Guerlain’s Flacon Fleuri (Flower Bottle), introduced around 1900, is one of the house’s most romantic and charming designs. It was originally created to hold the extrait of Voila Pourquoi J’aimais Rosine but was soon adapted for other perfumes, notably Fleur Qui Meurt in 1901 and Muguet in 1908. The design perfectly reflected the floral character of these fragrances, reinforcing the decorative, feminine aesthetic that was so characteristic of Guerlain at the turn of the century.
The bottle was produced by Pochet et du Courval in two distinct moulds: one with smooth sides and another with ribbed sides. On the ribbed version, a clear, smooth area of glass was deliberately left free to accommodate the label, while the smooth version simply had the label affixed to one of its edges. Both types bore hollow stoppers, which were originally sealed with parchment and later replaced by thin extensible film. The bases of the bottles carried either of two inscriptions, “Guerlain – Paris – France” or “Guerlain Made in France.”
The Flacon Fleuri became closely associated with Guerlain’s traditional Muguet fragrance, especially in the 80cc and 125cc sizes, and continued to be used for it until the 1960s. One of the bottle’s most distinctive features was its charming adornment: early versions were sold with a small bouquet of silk flowers fastened to the neck with a collar. Over time, this decorative touch was replaced by colored ribbons—white for Muguet, mauve for Fleur Qui Meurt, and red for Voila Pourquoi J’aimais Rosine. In later years, however, these symbolic color distinctions were not always strictly followed.
The presentation boxes also evolved over the decades. Initially, the bottles were housed in sky-blue boxes with gilt edging, adding to their delicate, decorative appeal. By 1910, however, Guerlain updated the packaging to a more refined beige box adorned with gold motifs and lined with a white interior. This shift reflected broader stylistic changes of the early 20th century, moving from playful lightness to more understated elegance.
Sizes:
- Mould # 10771 = 80cc/80ml/2.7 oz - 10.4cm/4.09 smooth bottle
- Mould #10845 = 125cc/125ml/4.2 oz - smooth bottle
- Mould #11590 = 80cc/80ml/2.7 oz - 9.3cm/3.66" ribbed bottle (1903 - until the early 1960s)
- Mould #11773 = 125cc/125ml/4.2 oz - ribbed bottle (until early 1960s)
Bottles:
Scents:
- Voila Pourquoi J’aimais Rosine
- Fleur Qui Meurt
- Muguet
