Antique Victorian Smelling Salts Bottle – Eau de Cologne – Boots – c.1895–1915
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This exquisite antique Victorian to early Edwardian smelling salts bottle is a rare and evocative survival from the golden age of the chemist and apothecary, standing at approximately 7.5 cm tall and retaining its original ground glass stopper.
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Beautifully proportioned in clear moulded glass, the bottle is complete with its original paper label, reading “Eau de Cologne – Smelling Salts” and bearing the name of Boots, one of Britain’s most important and collectible pharmaceutical retailers. 
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The label features elegant period typography and decorative detailing, with a charming Trade Mark ‘Q’ motif and rich tones of blue, green and cream — a design that sits perfectly within the late Victorian / early Edwardian aesthetic.
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Smelling salts were an essential personal item at the turn of the 20th century, carried discreetly in handbags or coat pockets to revive the faint, steady the nerves, or combat fatigue in an era of crowded theatres, busy railway travel and tightly corseted fashion. 
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The inclusion of “Eau de Cologne” suggests a more refined, perfumed formulation, marketed as both medicinal and genteel — a fascinating insight into how everyday remedies were softened and beautified for polite society.
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The bottle itself is a delight: a compact, squared form with softly rounded shoulders, a thick glass base, and a perfectly fitting mushroom-shaped ground glass stopper, still present — something increasingly rare with bottles of this age. Inside, traces of original residue remain, entirely consistent with age and use, and adding to the authenticity and charm of the piece.
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The paper label shows honest age-related wear, with edge losses and gentle fading, but remains clearly legible and visually striking. This patina is not a flaw, but a testament to the bottle’s real life and long journey through time.
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A wonderful piece for collectors of:
Antique chemist and apothecary items
Boots memorabilia
Victorian and Edwardian personal effects
Cabinets of curiosities and period interiors
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This is not a reproduction, nor a decorative pastiche, but a genuine everyday object from over a century ago, once held, carried and relied upon — now preserved as a beautiful and increasingly scarce collectible.
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Pricing: £85
This piece is priced to reflect its rarity, completeness, and desirability within the antique chemist and memorabilia market.
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Key factors supporting this valuation:
✔ Original Boots branding – highly sought after by collectors
✔ Original paper label present and legible – many survive unlabeled
✔ Original ground glass stopper retained – frequently missing
✔ Small, cabinet-size format – particularly collectible
✔ Late Victorian / early Edwardian dating
✔ Authentic age, wear and patina, not later reproduction
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Comparable unbranded or incomplete smelling salts bottles typically sell for £30–£60, while branded, labeled examples with stoppers regularly command £75–£120+, depending on condition and presentation.
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At £85, this bottle represents a fair and realistic market price for a complete, display-worthy example from a respected British chemist, offered by a specialist antique dealer with careful curation and provenance.