Several bottles of Issey Miyake L’Eau d’Issey eau de parfum are displayed in the luxury department store where most of the film is set.
The eau de parfum version was launched in 2006, while the original eau de toilette was launched in 1992. A Jacques Cavallier creation, it’s one of the first ozonic/aquatic perfumes which set the new trend of “clean” perfumery in the 1990s.
Frank Tassone is a superintendent in Long Island: he’s successfully brought the local high school – Roslyn High School – among the top schools of the country. He’s appreciated by his colleagues, students and parents. He’s always carefully groomed and loves using beauty products.
In the opening scene he uses Lucky You by Liz Claiborne. Launched in 2000, it’s a cheap perfume with floral and powdery accents. Maybe he’s chosen it for its name.
Frank Tassone’s bathroom perfectly mirrors his character and his love for grooming.
He uses Chapstick lip balm and Ultra Brite toothpaste.
The fragrance he uses is Ralph Lauren Safari for Men, first launched in 1992.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Olivia (Jennifer Aniston) is always tight on money: she used to work as a school teacher but now she’s a maid and doesn’t earn much. When she finishes a sample tube of moisturiser, she goes through her bathroom drawer to see if there’s anything else she can use.
On the bathroom counter we can see a bottle of Bulgari Eau Parfumée au thé vert Extreme, a stronger version of the classic citrus green fragrance created by Jean-Claude Ellena and launched in 1992.
In the drawer there’s a Givenchy compact, probably containing pressed powder.
There are also two Lancôme products: one is a sample jar of Résolution D-Contraxol, the anti-age treatment Olivia is obsessed with; the other is a carded sample of Miracle, a fresh spicy fragrance created by Alberto Morillas and Harry Fremont and launched in 2000.
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