Flacon Louis XVI c1902-2002

The Flacon Louis XVI, created in 1902 by Pochet et du Courval, is one of Guerlain’s most enduring and versatile bottle designs, remaining in use for a full century until 2002. Designed to hold extraits of some of the house’s most important early fragrances, it originally contained classics such as Après L’Ondée, Muguet, Le Mouchoir de Monsieur, Violette à Deux Sous, Le Bon Vieux Temps, Sillage, Avril en Fleurs, and Aï Loe, among others. Its elegant yet restrained silhouette made it suitable for a wide range of compositions, balancing sophistication with timeless appeal.

The form of the bottle reflects the refinement of the Louis XVI style, characterized by classical symmetry and harmonious proportions. Its simplicity allowed the perfumes themselves to remain the focal point, while the craftsmanship of the glass embodied Guerlain’s commitment to quality. Over time, the Flacon Louis XVI also served as the vessel for special limited editions, including Chamade, confirming its role as a flexible, prestigious design that could bridge different eras of Guerlain’s history.

The original presentation box for the flacon was equally restrained yet elegant: a cylindrical white case stamped with Guerlain Paris in gold leaf, underscoring the luxury and exclusivity of the contents. Pochet et du Courval produced eight different moulds for the bottle across its long production run, with the base bearing various molded inscriptions depending on the period, in chronological order: “Guerlain Paris,” “Guerlain Made in France,” or “Guerlain Bottle Made in France.” These inscriptions not only authenticated the bottles but also reflect the subtle shifts in Guerlain’s branding and production practices over the decades.

The bottle enjoyed a revival in 1977, when it was reissued in a 30 ml size for a wide variety of Guerlain’s iconic fragrances, including Shalimar, Mitsouko, L’Heure Bleue, Chamade, Liu, Sous le Vent, Habit Rouge, Eau de Cologne du Coq, Eau de Fleurs de Cédrat, Eau de Guerlain, Eau de Cologne Vétiver, and Eau de Verveine. This reintroduction reaffirmed the versatility and classical beauty of the design, making it a fitting vessel for both historic and modern Guerlain creations. In 1983, Après L’Ondée itself—one of the original perfumes bottled in this form—was reissued in the 30 ml Flacon Louis XVI, completing a circle of continuity within Guerlain’s long tradition.

By the time production ceased in 2002, the Flacon Louis XVI had come to symbolize Guerlain’s ability to preserve heritage while adapting to new eras, making it not only one of the house’s most practical designs but also one of its most historically significant.

Sizes:

• Mould # 13619 = 30cc/30ml/1 oz - 9cm/3.54" (1924) amended 30ml/1 oz (1983-2002)
• Mould # 7 = 40cc/40ml/1.35 oz - 9cm/3.54", modification of the 30cc bottle (1950-1959)
• Mould # 7 = 75cc/75ml/2.5 oz - 11.3cm/4.45", modification of the 80cc bottle  (1971)
• Mould # 11383 = 80cc/80ml/2.7 oz - 11.3cm/4.45" (1902-1962)
• Mould # 11656 = 125cc/125ml/4.2 oz - 12.8cm/5.04" (1903-1965)
• Mould # 11779 = 250cc/250ml/8.4 oz - 16.4cm/6.46" (1904-1959)
• Mould # 12156 = 500cc/500ml/16.9 oz - 21.5cm/8.46" (1907-1959)
• Mould # 13253 = 1 liter/1000ml- 25.5cm/10.04" (1920-1959)

A ground glass stopper was used until 1960, and then glass stoppers fitted with "plastemeri" plastic plugs became the norm, so from 1960-2002, these bottles will have the plastic plugs on the stoppers.

Bottles:

Original Scents:

• Apres L'Ondee
• Ai Loe
• Avril en Fleurs
• Le Bon Vieux Temps
• Mouchoir de Monsieur
• Muguet
• Sillage
• Violette a deux Sous

1977 Issued Scents:

• Chamade
• Eau de Cologne du Coq
• Eau de Fleurs de Cedrat
• Eau de Guerlain
• Eau de Cologne Vetiver
• Eau de Verveine
• Habit Rouge
• L'Heure Bleue
• Liu 
• Mitsouko
• Shalimar
• Sous le Vent

1983 Issued Scent: 

• Apres L'Ondee