In the early 1950s, automatic machines became very popular in the United States, which, for a small fee, allowed you to perfume yourself with one of the fragrances presented in these machines. They were called the Perfumatic. These perfumery sprayers were often found in the ladies' rooms of luxury hotels and restaurants, as well as at gas stations or regular snack bars.
Perfumatic is a vending machine that offers a choice of perfume or cologne. For the sake of justice, it should be noted that such a machine is used not only as a perfumery dispenser but also for the sale of perfumes. As a rule, the sprayer is filled with 3-5 types of fragrances. Most often it is a classic or popular at the moment cologne or perfume. American perfumery devices of the 1950s and 60s offered, for example, perfumes such as Lentheric Tweed, Tabu from the brand Dana, Sortilege - a cult perfume of the house of Le Galion, as well as Shalimarot Guerlain and, of course, Chanel No 5.
How does Perfumatic work? After the payment (with a coin or note in the appropriate receiver), you need to go closer to the dispenser, place your neck or wrist and choose the desired flavor by pressing a lever or a button (depending on the device).
It is considered that the first Perfumatic aroma appeared in the USA in the 1950s. One of the producers of Perfumatic was Mercury Steel Corp. However, perfumery dispensers were known in the early 20th century. In that era, modern sprayers with perfumes were distinguished by special refinement and beauty. For example, the perfumery machine of 1910 called Purity Perfume Vending Machine for only 1 penny (1 centner coin) sprayed the aroma of rose on the facade of the machine. In 1904, there was a 1 cent Michael Benedict Perfume Vendor perfumery machine made of oak, offering 3 scents. In 1916 you could find 1 cent Mills Novelty Whiffs Of Fragrance Perfume Spray Your Handkerchief in a fantasy, colorful body of oak and cast iron.
And if to go deep into the history of vending machines, the first dispenser device is fixed in Ancient Greece. Then, in 215 B.C., the first mention of the receiving coin machine was made by mathematician and hydraulic engineer Geron from Alexandria. The device invented by it accepted a coin and then sprayed a certain amount of "holy water" in the Egyptian temples. But, of course, such dispenser machines have become widespread only in the age of industrial progress, when technology has allowed making this machine more functional and cheaper.
In the Soviet Union, there were also perfumery machines. Most often, they were filled with the then-popular "Red Moscow" and cologne "Shipre" or "Triple". The cost of one "pshik" was 15 kopecks (compare, the price of bread loaf was 13 kopecks). Such vending machines in the USSR appeared in the mid-1950s and became very popular after Nikita Khrushchev's trip to the USA. After his return, the Ministry of Trade was instructed to purchase commercial vehicles. Among the 37 vehicles delivered from the U.S., France, the GDR, the Netherlands and other countries were and one American machine "for spraying with cologne. Vending perfumery machines of Soviet manufacture also existed. Some of them were made of solid wood and had a large mirror. But in quantitative terms, of course, they were losing to such favorite devices with carbonated water.
Now there is a revival of interest in vending machines and, in particular, perfume dispensers. So, for example, company Perfumevending offers devices BrandParfumSplash with five atomizers, cartridges on 30 ml of perfume and counters of "pshik". The manufacturer claims that the specified volume of perfumery corresponds to about 250 sprays. Such "perfumes" can already be found in Russia, they are in Moscow, and very soon will appear in Kazan (the project involves the installation of a dispenser machine at stops), in Tomsk and other major cities. The cost of one "pshik" is from 50 to 100 rubles. In Europe, the price for such a fragrant service is about 1 euro, and in the UK - 1 pound. "Perfumes" is planned to be equipped in the toilets in public catering, nightclubs, supermarkets, gyms, and other places visited.
The development of perfumery vending in foreign countries is interesting. For example, perfumery machines were installed in the UAE for more than 5 years ago. Essam Al Wari, a Syrian perfumer, wanted to offer not ordinary dispensers, but luxury machines worthy of the sheiks themselves. After all, it is a luxury country where you can buy even gold through vending machines! In this Arab country, where perfume is not a luxury, but a vital necessity, "perfumes" are installed in 250 mosques in 5 emirates. You can buy 3 ml of essential oil for 3 dirhams.
What aromas would you prefer to find in a perfume machine?