From Necessity to Luxury: The Enchanting Collection of Thelma Robinson’s Scent Bottles

Small enough to fit into one’s pocket, the humble scent bottle went from being a necessity to a sign of status and wealth. With examples in glass, silver and porcelain, in all shapes and sizes and all manner of decoration, included in our 14th April 2026 sale is a wonderful private collection of over 100 scent bottles amassed over 25 years by the late Thelma Enid Robinson (1943 – 2026).

From ancient civilizations to modern-day perfume houses, the job of the scent bottle remains – to carry a scented oil or perfume to enhance or mask an odour. Taking the form of a decorative bottle with a plug stopper, the scent bottle’s purpose has little changed.

The first perfume bottles are believed to come from Ancient Egypt, when oils were worn by both men and women for both religious and daily use. Perfume was held in such high regard to the Ancient Egyptians, that they had a god of perfume Nefertum. Examples can be seen in Ancient Greece, Rome and China. 12th century Paris would become the perfume capital and it is believed that in 1370, Queen Elizabeth of Hungary received the first alcohol-based perfume.

By the medieval period, scent bottles take the form of a vial, often worn attached to clothing. Typically made from glass, carrying perfumed oil was considered a luxury and would have been a expensive commodity.

The Renaissance period saw exquisite craftsmanship with examples in silver with filagree work, enamel decoration and set with precious gemstones.

By the 18th century, the need for smelling salts or a smelling bottle was a must. With poor drainage, sanitation and sewerage systems combined with towns and cities with increasing populations, the assault on the senses would have been rather intense!

With the great advances made by the Victorians, the 19th century saw perhaps the biggest change in tastes for scent bottles and perfume manufacture. Now not quite as much a necessity as an accessory or symbol of wealth and taste, wearing perfume became as much as part of a dressing routine as combing ones hair or applying make up. Perfume bottles for the dressing table became apparent with the first use of the atomiser to spray perfume used in 1907 (having been adapted from a medicinal device designed in 1887). Perfume itself became more easily available and some of the big perfume houses still producing today opened in the 19th and very early 20th century.

Thelma Robinson

Thelma Robinson

Thelma’s daughter recalls,
“She just loved collecting. My mum almost stumbled across them by accident. She was out with my dad one day, and they decided to go to one of their favourite antique centres in Yorkshire and this is where she bought her first perfume bottle. She wasn't looking for anything in particular, and always spent hours going around looking for glass when she noticed a collection of these tiny perfume bottles tucked away in the corner of a glass cabinet. It was a very ornate bottle, glass with lots of detail, she said she could imagine the ladies of that time using this beautiful, elegant bottle to put their perfume on. She couldn't resist and went ahead and bought it to take home, that was where it all began and before long their display cabinet were full of all these beautiful perfume bottles”

Bell and Claw Scent Bottle

The scent bottle that started the collection
Lot 202
Ball and Claw Scent Bottle
Estimate: £40 - £60

“She just loved the beauty and delicacy of these gorgeous bottles, and when someone asked my mum, 'why do you collect perfume bottles?' she would answer 'They just make me happy'” It has been a real pleasure to sort through and catalogue this collection. There is such a variety of styles and price ranges, it is very easy to understand why these could be so easily collected and why they would bring so much joy.

Thelma Robinson