Do you have 17,000 euros to spare? If so, Guerlain has released a limited edition bottle created in collaboration with Maison Matisse, a design house founded in 2019 by Henri Matisse’s heirs to produce objects inspired by the French painter’s art. According to the Artnet Magazine, the bottle is inspired by La Musique, a work painted by the artist in 1939. It fuses the colors of the painting and the iconic shape of the Bee Bottle to celebrate its 170th anniversary. Painted by hand, it’s a stunning object, but clearly aimed at collectors.
For me personally, the most compelling bottle collaboration from Guerlain remains their work with Arita Lab in Japan. Adorned with traditional Aritayaki motifs, it’s a beautiful pairing of Japanese craftsmanship and Guerlain’s style.
Via Artnet
21 Comments
MaureenC: Seems to me it’s nothing more than a way for Matisse’s descendants to make money trading a the family name. I’ve never been comfortable with the way that Art Galleries and museums use elements of famous works for gift shop artefacts. However given the financial challenges they face simply to stay open I can understand why they do it. This seems nothing more than a collaboration between two rather unpleasant families.
And you’re right the Aritayaki collaboration is much more attractive! February 17, 2023 at 9:32am
Victoria: I felt the same way about Maison Matisse. It seemed too commercial. February 17, 2023 at 2:25pm
Elizabeth: I think it’s a shame they didn’t allow for the color to be translucent. The same design (not particularly attractive in itself) could have have said “Matisse” and still had the lovely, liquidy feel you want on a perfume bottle. A complete miss for me. February 17, 2023 at 10:00am
Kelly O’Neill: You’re right, translucency would have been much more lovely. ko February 17, 2023 at 1:14pm
Victoria: I agree. It looks stolid. February 17, 2023 at 2:25pm
Klaas: I’ll paint you one for a lot less 😉 February 17, 2023 at 11:21am
Victoria: It’s a deal! February 17, 2023 at 2:29pm
Nancy Chan: Hmm, not the most attractive design by Guerlain’s style. Looking through their previous perfume archives, there were more beautiful perfume bottles.
Chamade extrait parfum, the upside down heart shaped bottle is minimal in design, but very elegant. Les Meteorites perfume atomiser in the circular enamel holder, is in my view the most beautiful. February 17, 2023 at 11:47am
Victoria: I agree, especially for the price! February 17, 2023 at 2:29pm
Zazie: A miss for me too. I wouldn’t spend 170 € let alone 17,000, on that design.
Also – I am so embittered with Guerlain. This summer I was in Paris, and I stopped by Guerlain and Serge Lutens as I usually do. Many years has passed since my last visit and everything was incredibly underwhelming: the perfumes at Guerlain smelled so cheap (but not cheap on the price tag, oh no), there were no curiosities for aficionados, no history, no beauty, nothing. What happened???? The shop in the champs Élysées used to be a gorgeous sanctuary, an almost-museum, without the stuffiness, but filled with the love of passionate fans in pilgrimage.
Nowadays, the shop is sad, sad, sad. And empty.
Mitsouko is good for scrubbing dirt from my bike, at most.
Really, I loathed everything, but didn’t dare to try my faves, because I couldn’t stand the extent of the potential deception. So many wonderful perfumes discontinued.
Guerlain has always been my favorite house.
Even though I love and wear Chanel almost as much, Guerlain has always had an added value – in the warmth of the Guerlinade, in the amazing bottle designs, in the variety of their classics. In that it is a perfume equivalent of a smile and a hug.
I almost identify in my Guerlains.
I am so disappointed, and they continue with these collector bottles… pff. I thought they sold those only to Russians, and was expecting the war to put an end to that ridiculous business.
I was wrong, of course.
Seeing this makes me feel angry and sad. I’ll buy Caron this weekend (found a shop with some old bottles in stock), and mourn the lost glamour, artistry and beauty of these venerable brands.
This makes me so sad, like if someone had taken down the Chrysler building in New York to build one of those modern “towers”… all rectangular, plain, soulless. February 17, 2023 at 11:56am
Victoria: That’s so sad to hear. I haven’t been to the flagship store in ages and now I don’t even feel like going.
What shop with Caron did you find? Somewhere in Milan or in Paris? February 17, 2023 at 2:31pm
Kelly O’Neill: My all time favorite parfum is Guerlain’s JICKY and on this day, I mark six months without it. My Seattle, Washington parfum shop has not been able to stock it for some time. Does anyone have any insight into why? Is Guerlain having supply chain issues (which might reflect on Zazie’s disappointment with the Paris Guerlain shop. Would love to know if others are having a hard time getting Guerlain products. I know I could probably go online and order directly from Guerlain but I want to support my local shop. – Kelly O February 17, 2023 at 1:12pm
Victoria: Not sure, to be honest. I saw it at our local shop, but it might have been before the pandemic. February 17, 2023 at 2:32pm
Julia: That’s a very discordant pairing if you ask me. This is showing some desperation to come up with original lucrative ideas. February 17, 2023 at 1:16pm
Victoria: I could imagine much more beautiful designs inspired by Matisse. February 17, 2023 at 2:32pm
Tara C: Not liking the desisn on that one, and of course I would never spend that much on any perfume. Like Zazie, I think I am done with Guerlain. The latest releases smell screechy and cheap, not deep and luxurious like they used to. You can tell LVMH has taken over, same type of scents os Dior Privée, LV, etc. I will be savoring my vintage bottles. February 17, 2023 at 1:44pm
Victoria: Me too. I think that I shall go and find my old bottle of Mitsouko and enjoy some vintage beauty. February 17, 2023 at 2:33pm
Amanda M: I must admit too, that I don’t like this bottle design. I see nothing of beauty in it at all – I’ve tried, but no, not for me and certainly not at that price point!
Oh but the beautiful Aritayaki Mitsouko bottle, that is simply exquisite.
And yes I’ll also be reaching for my vintage Guerlain’s. ♥️🥰 February 18, 2023 at 3:07am
Victoria: Aritayaki’s work on Mitsouko fits the spirit of the perfume and Guerlain. Such a big difference from these Matisse bottles, isn’t it? February 21, 2023 at 3:06am
Amanda M: Thank you for your reply Victoria.
Yes, I do agree with you most wholeheartedly! I occasionally see one of those beautiful Mitsouko bottles (empty) for sale on eBay but alas, it’s out of my price range. So lovely though.
I do hope you are keeping well. xx February 21, 2023 at 4:54am
Nefertari: I’m tired of their unreasonable prices and “limited releases”, and now Guerlain – they fill perfume in various “artistic” perfume bottles, which has never impressed me. I’m not interested in it. The content is the key to me really deciding whether I buy perfume or not, the charm of perfume comes from the fragrance. If Guerlain wants to do something, there’s only one way to empty my wallet, and that’s to bring Djedi, Sous le Vent and Parure back! February 27, 2023 at 9:21am