Mrs. French’s Scent Bottles

Did you know that The Harris holds the largest scent bottle collection in Britain?

These scent bottles were collected by Mrs. Ideonea French, who was a collector since her early teens, but began a passion for collection after the death of her son in action in 1941 in North Africa. Mrs. French explored antique shops and dusty junk shops and her home became rather like a museum, with the collection displayed in glass cases in every room. Upon her death, Mrs. French wished not to split up the collection and The Harris was honoured to receive the entire collection.

Let’s take a look at the beautiful scent bottles that form part of our collection…

We just had to start off with this stunning red glass vinaigrette scent bottle!

This novelty book shaped bridge and brown ceramic scent bottle is certainly interesting, as you don’t see many bottles like this today.

Another unique scent bottle is this opera glass shaped, enameled and gilded bird design scent bottle – we just love the detailing!

Perfect for the dog lovers, this clear glass bottle with a dog inside has to win the award for the most fun scent bottle.

A gorgeous scent bottle is this oval shaped scent bottle with blue glass with gilt blue, pink, green, yellow, white and mauve enameled design.

The most intricately designed scent bottle has to be this ivory cased in metal sword and scabbard scent bottle.

Mrs. French found a scent bottle for every season and this pale green scent bottle in an art deco style with metal mount takes the form of a spider web and its prey picked out in marcasite.

Below is a red glass pear shaped scent bottle with a beautifully designed scene on it.

You can’t miss this bright blue circular opaline glass scent bottle decorated with snowdrops which certainly catches the eye.

To conclude this blog, we have chosen this rosette shaped scent bottle of clear glass, cut and engraved with flowers, because we love the mixture of colours and unique shapes.

Check out the rest of our collection