All posts by Born Unicorn

Pedantic archivist of beauty products in films and tv shows

Der Untergang (2004)

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There’s a bottle of Lohse Uralt Lavendel cologne by the sink in Traudl Junge’s room. It’s not clear what bottle version was used here, since the camera pans to the actress and doesn’t linger on the sink. Historically speaking, it should be the one on the right (see the Gothic font), but there’s no way to know.

Thanks to AW for the id.

Charlotte Gainsbourg’s Lying with You (2017)

lyingwithyou_bornunicornThe latest music video by Charlotte Gainsbourg – Lying with You, from the album Rest – turns out to be an unexpected perfume lover mecca. Directed by Gainsbourg herself, it’s set in the apartment at 5 bis Rue de Verneuil (Paris) where her father, Serge Gainsbourg, lived. Soon to become a museum, it’s filled with objects that the French artist used and loved; among them, a massive amount of perfumes and toiletries.

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guerlainshalimaratomiser_bornunicornIn the screencap above, from left to right, there are two refillable atomisers by Guerlain – Chant d’Arômes in the white canister with leaf details and Shalimar with the blue arabesque pattern.aramis_bornunicornNext, there’s a bottle of Estee Lauder Aramis, created in 1966 by Bernard Chant.

guerlaingoutteflacon_bornunicornThe drop-shaped bottle is the flacon goutte by Guerlain. It was used for different perfumes, so it’s impossible to tell which one it contains.

lancomemagienoire_bornunicornThere’s also a bottle of Lancôme Magie Noire, created by Gerard Goupy in 1978.

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yslopiumdustingpowder1_bornunicorn.jpgThere are two body perfumes, too – the box and the shaker versions of Yves Saint Laurent Opium perfumed dusting powder.

eauxdeguerlain_bornunicornThe last bottle on the far right is the flacon abeilles by Guerlain.

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guerlainrefillableatomiser1980s_bornunicornfloridawatercologne_bornunicornThere’s another Guerlain refillable atomiser, the one made of golden metal, launched in 1982. On the far right there’s a tall bottle of Murray & Lanman Florida Water cologne, first launched in 1808.

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hermesdoblis_bornunicornsantamarianovellasoap_bornunicornIn the screencap above, there’s a bottle of Hermès Doblis, created by Guy Robert and launched in 1955. Next to it, a box of Santa Maria Novella soap: I do believe this is the vintage version of the almond soap.

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Van Cleef & Arpels Pour Homme eau de toilette 100 ml spraySerge Gainsbourg’s signature perfume – Van Cleef & Arpels Pour Homme – is featured too. It was created in 1978 by Louis Monnet.

lyingwithyou(1)_bornunicornAnother shot of the same perfume tray reveals the presence of more Guerlain products.

guerlaineauimperialeatomiser_bornunicorn.jpgThere’s the refillable atomiser of Eau Impériale.

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guerlain_mitsouko_bornunicornPlus, four flacons quadrilobes and flacons bouchon coeur.

lyingwithyou(2)_bornunicornLastly, there’s a vintage bottle of Garnier Birkin shampoo (or hair lotion). I wonder if Gainsbourg actually used it or just kept a bottle as a homage to his partner (and Charlotte’s mother) Jane Birkin.

Thanks to Vincent Legrudge for the Guerlain ids.

Picture source.

 

On the Set of “Call Me by Your Name”

I haven’t watched Call Me by Your Name by Luca Guadagnino yet, but I’ve kept the best picture from the set for last. The author is – again – Giulio Ghirardi, who gave us the perfect shot of a dressing table, covered with some fabric from the Middle East.

dioreausavage_bornunicornAmong the several perfume bottles, I’ve spotted Christian Dior Eau Sauvage, a 1966 creation by Edmond Roudnitska.

acquadiparmacolonia_bornunicornNext to it, there’s Acqua di Parma Colonia, the first fragrance of the Italian brand, created in 1916.

niveacreme_bornunicornThe blue tin unmistakably contains Nivea Creme, a product created in Germany but incredibly popular in Italy.

acquadiroseroberts_bornunicornAnother quintessentially Italian product is Roberts Acqua distillata alle rose, a toner first created in 1867.

gloriavanderbiltperfume_bornunicornLast but not least, there’s a bottle of Vanderbilt by Gloria Vanderbilt, a huge commercial success created by Sophia Grojsman in 1982. It’s impossible not to have a memory of it, if you were born in the 1970s/1980s: this white floral fragrance was everywhere!

Picture source.

Death on the Nile (1978)

deathonthenile_bornunicorn.pngLinnet Ridgeway’s bedroom/boudoir is lavishly furnished in white and decorated with colorful glass, mirrors and marble. Several French perfumes are sitting on her vanity, a natural extension of her flawless style.

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lanvinmysin_bornunicornThe first bottle that has caught my attention is the Lanvin boule on the left. It’s unclear what perfume it contained, because the French maison used the same bottle for two different perfumes, Arpege (created by Andre Fraysse in 1927) and My Sin (called Mon Péché in French, created by the mysterious Madame Zed in 1924). The film is set in the 1930s, so it’s plausible for both to sit on that vanity.

lanvinarpegetalc_bornunicornThe same thing can be said for the black bottle on the right, containing Lanvin talcum powder. It could be Arpege or My Sin.

shalimarvintagead_bornunicornThe Guerlain chauve souris bottle unmistakably contained Shalimar, created by Jacques Guerlain in 1925.

guerlainliu_bornunicornGuerlain Liu black flacon tabatiere with gold accents is in tune with the Art Deco vibe in Linnet’s bedroom. The perfume was created by Jacques Guerlain in 1929.

Thanks to Karen Hatch for the id.

Logan Lucky (2017)

loganlucky_bornunicorn (1)Mellie Logan (Riley Keough) uses almost exclusively Tigi Bed Head products at the hair salon where she works. Starting from the farthest table to the nearest, I’ve spotted the following:

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Two cans of Superstar Queen for a Day thickening spray, one on both tables

tumblr_n2yddntlwo1sm54eyo3_400A round bottle of Small Talk energizing cream

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A pump bottle of Dumb Blonde violet-toning shampoo, perfect for the Purple Lady (Rebecca Koon)

tigibedhead_elasticateshampooconditioner_bornunicorn.jpgA bottle of Elasticate shampoo (or conditioner)

tigibedhead_flexiheadhairspray_bornunicornA can of Flexi Head strong flexible hold hairspray

tigibedhead_straightenout_bornunicornA bottle of Straighten Out straightening cream

tigibedhead_controlfreakserum_bornunicornA bottle of Control Freak serum

tigibeadhead_maxxedouthairspray_bornunicornA bottle of Maxxed-Out massive hold hairspray

aquanet_superhold_bornunicornThe odd one out here is a pink can of Aqua Net super-hold hairspray

tigibedhead_mindblowerhairdryer_bornunicornEven the pink hairdryer is by Tigi: it’s the Mind Blower hairdryer

 

Death on the Nile (1978)

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guerlainflaconmontre_bornunicornI wonder if Monsieur Poirot (Peter Ustinov) noticed the massive Guerlain flacon montre sitting on a shelf in Linnet Ridgeway’s bathroom, while inspecting the heiress’ cabin on the Karnak steamer. Too bad the front sticker was scratched out: we will never know what cologne she used.

Using a flacon montre here is not 100% accurate: if we assume the novel is set before 1937 (year in which it was published), the choice is not accurate because this bottle was introduced on the same year. In any case, this is another example of “partial inconsistency:” this bottle was not available at the time in which the story was set, but it was at the time in which the film was shot.