Continental Cutter Sleigh Presentation (1941)

The Coty “Continental Cutter” perfume sleigh, introduced in 1941, is an enchanting novelty presentation designed to resemble a storybook-sized winter sleigh. Crafted from delicate pink and gold plastic, it features graceful gilt runners and three genuine tinkling bells that enhance its festive charm.

The sleigh holds two Louvre crystal parfum bottles—L’Aimant and L’Origan—each nestled into small lacy blankets as though prepared for a magical winter ride. The presentation measures approximately 7½ inches long, 3¾ inches high, and 2⅛ inches wide, making it a compact yet eye-catching display piece.

Marketed as “a delightful gift” for the holiday season, the set offered a whimsical way to enjoy two of Coty’s classic fragrances. It retailed for $3.95 in 1941, positioning it as an affordable yet imaginative keepsake during the early 1940s.

Toboggan Presentation (1940)

The Coty Toboggan presentation, introduced in 1940, is one of the company’s most charming and imaginative novelty sets. It features four miniature square perfume bottles, each fitted with the distinctive fish-scale frosted glass stoppers originally created for Coty’s Louvre presentations. Each bottle stands about 1⅝ inches tall and is secured to a wooden toboggan with gold-plated clips. The sled measures approximately 8.75 inches in length, with its gracefully curved front crafted from a lightweight, delicate early plastic.

The set includes four Coty classics: Emeraude, the rare Styx, the romantic L’Aimant, and the original Paris. Together, they form a playful, streamlined display described at the time as “four smart perfumes in a little toboggan.”

When the toboggan was first produced in 1940, it was made entirely from non-priority materials such as wood and plastics—a necessary adaptation during wartime, when metals and other strategic resources were reserved for defense production. The presentation returned after the war; Coty’s 1946 advertising celebrated it as a festive gift, noting that the “thrills and excitement of holiday festivity ride along with four bottles of exquisite perfume: Emeraude, L’Aimant, L’Origan, ‘Paris.’”

By 1948, Coty included the toboggan in a substantial Christmas lineup of nearly fifty gift items, which also featured ski sets holding Coty flacons. However, by 1951 Modern Packaging reported that while Coty’s popular Christmas bell packages would continue, the ski and toboggan presentations would not return, suggesting they had been overshadowed by newer, more successful designs.

Today, the Toboggan presentation stands as a delightful example of Coty’s inventive mid-century gift packaging and its ability to turn even small perfume bottles into a spirited holiday display.

Perfume Guitar Presentation (1955)

The Coty Guitar presentation, introduced in 1955, offered a charming and whimsical way to enjoy one of Coty’s classic parfums. Marketed as “a refreshing note to the accompaniment of a handy perfume purser,” this novelty set was available in four fragrances: L’Origan, L’Aimant, Emeraude, and Paris.

The display features a clear Lucite guitar poised on its own stand, set beside a petite parfum bottle. The bottle stands roughly 2.5 inches tall and contains 0.16 ounces of parfum. Together, the guitar and bottle create a compact yet eye-catching arrangement measuring about 3.75 inches in height.

When released, the presentation retailed for $2.00, making it an accessible and memorable gift item from mid-century Coty.

Beauty Barque Presentation (1954)

The Coty "Beauty Barque" presentation from 1954 is an elegant novelty set designed to showcase two parfum bottles—one Emeraude and the other L’Aimant. Both bottles are mounted on individual miniature gondolas, each resting on a gold-foil–covered cardboard base that forms part of the integrated display and box. The full display measures approximately 8 inches by 3¼ inches.

The scene is framed by an ink-style illustration of an Italian cityscape, complete with a canal that runs beneath the gondolas, giving the presentation a charming Venetian atmosphere. A small wooden dowel stands beside the gondolas, fitted with a red flag printed with “COTY” in gold lettering, adding a festive, decorative touch.

The perfumes are housed within their original off-white box made of textured, heavy cardboard. Its deep lid slides down over the entire display to secure it. Centered on the lid is an attractive gold Coty seal, lending a refined, gift-ready finish.

A plain outer shipping sleeve accompanies the set. While simple brown cardboard, it carries printed text on one side identifying the contents: “COTY New York Paris – SERIAL 6542 – Novelty Set. Contents: Emeraude Parfum .34 fl. oz., L’Aimant Parfum .34 fl. oz. – Compounded in U.S.A.”

In total, the presentation features two Coty parfum bottles displayed on graceful gondolas, creating a delightful mid-century collectible.

Sabots Presentation (1942)

The Coty Sabots Set is one of the most charming examples of wartime ingenuity in the perfume industry. Released in 1942, the presentation featured two miniature Coty perfumes, each housed in a wax-finished, hand-carved pair of tiny wooden Dutch shoes—or sabots. Measuring just 1.75 by 1.25 inches, the bottles nestled into the shoes on soft pink velvet padding, creating a display that was both endearing and practical. Once the perfumes were removed, each sabot doubled as a pincushion, transforming the presentation into a useful household item—an especially welcome consideration during years marked by scarcity and rationing.

This clever “double gift” concept arose directly from the pressures of World War II, which dramatically affected the luxury market. Many materials essential to perfume packaging—such as metals, fine glass, and imported decorative elements—were restricted or redirected toward the war effort. Manufacturers like Coty had to rethink their presentations, replacing metal fittings with wood, Bakelite, and other readily available materials. Traditional ornate perfume bottles were nearly impossible to produce, so creativity became the new currency: lighter, simpler, or more whimsical designs took the place of prewar opulence.

The Sabots Set embodies this spirit beautifully. The waxed wooden shoes, shaped and finished by hand, offered a sense of warmth and craftsmanship at a time when industrial materials were under strict control. The transformation of the shoes into pincushions added genuine functionality—a thoughtful touch when customers were seeking value wherever they could find it. Selling for $5 in 1942, the set provided both a decorative novelty and a practical household accessory, making it a memorable gift during lean and uncertain times.

Diademe des Parfums Presentation (1931)

Introduced in 1931, Coty’s “Diadème des Parfums” brought a new level of elegance and practicality to personal fragrance. Conceived at a time when women increasingly matched their scents to specific occasions, outfits, or moods, the Diadème offered a curated wardrobe of perfumes arranged on a chic, revolving Bakelite stand. This presentation allowed a woman to keep multiple fragrances at her fingertips—beautifully displayed, neatly organized, and ready to suit any moment.

Each set featured five half-ounce crystal flacons, cut with the clarity and sparkle of miniature jewels. Every bottle came fitted with its own slender glass applicator, emphasizing refinement and precision in use. The selection of perfumes represented a complete olfactory wardrobe: Paris, L’Origan, Emeraude, Chypre, and L’Aimant—each chosen for its distinct personality, ensuring that the wearer could move seamlessly from daytime freshness to evening opulence.

Coty also offered alternative assortments for those who preferred other classics. Depending on the customer’s preference, the Diadème could instead include favorites such as Styx, Muguet, La Rose Jacqueminot, L’Ambre Antique, or Jasmin de Corse. This flexibility made the presentation especially appealing as a gift, echoing the versatility and ornamentation of a true jeweled diadem.

The concept perfectly aligned with the fashions of the early 1930s, when women embraced a more expressive approach to dressing and accessorizing. With its shimmering crystal bottles, elegant Bakelite stand, and thoughtfully curated selection of Coty’s finest compositions, the Diadème des Parfums allowed fragrance to become as adaptable—and as beautifully displayed—as any piece of jewelry in a woman’s collection.

The Stow-Away Purse Bottle (1935)

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.