Wishing you a bright and bubbly 2018!
Image: Lanvin Arpège/Lord & Taylor advertisement from 1959
Cheers! ~ A Lanvin Perfume Ad for New Year’s Eve
31 Sunday Dec 2017
Posted in Advertising and Scent
Category Archives: Advertising and Scent
Merry Christmas 2017!
25 Monday Dec 2017
Posted in Advertising and Scent
The Art of Perfume Advertising: A Modern Take on Bourjois Evening in Paris (1961)
14 Thursday Dec 2017
Posted in Advertising and Scent
Are you doing any Christmas shopping this week? Have you trimmed the tree? We’re keeping things relatively simple this year, but I’m enjoying the preparations.
In the spirit of opened gifts and fulfilled wishes, here is a Christmas advertisement for Bourjois Evening in Paris, dated 1961. The “dreams come true” in this ad are assorted Evening in Paris gift sets. (I own a vintage bottle of Evening in Paris, mostly likely dating to the 1960s, and I love it…)
The Art of Perfume Ads: Agent Provocateur L’Agent (2011) (with asides on Calvin Klein and Katy Perry)
28 Tuesday Nov 2017
Posted in Advertising and Scent
Agent Provocateur has released a few good fragrances over the past decade or so, although its most recent release (Fatale) was very disappointing. I like the original Agent Provocateur scent, and Maitresse; I know that L’Agent also has some fans. I don’t think the collection is very heavily advertised in the United States, however, because I don’t remember seeing this advertisement when L’Agent was launched in 2011.
It’s a surprisingly stark and gloomy-looking ad for a women’s perfume. There’s a bit of cleavage, but nowhere near as much as we see in other perfume ads from L’Agent Provocateur (it’s a lingerie company, after all!)—and the chess board gives the image a cerebral twist…
And now, a word from our sponsor (just kidding!): Downy Unstoppables
16 Thursday Nov 2017
Posted in Advertising and Scent
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I haven’t had the energy to blog over the past few days, but here’s something I found amusing. (Of course it’s not actually from a sponsor. This site doesn’t have any ads or even any affiliate links! #keepingitreal)
I would never buy this product, but I love Tituss Burgess as the character Titus Andromedon in “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” so…here’s his commercial for Downy Unstoppable In-Wash Scent Booster Beads, tiny colorful orbs that you pour into your washing machine to add even more synthetic smells to your laundry.
They’re “available in a variety of paparazzi-attracting scents—Fresh, Shimmer, Lush, Spring, Glow, Dreams, and Mist.” No thanks, but I do like the way Tituss’s shirt incorporates a dot pattern that complements the Unstoppable beads—“For a Fresh Too Feisty to Quit.”
The Art of Perfume Advertising: Aviance Night Musk (1983)
01 Wednesday Nov 2017
Posted in Advertising and Scent
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This one’s an easy one, right?—and it’s influenced by movies rather than fine art, strictly speaking, but I’m including it in this series nonetheless.
Aviance Night Musk (1983) was a flanker to the original Aviance (1975) by Prince Matchabelli, and its advertisements were just a bit racier than the earlier Aviance ads. Whereas the ads for Aviance showed couples heading out for a night on the town, Aviance Night Musk suggested something a little more illicit in their decision to stay in.
I love that sleek red pump; so early-80s…
A Monday Sentiment and A Vintage Cat/Perfume Ad
18 Monday Sep 2017
Posted in Advertising and Scent
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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
Posted in Advertising and Scent, Art and Scent
Tags
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…
The Art of Perfume Ads: Jennifer Aniston
30 Wednesday Aug 2017
Posted in Advertising and Scent
Tags
advertising, art of perfume ads, copycats, fragrance, jane fonda, jennifer aniston, selena gomez
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…
