Introduced in 1935, Coty’s “Stow-Away” brought an ingenious blend of practicality and glamour to a woman’s handbag. This compact accessory was engineered specifically for safe, elegant perfume transport—a concern shared by many women of the era, when delicate glass bottles often risked leaking or breaking inside a purse. Coty’s answer was a cleverly designed round Bakelite case, fluted for both beauty and grip, which concealed a slim glass cylinder filled with Coty perfume. The case opened to reveal a secure screw-cap fitted with a built-in glass applicator, allowing for precise, mess-free touch-ups throughout the day.
Although originally introduced in white, the Stow-Away soon appeared in an array of appealing pastel and jewel-toned shades, including Ivory, Gipsy Red, Lido Blue, and Absinthe Green. The material—urea-based plastic—was feather-light yet durable, making it ideal for daily use. Coty promoted it as the safest and most stylish solution for carrying perfume, an “important addition to your purse beautifiers,” and one that placed “glamour at your command wherever you may be.” Each case came pre-filled with a dram of Coty perfume, and importantly, it was fully refillable, extending its usefulness far beyond a single purchase.
Contemporary praise reflected its immediate appeal. The New Yorker noted in 1935 that Coty’s Stow-Away was “an attractive little case containing a vial of your favorite Coty perfume,” emphasizing its reliability—“it doesn’t leak in your handbag”—and its accessibility, costing only seventy-five cents. For women navigating the elegance and bustle of mid-1930s life, the Stow-Away offered confidence, convenience, and a touch of artistry—all neatly packaged in the palm of the hand.
The Stow-Away purse vial was one of Coty’s most charming and practical perfume innovations of the mid-1930s. Compact at just 2.8 inches tall, it was designed to slip effortlessly into even the smallest handbag, giving women a secure and stylish way to carry their favorite scent. Its fluted Bakelite shell—lightweight, durable, and available in fashionable colors—felt pleasantly smooth in the hand, echoing the sleek, modern lines that defined 1930s design. Inside, a glass perfume vial was safely encased, its contents accessed by a screw-on cap fitted with a slender glass applicator, a detail that brought a touch of elegance to on-the-go fragrance use.
Coty wisely offered the Stow-Away pre-filled with some of its most beloved perfumes, allowing customers to choose a scent that matched their personality or daily routine. Whether it held the soft radiance of L’Aimant, the spicy floral warmth of L’Origan, the refined femininity of Paris, the emerald richness of Emeraude, or the mossy sophistication of Chypre, the Stow-Away made these classics portable without sacrificing beauty or safety. Its thoughtful engineering, combined with Coty’s unmistakable glamour, made the Stow-Away an indispensable accessory—both a practical necessity and a stylish indulgence.
