Mozart in the Jungle S02E03 (It All Depends on You)

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patriciawexler_intensiveyecream_bornunicornWhen Rodrigo (Gael García Bernal) is thrown out of his apartment, he stays at Gloria’s. While she’s taking a shower, he goes through the beauty products sitting on her dressing table. Most of them are face creams and lotions. The small purple jar on the right is the intensive 3-in-1 eye cream by Patricia Wexler M.D. 

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wexler_whitejar_bornunicornHe takes one cream jar and puts some on his face. It’s another Wexler product: it could be the universal anti-aging moisturizer or the skin-brightening daily moisturizer.

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cobigelow_menthabodybuffer_bornunicorn cobigelow_lemonleafbodybutter_bornunicorn cobigelow_lemontreatment_bornunicorncobigelow_lemonbodylotion_bornunicornOn the dressing table there’s also a tube of Hada Labo Tokyo hydrating facial cleanser and four C.O. Bigelow products: Mentha smoothing body buffer in the green tube on the left, Lemon Leaf ultra-soft body butter in the jar with black lid, Lemon hand treatment and Lemon body lotion in the pump bottle on the right.

Thanks to a reader for the Hada Labo Tokyo id and to my friend Jennifer for the C.O. Bigelow ids.

Deutschland 83 E01 (Quantum Jump)

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tafthairspray_bornunicornMartin Rauch is an East German soldier who is recruited to become a spy in West Germany. His mentor, Professor Tobias Tischbier, introduces him to the different lifestyle, products and vocabulary on the other side of the Wall. His “lessons” include beauty products. Florena was an East German beauty brand; among its products, the hairspray Action and the deodorant Lidos. On the other hand, Schwarzkopf 3 Wetter Taft was extremely popular on the Western market.

Deutschland 83 E05 (Cold Fire)

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In this episode there are two references to Mäurer & Wirtz 4711, the original Echt Kölnisch WasserThe scene above is set in Cologne central station: while Martin Rauch is taking a train to East Berlin, we can see huge neon letters spelling the name of the eau de cologne.

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In another scene, the iconic Molanus bottle can be seen in the desk drawer of Frau Netz (Michaela Caspar), General Edel’s secretary. When she opens the drawer, we can see the bottle and a copy of the magazine Der Spiegel (June 6th, 1983 issue). The cover title – Deadly Disease AIDS, the Mysterious Illness – is connected to the plot:  a member of the pacifist movement, Felix von Schwerin, is actually ill with AIDS; he may have infected Tobias Tischbier and, as a consequence, Alex Edel.

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Ursula Edel, the General’s wife, pays a visit to his office and gives Frau Netz a certificate of medical leave of absence for her son Alex. This is ironic: in that moment, Alex is not ill (he has temporarily left the army, trying to fight his father’s influence with a grand gesture which will end up tragically), but he may be, even if he doesn’t know it yet. Besides the fact that Frau Netz doesn’t shake Ursula’s hand, she reacts to the woman’s departure from the office by cleaning her hands with a handkerchief soaked in 4711 cologne. Known for its revitalising and relaxing effects, this cologne is commonly used as hand sanitizer, too.

Edward Petherbridge’s Dressing Table (2010)

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kryolan_cakemakeup_bornunicornthebodyshop_coconutoilhairshine_bornunicornA bottle of CK Be, vitamin E face mist and a cushion pin large hairbrush by The Body Shop, Kryolan cake make-up and The Body Shop coconut oil hair shine can be seen on the dressing table of Edward Petherbridge.

The picture was taken by Dora Petherbridge (Edward’s daughter) at the Duchess Theatre in London in July 2010, when the actor was appearing in The Fantasticks.

Thanks to my friend Jennifer for the face mist id.

I Capture the Castle (2003)

icapturethecastle_bornunicorn (7)Cassandra and Rose Mortmain go to a luxury department store in London to get two fur coats their aunt Millicent left them as inheritance. Before getting to the right floor, Rose wanders in the perfume and fashion accessory department. Some Guerlain perfumes are displayed in a glass case: they are Shalimar and Véga.

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guerlainvega_bornunicornThe selection is historically accurate: the film is set in the 1930s, a decade during which both perfumes had been released. Shalimar was launched in 1925 and Véga in 1926.

American Horror Story S05E11 (Battle Royale)

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americanhorrorstory_s05e11_battleroyale_bornunicorn (5)The showdown between the Countess (Lady GaGa) and Ramona Royale (Angela Bassett) opens with a conversation on what they smell like. From the Countess’ remark we learn that Ramona wears Guerlain Shalimar and that her blood smells like walnuts. On the other hand, the Countess’ blood smells like black licorice.

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Ramona’s perfume of choice doesn’t come as a surprise: created by Jacques Guerlain in 1925, this alluring perfume is among the most famous oriental fragrances. Its top notes include vanilla, leather, bergamot, lemon; the middle notes are jasmine, rose, vanilla, orris, patchouli, vetiver, incense, civet; the base notes are vanilla, tonka bean and musk.

If you want to learn more about this iconic perfume, read this amazing post by Monsieur Guerlain.

Jupiter Ascending (2015)

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vancleefandarpels_midnightinparis_bornunicornvancleefandarpels_oriens_bornunicornTwo Van Cleef & Arpels perfumes can be seen in the scene introducing the protagonist, Jupiter Jones. The blue bottle is Midnight in Paris, a balsamic fragrance created by Domitille Bertier and Olivier Polge; the one with the faceted stopper is Oriens, a perfume combining vetiver, raspberry and praline, created by Bernard Ellena. Both perfumes were launched in 2010.

Screencap source.

A growing archive of beauty products and perfumes in movies and tv shows