collars, connectors, tubes, rubber pump balls |
| Function | Pump air into liquid to create a mist |
| Direction | Spray in one fixed direction |
| Use | Normally used for dressing-table size perfume bottles |
| Refill | Refillable |
| Leakage | Collars and connectors are leaky when tilted |
| Cover | Silk cloth in the shape of a sock |
| Design | Pressed-glass designs, hand-painted designs |
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What You'll Learn
- Atomizers: Bottles with flexible stoppers that pump air into a liquid to create a mist
- Bulb atomizers: A type of atomizer with a flexible bulb that pumps air into the bottle
- Antique atomizers: Atomizers from before the turn of the century, which may not use a squeeze balloon to pump air
- Glass design: Some makers focus on elaborate pressed-glass or unique hand-painted designs rather than the atomizing process
- Collars: The collars of atomizers were usually made of brass and sometimes plated with gold, nickel, or silver
Atomizers: Bottles with flexible stoppers that pump air into a liquid to create a mist
Atomizers are bottles with flexible stoppers that pump air into a liquid to create a mist. They are also known as perfume atomizers, perfume decanters, or bulb atomizers. Atomizers reduce liquids to fine droplets and deliver them as airborne sprays. They are commonly associated with perfume and cologne bottles, often featuring a flexible ball on a tube that pumps air into the bottle, resulting in a wet mist.
Vintage atomizers, particularly those from before the turn of the century, may have a mechanism other than a squeeze balloon or rubber bulb to pump air and create a spray. For example, some Victorian-era spray bottles featured unique pump designs. The late 19th century saw rapid innovation in atomizer design, and the collars and connectors of vintage atomizers were often leaky when tilted.
The "tail" on the squeeze ball of an atomizer can be an eye-catching element, and the collars, which connect the pump cords to the bottles, could be made of brass or plated with gold, nickel, or silver. Atomizers typically appeared on dressing-table-size perfume bottles rather than smaller, portable ones. They usually spray in a fixed direction, with a single tiny hole in the collar determining the direction of the mist.
Atomizers were commonly used in the past to spray light perfumes as a socially acceptable way to cool off during hot weather while adhering to the norms of the time. Most vintage atomizers were refillable and could be refilled with diluted scents purchased from local druggists and decanted into personal bottles.
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Bulb atomizers: A type of atomizer with a flexible bulb that pumps air into the bottle
The old-style perfume bottle spray is called an atomizer. Atomizers are bottles with flexible stoppers that pump air into a liquid to create a mist. Many atomizers have a flexible ball on a tube that pumps air into the bottle, causing a wet mist to come out. These are known as bulb atomizers.
Bulb atomizers have a squeeze bulb that stores air and moves it quickly over the feeder tube when squeezed. The bulb has two one-way valves, one at each end. When the bulb is depressed, the valve leading into the tube that connects to the bottle is forced open by air pressure, and the valve leading outside is closed. When the bulb is released, the rubber inside returns to its original shape, closing the valve leading to the tube and opening the valve to the outside so that air can fill the bulb. The perfume rests in the body of the perfume bottle, or "reservoir". The vertical feeder tube is partially submerged in the reservoir and connected to the bottle's lid, which also houses a tube that connects the squeeze bulb and the nozzle. When the air and liquid perfume pass through the nozzle, the perfume breaks up into small drops and mixes with the air. The restriction at the end of the nozzle, called a "venturi", speeds up the air and liquid mixture, causing the liquid to break up and the air to disperse it widely. The amount of liquid dispersed and the distance it travels depend on how hard the bulb is squeezed.
Bulb atomizers were commonly used in vintage perfume bottles, particularly on dressing-table size bottles rather than miniature bottles intended for purses or pockets. They were supplied to American glass companies by DeVillbiss & Co. of Toledo after 1910. These early squeeze bulbs were made of rubber, which lost its resilience over time. However, they are still preferred by collectors for their vintage look. The collars of vintage atomizers were often made of brass, with some featuring gold or nickel plating, and a few made of sterling silver. The collars were glued to the neck of the glass bottle, causing them to spray in only one fixed direction.
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Antique atomizers: Atomizers from before the turn of the century, which may not use a squeeze balloon to pump air
Antique atomizers, or perfume bottles, are those that date back to before the turn of the century. They are usually described by the age and type of glass bottle, with the ""tail" on the squeeze ball sometimes being the most eye-catching element. The squeeze ball, or bulb, is made of rubber and pumps air into the bottle, creating a mist or spray.
Truly antique atomizers may have some mechanism other than a squeeze balloon to pump air into the liquid and out through the spray head. The late 19th century saw rapid innovation, and some Victorian spray bottles were given unusual pumps. Antique atomizers were purchased empty and refilled with diluted scent as needed. The perfume was typically bought at a local druggist's shop and decanted into the owner's bottle.
Atomizers were often designed to be placed on a dressing table and usually sprayed in only one fixed direction. They were also known to be leaky when tilted. The collars and connectors were often decorated with fine silk cloth or long silky fringe. The collars were usually made of brass and sometimes had gold or nickel plating, with a few being sterling silver.
Some notable antique atomizers include the c1915 Louis Vuitton Baccarat Crystal & Sterling Silver Pump Atomizer and the c1920s Vaseline Green Glass Perfume Atomizer by Aristo.
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Glass design: Some makers focus on elaborate pressed-glass or unique hand-painted designs rather than the atomizing process
The old-style perfume bottle spray is called an atomizer, and it has been around since the Victorian era. At that time, perfume bottles were elaborately painted or etched and usually had corks or small glass ball stoppers. Today, some makers focus on the glass design of the atomizer, creating elaborate pressed-glass or unique hand-painted designs.
Etsy, for example, offers hand-painted perfume bottles with free shipping. These bottles can be engraved with florals, making them perfect wedding or bridal keepsakes. Other designs include vintage cobalt blue glass bottles with gilding and hand-painted flowers, vintage Bohemian glass vases, and Egyptian hand-blown glass bottles. Etsy also offers hand-painted bottles with prints, such as butterflies, birds, bows, and flowers.
A Wincy Glass N Design also offers personalized, custom hand-painted perfume bottles. Their bottles can be painted according to a specific theme or a customer's preferences. The company also offers hand engraving as another form of personalizing fragrance and perfume bottles. This can include monograms, special dates, or romantic quotes.
The diversity and invention of perfume bottle designs increased with the arrival of Art Nouveau in the 1890s and Art Deco in the early 20th century. These bottles reflected the most current glassmaking techniques and diverse shapes, from small purse-size flasks to elaborate art glass display pieces. Some people today collect vintage perfume bottles, favouring Art Deco styles, Victoriana, or famous maker names from the 1950s, which was the heyday of perfume wearing in America.
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Collars: The collars of atomizers were usually made of brass and sometimes plated with gold, nickel, or silver
Vintage atomizers, or perfume bottles, are often referred to by the age and type of glass bottle. The collars of atomizers were usually made of brass and sometimes plated with gold, nickel, or silver. The collars connected the pump cords to the bottles, and the inside of the collars are known as ferrules. These could be threaded or unthreaded, with the threaded type used for atomizers and the unthreaded for dauber bottles. The collars were affixed to the bottles using a plaster-type adhesive. Some collars are plain, while others feature engraved or embossed designs, such as floral patterns or abstract motifs.
The late 19th century saw rapid innovation in atomizer design, with some Victorian spray bottles featuring unusual pumps. After 1910, DeVillbiss & Co. of Toledo supplied most atomizers to American glass companies. These early squeeze balls were made of rubber, which lost its resilience over time. Some atomizers featured a cover over the rubber pump ball, often made of fine silk cloth in the shape of a sock, with long silky fringes as a decorative element.
Today, atomizers are still used for perfumes and colognes, as well as for spraying water to cool off on hot days. Modern atomizers are typically refillable and portable, making them convenient for travel.
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Frequently asked questions
Old-style perfume bottle sprays are called atomizers.
Atomizers are made of glass and have a rubber bulb or flexible ball on a tube that pumps air into the bottle to create a mist.
The flexible ball on a tube pumps air into the bottle, creating a wet mist that is released through a single tiny hole in the collar.
Atomizers normally appeared on dressing-table-size perfume bottles and sprayed in one fixed direction. They were often decorated with silk cloth or long silky fringe.
You can find vintage atomizers on websites like 1stDibs or perfumeatomizersking.com.
