9 Vintage Perfume Bottles That Are Worth a Small Fortune

To this day, perfume often comes packaged in ornate bottles you might feel guilty tossing in the trash after releasing that last drop of fragrance. Generations before us felt the same way, and those saved bottles can be worth serious cash for anyone looking for simple ways to make extra money online. Whether due to age, particularly beautiful designs, or brand names, certain bottles can and have sold for thousands of dollars.

Check your closet or local thrift shop for these nine perfume bottles that could be worth major paydays.

Editor's note: Estimated market values were sourced from eBay.

Czechoslovakian glass bottles (1920s-30s)

Estimated market value: $4,575

Stunning glass bottles created in Czechoslovakia between the two World Wars can sell for thousands of dollars, particularly those created by esteemed glassmaker Heinrich Hoffman.

A striking example of a lilac bottle with a stopper decorated with figures from Greek mythology is currently making the rounds on eBay with an asking price of over $4,500. Hoffman pieces regularly sell for at least a few hundred.

19th-century atomizer bottles

Estimated market value: $1,700

Atomizers, which were introduced in the late 19th century, used a bulb and tube mechanism to spray perfume. These classy-looking bottles regularly appear in period films and have an air of sophistication about them and can be worth well over $1,000 on the resale market.

A stunning glass example from DeVilbiss, thought to be from the 1920s, is currently listed on eBay with a starting price of $1,700.

Victorian era lay-down scent bottles

Estimated market value: $1,900

Perfume bottles were not immune to the influence of luxury and flair during the Victorian era. A popular development was the laydown bottle. These artistic pieces often have beautifully decorated and colored bodies and silver or gold toppers.

One piece created by Thomas Webb & Sons with a frosted glass bottle in cranberry and a silver cap is currently listed on eBay for nearly $2,000.

Georgian era chatelaines

Estimated market value: $950

In the 1700s, perfume manufacturers began to make small, decorative bottles which can be attached to clips or chatelaines. Bottles that date back to the Georgian era are extremely rare, so they can fetch a premium price when they do go up on the resale market.

A stunning bottle painted with angels and ivory is currently listed on eBay for nearly $1,000.

Julien Viard-designed bottles

Estimated market value: $800

Julien Viard had a hand in creating stunning and highly collectible artisan perfume bottles for several perfume houses in France in the early 20th century. If kept in good condition with no cracks and the bottle and stopper intact, these vintage bottles can sell for hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars.

One delicately decorated, green-tinted bottle from 1924 is currently attracting plenty of attention on eBay with a starting price of $800.

Vintage René Lalique bottles

Estimated market value: $500

René Lalique was originally a jeweler, but by the late 19th century, the artist started to design other glass and enamel products and, eventually, ornate perfume bottles that you can still buy new to this day.

Vintage versions, like a frosted crystal bottle decorated with cherubs from 1931, can sell for $500 or more.

Art Deco scent flasks (1920s-1940s)

Estimated market value: $400

Art Deco flasks for perfume were popular from the 1920s through 1940s, and some of these flasks are considered valuable antiques these days. The Art Deco style, characterized by bold shapes and modern (at the time) craftsmanship, is frequently associated with architecture, but its influence made its way into many other areas, including perfume flask design, as well.

Antique flasks are often sold for $50 to $100 on the resale market, but those made of precious metals, like a silver flask from Unger Brothers currently listed on eBay for $400, can sell for much more.

Tiffany & Co. silver bottles

Estimated market value: $300

Products from Tiffany & Co. can usually be depended on to retain value, including vintage perfume bottles created in the first half of the 20th century. An antique "Love" perfume bottle in the shape of a heart can be worth a few hundred dollars, at least.

Look for the Tiffany & Co and 925 Sterling Silver labels to ensure these bottles are authentic.

Vintage Chanel bottles (1920s)

Estimated market value: $200

Today, Chanel perfume with a classic scent will run you about $100 for a small 1.2-ounce bottle.

Vintage Chanel bottles can go for far more on the resale market (without the perfume in them, of course). A bottle of Gardenia de Chanel Paris from the 1930s is currently listed for $200 on eBay, and vintage bottles paired with their original boxes can sell for much more.

Bottom line

The resale market value of vintage perfume bottles is often surprising to many, but for centuries, they were considered works of art, created by talented glassmakers and designers.

That old glass bottle your grandmother has kept in her bathroom cabinet for several decades could be a surprising key to help you get ahead financially. Be sure to check the going prices on resale sites like eBay before listing your wares to ensure you start with a fair asking price.

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