But the perfume business was where she made a lot of her money - even last year, $77 million in sales. A lot of that was White Diamonds (the perfume). ... She was somebody who understood the power of her celebrity and started leveraging it more than 20 years ago.
— From Elizabeth Taylor's fortune may approach $1B at CBS News.
I loved that White Diamonds tv commercial. “These,” a clearly middle-aged but still ravishing Elizabeth says as she pulls off her big diamond earrings and puts them on the table, “have always brought me luck.” Black and whit film, too. Just perfect. The last real star.
Yep.
Good for her. White Diamonds really isn’t bad. I am actually inspired to try some of her other fragrances now.
I can’t remember Passion. Her latest, Violet Eyes, was ok.
In my travels to Marshalls/Ross/TJ Maxx etc on my cheap perfume quests, I often see Passion, Passion for Men, and the various White Diamond flankers. Looking on her website I see she has a Gardenia too.
I remember when the ‘jewel’ collection (White Diamonds & Rubies, White Diamonds & Sapphires, White Diamonds & Emeralds) came out – I was in elementary school and the Christmas commercials I thought were the height of glamour. Would be interested to sniff them now.
I agree, Violet Eyes was not bad when it came out last spring.
I always assumed that she simply was a paid spokesperson. How silly of me- she was, after all, the first actor paid six figures for a picture. (Cleopatra, a box office disaster, for which the company ended up trying to sue her, alleging, among other things, she made herself unphotographable during shooting).
By the way, I find it surprising that none of the memorials to her have shown in her in what I regard as her most enduring image, slightly overweight, middle aged, hair a mess, disshelved, and with a glass in her hand and fury in her eyes. I am speaking of her greatest role, as Martha, the frustrated academic wife in Whose Afraid of Virginia Wolf. She begins the movie with the line “What a Dump” referring to her own house, and spends a boozy evening and early morning, demolishing the illusions which sustained and then crippled her life. The New York Times (in its Sunday “tribute”) said she was a star, if not necessarily a very good actress. Well, take another look at this movie, for an unforgettable performance which had nothing to do with star glamour and was one of film’s great acting performances.
Oh no, I saw images of her as Martha several times over the past few days!
I saw her in that film over 20 years ago. I found it quite upsetting, but a brilliant film!
I love how White Diamonds is still the best selling celebrity fragrance.There are so many out there but hers still has them beat.
Elizabeth Arden (and Taylor) were smart enough to make a quality scent so that it became its own sub-brand, not just a few quick marketing scheme.
I agree that White Diamonds is a brand in it’s own right. I had to try it so bought myself a tiny bottle today. I was really suprised that my mother, who was upset about her passing, didn’t know it was an Elizabeth Taylor perfume.
I just received my order of Black Pearls and just now sprayed some on my wrist. It’s nice–we’ll see how it develops. I’m getting narcissus. Very floral, but not overwhelmingly ’80s style loud…
(perks up) Narcissus?? Huh.
Heading off to ebay now.