The Drug Store at Perfume Passage

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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.

booths in the ice cream parlor

ice cream parlor tables

Postcards and greeting cards for sale. It was interesting to see how the vintage holiday cards in my collection might have been displayed to be sold

"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.

porcelain German shaving mug.

Hope you enjoyed this glimpse into the Golden Age of Perfume. I will put together photos from the other galleries soon.

perfume perfumepassage drugstore vintage phamacy archon pob pimp waiv
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25 comments
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That is really cool! I would love to get a tour of there, but would mean flying to Chicago! lol It's amazing the collection they have amassed, all so beautiful. Funny to think back then you could buy a tonic cure all at those drug stores. They could cure everything according to their claims! The FDA has done some good when they got rid of those. But now companies get around it calling their supplements not medicinal, ways to skirt the rules of the good old FDA...

Great job!
!DUO

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The rare collection has a scent flask once owned by Napoleon!
I took a course in Traditional Chinese Medicine and spent some time in Taiwan learning about ancient cures. Some of those herbal remedies have done a lot of good over the centuries!

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That is pretty rich in collection! Packed with history!

I wonder why they didn't open it for the public?

!ALIVE

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It is best viewed in small groups so that each person can view the object while the tour guide is talking about it
, plus it is in their private estate.

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Its seem very interesting to see such a big variety of items

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Perfumes are really an art in themselves. Have been thinking about doing perfumes of late...

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It looks like an interesting museum, and there are perfume bottles that are true works of art. It's interesting how these products exemplify the state of the beauty industry in past centuries.

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Even if things are being given at a low profit, it is to help people, especially when good quality products are given at low prices, which is rare in this space.

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WOW!! 😍 Gorgeous @melinda010100, you know - just days ago I visited a perfume museum here in Cuba, and honestly the artists and creators behind these bottles are spectacular! Every detail, lid, and ornament they designed was pure creativity. Past eras were truly more inventive when it came to this art of scent and perfume.

Hugs Meli, and happy Thursday!! 🤗😊

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That's fascinating that you have a perfume museum in Cuba, too. The artistry of this craft is certainly worthy of being displayed. Thanks for the photo!
!INDEED
!LADY
! LUV

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Wow oooo, these are very exotic and special collections of great quality. They all speak volumes!

Thank you for sharing!

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I'm fascinated by this museum; it's a dream visit. I don't know what I like more than what's seen in the pictures. I imagine the most exquisite fragrances and perfumers, a true work of art.
Very grateful, my friend, for your visual gift.

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