All posts by Born Unicorn

Pedantic archivist of beauty products in films and tv shows
perfumes in tv shows

Pose S03E01 (On the Run)

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In 1994 Pray Tell (Billy Porter) works as sales assistant in the cosmetic department at Macy’s.

A factice bottle of Christian Dior Dolce Vita is displayed. This is an accurate choice because the woody fragrance, created by Pierre Bourdon and Maurice Roger, was launched exactly in 1994.

On the right side of the counter there’s also a bottle of Bijan by Bijan, a white floral eau de toilette created by Peter Bohm and launched in 1986.

Pray Tell is spraying Chanel No. 5 on customers and advertises the iconic product as a perfume that can “reawaken that passion.”

He’s spraying the eau de parfum, the 1986 version by Jacques Polges of the original fragrance created by Ernest Beaux in 1921.

perfumes in movies

Sunset Boulevard (1950)

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While perfume lovers and professionals still believe the urban legend according to which a bottle of Caron Narcisse Noir appears on Norma Desmond’s vanity (it doesn’t), no one has ever taken the time to see what’s actually on that table.

Well, I have and I love what I’ve found – three Lucien Lelong bottles!

Right under the round standing mirror on Norma’s left there’s a short bottle with bow-like stopper: it’s Jabot, launched in 1939.

If we move to the left side of the table, there’s a tall balloon bottle containing Balakaïka eau de cologne, launched in 1939.

When Norma stands up, we can see a golden bottle of Orgueil on a small table on the far left. This Jean Carles fragrance was launched in 1946.

I don’t think my passion for Lelong perfumes is a mystery: I’ve written about them many times and I find their bottle designs very distinctive and original. Seeing some of them on such an iconic dressing table really makes sense: it shows us that Norma Desmond is a fragrance lover and supposedly uses more than one fragrance, as shown by the several bottles sitting on the table (I haven’t been able to identify them all).

Now another question pops up: if we assume she is wearing a Lucien Lelong perfume in this famous scene, what perfume is it? Where does the infamous tuberose come from? It could be from Orgueil, which, according to Basenotes, includes tuberose in its heart notes, along with carnation, iris, jasmine, rose, clove and nutmeg.

perfumes in movies

Sette volte donna (1967)

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The protagonist of the episode At the Opera is Eve (Shirley MacLaine), a woman with a fashion emergency that ensues when her rival, Madame Lisari, gets photographed in a dress that Eve believed to be a unique piece.

The perfume bottle on her dressing table is Hermès Calèche, a 1961 floral fragrance created by Guy Robert.

perfumes in tv shows

The Golden Girls (1985-1992)

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The bedroom of Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClanahan) has often been under the spotlight for its distinctive palm leaf wallpaper and the exquisite pink and green decor. But let’s not forget the many perfume bottles on her vanity.

In the screencap above, there’s a splash bottle of Delagar Royal Dove cologne, housed in a bottle with pink bird stopper. The design was clearly inspired by Nina Ricci L’air du temps, housed in the dove-topped bottle created by Marc Lalique in 1951.

This floral fragrance, now discontinued, was launched in 1982.

Picture source.

stars' vanities/make-up cases/cabinets in real life

Hubert de Givenchy’s Perfume Corner (2018)

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In 2018 the legendary founder of the Givenchy maison gave a rare interview to the Financial Times‘ journalist Nick Foulkes. The article included pictures of the designer’s residence, Château du Jonchet, located in Northern France.

I’m thankful to the photographer Dylan Thomas for snapping the picture above, which shows the fragrances the designer used.

I’m not surprised to see one of the most beautiful rechargable bottles by Guerlain, Le Sucrier de Madame, designed by Robert Goossens and first introduced in 1980 to house the maison’s eaux de toilette.

A massive bottle of Monsieur de Givenchy takes centre stage. The citrus aromatic fragrance, created by Francis Fabron, was launched in 1959.

The white bottle with gold accents is another Guerlain product: it’s the deodorant of L’Heure Bleue.

The last bottle is another Givenchy best-selling fragrance – Ysatis. One of the most distinctive scents of the 1980s, it was created by Dominique Ropion and launched in 1984.

Thanks to Alindri for the IDs.

Picture source.

perfumes in movies

Gli indifferenti (2020)

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Lisa (Giovanna Mezzogiorno) and Maria Grazia (Valeria Bruni Tedeschi) have been close friends for a long time, but things are changing: Maria Grazia accuses Lisa of having an affair with her boyfriend.

The conversation they’re having in this scene is very harsh and unpleasant, but, by contrast, it takes place in a very chic and civilized setting – the perfume shop where Lisa works.

The perfume on the table in front of them is Xerjoff Casamorati Gran Ballo, which Maria Grazia will buy to wear at a masked ball later in the film. This white floral eau de parfum was launched in 2013.

perfumes in movies

Madame Claude (2021)

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When Madame Claude (Karol Rocher) first meets Virginie (Liah O’Prey), she takes her into the office bathroom to teach her the general rules of personal hygiene.

On the washbasin there’s a Guerlain refillable atomiser of Shalimar.

Later, Madame is taking a bath in her own apartment. On a glass shelf above the washbasin there’s another atomiser of Shalimar, which means the classic fragrance by Guerlain is her signature scent.

Thanks to cedriceccentric for the id.