Category Archives: perfumes in tv shows

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The Shards S01E07 (Homecoming Pt. 2)

30 Aug 2026 Born Unicorn Leave a comment

The two Homecoming episodes have an uncharacteristic protagonist: a perfume. Giorgio Beverly Hills appears in another scene (set in Liz Schaffer’s bedroom) and is mentioned in two conversations. In this case, Robert (Homer Gere) gives it to Susan (Kaia Gerber) as a gift.

He gives her the extraordinary spray cologne version, which I cannot date with precision, but the packaging is historically accurate, at least judging by the front logo.

Susan is overjoyed: she probably sees this fragrance like everybody else did in the early/mid 1980s — a synonym for luxury and exclusivity. A box of it was spotted in her own house, but clearly she’s never had a bottle for herself.

When she sprays the perfume on her wrist, we can notice a minor mistake: the stopper is faceted, which means that this specific bottle is not the 1981 one.

This is the original bottle: you can see the stopper is smooth.

This is the bottle currently on the market: you can see that the stopper is faceted. The prop masters mixed things up here: they selected the original box and paired it to a contemporary bottle. Weird choice.

Robert has been flirting with Susan since he first met her, so it’s not surprising that he rubs her wrist on the side of his neck: he wants to smell like her. This is not just a tactic of seduction, though, because there might be something else at play.

A possible explanation is revealed during the Homecoming ceremony, when Susan wins the title of queen, but gives it to Rhonda (Ivy Wolk). The girl smells Giorgio Beverly Hills on Susan’s wrist and finally things become clear: she sensed the same fragrance during her captivity. That’s why she accuses Susan of being her kidnapper. The truth might be darker and point towards other characters.

cosmetics in tv shows, haircare in tv shows, perfumes in tv shows

The Shards S01E07 (Homecoming Pt. 2)

30 Aug 2026 Born Unicorn Leave a comment

Liz is not the driving force behind Rhonda’s makeover, but when she decides to step in, things improve. Her speech to the future homecoming queen is an ode to confidence and self-awareness.

We have already seen several cosmetics and beauty tools on Liz’s vanity; among them, there’s also a spray can of Silkience hairspray.

The most important moment in this scene is the revelation of Liz’s new favourite fragrance: it’s Giorgio Beverly Hills, which we know her husband and his assistant wear.

Bold, loud and impossible to hide: this white floral bomb was created by Francis Camail and launched in 1981.

In the same drawer there’s a Maybelline Color Sensational lipstick, definitely not a 1980s cosmetic.

Debbie (Hayes Warner) doesn’t hide her dislike for Giorgio Beverly Hills, but thankfully Liz ignores her.

She’s happy because the fragrance is exciting, is new, and is a gift from her husband.

When Rhonda (Ivy Wolk) smells the perfume, she has a moment of realisation and recognises it as the “girlie smell” she must have sensed during her captivity.

beauty accessories in tv shows, cosmetics in tv shows, perfumes in tv shows

The Shards S01E07 (Homecoming Pt. 2)

30 Aug 2026 Born Unicorn Leave a comment

A very popular trope in teen movies is the makeover, the physical transformation of the ugly duckling into a beautiful swan. In this episode, Susan and Debbie take Rhonda under their wing, and convince her she can be the next homecoming queen. Their beauty intervention happens in the sancta sanctorum of the Schaffer’s mansion — Liz’s bedroom.

The first object the camera pans on is the infamous bottle of Versace Dylan Blue, historically inaccurate but looking good in a 1980s context.

We can also see a Revlon lipstick, although the name of the brand has been blurred.

Other two products sitting on Liz’s vanity are a spray can of Miss Breck hairspray and a bottle of Jean Naté after-bath splash.

This unusual round box contains a vintage Philips beauty set, which includes tools for shaving, manicure and pedicure.

The two tiny tubes are Maybelline lash adhesive. The tube shown above is from the 1970s, while the ones in the TV show have a more modern packaging.

The hot pink tube is Lip Smacker Piña Colada lip balm. Previously seen in Debbie’s vanity drawer, it’s the only lip colour Rhonda will accept wearing.

Fans of time travels, this is for you: there’s a Westman Atelier mirrored compact (containing Vital pressed skincare face powder) on Liz’s vanity. A product launched in 2022 makes its appearance in 1981 — a magic trick that is possible only in the fictional worlds created by Ryan Murphy.

perfumes in tv shows, skincare in tv shows

The Shards S01E05 (Murder on the Dancefloor)

21 Aug 2026 Born Unicorn Leave a comment

There are some interesting beauty products on the dressing table of Tony Cruz, the host of Dance Off!,a dancing competition for teenagers televised nationwide.

On the far left side there’s a bottle of English Leather moisturizing after shave. I couldn’t find the exact bottle, but the one above is pretty similar.

There’s also a plastic bottle of Vitalis hair tonic.

The beautiful bottle with brown stopper sitting at the centre of the table is a bit of a mystery. It houses a fragrance by Prince Matchabelli, although being more precise is impossible: the same bottle was used to contain at least three different fragrances. The one above is Cachet, a chypre floral fragrance launched in 1970.

Wind Song is a warm spicy fragrance launched in 1953.

Last but not least, Aviance, a green floral fragrance launched in 1975.

The atomiser with black and white paisley pattern is Avon Patterns, a fragrance launched in 1969.

perfume quotes in tv shows, perfumes in tv shows

The Shards S01E04 (Robert’s Party)

15 Aug 2026 Born Unicorn Leave a comment

The opening scene of the episode features Ryan (Daniel Dale) taking the audience through his morning beauty routine. It’s impossible not to notice a parallel with the most famous beauty routine scene in cinema, although comparing the two would be unkind, given the differences between Ryan (a high-school student living in Los Angeles) and Patrick Bateman (a murderous businessman living in New York). In any case, Bret Easton Ellis’ obsession with mentioning brands and listing actions in chronological order emerges again and is given a visual form.

Yves Saint Laurent Kouros is the only product that is mentioned. This aromatic fougère, created by Pierre Bourdon and launched in 1981, is first introduced in the third episode.

Ryan’s comment about Kouros is always the same (“It’s for men”): the fact that it’s a fragrance created and marketed for men, seems to give him validation.

Ryan’s bathroom cabinet speaks about his economic status, too: his family used to be wealthy, but it’s not anymore, due to wrong financial investments. It seems Kouros is the most expensive beauty item he owns.

On the left side of the mirrored cabinet we can see a drugstore after shave: it’s Louis Philippe Patrichs Pour Homme, a woody fragrance launched in 1976.

Another after shave (boxed) is on the opposite side of the cabinet: it’s English Leather Spiced, launched in 1949.

Ryan is a resourceful boy, though, so we learn about his side “hustle”: he works as a porn actor for the production company Erotica Pictures, located in San Fernando Valley, the epicentre of the burgeoning adult entertainment industry. In that working environment he gets to meet the mother of a schoolmate, none other than Liz Schaffer! We don’t know exactly what brought Liz to Erotica Pictures, but she’s set to become a new sensation with the pseudonym Cami Soul.

The Schaffers’ are a dysfunctional family, but they have something in common: an interest in fragrances. Liz commenting on the perfume Ryan is wearing parallels Debbie’s similar comment in the third episode.

Unlike Debbie, Liz knows her fragrances, though: she immediately identifies what Ryan is wearing.

perfumes in tv shows

The Shards S01E04 (Robert’s Party)

15 Aug 2026 Born Unicorn 1 Comment

Debbie (Hayes Warner) is having a rendez-vous with Ryan (Daniel Dale) at Susan’s party. On a vanity behind her there’s a box of Giorgio Beverly Hills, previously spotted on the dressing table of Debbie’s mother.

This is a realistic detail, considering the white floral fragrance created by Francis Camail was launched exactly in 1981, the year in which the story is set, and given how popular it was.

perfumes in tv shows

The Shards S01E03 (Help Me! Rhonda!)

13 Aug 2026 Born Unicorn 2 Comments

We’re back in Liz Schaffer’s bedroom. The woman’s monologue in front of the mirror openly speaks of the existential pain for being treated horribly by her husband and daughter, and for realising that the career opportunities she might have had in the past are now gone.

There’s an interesting mix of historically accurate and inaccurate fragrances on her vanity.

The bulb-like bottles on the left contain the same fragrance – Pierre Cardin Pour Monsieur by Pierre Cardin. This is a woody spicy fragrance launched in 1972. Is this what her husband Terry wears when he’s not wearing Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche? It would be interesting to know.

The white and yellow striped box brings back lots of memories! It contains Giorgio Beverly Hills, a floral fragrance by Francis Camail which was launched in 1981. This was the first fragrance I have ever received as a gift. It’s never been my cup of tea, but it still holds a special place in my heart.

The monologue is a sort of role play: Liz (Evan Rachel Wood) pretends to have just won an Oscar, and she’s giving a speech in front of a cheering audience. The statuette sitting on her table is one of the three Oscars won by her husband Terry, who interrupts her.

The blue and gold bottle in front of Liz is Versace Dylan Blue, a floral fruity fragrance created by Calice Becker and Natalie Gracia-Cetto, and launched in 2017.

Another contemporary fragrance is housed in the tall bottle behind the wine glass. It’s Chanel N°5 Eau Premiere, a floral aldehyde fragrance by Jacques Polge launched in 2008.

beauty accessories in tv shows, cosmetics in tv shows, haircare in tv shows, nail polish in tv shows, perfumes in tv shows

The Shards S01E02 (Don’t You Want Me)

8 Aug 2026 Born Unicorn 1 Comment

The opening of this scene deserves a moment of silence. This is the intricately ornate vanity of Debbie Schaffer (Hayes Warner), who’s getting ready for a night out. The “frieze” decorating the bottom of the mirror perfectly echoes the maximalist style of the early part of the decade. Honestly it’s left me speechless, because there’s a lot about the 1980s (visually speaking) that I have tried to forget over the years, but let’s move on from here.

A can of Aquanet super-hold hairspray can be seen on the table. It’s the first product she uses.

There’s a lot happening on her table, but I have managed to identify two bottles. The one with the milky white stopper is Dior Miss Dior eau de cologne; the other, with the milky white dove stopper, is Nina Ricci L’air du temps, previously seen in the pilot, although housed in a different bottle. Both choices are historically accurate: the original Miss Dior (a creation by created by Paul Vacher and Jean Carles) was launched in 1947, and the Nina Ricci fragrance (a Francis Fabron creation) was launched in 1948.

Among the nail polish bottles, there are a couple with a distinctive hexagonal cap: they are Super Nails nail polishes by Natural Wonder.

It makes sense for Debbie to own Remington 600 Super hand-held hair dryer, which came with attachments for different stylings.

When the girl opens a drawer of her table (she’s looking for something), more products can be seen.

There are several Lip Smacker lip balms, among which Blue Raspberry, Piña Colada and Kiwi. These are not vintage products, but these lip balms were first introduced in 1973 by Bonne Bell. They’re definitely a realistic choice.

Last, a Chanel compact. It’s impossible to know what it contained (pressed face powder or eye-shadows), but it’s another realistic choice. The advert above is from 1980: it promoted the make-up collection Les Provocatifs, which I haven’t been able to find more information about. In any case, in the early 1980s both pressed face powder and eye-shadow palettes were part of Chanel cosmetics collections.

cosmetics in tv shows, perfumes in tv shows

The Shards S01E02 (Don’t You Want Me)

8 Aug 2026 Born Unicorn 1 Comment

Generational rivalries and half-hidden secrets run deep in the Schaffers’ household. Debbie (Hayes Warner) and her mother Liz (Evan Rachel Wood) mirror each other: they look alike and live in a world where money and appearances matter more than anything else. “You are me,” says Liz [1] to Debbie, when the girl confronts and criticises her questionable life choices.

Whether one likes it or not, the blue and gold bottle on Liz’s vanity is Versace Dylan Blue, a floral fruity fragrance created by Calice Becker and Natalie Gracia-Cetto, and released in 2017. The prop masters of the TV show must have had a great time by planting such a blatant historical inaccuracy in a 1981 context.

Debbie storms into her mother’s bedroom because she wants her Lancôme compact back. The content of the compact is never mentioned, but we can assume it is an eyeshadow palette, because that’s what Liz is applying on her face when Debbie enters her bedroom.

I haven’t found the exact compact seen in this scene, but there’s evidence of Lancôme using red packaging (not the classic glossy black one) in the late 1970s/early 1980s. The advert above features Carol Alt: the American model became testimonial in 1979, when she was 18. She was the face of Lancôme for three years, more or less until 1981; her successor would be Isabella Rossellini. The compact she’s holding doesn’t look like the one seen in the TV show, but let’s just say it’s a realistic detail.

[1] Liz, a former model now trapped into an unhappy marriage, gives Elvira vibes, doesn’t she?