Max Baron (James Spader) is getting ready for a friend’s bachelor party. On his bathroom counter there are two bottles of Ralph Lauren Polo, an aromatic fragrance created by Carlos Benaim and launched in 1978.
Monthly Archives: April 2020
Deutschland 86 E04 (Green Book)
Brigitte Winkelmann is the BND officer who saves Martin Rauch from Libya by literally buying him. Now they are in Paris: she offers Martin to be a double agent, but he refuses. They’re also lovers and they fantasise about living together in East Germany.
In the bathroom of the Parisian flat they live in there are two interesting fragrances.
The first is the spicy-fruity Dolce Vita by Christian Dior, a creation by Pierre Bourdon and Maurice Roger. Too bad it was launched in 1994 (the show is set 8 years earlier!). I think the bottle was chosen simply as a decoration.
The other bottle is Safari by Ralph Lauren. Historically speaking, it’s another inaccuracy, because this fragrance, created by Dominique Ropion, was launched on the market in 1990. Too recent to be sitting in a Parisian bathroom in the mid 1980s.
Arabesque (1966)
There are two Guerlain perfumes in the bedroom Yasmin has in Beshraavi’s mansion.
One is the flacon chauve souris of Shalimar.
The other is a flacon bouchon coeur, but it’s hard to tell what perfume it contains, since the front sticker is not clearly visible.
Bonjour Tristesse (1958)
While Cecile (Jean Seberg) is applying sunscreen on Elsa’s shoulders, Raymond (David Niven) is reading a magazine with an interesting back cover.
A few instants later the magazine is fully visible: it’s Elle.
The back cover advertises a very popular French perfume – Soir de Paris by Bourjois. Created by Ernest Beaux (Chanel No. 5’s “dad”), it was originally launched in 1928 on the American market as Evening in Paris. Thanks to the huge success it had in the U.S., it was finally launched in Europe with a French name. The blue bottle with silver accents was designed by the painter Jean Helleu.
Endeavour S02E04 (Neverland)
Benny Topling (Oliver Lansley) has got a tin jar of Vaseline white petroleum jelly on his table.
Le Divorce (2003)
Margeeve (Stockard Channing) is checking her make-up in a golden compact by T. LeClerc.
Jade (1995)
Matt exposes Trina’s affairs by displaying pictures of them on her vanity. It’s a cruel and dramatic scene, but it gives us the chance to see some of the beauty products she uses.
The bottles of perfume are by Maitre Perfumeur et Gantier (the one at the centre of the vanity) and Annick Goutal (on the mirrored tray on the right).
There’s also a Chanel toning lotion. Something similar can be seen in a 1970s ad: at the time the product was called Lotion Tonique Refraichissante.
In the picture above there’s another Chanel product – the make-up remover Démaquillant Douceur, in the squared bottle used in the 1990s.
Compagni di scuola (1988)
Federica (Nancy Brilli) is a glamourous woman who invites her high-school class mates to her beautiful mansion 15 years after their diploma. They will reminisce the best years of their lives but also bitterly reflect on their present. The opening sequence is set in the hostess’ bedroom, where’s she’s applying her make-up.
The first object that captures the attention is Giorgio Beverly Hills, the tuberose bomb created by Bob Aliano in 1981. This perfume, so popular in the 1980s, makes us understand Federica is one who doesn’t shy away from bold fashion and fragrance statements.
On the dressing table there’s also a bottle of Christian Dior clear nail polish.
The guests soon arrive at Federica’s villa, but she’s still in her bedroom. She will soon go downstairs to meet her friends, but in this short scene we can take another look at her vanity.
The miniature bottle by the mirror is Azzaro 9 by Loris Azzaro, another white floral fragrance launched in 1984.
The round box with gold accents and hot pink cap is Yves Saint Laurent Paris perfumed body cream.
The Boys in the Band (1970)
Michael (Kenneth Nelson) buys some toiletries for Donald (Frederick Combs), so he can have his own toothbrush, soap and hairspray without using his host’s.
The “sandalwood soap” Michael buys is by Elizabeth Arden. In the cabinet there’s also a Bain de Soleil spray sunscreen (or after-sun lotion).
In the bathroom we can also see a bottle of Dickinson’s witch hazel.
Klute (1971)
Bree Daniels (Jane Fonda) is a busy girl: she’s an aspiring actress and model who lives in New York and is always tight on money, so she works as a call girl, too. Her flat is tiny but perfectly shows her personality. Her bedside table and vanity are visible for some moments and this gives the audience the chance to see what’s sitting on them.
On her bedside table there’s a jar of Pond’s cold cream. The leaf logo is positioned at the centre of the front label, but I couldn’t find any picture of this exact jar.
On the vanity there’s a large perfume bottle. The bottle and the stopper are decorated with a houndstooth motif, so it’s a Christian Dior eau de toilette or eau de cologne. The front label is not visible, so it’s impossible to know the fragrance actually present on set [1]. It could be Miss Dior (created by Paul Vacher and Jean Carles in 1947), Diorissimo (the lily-of-the-valley classic by Edmond Roudnitska launched in 1956), Diorama (another Roudnitska creation from 1948) or even Diorling (a chypre creation by Paul Vacher launched in 1963). I think Bree would wear Diorling, the most modern among the aforementioned fragrances. What is your guess?
[1] In case you were wondering why Diorella isn’t among my guesses: it was launched in 1972, one year after the film was released. Diorella would be such a perfect match for Bree!
World Wide Aura 