Seamus Hammond
Actors have been known to use perfume to help them get into character on set. Susan Sarandon, Kirsten Dunst, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Emma Stone, Penélope Cruz, and Laura Linney are among those who use fragrance to get into a character's headspace. Some actors use a different scent for each role, and perfumers are sometimes called upon to create fragrances for specific characters. For example, Jude Law wore a blend with a human element for his role as Henry VIII, while Alicia Vikander wore a concoction based on English lavender for her role as Catherine Parr.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Actors who use perfume to get into character | Susan Sarandon, Kirsten Dunst, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Emma Stone, Penélope Cruz, Laura Linney, Jessica Chastain, Margot Robbie, Anne-Marie Duff, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Fenella Woolgar, Michael Ball, Arthur McBain, Lizzie Ostrom, Zoë Wanamaker, Jude Law, Alicia Vikander |
| Reasons for using perfume | To get into a character's headspace, to remind the actor of a story they've told, to cover up unpleasant bodily smells, to feel confident and comfortable |
| Examples of perfumes used | Chanel No 5, Guerlain Shalimar, Tabu, Madame Rochas, Bay Rum, Lavender |
| Celebrities who wear perfume | Adele, Rihanna, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Taylor Swift, Kate Middleton, Eva Longoria, Rita Ora, Amy Adams, Angelina Jolie, George Clooney, Denise Richards, Sasha Spielberg |
| Celebrities' favorite perfumes | Dior's Hypnotic Poison, Kilian Love, Don't Be Shy, Tom Ford Santal Blush, White Gardenia Petals by Illuminum, Portofino '97, Magnolia Alba from Chloé's Atelier des Fleurs line, Le Labo Thé Noir 29, Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Baccarat Rouge 540, Frédéric Malle’s Portrait of a Lady |
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What You'll Learn
Actors use perfume to get into character
The use of perfume as a character development tool can be highly effective due to the strong connection between scent and memory. The parts of the brain responsible for memory and emotional processing are linked to the olfactory cortex, which explains why certain fragrances can evoke powerful emotions and memories.
Actors may choose a specific perfume for a role based on learned associations. For instance, a body spray reminiscent of their formative years or a particular event can help them tap into a character's mindset. Some actors opt for a different scent for each role, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in the character and quickly get into the right headspace whenever they smell that particular fragrance again.
In some cases, perfumers are called upon to create custom fragrances for actors and productions. For instance, perfumer Azzi Glasser created fragrances for the cast of the film "Firebrand," including a blend of blood, pus, and rose for Jude Law's portrayal of Henry VIII, and a more palatable concoction based on English lavender for Alicia Vikander's character, Catherine Parr.
The use of scent as a tool for character development is not limited to film sets but also extends to theatre productions. Actor Michael Ball, for example, chooses a signature scent for each of his roles, such as bay rum for Sweeney Todd and Madame Rochas for Edna Turnblad in "Hairspray."
Ultimately, the use of perfume as a character development tool allows actors to tap into their own scent memories and create new associations, helping them to embody their characters more fully and enhancing their performances.
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Celebrities endorse perfumes
The use of perfume is a well-known tool for actors to help them get into character. Susan Sarandon, Kirsten Dunst, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Emma Stone, Penélope Cruz, and Laura Linney are just a few of the actors who use perfume as a character-development tool.
But what about celebrities and their personal relationships with perfume? Well, it turns out that many celebrities have signed contracts with perfume houses to associate their names with a signature scent, using their notoriety to promote a fragrance. This strategy dates back to the early 1980s when legendary actress Elizabeth Taylor released her first fragrance, White Diamonds, which became an instant sensation. Following this success, a variety of stars, including Jennifer Lopez, Sarah Jessica Parker, and David Beckham, released their own signature fragrances.
Perfume houses recognise the potential of celebrities to create a powerful marketing force. Elizabeth Taylor, Cindy Crawford, and Elton John were some of the first celebrities to promote the brand Giorgio Beverly Hills, which was the first celebrity-endorsed fragrance. Since then, celebrities have increasingly used social media to promote their fragrances, allowing them to directly engage with their fans and create a stronger association between themselves and the scent.
An organic celebrity endorsement can also do wonders for a perfume brand. For example, Taylor Swift's reported love of Tom Ford Santal Blush has caused the label to sell out. Similarly, when Kate Middleton wore White Gardenia Petals by Illuminum at her wedding to Prince William, the small brand became an overnight success, with every bottle selling out. Rihanna's choice of Kilian Love, Don't Be Shy, has also sparked a global debate over her fragrance of choice.
Celebrities endorsing perfumes has become an integral part of both the fragrance and celebrity industries, with these scents appealing to a wide range of consumers. The power of celebrity endorsements in the fragrance industry is undeniable, and it will be interesting to see how this trend evolves in the future.
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Celebrities have signature perfumes
Actors often use perfume to help them get into character, and many celebrities have signature perfumes that they wear or endorse.
Some celebrities have even created their own perfumes, such as Jane Birkin, who created 'L'air de Rien' for Miller Harris, and Vanessa Hudgens, who has her own line of Tom Ford perfumes. Other celebrities, such as Meghan Markle, Kate Bosworth, and Victoria Beckham, are known to rave about certain perfumes without being paid to endorse them. For example, it is rumoured that Beyoncé once snuck into the Harrods beauty hall after hours to stock up on her favourite perfumes. Similarly, Rita Ora revealed in an interview that her current favourite perfume is Magnolia Alba from Chloé's Atelier des Fleurs line. Adele has also been loyal to Dior's Hypnotic Poison since her early teens, leaving a soft amber vanilla fragrance in her wake.
Some celebrities are so obsessed with their favourite fragrances that they buy them in bulk. One celebrity interviewed by The Strategist admitted to owning 13 bottles of her favourite perfume, just in case they ever stop making it.
Perfumes can be a powerful tool for character development on film and theatre sets. Susan Sarandon, Kirsten Dunst, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Emma Stone, and Penélope Cruz are among those who wear a different scent for each of their roles. Laura Linney agrees that perfume is a "wonderful secret weapon" for getting into a character's headspace.
Lizzie Ostrom, author of Perfume: A Century of Scent, highlights a 1915 New York play in which actors were given different fragrances to help them perform their roles as embodied emotions—lemon for hate, frankincense for passion, and patchouli for deceit.
Princess Diana was known to alternate between several opulent floral scents, including Diorissimo by Dior, 24 Faubourg by Hermès, So Pretty by Cartier, and Bluebell by Penhaligon's. Similarly, the Duchess of Sussex alternates between various fragrances but remains loyal to the British brand Jo Malone, opting for either Wild Bluebell or Wood Sage & Sea Salt.
Marilyn Monroe famously wore Chanel No. 5, as she revealed in an interview with Marie Claire in 1960: "You know, they ask you questions. Just an example: 'What do you wear to bed? The bottoms of the pajama? A nightgown?' So I said, 'Chanel No. 5!' Because it's the truth!".
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Actors use perfume to cover up unpleasant smells
Actors have been known to use perfume to get into character and enhance their performances. One way that perfume can help actors is by covering up unpleasant smells on set. For example, Fenella Woolgar, who played an aristocrat in the doxy drama Harlots, set in Georgian London, wore perfume to mask the "cruel, horrid" scent of the period. Woolgar explains that people during this time would have been covering up unpleasant bodily smells with fragrances like civet, musk, and ambergris, a waxy substance derived from the sperm whale.
In another instance, Woolgar used perfume to evoke the pervasive smell of cigarettes, reminiscent of her heavy-smoking grandfather, to capture the wartime stench for a role. Similarly, to prepare for a part in a play set in bombed-out London, Woolgar recalled the "sulphurous smell" that permeated her hair after a nail bombing at a nearby gay pub. She used this memory to inform her performance, adding an extra spritz of Chanel No 5 before a crucial scene.
The use of scent as a memory aid is a well-known technique in acting, and perfume can play a crucial role in triggering specific memories and emotions. Lizzie Ostrom, author of Perfume: A Century of Scents, notes that actors in a 1915 New York play were given different fragrances to embody specific emotions: lemon for hate, frankincense for passion, and patchouli for deceit.
Some actors choose a signature scent for each character they play. For example, Michael Ball selects a unique fragrance for each of his roles, such as bay rum for Sweeney Todd and Madame Rochas for Edna Turnblad in Hairspray. Susan Sarandon and Kirsten Dunst are also known to wear different perfumes for each movie role they take on.
While actors may use perfume to cover up unpleasant smells, they also use it to enhance their performances and fully embody their characters. The sense of smell is deeply connected to memory and emotion, and actors can leverage this connection to create more authentic and transformative performances.
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Actors use aromatherapy oils
Actors have a variety of methods for getting into character, and one of the most powerful tools is scent. While some actors opt for perfume, others use aromatherapy oils. Aromatherapy is the practice of using essential oils for therapeutic benefit.
Nikki Amuka-Bird, for example, is a fan of aromatherapy oils. Kerry Washington also favours blends of a few different essential oils. In an interview with Marie Claire, Washington revealed that she keeps Young Living Essential Oils in Relax, Joy, and Inspiration on her nightstand. She also uses essential oils to clean her home, adding a few drops of sage oil to her soapy water to make it smell amazing.
Aromatherapy oils can have a positive impact on health and well-being, and they have been used for centuries. When inhaled, the scent molecules travel from the olfactory nerves directly to the brain, particularly impacting the amygdala, the emotional centre of the brain. Essential oils can help to lift your mood and improve your health. They can also be used in homemade cleaning products.
Some actors use scent to help them prepare for auditions. Arthur McBain, for example, finds a smell that helps him get into character. Preparing to play a homeless man, the vital scent for him was an old Costa cup with no coffee left inside.
Aromatherapy oils can be used in a variety of ways. They can be inhaled directly from absorbent materials such as necklaces, bracelets, and keychains. They can also be mixed with carrier oils such as olive, jojoba, or coconut oil and massaged into the skin. However, it is important to be cautious when using essential oils, as they can cause skin irritation if used full-strength. It is also important to purchase oils from a reputable company, as some products may contain hidden chemicals or ingredients that are not listed on the label.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, many actors wear perfume on set. Some wear perfumes to get into character, while others wear perfumes that they personally like.
Some actors use perfumes that remind them of something related to the character, like their past or a memory. Others use perfumes that the character would wear, or that represent the character's personality.
Some actors who have worn perfumes on set include Susan Sarandon, Kirsten Dunst, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Emma Stone, Laura Linney, Jude Law, and Alicia Vikander.
No, actors also wear perfumes in their daily lives. Some celebrities have endorsed fragrances, while others have their own perfume lines. Additionally, some actors have shared their favourite perfumes in interviews or through other media.
