Bottle Size Matters!
January 30th, 2007
Perfume bottles is a subject I haven’t yet touched upon, and in today’s post I’d like to raise an issue of bottle size. Any self-respecting perfume fanatic or pretty much any consumer will tell you how much they wish perfumes came in smaller bottles. For a fanatic, bottle size matters for practical reasons: storage space and likelihood of wear. It is likewise practical for an average consumer to be able to carry your favorite perfume in your bag. Another aspect is the hesitation that often takes place when faced with a purchase decision - are you ready to commit to 50 ml or 100 ml size? In my experience, unless I’m madly in love with the scent and/or it’s discontinued, I’m quite happy with just 10 ml or 30 ml. Hence, I’m making an official plea to perfume houses to please produce more smaller bottles! After all, some have already done an excellent job:
Parfums de Nicolai 30 ml bottles Beautyhabit.com
L’Artisan Parfumeur Charmer Trio, 10 ml each, at Luckyscent.com
Frederic Malle 10 ml Travel Sprays at Barney’s New York
Fifi Chachnil 10 ml Purse Spray at Beautyhabit.com
Comptoir Sud Pacifique 20 ml Purse Sprays at Sephora
Susanne Lang Layering Wardrobe, 7 ml each, at Luckyscent.com
Chanel Fragrance Wardrobe 2006, 3.5 ml each, at Gloss.com
Bond No 9 7 ml Travel Pocket Sprays at Fragrancesandmore.biz
Stella McCartney Roll-On Set, 10 ml each, at Sephora
Robert Piguet Fracas 7 ml Roll-On at Sephora
Narciso Rodriguez Valentine’s Day Set, 7 ml each, at Nordstrom’s
Fresh Fragrance Quartet, 30 ml each, at Neiman Marcus
Estee Lauder 10 ml Purse Sprays at Nordstrom’s
Tom Ford Youth Dew Amber Nude 30 ml at Esteelauder.com
Entry Filed under: Spotted, This and That
23 Comments Add your own
1. Flora | January 30th, 2007 at 11:39 pm
I have one to add - Jo Malone’s fragrances come in a 30 ml size as well as the larger 100 ml.
And I totally agree - if there were more small bottles, I could have MORE kinds of perfume! I can think of a long list of brands I would get ASAP if I did not have to shell out for the big bottle. Oh, yes, there are a few favorites for which the big bottle is my first choice, but there is so much else out there, no way am I going to use it all if it can’t be had in a smaller size, so I don’t buy it at all.
2. Marina | January 30th, 2007 at 11:57 pm
I would sign the plea. Dear perfume houses- Smaller Sizes! Smaller Sizes! Dear Chanel people, it especially concerns you. Just sayin’.
3. tmp00 | January 31st, 2007 at 12:29 am
I do agree, but I also ask they not penalise us for wanting the smaller ones. Sometimes the cost of “supersizing” is sooo little it seems criminal not to *cough* Acqua di Parma *cough*
Really, I’d be thrilled to pay a quarter of the price of a PG for a bottle a fifth the size. Then I could get four!
4. chaya ruchama | January 31st, 2007 at 6:25 am
Although companies might initially balk- it might actually work to their advantage- increased sales, and RETURN sales [that’s a biggie].
I think, however, that although we seem many [to ourselves !], the average customer may not really think about size as much as we do…
After all, we want to experience many, and others may not crave the variety we do…
Just sayin’…
5. Judith | January 31st, 2007 at 7:14 am
The Different Company also has those nice travel sizes (actually, they offer many different choices). I completely agree! I am usually satisfied with 15 or 30 ml. (although when I realized how much I loved Andy Tauer Orris, I felt compelled to buy a back-up bottle of this Limited Edition)>
6. Elle | January 31st, 2007 at 7:56 am
Oh, yes! Praying perfume companies take note of this! And, I’m w/ Marina - Chanel…are you listening??? 200 ml of any one scent is almost indecent unless you’re selling on ebay (which most people aren’t) or are one of those odd people who only wear one scent forever (incomprehensible).
7. newproducts | January 31st, 2007 at 8:06 am
Yes, yes, YES!! That’s all I have to say.
8. Christina H. | January 31st, 2007 at 8:44 am
I guess I’ll be the odd one out here and wear 3-5ml of edt/edp on any given day that I’d sign a petition to increase bottle sizes to half litre and litre,lol!
9. BeautyMaven | January 31st, 2007 at 8:45 am
Here, here! I love big bottles (of stuff I know I love) when I can proudly display them on my dresser. On the other hand, when I want my favorite to go, a smaller size, such as a roll-on, is the best.
I also really like DSH perfumes/Parfums de Beaux Arts, which all come in cute mini sizes (1 oz or .33oz). Does anyone know the company? Here’s the Web site in case you’re interested: http://www.dshperfumes.com.
10. IrisLA | January 31st, 2007 at 11:37 am
I agree with tmp00. They make us pay through the nose (pun intended) for smaller bottles. If they would reduce the prices proportionately, I’d buy 5X more fragrances.
11. violetnoir | January 31st, 2007 at 11:43 am
I agree with you and Iris.
Stay tuned to see if this is a growing trend.
Hugs!
12. greeneyes | January 31st, 2007 at 1:37 pm
I agree with Chaya; I just don’t think the average consumer thinks about the bottle sizes. In fact, it’s the American way to “supersize it,” to think you’re getting the better deal if you buy the bigger size. But perfume is not soda! Not so to the perfume crowd…that’s why I spend more time on eBay than anywhere else. And I love that some companies are offering smaller bottles, but why so many at one time? Grr.
13. Di | January 31st, 2007 at 1:51 pm
As an indie perfumer, I’m a bit relieved to read this post, as all I offer are smaller sizes. I don’t see the sense in giving people huge amounts of fragrance at once, for the very reasons you state.
14. Gaia, the non-blonde | January 31st, 2007 at 2:40 pm
If only the Chanel people would read this and take notice! There’s no way I’d buy all of the exclusifs in 200 ml bottles.
Maybe we can do a bloggers’ campaign or something, titled “the best things should come in the smallest bottles”.
15. Trina | January 31st, 2007 at 4:33 pm
A-freaking-men!
16. Patty | January 31st, 2007 at 4:34 pm
They definitely should make things available in smaller sizes, even if they just went down to an ounce! It is ridiculous.
17. Sariah | January 31st, 2007 at 5:53 pm
Great point Ina. I’d like to add Le Labo - love the 15ml size. Also I like that Bond No. 9 sells by the oz, which is much more economical than the 7ml sprayer. I wish the 15ml Hermessence bottles were sold seperately, as I really like 2 of them.
18. Katie | January 31st, 2007 at 9:33 pm
I recently found mini bottles of the i Profumi di Firenzes - but I have NO idea where to find these smaller sizes online, sadly. However, the boutique I was at had a number of offerings. (Blush Beauty Bar in Portland.) They were thirty bucks for what I’m guessing is a half ounce? Kind of a rip-off, but it was enough for me to finally give into buying Zenzero, since I need only one spray of it to last me for most of a day, since it sticks to me like the stuff has superglue in it. Anyhow, I’m sure I’m not the only person who’s found their smaller bottles very attractive
19. Katie | January 31st, 2007 at 9:37 pm
PS. I am alive and well, btw! Unless this is Zombie Katie leaving these comments.
Forgive the macabre humor, please - I just opened up my email this evening and found a number of very curious messages!
20. parisa | February 1st, 2007 at 12:17 pm
I agree with Ina, variety in sizes allows us to support more companies and try new scents at the same time. The only drawback I’ve experienced in ordering from indie perfumers that supply small bottles is that if I wanted a larger bottle, it’s not available.
21. Flora | February 1st, 2007 at 11:06 pm
Katie, why did I not know about Blush!? Must go there soon! I had no idea anyone in our neck of the woods was carrying the lines they have.
22. Katie | February 4th, 2007 at 10:50 pm
Flora, oh yeah, you have to make a trip down there when you have a chance (traffic and parking willing, that is.) They stopped carrying some of the more interesting niche lines and choices, but they’re still a great place to test out some of the less common houses’ stuff. Try the Frank LA, when you go, you will not regret it. Best new ‘fumey find for me there lately. (They also stopped carrying the Lola cosmetic line, which kills me. Lots of NARS, and NARS is fine, but I like Lola better, heh.)
23. Tam | February 17th, 2007 at 2:24 pm
I guess I can officially call myself a fragrance-fanatic! Of course fragrances should come in smaller bottles. I always carry at least 3 different scents with me and those small and travel sizes are perfect. Also, if you are constantly buying perfume (and I suspect that the rest of us fanatics do!) you don’t want big bottles taking up too much space on your dresser, you want to make room for your new purchase!
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