It was announced a few days ago that the classic Nina Ricci perfume bottle for the L'Air du Temps
fragrance spray has been redesigned by omnipresent designer Philippe Starck as a special limited edition.This is not the first time the L'Air du Temps flacon has been redesigned. The original bottle design introduced in 1948, was made to emulate a sunburst and had a frosted glass insert in the top. Only 3 years later Robert Ricci had Rene Lalique of Lalique crystal design a bottle that has since become a classic. Numerous iterations of dove-topped bottles have appeared since then, culminating in the newest modern version by Philippe Starck.
Below are all the bottles produced for the fragrance, in chronological order.
The first L'air du Temps bottle, 1948:
In 1951 Lalique crystal created the now iconic bottle with the two frosted doves atop the swirled clear crystal flacon.
1951, Lalique bottle with 2 doves:
From 1951 to present, Lalique Crystal made numerous limited and special editions of the classic bottle which included variations on the number of doves, the color of the doves and the color of the bottle. The one anomaly? In 1996, Lalique made a winged version of the bottle that did not have the doves.
1955, single dove:
1991-1993, colored doves:
1996, winged bottle:
1998, globe bottle:
2004, gold bottle:
2005, amber bottle and doves:
2006, pearlized bottle:
2007, prestige bottles:
60th Anniversary bottle:
And most recently designer Philippe Starck has taken the symbolic two doves and abstracted them for the newest limited edition of the perfume and topped one of the wings with a silver cap.
The newest bottle called L'Air du Temps by Starck will be available as a 45ml spray launching in October 2010. This limited edition is reported to cost 69 EUR ($89).
About the perfume (from the Nina Ricci site):
L’air du temps - Nina Ricci Perfume
The icon fragrance from the Nina Ricci house was born in a creative and joyful spirit in 1948. The perfect harmony of an enchanting elixir, the symbol of femininity and eternal youth. the emblematic values of L'Air du Temps remain universal: Peace, Purity, Freedom and Love. L'Air du Temps is also the air that we breathe, the mood of the moment, the reflection of each era. L'Air du Temps… An unequalled moment of emotion.
Fragrance : Spicy Floral
This fresh and timeless fragrance is a unique combination of contrasts. The legendary accord of spicy carnation and gardenia is subtly tinged with rose and jasmine from Grasse and caressed with sandalwood and iris for even more sensuality. A fragrance of emotion, L’Air du Temps exudes a mysterious power of seduction. Its fragrance blends into the personality of each woman to bring out her sensual charm and refinement.
Buy L'Air du Temps products here
Nina Ricci
Philippe Starck
Lalique Crystal