Standard Informal Fragrance Bottles (1940)

In addition to the pottery amphorae, Coty offered its Informal Fragrances in a more conventional format using clear glass bottles reminiscent of their 1930s perfume designs. These flacons retained a simple, elegant profile, allowing the fragrance to take center stage while providing a familiar, collectible form for consumers.

Each bottle was fitted with a plastic atomizer head, reflecting Coty’s attention to convenience and modern usability, allowing the wearer to apply the fragrance easily and evenly. The bottles were produced in three different sizes, catering to a range of needs, from personal daily use to travel or gifting. This glass format provided a complementary option to the more decorative stoneware amphoras, combining practicality with the classic Coty aesthetic.

Pottery Amphorae (1940)

In 1940, Coty launched a novel line of Eau de Toilette fragrances under the label “Informal Fragrances,” highlighting their most popular scents in a casual, accessible format. These perfumes were housed in amphora-shaped stoneware bottles, a design choice that combined classical elegance with practical durability. The amphoras were manufactured by the Zanesville Stoneware Company of Ohio, starting in 1940, and each stands 5.5 inches tall at the lip of the spout, holding a generous five ounces of toilet water.

The bottles are capped with unique stoppers, consisting of a cork topped with bronze-colored metal, giving a decorative yet functional seal. Some amphoras may still retain their original labels on both the bellies and bases, with the base label providing detailed usage instructions: “Coty New York Paris Informal Fragrance. Use this lovely Eau de Toilette as lavishly as you choose. A generous sprinkle in your bath—a dash in your hand basin—in your final shampoo rinse—on your lingerie or kerchief. Impart a touch of fragrance to your accessories or your furs. Take it with you to freshen up while traveling. Cont. 5 oz. Compounded in U.S.A.”

Each amphora was color-coordinated to correspond with the fragrance inside, creating a visually striking display: Emeraude was in light green, Chypre in a paler green, L’Aimant in pink, L’Origan in brown, and Paris in blue. This thoughtful color coding, combined with the classical amphora shape and practical five-ounce capacity, made the Informal Fragrances both decorative and functional, appealing to collectors and perfume enthusiasts alike.

 

Gold Tone Purser Flacon (1937)

The Purser Flacon is a compact and practical design introduced by Coty in the late 1930s, ideal for carrying in a handbag while retaining an air of elegance. The flacon itself is made of clear glass, but its most distinctive feature is the protective gold-tone metal case, which shields the bottle while adding a touch of luxury. Both the base and the cap of the case are accented with colorful plastic, providing a vibrant contrast to the gold and clear glass and lending a modern, Art Deco flair to the overall design.

The Purser Flacon was offered in several of Coty’s signature fragrances, including Chypre, L’Aimant, L’Origan, Paris, and Emeraude, making it a versatile and collectible item for those who wanted a portable version of their favorite scents. The flacon appears in the 1937/1938 Coty catalog, confirming its place within Coty’s broader strategy of producing elegant, functional, and visually appealing miniature bottles that combined practicality with stylish presentation.

Neptune Green Packaging (1935)

In 1935, Coty unveiled a striking new packaging design known as Neptune Green, a creative departure that brought an undersea motif to the forefront of the brand’s presentation. The line’s boxes, talc and bath salts, and dusting powder canisters were finished in a soft seafoam green, accented with air bubble details and rosy starfish motifs to evoke a whimsical, oceanic theme. This imaginative design aimed to capture the freshness and elegance of the sea, creating a visually distinctive identity for Coty’s mid-1930s toiletries.

The Neptune Green packaging encompassed a range of products, including toilet waters, bath salts, dusting powders, and talc, and was applied to several of Coty’s most popular fragrances: Styx, L’Aimant, Emeraude, L’Origan, Paris, and Chypre. The bottles themselves were crafted in satin-finished glass, each molded with subtle bubble details that echoed the oceanic theme of the packaging. This combination of tactile glass design and visually thematic boxes reinforced the luxurious, yet playful character of the collection, making Neptune Green a memorable and collectible example of Coty’s mid-century innovation in perfume and toiletries presentation.

Obelisque Flacon (1930

The Obelisque Flacon, introduced in 1930, is a striking example of Coty’s elegant and architectural bottle designs of the early 1930s. The flacon is tall and slender, giving it a refined and stately presence on a dressing table. Its most distinctive feature is the flat, square frosted glass stopper, which is molded with stylized foliate motifs and bears the COTY name in each corner, combining branding with decorative flourish in a sophisticated Art Deco style.

The Obelisque flacon was used for several of Coty’s leading fragrances, including Styx, Paris, Chypre, Emeraude, L’Aimant, and L’Origan, allowing the elegant design to unify multiple scents under a consistent visual identity. In addition to the standard sizes, a miniature version holding 0.34 oz was also produced. This smaller bottle featured a scale-patterned stopper, echoing the design motifs used in Coty’s Lilas Pourpre and Louvre packaging, creating a cohesive link between different lines and reinforcing Coty’s attention to decorative continuity.

Overall, the Obelisque flacon reflects the 1930s trend toward clean geometric forms, luxurious detailing, and thoughtful integration of branding with design, making it both functional and highly collectible. The flacon was discontinued in 1937.

Peacock Presentation (1935)

The Peacock Presentation, introduced in 1935, marked a vibrant and decorative chapter in Coty’s packaging innovations. This limited-edition ensemble was distinguished by a peacock feather motif adorning the exterior boxes, while the bottles themselves featured stylized peacock eye designs, reflecting the period’s fascination with exotic and ornamental themes. The overall effect was both luxurious and visually striking, lending a sense of elegance and drama to the perfume line.

The bottles were produced in three sizes to suit different needs: purse, travel, and boudoir, allowing for versatility in both personal use and display. This presentation was applied to several of Coty’s most celebrated fragrances, including Chypre, L’Aimant, L’Origan, Paris, Emeraude, and Ambreine, making the line cohesive while emphasizing the visual identity of the peacock motif.

By 1937, the lineup had been slightly reduced, with Emeraude and Ambreine no longer included in the Peacock Presentation, as evidenced in the 1937–1938 catalog. Despite this change, the peacock-themed design remains a memorable example of Coty’s mid-1930s approach to combining artistic packaging with collectible appeal, showcasing how decorative motifs could enhance the presentation and desirability of luxury perfumes.

Yellow Mimosa Packaging (1935)

In 1935, Coty introduced a striking limited-edition presentation for its floral perfumes, featuring mimosa prints on bright yellow backgrounds. This decorative ensemble was initially applied to a selection of Coty’s signature florals: Muguet, Iris, Oeillet France, La Rose Jacqueminot, Heliotrope, La Jacee, Lilas Pourpre, and Violette Pourpre. The cheerful, nature-inspired motif provided a fresh and elegant seasonal update, while reinforcing Coty’s reputation for stylish, collectible packaging.  Two sizes were available: 0.5 oz and 1 oz.