Museum

The Museu del Perfum, located at Passeig de Gràcia 39 in Barcelona, opened its doors to the public in mid-1963 to showcase the historical evolution of perfume bottles and vessels around the world. The display cases feature vessels from the Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan, Roman, Arab and other ancient cultures, through the scent bottles, perfume bottles and other vessels used over the centuries to the most modern creations of today’s perfumers. Between ancient and modern bottles, the museum’s collection includes five thousand pieces, along with miniatures, catalogues, labels and old advertising material.

Perfume has always been and continues to be a highly valued and sought-after product, and perfume bottles and containers have always stood out for their original shape and the valuable materials used, often both at the same time. Antique bottles are a true reflection of the art and culture of those who used them, and in modern times it is possible to trace all the artistic movements that have emerged over the course of history through their shapes and designs.

The purpose of this museum is thus to trace the history of perfume for amateur perfume lovers, art lovers and connoisseurs with a selective collection of pieces that represent this history, its infinite variety, as well as the extravagant imagination that humans have used to create bottles, flask and containers for their aromatic creations. In this museum, the sense of sight pays homage to the sense of smell. The museum is divided into two well-defined sections. One section features vessels, perfume bottles, unguentariums, scent bottles and other containers from antiquity to the modern era, and a second section showcases industrialised perfume bottles from the second half of the 18th century to the present day.

The first section is displayed in a chronological order, while the bottles in the second section are arranged by trademarks, regardless of the year they came onto the market. A visit to the Museu del Parfum is a lesson in art history and a treat for the eyes.

Ancient History Collection

The Museu del Perfum features a collection of over five thousand pieces between ancient and modern bottles, along with miniatures, catalogues, labels and old advertising material.

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Pre-Commercial Collection

It includes all pre-commercial perfumes, classified under five different materials.

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Commercial Collection

It includes a full range of industrialised perfumes (from the second half of the 18th century).

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History

Antique bottles are a true reflection of the art and culture of those who used them.

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Illustrious Names in Perfume

With Napoleon’s rise to the throne, perfumers, who had recently advanced from simple craftsman to small-scale industrialists, provided the major push that would eventually turn perfume-making into an industry.

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Museu del Parfum

Museum

Ancient History Collection

Pre-Commercial Collection

Commercial Collection

History

Prehistory

Mesopotamia

Egypt

Israel

Illustrious Names in Perfume