Blood, sweat and poo: Law wore 'awful' bespoke scent for his role as Henry VIII

Jude Law doused himself in a specially brewed scent blended from "blood, fecal matter and sweat" to play Henry VIII in Firebrand, an acclaimed period drama that premiered at the Cannes film festival.

- Catherine Shoard

"I read several interesting accounts that you could smell Henry three rooms away," said Law at a press conference in Cannes yesterday. "His leg was rotting so badly. He hid it with rose oil. I thought it would have a great impact if I smelt awful." 

A specialist perfumier was enlisted to make a custom brew, Law said. "She makes wonderful scents, and she also makes awful scents. She somehow came up with this extraordinary variety of blood, fecal matter and sweat.

"Initially, I used it very subtly. But then it became a spray fest."