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The Shards S01E07 (Homecoming Pt. 2)

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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)

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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.

perfume quotes in tv shows

The Shards S01E06 (Homecoming Pt.1)

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Liz (Evan Rachel Wood) has a rare moment of closeness with her husband Terry (Wes Bentley), who appreciates how she handled the meeting with the headmaster of Debbie’s school. The woman drops a question that sounds awkward to our ears, but it made sense in the early 1980s: is Terry wearing a fragrance created for and marketed to women? The question digs deeper, though, because it inevitably refers to the man’s sexual orientation.

Giorgio Beverly Hills was launched exactly in 1981: it’s a fragrance that conjured an exclusive and luxurious imagery. It was not intentionally unisex (Terry tries to find a way out by saying it is), but he admits he’s wearing it. Strange that Liz doesn’t realise it without asking, considering that a box of the same fragrance was spotted on her own dressing table.

Created by Francis Camail, Giorgio Beverly Hills was (in its original formulation) a white floral fragrance with top notes of orange blossom, apricot, peach and bergamot; middle notes of tuberose, gardenia, ylang-ylang, jasmine, orchid and rose; base notes of chamomile, vanilla, oakmoss, musk, amber, sandalwood, cedar and patchouli. In case you were wondering, it was really super intense, and very unique.

Debbie (Hayes Warner) once again serves as the younger version of her mother, but she’s way less respectful and self-aware than Liz. There’s contempt and sarcasm in her question to Steven (Jordan Roth).

His answer is loud, clear, and unapologetic: he’s wearing Giorgio.

Debbie’s comment on the fragrance and on Steven is ignorant and derogatory, which is not surprising: strict categorisation of people and things makes her feel in control, while facts tell a different story. Despite her efforts and her father’s money, she’s a sad and lost girl, who thinks she deserves everything by birth right, but gets proven wrong again and again.

It’s interesting that her reply seems to refer to two very contemporary topics: the “old lady perfume” discussion, and the broader topic of fragrance and gender.

perfumes in tv shows

The Shards S01E04 (Robert’s Party)

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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!)

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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.