To open the classic Dior crystal flacon, use the following tip provided by Parfums Christian Dior themselves in 1963:
Should warm water on the bottle neck fail, tap the stopper gently with a knife handle; or try rubbing face cream or vaseline around neck of stopper.
Oblong Crystal Flacons:
In 1953, a new bottle was presented. According to a 1953 newspaper ad, it was meant to refill your fancy amphora bottle and was packaged with a small funnel. This pretty clear glass oblong shaped bottle sports a nice thickly glazed paper label crowned with the famous Christian Dior bow. The bottle has a ground glass cup shaped demi lune stopper. The bottle is molded on the base with "Bottle Made in France" and "CD" for Christian Dior and the bottle size. These bottles were available in 1 ounce and 2 ounce sizes.
The beautiful presentation box is a heavy, ribbed cardstock covered in the famous Dior Dove Grey color, and it's label matches the one on the bottle. The elegant dove gray shade, a favorite of Christian Dior, was originally used in the immaculate Maison Dior flagship boutique in Paris, coupled with white plaster moldings. This presentation is notable because it does not feature the black and white houndstooth pattern.
Crystal Travel Flacons for Parfum:
The square shaped, clear glass bottle sports a nice thickly glazed paper label and is fitted with a brass screw cap. This bottle was made expressly for travel and is supposed to be leakproof. The bottle is molded on the base with "Bottle Made in France" and "CD" for Christian Dior.
The beautiful presentation box is a heavy cardstock covered in white and trimmed with the famous Dior Dove Grey color, and it's label matches the one on the bottle. The elegant dove gray shade, a favorite of Christian Dior, was originally used in the immaculate Maison Dior flagship boutique in Paris, coupled with white plaster moldings.
Amphore de Parfum Flacon (Amphora/Urn Bottle):
In 1947, Fernand Guéry-Colas designed the first bottle for Parfums Christian Dior. Produced by Baccarat, the amphora shaped bottle was created to introduce the new perfume, Miss Dior. The bottle was clear crystal overlaid in colored enamel and then cut to reveal the clear underneath and further decorated with gilded accents.
The bottle was available in three shades of enamel: red, white and blue: the colors of the French flag. These bottles were housed in sumptuous satin covered presentation boxes lined in silk. The box was color coded to the glass of the bottles. During its first year, only two hundred eighty-three bottles of the Miss Dior extrait were produced.
The expense of the crystal Baccarat bottles and the growing demand for the new perfume forced Parfums Dior to reimagine the luxury presentation in favor of bottles that could be inexpensively turned out in larger numbers.
A modified version of the amphora bottle was used for the regular presentations of the extrait, again produced by Baccarat. The sides of the elegant bottle are molded with a ringed handle design. The front of the bottle has the name Christian Dior in white serigraphy. The base of the bottle is cut in a ray pattern and the ground glass stopper has a teardrop shape.
This bottle was housed in a beautiful presentation box of heavy cardstock covered in thick paper. It has a golden cartouche with the Christian Dior name on the front and a simple gilded band along the top. The top of the box has a gorgeous satin bow arranged artfully across the top. The base of the bottle was tied securely with cording to the base of the presentation box to keep the bottle in place during shipping.
The colored crystal amphora bottles were still being used as special limited editions presented during the holiday seasons in the 1950s.
These bottles were used to hold the signature Dior fragrances: Miss Dior, Diorissimo, Diorling, Diorella, Diorama.
Frosted Glass Houndstooth Bottles:
In 1950, Christian Dior introduced the famous houndstooth design for his parfum packaging. Frosted embossing gives a charming light-and-shadow effect which makes the lovely liquid gleam like gold behind the crystal walls.
By 1952, the Eau de Toilette was presented in the same deluxe flacon. This was known as the "Eau de Toilette Luxe".
These rectangular bottles were available in three sizes: 2 oz, 4 oz and 8 oz.
In 1950, Christian Dior introduced the famous houndstooth design for his parfum packaging. Frosted embossing gives a charming light-and-shadow effect which makes the lovely liquid gleam like gold behind the crystal walls.
By 1952, the Eau de Toilette was presented in the same deluxe flacon. This was known as the "Eau de Toilette Luxe".
These rectangular bottles were available in three sizes: 2 oz, 4 oz and 8 oz.
Vintage Screw Cap Travel Bottles:
These are the tall bottles, with the oblong shape, fitted with plastic screw caps intended for usage during travel. The bottles have houndstooth paper labels along the bottom part of the bottle and some have small fabric bows tied around the necks of the bottles. The screw caps are white plastic and printed with a houndstooth pattern in black to match the label.
Introduced in the 1950s, this bottle was used for Eau de Toilette, and Eau de Cologne. The boxes also displayed the elegant houndstooth pattern.
These are the tall bottles, with the oblong shape, fitted with plastic screw caps intended for usage during travel. The bottles have houndstooth paper labels along the bottom part of the bottle and some have small fabric bows tied around the necks of the bottles. The screw caps are white plastic and printed with a houndstooth pattern in black to match the label.
Introduced in the 1950s, this bottle was used for Eau de Toilette, and Eau de Cologne. The boxes also displayed the elegant houndstooth pattern.
Sprays:
Cue, 1966:
""Christian Dior has just introduced a complete aerosol perfume collection. In addition to the purse-size atomizer (at $5), you can now color-select your favorite in three sizes — Miss Dior in white package, Diorama in grey, Diorissimo in pink, and Diorling in yellow. They tell me that there is absolutely no change in the formula.""
Esprit de Parfum:
The Bulletin, 1983:
"He is launching the latest marketing ploy, the Miss Dior Esprit de Parfum, which the perfume purists put somewhere between an eau de toilette and a concentrate."
Product Marketing for Beauty Industry Retailers & Manufacturers - Volume 16, Issues 1-10 - Page 5, 1987:
"According to the company, Esprit de Parfum is for "a woman who desires more than a light fragrance, but something less than a full blossoming ... Esprit de Parfum is designed to be portable, in a refillable frosted bottle, topped with a gold cap."
"For women who are firmly wedded to one fragrance, perfume houses continue to introduce less-concentrated versions of best- selling scents— many in eau de parfum and esprit de parfum, both of which are lighter than perfume but longer lasting than eau de toilette."
"Hence the success of the less concentrated eaux de parfum. baptized fleur de parfum, soie de parfum, or esprit de parfum, depending on the make. Their arrival on the market in tin; 1970s coincided with the development of feminism. "
In early 1950's my parents had a "parfumerie" in Liege, Belgium. They sold the Dior Perfumes in Baccarat crystal bottles. However, due to the price, it didn't sell as well as the salesperson for Dior would have liked! My father told him that if Dior would use glass bottles it would be easier to sell. After all, it was less than 10 years removed from the end of WW II. The salesperson was very shocked by such an idea and responded: Sir Christian Dior Perfumes in a "pharmacy" bottle, you must be insane!" My father didn't hesitate and told the person that Christian Dior was a Fashion Designer House and surely would be able to design something unique that women could still display and everyone would know it was a Christian Dior Perfume. A few months later, my parents were invited to Paris by the Dior House. They were treated to a 3 stars restaurant (Laserre). My mother received a dozen beautiful Christian Dior red roses. After dinner, they were introduced to the new "hound tooth" bottle design for their approval. My father never used any other products besides Christian Dior for the rest of his life. My mother would receive "Miss Dior", he always used "Eau Sauvage" and later I was treated to "Diorissimo" for my 16th birthday. I, too, have remain faithful to the Dior products.
ReplyDeletewhat an amazing story you have shared with us!! Thank you for your contribution, your father certainly had the foresight for success.
DeleteWhat an amazing story. My mother used Dior when she was young, the one in the white and black checkered box. She wanted the same perfume once again, we found it and bought from a vintage seller. We love Christian Dior, I became a woman loving Christian Dior.
DeleteThis is the kind of story on which dreams are based, & this made the hairs stand up on my arms, for I too was gifted a bottle of Diorissimo on my 16th Birthday. I met my Father & his girlfriend in the most exclusive perfume department in Cardiff, I had caught the bus from school, I was a skinny, naive girl from the middle of nowhere, & I had never seen anything as overwhelming & dazzling. The SA´s terrified me, but then made such a fuss of me, touched my face with makeup & eyebrow pencil, & changed my life forever.
ReplyDelete