Hermès’s origins as a luxe saddlery have inspired several fragrances for the brand, including Calèche (for women) and Equipage (for men), both named for types of horse-drawn carriages. Galop’s name is, of course, an action rather than a vehicle. And its bottle, inspired by an essential piece of riding equipment, is a nod to the company’s history: it’s modeled after a limited edition design produced in 1930 for the opening of Hermès’s first New York City boutique.

The original stirrup-shaped containers, filled with a now-unknown perfume created for Hermès by the Lenthéric fragrance house, were gifted to VIP guests and journalists at the boutique opening celebration. The remaining piece in the Hermès archive is damaged but still looks remarkably contemporary.

In Galop’s bottle (which holds a new perfume developed by Christine Nagel), the gleaming metal and transparent glass are punctuated by a knotted loop of narrow leather cord, supple yet durable. This bottle calls out to be handled and dangled rather than just displayed on a dressing table. 

In the print ads and commercials for Galop, a lithe, barefoot model runs, twists, and leaps across a bare expanse of sandy ground. The implication is clear: the woman who chooses Galop isn’t waiting around for a ride—she’s going places under her own horsepower. This bottle is a glass stirrup, after all, not a glass slipper.

Sources: Dickens, Katie. “Hermès Introduces The Most Hermès-Y Fragrance Ever.” Elle, September 21, 2016.“Fragrance bottles: a decade of design innovation.” *wallpaper, March 21, 2018.