After being among the protagonists of the third episode, Marilyn Miglin (Judith Light) is featured in the season finale, too. As a businesswoman incredibly devoted to her job, she never misses her obligations, even when she gets the news that Andrew Cunanan has killed Gianni Versace.
In the scene where she’s working on tv, lots of products of her brand can be seen. Most of them are from the Destiny line.
There are some fragrances, too: the pink Pyjama Lily, the column-like bottle of Pheromone Musk, a bottle of Magic (more about it later) and Passionate.
Finally, the faceted bottle at the top right part of the picture is Destiny Callalily.
Magic is something special. Marilyn explains it’s the fragrance someone like her father (who died when she was young) would give to someone like her mother (who took care of her family by herself) as a love token. The scene is very touching and beautifully emphasizes how positive feelings can still be true, despite the senseless tragedy of this world.
There’s a bottle of Polo by Ralph Lauren eau de toilette on Andrew Cunanan’s dresser. The aromatic fragrance, launched in 1978, was created by Carlos Benaim.
The perfume that has been mentioned and seen in the show several times – Drakkar Noir by Guy Laroche – appears at a fashion photoshoot in New York, where David Meyers is working as assistant.
There’s a bottle of Cacharel Anais Anais perfume in the bathroom where Karen (Gage Golightly) is crying, not sure whether to marry Barry or not. It’s unclear if the girl is wearing this perfume, but it would be perfect for her. I personally see this white floral, created in 1978 by Roger Pellegrino, Robert Gonnon, Paul Leger and Raymond Chaillan, as one of the most romantic fragrances ever.
Vespertine is the name of the latest perfume created by Sebastian Fenix. It’s a fictional perfume, but there’s more to it. The yellow flower on the label is reminiscent of the datura flower in bloom. Not coincidentally, datura is a vespertine flower, meaning that it blooms in the evening. Furthermore, it’s a poisonous flowering plant, a nod to the shady perfumer who created the aforementioned fragrance.
The tragedy which struck the life of the Chicago businesswoman Marilyn Miglin (her husband, the tycoon Lee Miglin, was killed by Andrew Cunanan in 1997) is told in the third episode of the tv show. Marilyn, famous for Pheromone [1], thrived in the fragrance and skincare field, so much that the brand is still on the market.
The opening scene sees the protagonist (Judith Light) on television, selling her products. The key product is the aforementioned Pheromone, which appears all through the episode. Launched in 1978, it’s based on the concept of customised fragrance: it “reacts to your body’s chemistry, creating a highly distinguishable custom fragrance,” recites the brand website.
The same bottle appears twice, in scenes set in front of Marilyn’s vanity. Miniature bottles of Miglin fragrances – Pheromone, Jasmin and Musk – can be seen, too.
In the closing scene, set again at a television studio, other Miglin products appear.
The square box contains the Pheromone Allure gift set, which includes the Luxurious body moisture, a bottle of eau de parfum and a refillable purse spray.
We can also see another fragrance gift set, which includes Midnight (brown bottle), Pheromone (clear bottle), Pheromone Red (red bottle), Fo-Ti-Tieng (green bottle), Lace (white bottle) and Destiny (clear bottle).
[1] If you want to learn more about Pheromone, read this post by Barbara Herman.
Franca Valeri is one of the most popular and talented Italian actresses. I’ve always loved her irony, her poised glamour and nonconformity. Imagine my delight when I found this clip from a 1963 tv documentary: the camera goes along the famous via Montenapoleone in Milan, and Franca (born in Milan) comments. The windows of a perfume shop are filmed, showing an array of Guerlain and Rochas perfumes.
Flacons montres and bouchon coeur flacons with their parquet boxes can be seen.
In the second window there are three versions of Rochas Madame Rochas: the Eau de Toilette (with the metal stopper), the Eau de Cologne (with the white plastic stopper) and the refillable atomiser.
A growing archive of beauty products and perfumes in movies and tv shows