Category Archives: Advertising and Scent

A Monday Sentiment and A Vintage Cat/Perfume Ad

18 Monday Sep 2017

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It’s been a sad few days for me, because I recently had to say farewell to Margaret, my constant companion of the past 17 years. She was the sweetest, snuggliest cat I’ve ever met. I’ll miss her terribly.

This is an 1880s trade card for Dr. Thompson’s Celebrated Eye Water, but I like to imagine that the girl is sharing one of her favorite perfumes with her cat. (The larger bottle on the shelf behind her may indeed contain some kind of Eau de Cologne or other toilet water.)

Hug your furry friends tight today.

 

The Art of Perfume Advertising: Jo Malone English Oak Colognes

02 Saturday Sep 2017

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I’m looking forward to trying English Oak & Recurrant and  English Oak Hazelnut, two new fragrances from Jo Malone. In the meantime, I’m thinking about their visuals.

According to perfume Yann Vasnier, “the idea of the forrest [sic] and English oak” was a starting point that Jo Malone wanted to explore. The brand’s Vice President of Global Fragrance Devleopment Celine Roux explains, “The inspiration started with the English oak tree. A powerful and noble symbol, which lies deep in the heart of the English woodland. A place of mystery and enchantment, where legends take root and imagination takes flight. And nowhere better captures this magic and mystery quite like Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire, famous for its tales of wandering knights and outlaws – and Robin Hood, of course!”

I’m seeing an additional source of inspiration for the promotional imagery: the story of the Cottingley Fairies, which happens to be celebrating its centennial this year…

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The Art of Perfume Ads: Jennifer Aniston

30 Wednesday Aug 2017

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I don’t usually say or think much about Jennifer Aniston, because she and her acting career and her romantic travails generally don’t interest me. However, when her début fragrance was released in 2010 and arrived in the United States a year later, she edged her way a bit further into my awareness…

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Five Perfumes to Wear for an Eclipse

20 Sunday Aug 2017

Posted by in Advertising and Scent, Perfume Bottles

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On August 21, 2017, a total solar eclipse will be visible from North America. I’m hoping to step outside to watch the moon pass the sun for a few minutes, even if I’m only getting a partial view in New York City. I just need to make a pinhole viewer out of a cereal box first!

Important consideration, though: what fragrance to wear for this once-in-lifetime occurrence? Here are five suggestions…

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The Art of Perfume Ads: Helena Rubinstein Emotion (1965)

16 Wednesday Aug 2017

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Helena Rubinstein via Paper Pursuits Emotion

In late 2014, I visited the Jewish Museum to see an exhibition on the life, career, and art collection of cosmetics mogul Helena Rubinstein. The show included materials related to the perfumes released by her brand, which was especially interesting for me. I was particularly curious about the ads for the fragrance Emotion, launched by Helena Rubinstein in 1960.

This ad, which dates to 1965, shows a stylish couple posed against a background of wavy black and white lines that resembles the patterning of a particularly mod zebra. The man is kissing the woman’s hand, or perhaps inhaling her perfume…

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The Art of Perfume Ads: Coming soon…

27 Monday Mar 2017

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Art and perfume are two of my longtime passions, and I love exploring the points where they meet. Over the coming weeks and months, I’ll be posting a series of observations about perfume advertising’s coy and clever relationship with art history.

This image, a magazine ad for Coty’s fragrance Muse (1946), was created by illustrator Carl “Eric” Erickson. Who knows what this muse is whispering into that stylish woman’s ear in a room overlooking the Place Vendôme?

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