flakon

Flakon is a term used to describe a small bottle or vial, traditionally used to hold liquids such as perfume, essential oils, medicines, or laboratory reagents. In English and many European languages, flakon denotes a compact, often decorative container, with particular association to perfumery. The word derives from the French flacon and the German Flakon, both meaning a small bottle or flask.

Design and materials commonly include glass or crystal, occasionally high-quality plastic. Flacons typically feature a stopper, cap, or spray mechanism in modern versions. Antique and vintage flacons are often valued for craftsmanship, with cut-glass facets, engravings, or hand-painted motifs. Collectors sometimes seek out ornate or uniquely shaped examples.

History and use span from luxury and medicine to cosmetics. In Europe, decorative flacons emerged in the 17th and 18th centuries as containers for expensive perfumes and essences. Over time, the form became an element of branding and display, with many perfume houses adopting distinctive flacon designs to signal quality and identity. Today, “flakon” remains a general descriptor for small bottles in catalogs and product descriptions, especially for fragrance packaging.

Variations include miniature or travel flacons, dab bottles, and spray flacons. While the term is most closely associated with perfumery, it can also describe small cosmetic, pharmaceutical, or laboratory containers. In some languages, flakon is used more broadly to denote a bottle or vial, whereas English speakers may reserve it for perfume-related containers.