Can I put modern perfume in them?

Modern perfumes contain alcohol and synthetic oils that can tarnish unprotected silver. If it doesn't have a glass liner or intact interior gilding, the metal might react with the liquid. Using a glass-lined bottle is fine. Just ensure the stopper sits tightly so the alcohol doesn't evaporate.

How to clean the inside?

Rinse the interior gently with warm water. Don't use silver polish inside the neck because the residue isn't easy to remove. Leave it open to dry. Trapped moisture damages the hinge pins.

My grandmother left me one of these but the glass stopper is stuck fast in the silver neck and I am worried about breaking it if I pull too hard.

Glass stoppers fuse into silver collars when old perfume residue hardens over decades. Pulling or twisting with force usually snaps the glass dauber right off. Try applying a single drop of warm water around the rim. Let it sit for a few days to soften the old oils. If it remains stuck, leave it alone.

I noticed the silver mark on the bottom is rubbed away so I can barely read the letters, does this happen a lot with the ones carried in pockets?

Constant handling wears down the raised areas of metal over a century. Hallmarks were often stamped on the base, which takes the most friction in a purse. Marks on the inside rim of the lid tend to survive much better. You'll often find a clearer maker or town mark there.

Home > Silver > Silver Scent Bottles > Page 2

Antique Silver Scent Bottles Dated 1900 - 1920

← Page 2 of 2 →

These small hollow vessels were made to hold liquid perfumes or smelling salts, typically designed with a tight-fitting stopper and a silver outer casing to prevent spills in a pocket.