IPBA Youthful Fantasies Brought to Life
It’s no secret that vendors of perfume and vanity items play upon our fantasies. This is an occasional series of articles on various youthful fantasies and themes explored through perfume bottles and vanity items.
While the public can view the images for each theme, only IPBA members can link to the detailed information contained in the Virtual Museum. If you want to see more, Join Us Now!
If your collection includes an item that applies to these themes, please submit them to our Virtual Museum, and we will add them to these pages. See Submission Guidelines.
Fragrances Named With Numbers or Letters
While “Chanel No. 5” may be the most well-known fragrance named with a number, it is by far not the only fragrance named with a number or letter. The collection represented here far surpassed this webmaster’s expectations, and […]
Lilac Time
Lilac often symbolizes youth, innocence, and first love. In the language of flowers, purple lilacs are associated with the initial emotions of love, while white lilacs represent youthful innocence. Additionally, lilac is linked to memories of happy moments, […]
Lily of the Valley (Muguet)
Aa a symbol of purity, joy, love, sincerity, happiness and luck, Lily of the Valley has much significance. It’s actually the national flower of Finland, and in France, on 1st May for La Fête du Muguet, lily of […]
No Shrinking Violets
Violets are low-lying, gentle flowers, and for the Victorians they symbolised modesty. Hence the expression “shrinking violet”, meaning a person who is very shy or modest and does not like to attract attention. But the violets in the […]
Roses, Roses, and More Roses!
One of the favorite gifts for Valentine’s Day is red roses … the more the better! And boy, does the Virtual Museum have a lot of roses for you! Roses are not only a favorite scent, their image […]
Celebratory Toasts
We are ringing in the New Year with a celebratory toast with champagne or wine. Perfumeries use images of wine and champagne to remind us of special occasions and happy memories. Both are sometimes used for the names […]
Just Monkeying Around
There is a lot of monkeying around going on in the IPBA Virtual Museum. Monkeys may not be the first subject that you’d think of for perfume bottles and vanity items. But you might just be surprised at […]
“Little People” in Your House?
Do you have “little people” hiding in your home? An amazing number of perfumes and vanity items and their presentations form three-dimensional little people. Not just heads or torsos, full-figured people. Our Virtual Museum contains over 330 of […]
Touring Russia
Have you ever dreamt of touring Russia? Wanted to see Moscow’s Red Square? Or view the Winter Palace or Fabergé Museum in St. Petersburg? Or perhaps you are interested in collecting perfume or vanity items produced in Russia? […]
Summer Sports
We are celebrating not just the 2024 Summer Olympics, but having fun with all manner of summer sports including: Baseball, Bicycling, Boxing, Bowling, Football, Fox Hunting, Golf, Horseback Riding, Horse Racing, Land Sailing, Mini Golf, Mountain Climbing, Ping […]
Dreaming of Latin America?
Have you ever dreamt of touring Latin America? Take a tour with us through Cuba, Mexico, Central and South America with the items in the IPBA Virtual Museum. We have a multitude of items depicting the people and […]
Dreaming of Summer Fruit?
It won’t be long now before fresh summer fruits start appearing at farmer’s markets and roadside stands. And you’d be surprised at the fresh summer fruits that we have in our Virtual Museum – we’re talking grapes, apples, […]
Touring Germany
Come with us on a tour of Germany using the perfumes and vanity items in the IPBA’s Virtual Museum. We’ll view monuments, spas and cathedrals in cities like Berlin, Heidelberg, Wiesbaden, Bremen, Cologne, etc. If you travel to […]
A Light in the Dark
Stuck in the house without power due to a winter storm? Or wanting to create a romantic setting? A candle is one of the things that you will want to have around. The IPBA Virtual Museum has a […]
Courting Couples
This February we’re looking at Courting Couples! Those romantic images of couples walking, talking, dancing, and even sharing passionate embraces. Since perfumes, powders, lipsticks and other vanity items are often used to attract someone, it’s no wonder that […]
How Quickly The Years Pass By
Calendars were very popular advertising tools, especially in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. If a lady or gentleman found it handy to keep a calendar in his pocket or in her purse, it meant that the advertising […]
TOURING THE UNITED KINGDOM
Have you ever dreamt of touring the United Kingdom? There is so much history to see in England, Ireland, and Scotland! Not just the castles, countryside, monuments, and Big Ben … there is shopping at Harrod’s! And for […]
Garden of Eden
Perfume is often used to create temptation regarding the seduction of another. So it is not surprising that fragrance houses use images such as apples and snakes to evoke our fantasies of the Garden of Eden.
Fairies and Nymphs
Who are those delightful little creatures that one can never quite get a glimpse of … fairies and nymphs! But in our Virtual Museum, you can examine a number of them!
Just Give Me A Little Time!
What is the one thing that we never have enough of? (Other than not enough perfumes, compacts, purses or vanity items …) TIME! So perhaps it’s not surprising that a number of perfume and vanity items have used […]
Shoes, Boots or Slippers – What’s in Your Closet?
Shoes, boots or slippers? What’s in your closet? The IPBA Virtual Museum has a wide assortment of shoes of all types – perhaps enough to make Imelda Marcos jealous?
Tour the USA
In honor of the USA’s Independence Day on July 4th, we are taking a tour of the USA and its cities, souvenirs, history, climate, flora and fauna via the perfumes and vanity items in our Virtual Museum. The […]
Dreaming of Writing a Book?
Have you ever dreamt of writing a book? Several of our IPBA members have done just that! A surprising number of perfume and vanity items tout the literary world of books, and the implements used to write them […]
What’s in Your Hat Box?
Easter is fast approaching, and what ever happened to the tradition of ladies getting a new Easter Bonnet? Since many of the perfume houses were started by fashion designers and milliners, it’s not surprising that hats feature prominently in […]
Let’s Celebrate Mardi Gras!
It’s that time of year to put on a mask and costume, throw caution to the winds, and go out and celebrate Mardi Gras! Crowds prowl the streets of New Orleans, watching parades, and catching beads and tokens. […]
Cupids On The Prowl
It’s February, and Cupid on the prowl with his bow and arrow – looking for likely targets. He has shown up in our perfume and vanity items with some regularity over the ages. Take a look at our many […]
Flutter of Cherub Wings
Remember cherubs? Those cute, chubby little winged fellows that used to be a ubiquitous theme in the decorative arts? Well, perfumes and vanity items have been decorated with their share of cherubs over the years, so come listen […]
Cat Parade
Have you ever attended a cat show? Yes, they really do have cat shows just like dog shows. But our cat show of perfume and vanity item cats is more like a cat parade of both domestic and […]
Touring Italy
Have you ever dreamt of traveling to Italy? Want to float in a gondola through the canals of Venice? Hunt for a prized piece of Murano glass? Or perhaps one of those fabulous Italian compacts? Or maybe you’d like […]
Bear Necessities
I don’t know about you, but one of the “bare necessities” of my life is hunting for that unique perfume or vanity item to add to my collection(s). Come see the results of a “bear hunt” through our […]
Travel to Spain Via the IPBA
Have you ever dreamt of traveling to Spain? Want to visit the cities of Barcelona, Madrid, Granada, Avila, and Sevilla? To feel the breezes off the Ebro river? To check out the pottery in the Talavera region? To […]
Games of Skill and Chance
Have you ever dreamt of being a champion poker player? Winning at the roulette or craps table in Las Vegas? Or just spending an afternoon or evening playing bridge or canasta with friends? Do you know how to […]
In Memory of Our Lost Heroes
In the US, we remember our lost warriors on Memorial Day – the last Monday in May. Given the current bloody war in Ukraine, and the fact that our WW II “greatest generation” is passing away, we are […]
Time Travel to Camelot
Have you ever fantasized about being a princess or a knight in shining armor? This month we’ll be taking another time travel adventure – back to the Middle Ages to explore castles, visit with the King and Queen, […]
Time Travel to Ancient Greece and Rome
Have you dreamt of traveling back in time to ancient Greece and Rome? To experience those amazing structures in their heyday, that now exist only in preserved ruins? (Well, maybe with what we know now, you might not […]
Touring India
Have you ever dreamt of traveling to India? India is much more than the home of the Taj Mahal, and Hindu gods with multiple pairs of arms. It was once conquered by the Mughals (Moors), and so features […]
Tales of 1001 Arabian Nights
Let’s go back in time to the Tales of 1001 Arabian Nights! What visions come into your head? Sultans in their turbans with ballooning pants and a scimitar tucked into their waist? Maidens with diaphanous veils dancing in […]
Touring the Orient
Have you ever dreamed of touring the Orient? Seeing the pagodas and temple shrines with their Buddha statues? Participating in a traditional tea ceremony with a beautifully dressed Geisha? Perhaps purchasing a souvenir Chinese dragon, Mah Jongg game, […]
View our Horse Show
Come be a spectator in the IPBA Horse Show! Horses are used as a motif in perfume and vanity items and their advertising. Can you guess the message being conveyed by each horse? By each rider? Is it […]
Dreaming of Visiting Holland?
Have you ever dreamed of visiting Holland? Seeing the picturesque seaside town, windmills, fields of flowering tulips, and wondering how anyone ever wore those wooden shoes? Take a tour through Holland with us to see those windmills, sailing […]
The IPBA Dog Show
All dog owners are proud of their dogs, but have you ever considered entering your fur-baby in a dog show? What a fantasy – to walk your dog into the arena, all brushed and fluffed and looking fine, […]
Dreaming of Being a Classic Car Collector?
Have you ever dreamt of being an antique car collector like Jay Leno (180 cars and 161 motorcycles), William Harrah (former Reno casino owner who at one time had a museum with 1,450 cars), or Dirk Pitt (fictional […]
Let’s Go Birdwatching!
Pick one of our pairs of binoculars, and then let’s go birdwatching! In addition to our large flock of doves, we have baby chicks, birds of paradise, bluebirds, budgies, cockatoos, ducks, eagles, flamingos, geese, hummingbirds, kingfishers, ostriches, owls, […]
Dreaming of Visiting Egypt?
Have you ever dreamt of traveling to Egypt? Are you inspired by elegant Egyptian-themed perfume bottles? Want to ride a camel, see the Sphinx and the pyramids, maybe even buy a local perfume bottle? We still can’t do […]
Decorating a Perfume and Vanity Item Dollhouse
Have you ever fantasized about decorating a dollhouse with perfume and vanity items? Two of our IPBA members have actually created them. Helen Farnsworth’s four-story dollhouse is pictured above, and Carol Caslow’s dollhouse is described in detail in […]
Dreaming of Joining a Circus?
Did you ever fantasize about running away to join the circus? If so, our perfume and vanity item circus is for you! It features a trapeze artist, tightrope walker, jugglers, mime, a sword swallower, animal acts, lions, elephants, […]
What’s in Your Easter Basket?
A tisket, a tasket, what’s in your Easter Basket? There are plenty of bunnies, eggs and chicks, but are they chocolate or perfume?? Come see what’s in our Easter Basket!
Dreaming of Visiting Paris?
Have you ever dreamt of traveling to see the sights of Paris? This is definitely a fantasy as we cannot currently travel due to the pandemic. How about time travel to Paris in the 1920’s? Paris after WW […]
My Valentine
Did you ever wish that cute boy or girl in your class would notice you? Or would ask to be your Valentine? Or wish that your significant other would gift you with a perfume or vanity item Valentine? […]
Dancing the Night Away
Did you ever dream of being a ballerina? Or dancing in the New Year at a ball? Unfortunately with the pandemic, we were not able to go to parties and dance in the New Year for 2021 or […]
Dreaming of a White Christmas?
Boys and girls of all ages (from 1 to 99) have a lot of fantasies and expectations around Christmas and the winter holidays. There is skiing; sledding; decorating the tree and the house; wrapping presents; baking cookies; caroling; […]
Sounds and Perfumes Swirl in the Evening Air
Passion can be inspired by both music and perfume. Many vanity items, perfume bottles, presentations, and advertisements play upon a musical theme. Instruments depicted include pianos, violins, cellos, harps, drums, cymbals, guitar, trumpet, accordion, mandolin, and more … […]
Can Bugs be Beautiful?
Were you ever fascinated by bugs as a child? Have you ever stared in wonder at the beautiful patterns on a butterfly’s wings, or the iridescence of the wings of a dragonfly or cicada? Well, a surprising number […]
Exploring The Deep Blue Sea
Many the youth has dreamed of being a marine biologist, exploring the deep blue sea, catching “the big one”, exploring coral reefs, being a sea captain, or hearing the siren song of a mermaid. The following examples from […]
The Sky is the Limit!
Many a youth has dreamed of studying the stars or exploring space. The following examples from our Virtual Museum explore how perfumes and vanity items play upon these fantasies.
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