The Scent Natalie Wood Wore Her Entire Life
By RHIANNON FAITH IRELAND
History - Science
Known for her roles in "West Side Story" and "Rebel Without a Cause," Natalie Wood was gifted "Jungle Gardenia" perfume by fellow actor Barbara Stanwyck.
Although Wood received the gift at about 8 years old when filming with Stanwyck on "The Bride Wore Boots," she would wear the scent throughout her life.
The original "Jungle Gardenia," first released in 1933, is no longer available, but its ingredient list included fragrances like sage, cyclamen, jasmine, and, of course, gardenia.
Wood’s daughter, Natasha Gregson Wagner, honored her mother after her passing, creating a more modern gardenia fragrance with the essence of her mother’s perfume, "Natalie."
The actor’s lifelong love for the gardenia flower is evident even after her passing, as a gardenia is engraved on Wood’s headstone.