Understanding these glass tubes requires examining the social context of the 1950s to 1970s—a period of post-war prosperity, booming consumerism, and Hollywood-inspired glamour. Personal grooming and fashion were highly emphasized, and people sought convenient, elegant ways to enhance their appearance. This cultural backdrop helps explain the emergence of innovative personal care products like the glass tubes discovered in the bathroom remodel.
A likely explanation is that these tubes are vintage perfume ampules. Mid-20th-century perfume makers responded to the demand for portable, single-use fragrances by creating small glass vials containing concentrated perfume. These ampules allowed users to carry their favorite scent easily, without the bulk of a full-sized bottle, with the sealed glass preserving the fragrance’s potency over time.Continue reading…
