The Flacon Brun Fumé (Brown Smoke Bottle), first produced around 1933, is a striking example of Guerlain’s experimentation with color and material in the presentation of its extraits. Crafted by Baccarat, the bottle is made of rich brown smoked glass, giving it a warm, opaque elegance that contrasted with the clear and frosted crystal bottles more typical of the period. The coloration imbues the bottle with an air of mystery and sophistication, echoing the depth and complexity of the fragrances it contained.
This flacon was originally designed to hold some of Guerlain’s most evocative extraits, including Candide Effluve, À Travers Champs, and Guerlinade. The smoked glass not only protected the perfume from light but also created a sense of exclusivity, as though the bottle itself were a secret treasure to be unveiled. Its weight and tactile presence reinforced the impression of luxury, a hallmark of Baccarat’s craftsmanship.
Over time, the Flacon Brun Fumé became a collector’s item, prized both for its aesthetic appeal and its rarity. In 2007, Baccarat reissued Candide Effluve in this iconic brown smoked glass flacon as a limited edition, producing a 60 cc (60 ml / 2 oz) version, echoing the style and proportions of the original. The original 80 cc (80 ml / 2.7 oz) bottle measured 12.8 cm (5.04") tall, a compact yet commanding size that allowed the flacon to sit gracefully on any dressing table while maintaining its presence as a work of art.
Catalogued by Baccarat as flacon #744, the Brun Fumé remains a testament to the house’s capacity for both aesthetic innovation and functional elegance, combining protective design, visual richness, and refined craftsmanship in a bottle that is as memorable as the perfumes it contains.
Baccarat flacon #744.
- 60cc/60ml/2 oz - (2007)
- 80cc/80ml/2.7 oz - 12,8cm/5.04" (1933)
