Guerlain Perfumes: Flacon de Guerre (War Time Edition) c1938-1945

Sunday, August 31, 2025

Flacon de Guerre (War Time Edition) c1938-1945

The Flacon de Guerre (War Time Edition), produced between 1938 and 1945, was Guerlain’s pragmatic solution to the challenges posed by World War II. Made of clear glass, this vessel was nicknamed the “war bottle” because it became the standard container for exporting Guerlain perfumes during the conflict. Unlike Guerlain’s specialized and often elaborate flacons of earlier decades, the Flacon de Guerre was created as a uniform, practical option that could be adapted across multiple fragrances. Pochet et du Courval manufactured the bottle in seven mould sizes—10cc, 20cc, 30cc, 40cc, 82cc, 125cc, 250cc, and 500cc—allowing Guerlain to maintain production despite the extraordinary limitations of the time.

The necessity for such a standardized bottle arose from wartime restrictions and rationing. Access to specialty glass, decorative finishes, and even skilled glassmakers was limited, as many glass houses were appropriated for wartime production or disrupted by the Nazi occupation. By employing a simple, multipurpose flacon, Guerlain could continue distributing its perfumes while navigating these constraints.

The presentation was further simplified with paper labels printed in stark black and white, accented only by the iconic Marly horse in red. Labels were tailored in five proportional sizes, ranging from 2 cm x 1.2 cm for the smallest 10cc and 20cc bottles, up to 5 cm x 2.8 cm for the 250cc version. This pared-down aesthetic was a direct reflection of the wartime climate, when luxury had to be expressed in restrained and resourceful ways. Today, the Flacon de Guerre stands as a historical reminder of Guerlain’s resilience and adaptability during one of the most difficult periods of the 20th century.