Ultra Rare Henri Jonas ROSE Quintessence Antique Bottle

This 19th century antique bottle measures 4 inches tall. An advertisement for this bottle (sold by First-Class grocers in every town from the Atlantic to the Pacific) dated 1898 cannot be found on-line. There’s no other sign of this actual bottle being available anywhere.

The colourful label reads:

Warranted

JONAS

ROYAL QUINTESSENCES

MIXTURE

ROSE

Directions: Use half quantity as of any other. The Quintessences being the strongest made.

Evidently this was a food flavouring extract and not a perfume. This was a triple concentrated extract which was, according to a trade publication, “fully equal to the finest in the world”.

The back of the bottle is embossed:

Henri Jonas & Co.

Montreal

Established 1870

Contents 2 1/2 FL. OZ.

The bottle has withstood the ravages of time impressively. It’s in near perfect condition and, as such, it’s perfect for bottle collectors or discriminating kitchen decorators.

The word quintessence means “The very core of being” or “the most perfect manifestation of quality”.

What Rose extract taste like? Is this the last one of its kind in existence – a quintessential collectible?