Ferris Wheel Presentation (1940)

The Coty Ferris Wheel presentation from 1940 is one of the company’s most striking and imaginative novelty designs. Promoted as “an exciting ride on Coty’s Ferris Wheel for five favorite perfumes,” the set features five miniature flacons—each holding approximately ½ ounce—mounted on a revolving wheel. The bottles are Coty’s signature Louvre-style crystal flacons, complete with their softly frosted stoppers.

Each perfume bottle rests in its own small swinging car made of gold-colored stamped plastic. These cars hang from five bars on the wheel, allowing the flacons to move gently as the wheel turns. The concept was designed for the woman who enjoyed choosing her perfume according to her mood, with each car holding a different Coty fragrance: Chypre, L'Aimant, L'Origan, Emeraude & Paris.

The Ferris wheel stands about 8 inches tall and is marked COTY on one side. It is supported by a gold-toned metal base lined with velveteen, giving the playful display a refined finish. The wheel accommodates up to five bottles, each secured in its individual plastic basket-like holder.

When offered for sale in 1941, the Ferris Wheel retailed for $10—a premium novelty gift at the time—making it one of the most memorable and collectible Coty presentations of the early 1940s. 

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.