Opened in 2019, The Perfume Passage Foundation is a non-profit museum in Barrington, Illinois, just 25 miles from OHare airport. Located on the Sanfilippo Estate, it requires advance arrangements for their small guided tours and is not open to the general public.
Their mission is to preserve the history, beauty and artistry of perfume bottles, compacts, ephemera and related vanity items.
Divided into four distinct galleries you can view the collections of perfume bottles, compacts, lipsticks, and purses—across various times and cultures.
The museum is divided into four main galleries, each with a different theme:
- The Passageway: Modeled after 19th-century Parisian shopping arcades.
- The Drug Store and Soda Fountain: A recreated 1890s American apothecary.
- The Art Deco Room: Focuses on the art of perfume during the early 20th century.
- The Vault: A collection of rare and ancient artifacts..
These photos are from the THE DRUG STORE gallery which contains a restored recreation of a vintage ice cream parlor and intricate display shelves inspired by 19th-century apothecaries.
They bought a whole pharmacy, including the original furniture and displays and everything related to recreate this 19th century American drugstore.
"SORCERERS OF SCENT" "PHARMACISTS & PERFUMES". The text on the sign explains that pharmacists of the 18th and early 19th centuries were the original "mixologists" and relied on fragrant oils, extracts, and herbs to mask unpleasant smells. It also states that creating perfume was a natural evolution of their job, and that the first perfumes were expensive, but by 1900, advances in chemistry led to more affordable synthetic ingredients, and the market expanded to everyday beauty and hygiene products.
Hope you enjoyed this glimpse into the Golden Age of Perfume. I will put together photos from the other galleries soon.
