I need suggestions on opening an antique stopper top perfume bottle?

The stopper is a glass crystal which twists open. I've tried every scientific way I know of to open this. So I would like some suggestions?





It's an antique perfume which has never been opened. I'm not wanting to keep the bottle closed as I intend to use the perfume. I bought this on Ebay, and so far it appears to be in good condition.I need suggestions on opening an antique stopper top perfume bottle?
I have a couple of ideas that might work. I mix perfumes and often use vintage bottles to store them; I've run across the problem before.





Running it under warm water sometimes works.





You can try using a salt and oil mixture where the stopper meets the neck of the bottle..sometimes the salt loosens any congealed perfume and the oil helps penetrate the bond between the stopper and the neck.





If that doesn't work and if the bottle is thick and in good shape, try putting it in the fridge overnight. If the bottle is fragile or really old, or the glass is thin, chilling it might break the neck, so only do this if it's a thick solid neck on the bottle.





If the neck is too thin, or the bottle is too nice to risk the fridge, try warning up a small damp towel in the microwave and wrapping it around the neck of the bottle for a few minutes. It may take several tries, but this usually works with most bottles..the moist heat often works well to loosen the joint.I need suggestions on opening an antique stopper top perfume bottle?
Thank you for BA, and good luck with your bottle. I have an antique bottle of hair lavender (for men, lol) that has a metal lid, and I've had no luck with any of these methods. I guess Report Abuse

Welcome... I remember the hair lavender for men from when I was a little girl. I'm fascinated by antique bottles. I have a collection of antique perfumes I never use, but I've been hoping to use this one. :) Report Abuse

Those suggestions given are very good ones.





I would also suggest vinegar because the glass edges in the stopper were designed to mesh together, and they have probably mingled with perfume as the liquid expanded, contracted or tilted over time. If the perfume can be dislodged from the bonding, the glass edges on the stopper and bottle may unmesh. Only use a bit of vinegar at a time over days, since on the chance it works, you don't want your perfume contaminated.
This is one of the problems with ground glass stoppers, if you don't open them occasionally they will freeze. The only way I know of to reliably open one is to place it in a sonicator bath and sonicate it for a few minutes. A jeweler will probably have a sonicator for cleaning jewelery. If the perfume has been in the bottle long enough for the stopper to freeze I doubt that it will still be usable.
Two more ideas -





1) place in a warm water bath and apply ice to the stopper. Careful on this as it might cause a break if the water is too warm or the ice too cold





2) Coke is a slightly acidic liquid - it could disolve whatever is holding it shut.
Try a little WD40 on the stopper top.Hope this helps.