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?