Consumer / Packaging Design

Lily Perfume Bottle for Guerlain

The Lily Eau de Parfum bottle, inspired by a vase of lilies, delights its user with the scent and semblance of a fresh bouquet of lilies sitting on a vanity or night stand. The unique curvaceous shape of the base pays homage to Guerlain’s classic 1925 Shalimar Eau de Parfum bottle.

Design Brief

What would a glass perfume bottle, with a lily scented perfume, for the opulent fragrance + skincare brand Guerlain look like? While studying abroad in Florence, Italy, I used the history of lilies in the city as jumping-off point for the design.

Research

For inspiration, I traveled to the Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella in Florence, Italy. A historic perfume shop started in the 16th century by Dominican friars. Modern and historic perfumes and body care products are on display, and visitors can learn about the history of production and bottling. I also learned that the lily has been a symbol of Florence for over 1,000 years, represents purity and a connection to the Virgin Mary.

Market Research

I compared many of the historic bottles that I saw with modern perfume bottles to see what kind of designs seemed innovative and distinctive, while keeping environmental impact in mind.

Initial Ideation

I started with an idea of an antique-inspired bottle that would fit into a Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica setting. Then I branched out to more unconventional bottle shapes that could be visually recognized as a lily fragrance.

Development

The design below was chosen because it combined both a classic shape with a unique and innovative twist. The concept could also be applied to other floral scents to create an entire perfume line.

Final Design