The Most Creative Perfume Campaigns Of All Time

Why are perfume campaigns quite so weird? You’d think something advertising a product designed to make you smell good would be an easy sell. But over the years, I’ve seen some truly bizarre contributions in the perfume advert category. So let’s take a look at some of the weirdest – and most wonderful.

Perfume Campaigns Choice: Opium

Creative: YSL

This ad was directed by David Lynch – and it shows! There’s religious imagery, creepy horror movie symbolism, and Twin Peaks-style orchestral swells. It almost feels a little drug-induced – which, given the name, kind of fits!

Perfume Campaigns Choice: Wild Musk, 1983

Creative: Coty’s

This is just so ‘80s. From the bizarre, low-budget set to the fancy dress “caveman” costumes to that incredibly easily parodied voice-over, this is tacky through and through. But for some reason, it still makes me want to try out the perfume!

Perfume Campaigns Choice: Candy L’Eau

Creative: Prada

This four-minute ad is almost like watching a Wes Anderson-directed short film. It’s charming and sweet, but it does seem to have little to do with the actual scent. Nonetheless, I’d certainly watch the full-length version of this rom-com.

Perfume Campaigns Choice: J’adore Dior

Dior

While this ad is creative, it seems to stumble into some dubious moral territory. Alongside Charlize Theron, the ad stars Grace Kelly, Marlene Dietrich, and Marilyn Monroe look-alikes. Using the images of dead celebrities without consent to peddle a perfume? I’m not sold on this one.

Perfume Campaigns Choice: Fame

Lady Gaga

We really couldn’t expect a normal commercial from Lady Gaga, especially for a perfume that was totally black and claimed to have notes of human blood. But this six-minute extravaganza surpassed even those expectations. No wonder she discontinued the fragrance soon after!

Perfume Campaigns Choice: Kenzo World

Kenzo

Margaret Qualley sells the perfume here, doing some of the strangest, most uncanny dancing ever captured on film. It’s certainly joyful but also undeniably disconcerting. But hey, if it makes her happy!

Perfume Campaigns Choice: Burberry Hero

Burberry

If you told someone that there is a fragrance advert in which Adam Driver turns into a horse, they’d definitely think you’re a liar. But I promise you, the advert exists, and there’s not much more to it than that. Watch it and be changed.

Perfume Campaigns Choice: No5

Chanel

This Baz Luhrmann-directed epic was one of the earliest times perfume commercials moved towards a larger scale. It feels like a movie, and I still remember being captivated by it on TV as a child. No. 5 is a classic, so it makes sense it has a classic ad like this.