26 Sunday Jul 2020
Posted in Film/TV and Scent
I read this morning that legendary Hollywood actress Olivia de Havilland has just died at the age of 104. May she always live on through her films!
I couldn’t remember offhand whether Ms. de Havilland had any particular interest in perfume, so I checked, and: yes. She did.
Continue reading11 Thursday Jun 2020
Posted in Perfume Bottles
via Los Angeles Times Photo Collection, UCLA
The London Cosmetics Museum just posted this photograph of actress Hattie McDaniel (1893-1952) in their Instagram feed, to commemorate McDaniel’s birthday.
I’ve never seen this image before, and I love it — especially now that I’ve read the original caption assigned to it by the Los Angeles Times: “‘God first, my work next — and a man last!’ That’s Hattie McDaniel, who’s free, forty, and famous.”
And what’s that perfume on her dressing table?
07 Sunday Apr 2019
Posted in Perfume Bottles
Portrait of Billie Holiday and her dog Mister, New York, N.Y., ca. June 1946, William P. Gottlieb Collection, Library of Congress)
April 7th is Billie Holiday’s birthday! “Lady Day” was born on this day in 1915 (and died in 1959, far too young).
I’ve been listening to her music since my early twenties but I never thought to wonder, until today: what was her favorite perfume?
16 Monday Jul 2018
Posted in Uncategorized
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Bowie and Iman in 1990 (Photo by Ron Galella)
To say that I’ve spent most of 2018 (to date) immersed in all things David Bowie would be an understatement.
That situation is about to change, but I can’t help writing one post here about Iman, the model and entrepreneur who was his wife from 1992 until his death in 2016. I could spend all day looking at photos of them together, but I’ll try to keep this post short and sweet and scent-related.
12 Monday Mar 2018
Posted in Art and Scent
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Photograph by Mick Rock, 1973
I’ve been immersed in all things Bowie lately, and I’m staring at these photos by Mick Rock for the hundredth time and feeling as frustrated as I did when I first saw them.
Here’s a recent quote about Bowie from Mick Rock:
“I have loads of pictures of him backstage getting himself ready, in ridiculous extravagant costumes, having a drink in a plastic cup,” Mr. Rock said. After Bowie traveled to Japan and met Kabuki performers, “his makeup got even more exotic. This Japanese makeup was like little pots, there was a lot of little powders involved, all carefully laid out, ready to go,” before a show, “along with the cigarette packs, and maybe a banana or two.” (The New York Times, March 5, 2018) … Continue reading
