How We Reimagined Perfume Part 1: Rethinking the Vessel

While the perfume industry has seen many innovations in scent creation and marketing approaches over the years, certain foundational elements have remained consistent. The basic structure of perfume bottles, the use of alcohol as a base, and aspects of the user experience have followed established patterns that many consumers and brands simply accept as given.

At Dilli House, we saw an opportunity to explore these established patterns. We asked ourselves: what elements of traditional perfumery could be reconsidered to create something that better aligns with contemporary values and needs? What if we approached perfume with fresh eyes?

Here’s how we reimagined the vessel itself.

The neck that makes a difference

Most perfume bottles feature a crimped neck - a design choice that originated to prevent counterfeiting but has become an industry standard that few question. This seemingly minor detail has significant environmental consequences. Once crimped, these necks cannot be uncrimped, making proper recycling nearly impossible and preventing reuse.

Prem Rouge features a thoughtfully designed screw-top neck that can be easily removed, allowing for both proper recycling and potential reuse. It’s a small change with meaningful impact, demonstrating how questioning even the most established practices can lead to better solutions.

The hidden plastic problem

When you look at your favourite fragrance, the elegant spray mechanism likely contains plastic or metal-coated plastic - a detail that significantly complicates recycling efforts. Despite the glass bottle being potentially recyclable, this small component often renders the entire package problematic for recycling facilities.

Our solution was straightforward but uncommon in the industry: aluminium spray components that contain no hidden plastic. This choice ensures that when a Prem Rouge bottle reaches the end of its life, it can be properly recycled without compromise, returning to the earth without lasting damage.

The true value of transparency

Coloured and opaque glass bottles have become a hallmark of luxury fragrances. While they look stunning on your shelf and help protect the fragrance from light degradation, they create significant problems for recycling facilities. The colourants and treatments used often contaminate the recycling stream, meaning many of these beautiful bottles end up in landfills.

Prem Rouge bottles strike a careful balance - offering just enough translucency to protect the fragrance while remaining fully recyclable. This thoughtful approach demonstrates that finding harmony between beauty and responsibility doesn’t require compromise but rather more creative thinking.

In Part 2 of this series, we’ll explore how we’ve reimagined the relationship between packaging, product, and purpose—continuing our journey toward a perfume that’s designed to enrich in every aspect.