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Like architects being commissioned to create a building in Dubai or China, I reckon the holy grail for any creative is to be asked to do a perfume or cologne ad.
I swear to god the general consensus is anything goes.
ANYTHING.
Every month, as I trawl through my list of magazines, I stare in amazement at the preposterous, pompous rubbish that fills the pages.
On the bright side, at least most companies have got past their ‘scent strip’ advertisement phase.
Seriously, in the late 90’s/early 2000’s, picking up a magazine in the newsagent made you smell like a whores knickers within 15 seconds – so this is a step in the right direction.
Anyway, a while back I wrote about how mental the Brad Pitt ‘Chanel’ campaign was, well I came across something recently that makes that look like Shakespeare.
Cop a load of this …
Now I know it’s Versace – a brand that thinks matching zebra stripes with gold lame is sophisticated – but seriously, WHAT. THE. FUCK. IS. THAT?
Yes I know they’re playing off the whole ‘Eros’ thing [the names cologne/perfume come up with is worth a post of its own someday] but seriously, this is insane.
I should point out I’m not saying ‘insane’ in a bad way.
In fact, it’s so utterly ridiculous, that I think it’s almost good – no seriously – however that’s not the point of this post, it’s just that I’m wondering whether the creatives behind this ad did it as an utter piss-take [which does occasionally happen as some friends of mine once did a Kellogg’s ad that featured – in the background – the sort of imagery that was very family unfriendly] or are such utter daaaaaaarlinks, they think they’ve just created a piece of art rather than a print ad that can double as a comedy sketch.
Where does something like this start?
Surely there can’t be any planning involved?
Oh I could make some up.
How about, ‘In today’s society, where men are feeling more and more undermined, the desire to feel like a warrior [of love?] is highly aspirational.”
Any good?
No, I didn’t think so either.
Anyway, in an industry where more and more creatives feel their creative juices are being stifled by planners, clients, budgets and brand guidelines … my advice to them is to quit adland and get a job in the marketing department of some perfume/cologne brand, because before they know it, they’ll be churning out the sort of mental shit a coke habit and 3 LSD pills a day couldn’t come up with.
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Is it a coincidence that when you rearrange the letters of eros, you get sore?
Comment by DH July 18, 2013 @ 6:26 amSometimes, you really scare me Dave.
Comment by Rob July 18, 2013 @ 10:26 amScent strips were my deodorant.
Comment by Billy Whizz July 18, 2013 @ 6:35 amthat explains why mosquitos swarmed over you and chicks ran for their fucking lives.
Comment by andy@cynic July 18, 2013 @ 6:45 amIn today’s society where men use cologne by the bucketload, restrained advertising is off brand and a QR code is a nod to geek cool.
Comment by John July 18, 2013 @ 6:35 amgood attempt doddsy but campbell pulls the bullshit off better. dont be disappointed, the fucker has had 20 years of constant practice.
Comment by andy@cynic July 18, 2013 @ 6:44 amThat bottle would last a 16 year old kid about 3 dates.
Comment by Billy Whizz July 18, 2013 @ 6:36 amif thats the work of a creative that can do whatever the fuck they like, theyre not trying to be fucked up enough. maybe they need to drink the fucking thing rather than splash it on.
Comment by andy@cynic July 18, 2013 @ 6:43 amzoolander “blue steel” hommage..
Comment by niko July 18, 2013 @ 6:45 amwhere the fuck have you been hiding?
Comment by andy@cynic July 18, 2013 @ 6:46 amplanning departments..
Comment by niko July 18, 2013 @ 6:48 amsouth american plannning departments
Comment by John July 18, 2013 @ 6:55 amcould be worse, could be campbells planning department.
Comment by andy@cynic July 18, 2013 @ 6:58 ameven uncle Dan is not that crazy
Comment by niko July 18, 2013 @ 7:31 amWith only one of the models hands visible in the ad, am I to assume Versace Eros are saying their scent is so sexy that you will want to make love to yourself?
Comment by George July 18, 2013 @ 7:04 amMaybe they should offer a packet of the chewing gum you wrote about yesterday with every bottle sold.
The last time you were that risqué George, your family didn’t talk to you for a week.
Comment by Bazza July 18, 2013 @ 7:14 amAs my comment does not involve birthdays, cakes or surprise parties, I’m happy to take my chances.
Comment by George July 18, 2013 @ 7:21 amGeorge goes filthy!!! How strange that it coincides with you [I think] spending time with Andy recently. His influence is more powerful than Darth Vader!!!
Comment by Rob July 18, 2013 @ 10:29 amThere is hardly any difference between perfume and cologne advertising. Even the models, regardless of gender, are interchangeable. I am unsure whether this says more about society or the people behind the brands.
Comment by Pete July 18, 2013 @ 7:39 amIt wasn’t like that when Brut 33 was the king of stink.
Comment by DH July 18, 2013 @ 8:54 amBrut 33 … now you’re talking. Only beaten by Hai Karate. To be quite honest, I still can’t quite believe there was an aftershave called that.
What were they thinking?
Japanese fighting is the epitome of masculinity? I wonder if FutureBrand were behind that thinking?
Comment by Rob July 18, 2013 @ 10:31 amIt gets worse
Comment by rafik July 18, 2013 @ 11:38 am
Or better. In a car-crash kinda way.
Comment by Rob July 18, 2013 @ 12:01 pmI wonder what love warrior madness the QR code unleashes.
Comment by Eaon Pritchard (@eaonp) July 18, 2013 @ 1:28 pmProbably some technological scent strip or something.
That or some advice where you can buy hair gel that will make your barnet also look like Vanilla Ice, circa 1990.
Comment by Rob July 18, 2013 @ 2:28 pmA stunning piece of gay eroticism, perfectly targeting this affluent, cologne-purchasing audience. Am I wrong?
Comment by Gillian July 18, 2013 @ 1:35 pmAlso known – according to Quentin Tarantino – as the ‘Top Gun’ movie appreciation club.
Comment by Rob July 18, 2013 @ 2:26 pmI’m back! 🙂 You didn’t scare me away.
It all becomes Zanax once you give into the fact out world is bat shit crazy. Thank your lucky stars creepy Tom Cruise is over the hill and look at this to take your mind off it…
http://www.hall-five.com/blog_comments/beach-essentials-in-china-flip-flops-a-towel-and-a-face-tini
🙂
Comment by Notes To Ponder July 18, 2013 @ 3:02 pmBut most creatives are terrified of a blank piece of paper, they just won’t admit it
Comment by northern July 18, 2013 @ 4:37 pmI have nothing to say about the ad, it scares me
There is also the issue that many creatives feel any obstacle is a hinderance to creativity rather than a chance to liberate it … but that could be because some creatives are actually executioners rather than creators.
Ooer.
Comment by Rob July 18, 2013 @ 6:24 pmTeresa Amabile at Harvard writes a lot about this.
Comment by John July 18, 2013 @ 7:16 pmAbout constraints enhancing creativity – not about homo-erotic cologne advertsiing that is.
Comment by John July 18, 2013 @ 7:16 pm“So, Timmy, do you like gladiator movies?”
Comment by Ian Gee July 19, 2013 @ 1:24 pmReblogged this on balkrishkumarchaudhary.
Comment by rameshchy August 7, 2013 @ 4:39 pm[…] written a bunch about this in the past [here, here and here for example] but nothing reinforces my view than the new fragrance bottle from […]
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