Upcycle Empty Perfume Bottles To Create A Vintage-Inspired Light Feature

Perfume bottles often come in signature shapes that indicate the brand or the scent. Discontinued fragrances, classic vintage bottles, or memorable bottles in shapes like stars or high heels are often too pretty to toss or hide in a drawer, but can clutter up needed counter space. Use your old perfume bottles to create a vintage inspired light fixture that saves counter space, displays your collection, and adds a hint of soft light to your home.

On a Facebook group aptly named Perfume Junkies, Debbie Nynne Weiler Riis shares her idea for reusing old perfume bottles that she simply could not toss. She artfully arranges her bottles into a large, clear glass vase. A string of solar-powered LED lights is woven among the bottles. The name brands of discontinued and favored scents face outward so that they can be seen, while the string of lights captures the depths of the heavy glass bottles. The result is a small glowing light fixture that turns on when the room goes dark, and shows off her collection.

This DIY is perfect for vintage thrift store decor using art glass perfume bottles. Glass perfume designs that lined shelves in the early 1900s are now antique treasures to show off. For this DIY, you'll need a clear glass vase with a large enough opening to fit different sized bottles. Lights may give the glow, but the perfume bottles take center stage. Soft string LED lights, or any thin LED like the strip LED lights used in home design, can be used for this project.

First, remove the old perfume from the bottle. (Especially if from a thrift shop and not your style.) Gently remove the spray stopper and rinse the bottle with mild dish soap and water. Filling the bottle and letting it soak overnight can help get rid of stubborn scents. If soap and water do not work, try adding a squeeze or two of fresh lemon or a splash of rubbing alcohol to neutralize the perfume scent. 

Once clean and rinsed, make sure your bottle is completely dry before arranging them inside the vase with the lights. Solar or LED battery-powered strings of light work best, as they do not require an outlet and a plug, and the battery or solar pack can be hidden among the bottles. Color-changing lights can match your existing decor. Or, change the color of the lights to reflect the time of year; try orange and purple for Halloween, red and green for Christmas, or pastels for spring. 

Carefully arrange the glass bottles in layers so that they do not break; larger or heavier at the bottom, smaller or lighter at the top. Since luxury perfume bottles tend to be weighted, it may take some playing around to find the perfect combination of style and balance. If you are saving a discontinued perfume bottle, make sure it face out to show it off. If brand names are not a concern, fit what looks best. Wind the string lights around the inside of the container starting at the base, then add a layer of bottles. Repeat and circle the string through the bottles to fully capture the subtle light reflecting from the glass.