Guest Author - Robin Rounds Whittemore

Have you ever bought perfume and admired the bottle so much that you kept it even after the perfume was used up? Do you collect bottles that have fairies in the design on the label or bottle? Are you looking for jewel toned bottles, or bottles of any specific color? Do brand names fascinate you, such as collecting every AVON or Estee Lauder perfume bottle that has ever been made?

The International Perfume Bottle Association (IPBA) has a website for people interested in perfume bottle collecting. There are frequently asked questions, a who’s who of the association, and membership information among other topics.

Their website has a very fascinating perfume bottle photo gallery. They have perfume bottles that are figurines of people, animals and others. There is Santa Claus, some of the seven dwarves, shoes, and others. There is even a perfume bottle made in the shape of a roller skate.

The perfume bottle shaped like an hourglass brings to mind “The Wizard of Oz” to me. Speaking of hours, the perfume bottles shaped like table and grandfather clocks is also very unique. Of course, there are many bottles in the shape of flowers, or at least have flowers in the design.

The photo gallery of the commercial category has more modern bottles. The pretty pink bottle that held Fantasy by Brittany Spears is featured in this collection. There is also a unique Christian Dior Poison bracelet that was free to salespeople in the 1980’s. More shapes and figurine bottles are in that photo gallery as well.

Even if you are not into perfume bottle collecting, it is well worth your time to take a peek at the gallery just to see the different designs that make up these bottles. There is a link in the “Useful Link” section on the homepage that can show you where some perfume bottle museums are.

There are different chapters in each state that hold conventions throughout the year. There could be one close enough so that you could attend in person. Current chapters are going strong in England, St. Louis, Texas, Florida, Georgia, and Chicago. The conventions have collectors who display their bottles, and give talks on different aspects of perfume bottle collecting.

Old Town, New Mexico in the United States is where the Annual International Perfume Bottle Association will hold their convention. The dates are April 30, 2009 through May 3, 2009. If you are in any of the areas and can make their events, it should be very interesting to check out.