The “Lilas Pourpre” flacon, created by René Lalique in 1911, was first designed for Coty’s fragrance of the same name and quickly became one of the house’s most enduring bottle forms. Its silhouette is distinguished by an arched, gently rounded body paired with sloping shoulders, giving the bottle a graceful, architectural presence. Topping the flacon is a frosted glass stopper molded with a distinctive stepped or scale-like pattern, a subtle decorative element that adds texture and refinement without overwhelming the clean contours of the bottle.
Because of its elegant, versatile design, Coty adopted the Lilas Pourpre flacon for nearly all of his perfumes from the 1910s through the 1930s. While the earliest versions were produced by Lalique, most bottles manufactured after 1920 came from Coty’s own glassworks in Pantin, reflecting his shift toward in-house production for cost efficiency and control. These flacons were then paired with presentation cases crafted at Coty’s packaging factory in Neuilly, ensuring a cohesive, luxurious presentation from bottle to box.
Collectors today may encounter the Lilas Pourpre bottle in various sizes, including the small 0.35 oz version, which carries the same graceful proportions as the larger forms. Its long period of use and timeless design make it one of Coty’s most recognizable and historically significant perfume bottles.
Louvre Presentation:
In 1929, the Lilas Pourpre flacon became the centerpiece of what Coty promoted as the “Louvre” presentation, a refreshed marketing concept that introduced the bottle as a “new flacon” despite its earlier origins. For this presentation, the bottle was produced in a size that held 1⅔ ounces of Parfum, making it substantial enough to feel luxurious while still suited to gift-giving and personal use.
The flacon was housed in an eye-catching faux reptile–skin covered presentation box, a stylish and modern choice for the period. The textured covering added a sense of sophistication and fashion-forward appeal, reflecting Coty’s continued emphasis on pairing fine fragrances with equally striking packaging. Advertisements from the era confirm that this special presentation was still in circulation in 1930, offered for several of Coty’s most celebrated perfumes, including Emeraude, L’Origan, Chypre, Paris, and La Jacée.
The use of the name “Louvre” carried symbolic meaning. It was a nod to the department store where Coty first sought to introduce his fragrance La Rose Jacqueminot back in 1909, marking the beginning of his ascent in the perfume world. By invoking the Louvre name two decades later, Coty blended nostalgia with prestige, linking his newest presentation to the origins of his success.
