Guerlain’s Flacon Empire, introduced in 1902, remains one of the house’s most elegant and enduring early presentations. Originally created to hold the extrait Bon Vieux Temps, the bottle was fashioned in clear glass and adorned with gilded enamel drapery, a motif drawn from the grandeur of the Empire style. With its refined, drum-like silhouette, the design conveyed a sense of neoclassical harmony and balance, perfectly suited to Guerlain’s vision of timeless luxury at the turn of the 20th century. The motif of gilded swags evoked both opulence and order, echoing the decorative traditions of Napoleon’s reign, while simultaneously offering a distinctly Parisian touch of modern elegance.
The inspiration for this flacon is said to have come from the Cirque d’Hiver (Winter Circus) in Paris, a celebrated venue where high society gathered for performances, galas, and extravagant soirées. Built in 1852 by architect Jacques Hittorff, the Cirque d’Hiver was a marvel of design—its polygonal exterior resembling a drum encircled by Corinthian columns, richly decorated friezes, and gilded details. Inside, the space dazzled with chandeliers, painted ceilings, and ornate ornamentation. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the circus had become a fashionable playground for Paris’s elite, who attended both circus performances and social events beneath its glittering dome. For Guerlain to draw inspiration from this setting underscored the flacon’s role as a symbol of cultural refinement, pleasure, and spectacle, resonating with the cosmopolitan world in which the house thrived.
Although conceived specifically for Bon Vieux Temps, the Flacon Empire soon demonstrated its adaptability. Guerlain employed the bottle for a number of other creations, including Sillage, Avril en Fleurs, and Fragrans, ensuring its long life within the catalog. By mid-century, it had become most closely associated with Après L’Ondée, which appeared in this form in both 80cc and 125cc sizes until the late 1950s. This enduring use cemented the bottle’s status as one of Guerlain’s classic flacons, embodying both continuity and sophistication.
The flacon was produced by Pochet et du Courval, one of France’s premier glassmakers and a long-standing partner of Guerlain. To support production, the firm created four separate moulds, one of which—mould no. 11880—was officially registered with the Conseil de Prud’hommes (industrial council) on March 7, 1903. The registration illustrates Guerlain’s commitment to safeguarding the originality and artistry of its designs at a time when presentation was becoming nearly as important as the fragrance itself.
Spanning more than five decades of use, from its debut in 1902 to its final circulation in 1959, the Flacon Empire stands as a bridge between Guerlain’s 19th-century apothecary traditions and its 20th-century embrace of artistry and style in perfume presentation. More than just a container, it embodied the theatricality and elegance of its age, uniting the grandeur of Empire design with the modern glamour of Belle Époque Paris.
Sizes:
- Mould # 11373 = 80cc/80ml/2.7 oz - 7.5cm/2.95" (1902-1959)
- Mould # 12167 = 125cc/125ml/4.2 oz - 9cm/3.54" (1907-1959)
- Mould # 12237 = 250cc/250ml/8.4 oz - 11cm/4.33" (1907-1945)
- Mould # 12238 = 500cc/500ml/16.9 oz - 13cm/5.12" (1907-1945)
Bottle:
Scents:
- Apres L'Ondee
- Avril en Fleurs
- Bon Vieux Temps
- Fragrans
- Sillage
