The Flacon Petit Beurre, introduced around 1916, is affectionately known as the “little butter pat” or the “biscuit-shaped” bottle because of its compact, square form and softly rounded edges, which resemble a small tea biscuit. This standard bottle was primarily distributed in the United States, where Guerlain often tailored presentations to suit American tastes. Each fragrance housed within the Petit Beurre flacon received its own specific labels and boxes, emphasizing Guerlain’s attention to detail and the importance of branding even for export markets. Over time, the bottle was used for an impressive range of Guerlain’s fragrances, including L’Heure Bleue, Mitsouko, Rue de la Paix, Candide Effluve, A Travers Champs, Fol Arome, Quand Vient L’Été, Kadine, Guerlinade, Une Rose, Pour Troubler, Vague Souvenir, and Champs-Élysées.
Two glassmakers were responsible for producing this design: Baccarat originally in 1916, and later Pochet et du Courval in 1929. Baccarat’s version, catalogued as model #293, was made in very limited numbers. Guerlain ordered only 500 bottles in each of the 40cc and 80cc sizes in January 1916. These Baccarat bottles are notable for their smooth, flat polished bases, which lack the usual Baccarat logo. Inside, they also display a distinctive indentation, a detail documented in the Baccarat Perfume Bottles reference book. The smaller 40cc size measured 7.7 cm in height, while the 80cc offered a larger format. Both sizes are considered rare today, owing to their limited production.
The Pochet et du Courval interpretation of the Petit Beurre followed more than a decade later, in 1929, and was produced in larger quantities for broader distribution. The Pochet versions have bases that are slightly curved, in contrast to Baccarat’s flat design. These bases can be entirely smooth or molded with inscriptions such as “Guerlain – Paris – France – HP” or “Guerlain – Made in France – Paris France – HP.” Some also bear a number engraved by stylus, adding another layer of identification. Pochet’s mould #14421 was used to produce a 20 ml size bottle measuring 5.5 cm in height.
Altogether, the Petit Beurre flacon embodies both the rarity of Baccarat’s early limited runs and the more standardized, export-oriented production of Pochet et du Courval. Its enduring use across so many Guerlain perfumes underscores the bottle’s versatility and charm, making it a small but significant part of the house’s early 20th-century bottle repertoire.
Baccarat (model #293):
For the Baccarat bottle lacks its logo and has a smooth, flat polished base. Guerlain ordered 500 of the 40cc and 500 of the 80cc bottles in January 1916. This bottle has indentation on the interior, as shown in the Baccarat Perfume Bottles reference book.
- 40cc/40ml/1.35 oz - 7.7cm/3.03" (limited edition of only 500 in 1916)
- 80cc/80ml/2.7 oz - (limited edition of only 500 in 1916)
Pochet et du Courval:
For the Pochet bottle, the base is slightly curved and is either smooth or molded with "Guerlain - Paris - France - HP" or "Guerlain - Made in France - Paris France - HP." Some bottles had a number engraved by stylus on the base.
- Mould #14421 = 20ml - 5.5cm (1929)
Bottles:
In the mid to late 1920s, the Flacon Beurre reappeared in a particularly striking presentation by Baccarat, created to coincide with the 1925 Paris Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes. This relaunch gave the bottle a renewed prestige, linking it to the Art Deco movement at its peak. The flacon itself was adorned with a distinctive blue and silver foiled paper label, a design chosen to evoke the dazzling crystal fountain designed by René Lalique for the exposition’s Grand Pavilion. The fountain, with its play of light and water, became one of the fair’s iconic symbols, and Guerlain’s choice to reference it underscored both the house’s connection to cutting-edge French design and its position among the elite participants of the exposition.
The presentation box accompanying this edition was equally refined, echoing the crystal fountain motif with elegant repetition across its surfaces. This harmony of bottle, label, and box created a cohesive Art Deco statement—modern, luxurious, and unmistakably French. It is this 1925 Expo-inspired presentation that collectors most frequently encounter today when seeking out the Beurre flacon.
Another later version of the Beurre presentation emerged during the 1940s, when Guerlain repackaged the bottle with a box of entirely different character. This design featured red and gold coloring and floral patterns, offering a warmer, more traditional aesthetic than the sleek modernism of the earlier fountain motif. While not as strongly associated with the glamour of the 1925 exposition, the 1940s box reflects Guerlain’s adaptability in reinterpreting its designs for new audiences and changing times.
Scents:
- A Travers Champs
- Candide Effluve
- Champs Elysees
- Fol Arome
- Guerlinade
- Kadine
- L'Heure Bleue
- Mitsouko
- Pour Troubler
- Quand Vient L'Ete
- Rue de la Paix
- Une Rose
- Vague Souvenir
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