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Portrait of Jiri, 1925, Alphonse Mucha

The dawn of Cayenne, 1926, Rene Magritte

Scent is another fascinating subject in itself, from the development of fragrances during the reign of Louis XV to the creation of perfumes using synthetics in the 19th century.

The art of the perfume bottle however is increasingly a lost one as dressing tables or vanities have all but disappeared from a woman’s must-have list of furniture. Add to that the tyranny of the TSA’s 3-ounce-liquids-and-gels rule, and we now live in a society where glass is cumbersome and impractical.

A huge pity as perfume bottles were of the highest craftsmanship then, meant to be displayed with pride on a stylish lady’s vanity. The best ones were made of cut crystal from Bohemia, France and England.

Self Portrait with Necklace, 1933, Frida Kahlo