The World’s Greatest Bottle Designer, Pierre Dinand

I was extremely fortunate to work as an executive in the cosmetics and perfume industry in the 1970s and 1980s, the “golden years” of creativity in this wonderful business. That was the era before the immensely destructive wave of retail consolidations and corporate mergers and acquisitions that has severely hampered innovation in the years since. Fortunately, my experience was timed to coincide with an explosion of business activity.

The beauty industry gave me the opportunity to work with retailers, artisans, and component suppliers around the world. One of the most rewarding and enjoyable collaborations I experienced was working with Pierre Dinand to create an original perfume bottle for a new fragrance he was launching.

In the world of perfumery, Pierre Dinand is a living legend. More than half of the perfume units sold worldwide to this day are packaged in custom bottles designed by Mr. Dinand. He has uniquely sculpted more than 500 bottles for some of the most successful and famous perfume brands in the world. Opium (Yves St. Laurent), Eternity (Calvin Klein), Fendi, Valentino, Azzaro Pour Homme, Rochas, Armani, Guerlain and Givenchy are just a small sample of the brands he has designed for.

Pierre Dinand works in a bright and spacious atelier in Paris. When Mr. Dinand accepts a commission to create an original bottle, he initially receives a sample of the scent that his creation should contain. Interview with the perfumer, seeking to know the notes and moods that the perfume should convey to the consumer. Dinand lives with the scent until she wakes up and forms a creative template for the initial silhouette she imagines.

Mr. Dinand is an internationally renowned sculptor. Use favorite sculpting techniques to generate initial conceptual pieces. The production of molding tools for glass and the manufacturing process must be taken into account when making prototypes. After sculpting the drawings, clay models, and initial acrylic pieces, the customer is brought in for critique and review of the first prototypes.

The process continues until all issues related to aesthetics, design, tooling, production, and breakage are satisfactorily addressed. The closure is often the most complicated and detailed component of a perfume bottle. The closure must have the most exact tolerance to contain the liquid (which is prone to leaks) and can add significant costs to the bill of materials.

Mr. Dinand remains involved in all aspects of fragrance packaging until the product is on the counter. Appears in press presentations, attend key trade shows for launch purposes, meet major buyers, and lend his considerable personal network of partnerships whenever necessary to help brands succeed in the international marketplace. He is a true professional and the list of blockbuster brands he has creatively inspired is testament to his genius.

Pierre Dinand has also enjoyed great success as a designer of packaging for conventional consumer products. One of the most famous packages he made is the world famous orb bottle for the popular Orangina soft drink. Orangina’s ubiquitous shape is recognized around the world and is further proof that this design giant digs deep to understand the needs of each client it serves.

The world of high-end perfumes is populated by artisans who demand the highest levels of quality, craftsmanship and creativity. Corners are never cut in pursuit of delivering the perfect scent. The closure, bottle, box and chest graphics, test units, guarantee of sale, sampling and signage are absolutely essential elements necessary to present the aroma in the most exclusive presentation possible.

I have launched a number of fragrances, skin care lines, hair care programs, color cosmetics, bath and body ranges, nail care, and hand and foot care brands over the years. Collaborating with the best artisans is essential to properly position and differentiate new products. Working with an old world craftsman like Pierre Dinand is rewarding and refreshing in a modern world where attention to luxury, detail, and style is almost a lost art.