In this episode Katherine (Jodi Long) gets temporarily hired as a sales assistant at the cosmetics counter at Drummonds, which happens to be the same shop where her daughter Margaret (Margaret Cho) works. Katherine and her husband Benny run a bookshop together, but the cosmetics counter is a whole new experience for her.

The episode aired on October 26th, 1994, and it feels like a time capsule: the bottles sitting on the counter truly give a precise idea of the fragrance trends in that part of the decade.

We can’t really tie Nina Ricci L’air du temps to a specific time, because it’s a timeless fragrance, but it’s still nice to see the beautiful dove-topped bottle here. This floral spicy fragrance, created by Francis Fabron, was launched in 1948.

Another Ricci fragrance – Nina – makes its appearance here. This powdery aromatic creation by Christian Vacchiano was launched in 1987.

A sign of the times was definitely the heart-shaped bottles of Escada Margaretha Ley, a white floral fragrance created by Michel Almairac and launched in 1990.

Another sign of the times are the several Bijan bottles seen on and below the counter. Different fragrances and formulations, one brand: founded in 1976 by the Persian designer Bijan Pakzad and by his business partner Dar Mahboubi, Bijan is a men’s fashion house that first established a boutique in Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, and later in New York. International politicians and celebrities wore Bijan clothes, but the brand successfully branched out by producing fragrances, too.

The trademark ring-shaped bottle we can see on the counter is Bijan Women eau de parfum, a white floral fragrance by Peter Bohm launched in 1986.

Below the counter we can see two versions of Bijan Men eau de toilette, an aromatic fragrance by Claudette Belnavis launched in 1987. Both of them have a spiral fluted stopper, but one is made of There’s the clear glass version and the one made of frosted glass.

The small bottle sitting among the bottles of Bijan Men is the pure perfume/extrait of Bijan Women.