Guerlain’s Talcum “Lyre” Poudreur Flacons, used for the Talc Parfumé, produced between 1922 and 1960, are among the most charming and collectible accessory bottles of the house. Made exclusively by Pochet et du Courval, they were available in a single size of 150cc. The design is immediately recognizable: a frosted glass body shaped like a lyre or guitar, a graceful reference to classical motifs and the harmonious luxury Guerlain wished to evoke in its ancillary products. The elegant silhouette made even a practical item like talcum powder feel refined and artistic.
The frosted glass version, introduced in 1922, was initially topped with a metal cap, a finish that underscored the sense of luxury. By 1951, however, the metal closure was replaced with a more modern black Bakelite cap, aligning with the postwar shift toward streamlined, durable materials. Despite this change, the bottle retained its lyrical form and frosted surface, which diffused the light and gave the glass a soft, velvety glow.
These flacons held talcum powders in a wide range of Guerlain’s iconic scents, ensuring that the house’s clients could enjoy their favorite perfumes in a lighter, everyday form. Scents packaged in the Lyre bottles included Shalimar, Mitsouko, Djedi, Bouquet de Faunes, Guerlilas, Guerlarose, Guerlinade, À Travers Champs, Rue de la Paix, Une Rose, Jicky, Après L’Ondée, Violette, Vol de Nuit, Liu, Fleur de Feu, and L’Heure Bleue. This breadth of offerings demonstrates Guerlain’s commitment to extending the experience of its perfumes beyond the extrait or eau de toilette into personal grooming.
The bottles were presented in blue-banded cardboard boxes, which served as both protection and a visual identity for the line. This packaging paired simplicity with refinement, echoing Guerlain’s aesthetic of understated elegance.
By the late 1960s, Guerlain discontinued the frosted glass design and replaced it with a white plastic canister, a move that reflected changing manufacturing practices and the growing demand for lighter, more practical packaging. By the 1980s, the design evolved again, with the talcum powders sold in a turquoise plastic canister, which aligned with the colorful branding trends of that decade. While practical, these later iterations lacked the artisanal charm of the original frosted glass lyre-shaped bottles, which remain cherished today as symbols of Guerlain’s golden age of design.
Sizes:
Pochet et du Courval:
- Mould #13333 = 150cc - 15cm
Bottles:
Scents:
- Apres L'Ondee
- A Travers Champs
- Bouquet de Faunes
- Djedi
- Fleur de Feu
- Guerlarose
- Guerlilas
- Guerlinade
- Jicky
- L'Heure Bleue
- Liu
- Mitsouko
- Rue de la Paix
- Shalimar
- Une Rose
- Violette
- Vol de Nuit
