selling scent

I don’t understand perfume and cologne commercials.  They seem to universally depict stunningly attractive people in extremely unlikely situations.  A heterosexual couple dressed in flowing, tailored black clothing, leading a horse across a beach in a warm breeze.  A famous actress rolling in undulating grass, in a glow of golden sunshine, cuddling a puppy.  An aging Hollywood icon surrounded by photographers, her many diamonds glinting like the ceiling of a planetarium.  Another famous actress striding confidently through a mansion, toward the camera, shedding her gold jewelry and clothing as she nears.

Perhaps I’m dense, or maybe just not a part of the demographic, but none of these commercials have ever made me want to buy either cologne for myself or perfume for a loved one.  Instead, it makes me want to stay as far away from department stores as possible.