I love perfume ads… most of the time. Some are incredibly well executed, filmed as a mini movie. It usually involves a women, a man, romance, luxury, sensuality – everything that makes me want to at least take a sniff at the scent. Might it transport me to exotic places? Attract a stranger on a train – ships passing in the night?
And sometimes we get duds – obscure, abstract clips that make you wonder “Is that an ad for a perfume?” Have you seen the one by Gucci Flora? A lady violently swinging her arms in a field of flowers, causing them to bend and ripple in the wind? That was, I thought weird.
And sometimes, we get Brad Pitt for Chanel No. 5.
When the news broke about Brad Pitt being the face for the 90+ year old bestselling and iconic Chanel No. 5 perfume, I raised an eyebrow. I wasn’t sure how a man could make me want to buy Chanel No.5, which doesn’t sit very well with me to start with.
And then the first ad came out, and my other eyebrow went up in incredulity. If you have not yet seen the ads, I have both here for your viewing pleasure 🙂 The man was reportedly paid US$7 million for this campaign. Does he make you want to run to your nearest Chanel counter?
Oh the picture above is a still from the ad so that’s Brad, in his unshaven, unclipped glory. Not quite what I envisaged from the House of Chanel.
Ad #1 that broke last week
Part #2 that broke recently
I don’t know. I feel that its sort of creepy. The whole black & white film, Brad standing in a gray room (US$7m isn’t bad just for that you know) soliloquizing about the world turning and journey endings… I think I got lost about 3 seconds into it. I have no idea what he’s on about, even is his voice is soothing, almost perfect for a voice over for a documentary about the animal kingdom.
At a push, I could explain it. In a very abstract way. But nah. At the end of the day, its not an ad that will sell a fragrance; it is the tester at the counter, how it smells on you, and how you feel when you wear it.
I could never wear Chanel No. 5 and am not a fan of Brad Pitt. So I guess this ad was quite lost on me!
What’s your reaction to this Brad Pitt – Chanel ad? Thoughts? Interpretations?
As bad as I think the ad is, maybe its what Chanel intended. After all, its what everyone’s been talking about for the past week, even if they cringe and make a face whenever they do mention it; but I suppose bad publicity is still publicity? 😛 As I reminded a friend, the man has something like 7 kids to feed, I think the $7m does come in handy 😉
Paris B
I personally don’t understand the appeal of Brad Pitt (he doesn’t do it for me personally), let alone him with Chanel. But that’s just me and I’m clearly not the Chanel No 5 target demographic, obviously 😛
Yeah I was thinking the brood of children he’s got to clothe, feed and educate may have something to do with it too, haha.
I don’t get his appeal either, never have. The way I don’t get why Tom Cruise appeals either LOL! I’m quite sure he has to bring in his fair share of the bacon, and not just depend on Ms. Jolie 😉
I totally don’t get why they would use a male for a fragrance meant for women. In any case, Chanel no. 5 doesn’t interest me. I find the smell too strong, doesn’t go well with me. I very much prefer Jersey from Chanel. Easier on the nose, at least on MY nose! Besides, I don’t find Brad Pitt handsome at all. I like Johnny Depp better, more charming. Just like Liang Chow Wei. I hope I got the names right! He’s the one with a pair of mi mi yan which are very dreamy and charming looking. Ha! Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder…
Haha yeah indeed. Beauty is most certainly in the eyes of the beholder and I was never one to be a fan of the popular male stars out there 😀
Brad? Anytime! 😛 I’m a fan of Brad <- yes, we're on first name basis here. LOL.
But that ad is truly weird. "Inevitable"? Erm…okayyyy Brad, if you say so. Hahaha. And the funny part is, me and the hubby saw this ad on tv together, and he actually asked me "Is Chanel No. 5 unisex?". ROFL. Poor hubby, I think the ad really confused him. And I answered "If Brad says so, then maybe it is.". 😛
I can't wear No. 5 myself. Too heady for me. Drives me up the wall. 🙁 But I was drawn to testing Mademoiselle at the counter all because of the printed ad. Hehe. And surprisingly, I like it! But decided not to get it in the end, cause it smells like everyone else. Too many people are wearing it.
LOL!!! Your husband is so funny and you know what? His confusion is totally legit!
HI! I just have to comment! I am in love with Brad Pitt since 15. Interview with The Vampire and Legends of The Fall got me hooked till now. I love Chanel No.5 way before I found out Brat Pitt is the face. When I found out, my eyebrows went up too. I saw the newspaper ad, I thought they made Brat Pitt too fat and it didn’t justify his glorious god-like looks. the next day’s ad was much better, love the beard and hair :):)
but…the TV ad…I wasn’t paying attention to what he is saying, I was just staring at him dumbfounded. When to youtube to see the ad, and yes, i have no idea what he is talking about,maybe because I was still staring at him..sighhhhh
LOL I did quite like Brad Pitt as the tortured Louis in Interview with a Vampire 😀 I also liked him in Seven but was never a fan fan 🙂 Maybe thats why the ad is lost on me coz I won’t drool over him 😛
well…no idea why they went for such a concept for a perfume??? just to explain the meaning of “inevitable”??? weird!!! i loved skarsgard’s ad for calvin klien more than this though it was equally dark.
I think the big question on everyone’s lips when watching this is… WHY?! 😛
I just went “huh??” when I checked out the ad. However, I’ve always picked up my perfumes based on the scent and what works for me. Never bothered with the ad or whose face/body is on it. I like and still like Chanel’s No. 5 and Chance. (Brad or no Brad)
Yep, I do the same. An ad can get me intrigued to smell the perfume but never to buy it, because the smell is what’s staying on our skin! Can’t walk around smelling like eau de rubbish heap, even if the ad is wonderful eh? 😉
I have to comment on this because it’s been bugging me too! I do wonder why they chose Brad Pitt to represent a fragrance for women, but meh, maybe they just wanted a famous face. But he looks so AWKWARD in here, like he’d rather be anywhere but in a darkened room with the light swinging about prattling on about luck, fame and fortune. And the script is…weird. It’d be way better if he recited a poetry, something classic and timeless that represents the fragrance.
Oooh, better yet Chanel, ditch Brad and get Benedict Cumberbatch (he’s a British actor and I’m in love with him lol). His voice apparently makes ovaries explode lollll. Check him out! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdphtMWjies (I hope it’s ok to post this here?)
Anis, if Benedict Cumberbatch (or even just his VOICE) was endorsing a fragrance, I’d buy it in a heartbeat! 😛 Huge fan here, especially of him in Sherlock *swoon*
Ohmygod yes! A Sherlock fan! *hi-5 and joins in with the swooning* He could read me the phone book and I’d be content to listen all day long haha. If Chanel chose him for this ad, I’d be buying the fragrance and telling my aunt/sister/uncle’s brother’s mother to buy it too lol!
YAY Sherlock! 😀 Was totally enthralled from the very first episode I watched and you’re right – his voice! *swoon* The eyes help too of course 😉
I never understood fragrance ads. ALL of them.
But a huge fan of Brad Pitt – he’s still hot too me, with tonnes of facial hair or not. And his voice is dripping honey vanilla. Yum.
LOL!! I guess this is one for all the Brad Pitt fans out there 😀 The rest of us who aren’t are the ones going “Huh??!!” 😀
Oh boy, I just saw this on the TV tonight. Definitely BAD! I kept waiting for the punch line thinking it was going to be some sort of parody video but unfortunately not. I definitely have to vote that this was a bad move for Chanel – but worse for Brad!
LOL!! Parody video! It would have been funnier if it had been one 😀 I wonder what they were thinking. For him, its a cool $7m in his pocket! 😉
hi paris,
have a look at mr brown pitt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hns63dDBOV8
HUH??? What was that? I’ve been seeing a lot of tweets and blog posts about this ad but didn’t get a chance to view it until today. That is one irrelevant perfume ad. And did he say “plants disappear and trees take over”? Did he mean factory plants? This is just too weird.
I’m still mystified as to who came up with the idea for this advertisement, Brad looking aged, unshaven and craggy while soliloquising into the camera just does not make me want to buy perfume. They somehow manage to make him look unattractive and creepy in this advert which I didn’t think could be possible.