Guerlain Perfumes: Flacon Carre (Square) c1879

Sunday, August 31, 2025

Flacon Carre (Square) c1879 - ?

The Flacon Carré (Square Bottle) is a quintessential example of 19th-century perfumery design, produced by Pochet et du Courval to hold Guerlain’s extraits (parfums), eaux de toilette, eaux de cologne, and Lotion Végétale. First appearing around 1879, the bottle’s apothecary-inspired square shape reflected the aesthetic norms of the period, favoring practicality, stability, and an elegant simplicity. Its clean lines and sturdy form made it suitable for both storage and display, while its versatility allowed it to accommodate a wide range of fragrances. The square silhouette also offered a perfect surface for labeling, with most bottles carrying the iconic “blason” or shield-shaped labels that identified the fragrance and emphasized Guerlain’s prestige.

Eight different molds were used to produce the Flacon Carré, some engraved with motifs such as “femmes drapeaux” or simply “Guerlain à Paris.” These engravings, subtle yet distinctive, reinforced the brand identity and added decorative refinement without compromising the bottle’s functional design. The Guerlain archives list between 45 and 500 shield labels associated with these bottles, with labels referencing the historic 15, rue de la Paix address dating from 1840 to 1913, and post-1914 bottles showing the updated 68, Avenue des Champs-Élysées address. Two molds were never intended for commercial sale but were instead used for laboratory blending, demonstrations, or display purposes: a 15 cc (15 ml / 0.5 oz) bottle from 1954, standing 5.7 cm (2.24"), and a 30 cc (30 ml / 1 oz) bottle from 1930, measuring 6.9 cm (2.72").

Commercially, the Flacon Carré was produced in a wide range of sizes to accommodate different uses, from smaller personal bottles to larger display or vanity formats. These included 70 cc (70 ml / 2.37 oz) at 9.5 cm (3.74") produced in 1875 and discontinued in 1939, 80 cc (80 ml / 2.7 oz) at 10.5 cm (4.13"), 125 cc (125 ml / 4.2 oz) and 250 cc (250 ml / 8.4 oz), both from 1879 at 11.5 cm (4.53") and 14.5 cm (5.71") respectively, and the imposing 500 cc (500 ml / 16.9 oz) at 19 cm (7.48") produced in 1880. This range highlights Guerlain’s thoughtful approach to both functionality and presentation, allowing the bottles to serve multiple practical and aesthetic purposes.

The Flacon Carré stands as a testament to Guerlain’s early commitment to craftsmanship and brand identity, combining utilitarian design with subtle elegance. Its apothecary-inspired form, careful engravings, and range of sizes made it a durable and recognizable container for the house’s perfumes and lotions, reflecting both the historical practices of 19th-century French perfumery and the enduring attention to detail that would define Guerlain’s legacy.

Sizes:

Mould # 14490 = 15cc/15ml/0.5 oz - 5,7cm/2.24" (1954, never sold, for demonstration only)
Mould # 18215 = 30cc/30ml/1 oz - 6,9cm/2.72" (1930, never sold, for demonstration only)
Mould # 6691 = 70cc/70ml/2.37 oz - 9,5cm/3.74" (1875, discontinued in 1939)
Mould # unknown = 80cc/80ml/2.7 oz - 10,5cm/4.13"
Mould # 7384 = 125cc/125ml/4.2 oz - 11,5cm/4.53" (1879)
Mould # 7385 = 250cc/250ml/8.4 oz - 14,5cm/5.71" (1879)
Mould # 7952 = 500cc/500ml/16.9 oz - 19cm/7.48" (1880s)
Mould # 7953 = 1000cc/1 liter - 22.5cm/8.85" (1880s)