Perfume Bottle Design
from one of our projects

We wanted to do this one in Surlyn Plastic (by DuPont). A very interesting polymer that gives glass like brilliance and transparency, but has a unique tactile quality. A Surlyn part would be very tough and hard but drop with a rubbery 'thud' on the floor. The touch is also less glass like and feels slightly resilient without yielding to pressure.

The project Owner wanted to enter the lower to mid segment of the European market with their new brand. This was the faster moving segment usually packaged in lower capacity bottles. An understanding of the market players was predicated in the brief. The clients wanted to explore design ideas for new bottles as well as packaging. A second approach suggested was to use an existing reservoir (bottle) and design a minimal collar and closure. A standard pump was to be used for this approach. 

These perfumes were to be packaged in 100 ml bottles only, and sold at the price point of below 10 dollars. Sample perfumes provided were fruity to floral in nature. The fragrances were more piquant than mild, with strong high notes. 

Design Response: 
As initial concept generation, new ideas for bottles were explored. Above concept was based on a river pebble. Chrome accents were suggested, keeping in mind the nature of the segment where many products jostled for visibility and space. Other bottle design concepts ranged from 'less feminine' to 'uncommon'. The team at Cluster One developed packages around the suggested names of 'Amor Amor'  (translates to 'Love Love') and Jadore ( not to be confused with the Christian Dior product) which translates as 'I adore'. The packages were built around the idea of men buying perfumes for the ladies. One concept carried the motif of a cactus as a contrarian approach to the expression of love. The designs sought to crystallize the personality of the product, in this case floral, convivial and perhaps carnal.