What to Do with Empty Perfume Bottles? 10 Upcycling and DIY Ideas
Throwing away a precious perfume bottle can feel heartbreaking. An empty bottle marks the end of a fragrant journey.
Perfume bottles are often true works of art, designed by master glassmakers. Tossing them is not just wasteful — it’s nearly a crime against beauty and sustainability.
How can you bring it back to life, repurpose it creatively, or give it a stylish second act? Here are a few elegant and imaginative ways to reuse them.
Note: in the fragrance world, we say “flacon” or “bottle” to describe a perfume container.
Essential Step: How to Safely Open a Crimped Bottle (Removing the Sprayer)
Before undertaking any DIY project, you often need to remove the spray mechanism (the pump), which is usually crimped (hermetically sealed) to the glass. This step is essential for cleaning or reusing the bottle as a vase or decanter.
- To Open: If the sprayer doesn’t twist off, use a pair of flat pliers to gently pry off the metal ring (the collar) around the neck. Then, carefully pull the mechanism out. Be careful not to chip the glass neck.
- To Clean: Fill the bottle with white vinegar or rubbing alcohol. Let it sit for 24 hours to dissolve any essential oil residue, then rinse thoroughly with hot, soapy water.
1. Upcycling Large Empty Perfume Bottles (Decanters and Lamps)
Larger format bottles (250 ml, 500 ml, or 1 L) offer surprising possibilities for utility and display:
- Turn them into elegant decanters for spirits like whisky. The amber hue will echo the warmth of a classic perfume.
- Create a chandelier or bedside lamp using a drilling tool to pass a wire through the base. A stunning idea for crafty hands.
- Fill them with colorful dish soap or hand sanitizer to decorate a bathroom shelf. The liquid gives the illusion of a full bottle and doesn’t degrade over time.
2. Repurposing Small and Medium Flacons (Decor and Scent)
Smaller flacons are perfect for decorative and ongoing fragrance projects:
- Repurpose them as mini vases or soliflores. Once opened, they are perfect for a single stem or dried flowers.
- Turn them into reed diffusers. Fill the opened bottle with home fragrance oil and insert rattan sticks to subtly perfume a room.
- Customize them with spray paint (gold, silver, black, Klein blue), lace tape, rhinestones, pearls or feathers for a couture look.
- Group several bottles into a sculpture or perfume totem, using varied shapes and colors.
- Hang them on the Christmas tree — painted in red, gold or silver — as unique and fragrant ornaments.
3. Selling, Recycling, and Return Programs
If you don’t wish to keep them, ensure they are handled responsibly:
- Resale Value: Resell them to collectors or on platforms like eBay, especially if they’re rare or from iconic brands. Collectors often seek antique or discontinued flacons.
- Retailer Returns: Bring them back to major retailers (Sephora, etc.) offering recycling or return programs, sometimes in exchange for a discount on a new fragrance.
- Recycling: As a last resort, ensure the glass is separated from the cap and spray mechanism (metal/plastic) and placed in the glass recycling bin.
Let your creativity flow — and above all, don’t throw away your precious empty perfume bottles.
Want to go further? Read our guide on how to spot a fake perfume.
