Lancôme Advanced Génifique youth activating concentrate can be seen reflected in the tri-fold mirror on Alma’s dressing table.
The selection of this prop is not surprising: Julia Roberts has been a brand ambassador since 2009.
Right in front of Alma (Julia Roberts) we can see a Mason Pearson boar bristle and nylon hair brush.
There’s a tube of Avène soothing eye contour cream on Alma’s bedside table.
In this episode Katherine (Jodi Long) gets temporarily hired as a sales assistant at the cosmetics counter at Drummonds, which happens to be the same shop where her daughter Margaret (Margaret Cho) works. Katherine and her husband Benny run a bookshop together, but the cosmetics counter is a whole new experience for her.
The episode aired on October 26th, 1994, and it feels like a time capsule: the bottles sitting on the counter truly give a precise idea of the fragrance trends in that part of the decade.
We can’t really tie Nina Ricci L’air du temps to a specific time, because it’s a timeless fragrance, but it’s still nice to see the beautiful dove-topped bottle here. This floral spicy fragrance, created by Francis Fabron, was launched in 1948.
Another Ricci fragrance – Nina – makes its appearance here. This powdery aromatic creation by Christian Vacchiano was launched in 1987.
A sign of the times was definitely the heart-shaped bottles of Escada Margaretha Ley, a white floral fragrance created by Michel Almairac and launched in 1990.
Another sign of the times are the several Bijan bottles seen on and below the counter. Different fragrances and formulations, one brand: founded in 1976 by the Persian designer Bijan Pakzad and by his business partner Dar Mahboubi, Bijan is a men’s fashion house that first established a boutique in Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, and later in New York. International politicians and celebrities wore Bijan clothes, but the brand successfully branched out by producing fragrances, too.
The trademark ring-shaped bottle we can see on the counter is Bijan Women eau de parfum, a white floral fragrance by Peter Bohm launched in 1986.
Below the counter we can see two versions of Bijan Men eau de toilette, an aromatic fragrance by Claudette Belnavis launched in 1987. Both of them have a spiral fluted stopper, but one is made of There’s the clear glass version and the one made of frosted glass.
The small bottle sitting among the bottles of Bijan Men is the pure perfume/extrait of Bijan Women.
Kathryn (Cate Blanchett) is getting dressed for dinner at home. She’s putting on a pair of earrings (a gift from her husband) while sitting at her dressing table, where we can see different make-up products and fragrance bottles.
The one she reaches for and sprays on her wrists has a peculiar stopper.
It’s The Revenge of Lady Blanche by Penhaligon’s, a green floral fragrance by Daphné Bugey launched in 2016.
Among the other bottles on the table, I can see Yves Saint Laurent Y eau de toilette and two fragrances from the Replica collection by Maison Margiela. Funny how the prop master decided not to “discard before use” the plastic stoppers on the Margiela fragrances.
Y is a fresh spicy fragrance by Dominique Ropion launched in 2017. The Margiela fragrances remain unknown because the front labels are not visible.
A skincare product that makes a brief appearance in a waste paper bin is Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine cream.
Thanks to Jane Daly and Jo for submitting this post.
Eleanor (June Squibb) is 94 years old and is back in New York, after living many years in Florida. Adjusting to city life is not easy, but going out and keeping active will help her make new friends. I love that she still takes care of herself by getting manicures and pedicures, and by applying make-up whenever she goes out.
In the scene above, set in her grandson’s bedroom (temporarily her own bedroom), we can see a tube of L’Oreal Age Perfect BB Cover hydrating serum.
Later in the film, on the same desk seen previously, a drop bottle of Ilia super serum skin tint makes its appearance.
When Nora first invites Max (James Spader) over, we can see a bottle of Coty Lady Stetson in her bathroom. This woody floral fragrance was launched in 1986.
Thanks to Rivka for the id.
There are two nail polishes by Revlon in Ava’s bathroom.
There’s also MAC Studio Fix compact powder foundation.
Farah Al Qasimi is an artist and musician from the United Arab Emirates living in New York who documents through photography, video and performance gender, colonialism and taste.
In 2020 she took this portrait of Noora, a woman sitting in her bedroom, in front of a mirrored vanity, surrounded by her belongings – mostly skincare products, fragrances and dolls. Her mother (or a relative) affectionately looks at her while lying on her bed.
Here are the products I have identified.
On the left side of the upper counter of the vanity there’s a pump bottle of Wine & Roses anti-aging body serum by the Thai brand Erb.
Next, a bottle of Gucci Flora, a floral fragrance launched in 2009.
The blue bottle with golden details is Versace Dylan Blue, a floral fruity fragrance by Calice Becker and Natalie Gracia-Cetto, launched in 2017.
The bottle with gold metal details is Noora perfume oil by Swiss Arabian. I wonder if the woman in the portrait bought it because it has the same name as her.
There’s also a bottle of Guerlain Mon Guerlain eau de parfum, a 2017 floral woody fragrance by Thierry Wasser and Delphine Jelk.
On the far right side of the table there’s Dove Powder Soft deodorant.
Moving on to the left side of the main counter of the vanity, I can see a tube of Pantene Pro-V conditioner (old packaging) and a container of Vaseline petroleum jelly. Last, the black bottle with pink label is another Erb product – Fleurfume d’intérieur room spray in Spellbound Rose.
Thanks to Samuel for submitting this post.
This beautiful shot is part of the closing credits of the film. We can assume all these bottles and miniatures belong to Louise, who’s got a problem with compulsive shopping.
It’s a very interesting collection of mostly French fragrances from the past and from recent years.
On the far left there’s Dior J’Adore, a white floral fragrance by Calice Becker launched in 1999.
In the background there’s the distinctive black bottle of Lanvin Arpège, a floral aldehyde fragrance created by Paul Vacher and Andre Fraysse, and launched in 1927.
The tall red bottle is Kenzo Amour eau de parfum, an amber vanilla fragrance created by Daphné Bugey and Olivier Cresp, and launched in 2006.
There’s another Christian Dior fragrance: it’s Dune, an amber woody fragrance created by Jean-Louis Sieuzac, Nejla Barbir and Dominique Ropion and launched in 1991.
Right behind Dune there’s Rochas Alchimie, a floral fruity fragrance by Jacques Cavallier Belletrud launched in 1998.
The dark blue bottle with gold detail is Dior Addict, a white floral fragrance created by Thierry Wasser and Christian Dussoulier, and launched in 2002.
Moving to the foreground, there’s a miniature of Yves Saint Laurent Paris, the iconic rose fragrance by Sophia Grojsman launched in 1983.
There’s a miniature of the lovely cork-shaped bottle of Yves Saint Laurent Champagne, a fruity/powdery fragrance created by Sophia Grojsman and launched in 1993. Three years later it was renamed Yvresse because of a lawsuit filed by the Comité interprofessionnel du vin de Champagne.
There’s also a miniature of Christian Dior Poison, the spicy fruity masterpiece by Edouard Flechier and Maurice Roger launched in 1985.
Givenchy Amarige takes the centre of the shot. This is a floral fragrance by Dominique Ropion launched in 1991.
Next, there’s a miniature of Balmain Ivoire de Balmain eau de toilette, a chypre floral fragrance created by Michel Hy and Francis Camail and launched in 1979.
Moving to the right, there’s a miniature of Guerlain Insolence, a violet fragrance by Maurice Roucel and Sylvaine Delacourte launched in 2006.
The tall bottle with thimble-shaped metal stopper is Madeleine Vionnet eau de toilette, a floral fragrance that Françoise Caron created in 1996 for the historical French maison.
Lancôme Hypnôse is sitting behind it: this is a floral fragrance with gourmand notes created by Annick Menardo and Thierry Wasser, and launched in 2005.
Almost hiding in the background, on the far right, there’s the blue version of Guerlain flacon chauve souris: it houses Shalimar Soufflé de Parfum, created by Thierry Wasser and launched in 2014.
Thanks to LePetitCivet for the Dune, Alchimie and Ivoire ids.
The black tube with gold accents is Lancôme Stylocils mascara.
There’s another similar tube, which I think is a mascara or liquid eyeliner by L’Oreal, from their make-up line Corolle.
There are two perfume miniatures, too. One is Van Cleef & Arpels First, a floral aldehyde creation by Jean-Claude Ellena launched in 1976.
The second miniature is Vendetta Pour Homme by Valentino, a creation by Edouard Flechier launched in 1991.
Thanks to Alessandra for submitting this post.
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