To want to see just one perfume or aftershave ad that actually tells you what it smells like?

[WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll]

It's obviously very much that time of year and the number of adverts for fancy perfume is increasing at a rate - during some breaks, it seems like every other ad - but I can't actually remember EVER seeing a single one that tells you what on earth it pongs of (as in cut grass, burnt kindling, rosebuds, carrots, creme brulee etc - rather than meaningless abstract claims such as 'success', 'passion' or 'adventure'.)

I realise it's not the easiest thing to portray on the telly, but surely they could give a bit of a clue.

For my money, I'd love to see Jilly Goulden taking a great big snotty sniff of it and then describing it comprehensively as only she can. I wouldn't even object in the slightest if she then screamed and jumped off a pier (for love, presumably) - AFTER she's told me what I, as a potential purchaser, really might want to know.

Or am I just misunderstanding the nature of posh perfume and aftershave as seen on TV? Are people really buying the brand or the image, maybe subconsciously seeing themselves as living the same glamorous lifestyle as the celebs who have been paid a fortune to use it in the ads, when they wear it themselves?

Do people who only actually want a pleasant fragrance and couldn't give a stuff about the branding behind it just completely ignore Natalie Portman and buy the £4 stuff at Lidl? Is the cheap stuff inherently just as good or is there a reason why so many people seem to buy or specifically ask for the posh ones?

Not a dig in any way at those who like the posh stuff - but what makes you (or others) specifically seek out the expensive stuff from the adverts?

....Sorry, totally unacceptable overuse of the word 'stuff' there.

I always thought that was because they smell differently on different people. Unlike, say, shower gel.

No idea but the Dior J'Adore advert always puts the scene from Sing into my head, where the koala dances across the squid tank staging.

So it makes me think of the smell of seasides, that salty, tangy smell of seaweed odour mixed with the not so subtle fragrance of an unwashed koala (aka dried wet dog)

I just used to smell them in the shop and get which ones I liked. I only buy the same ones now but ads weren’t the reason I got or tried them.

I don’t know how you’d describe a perfume to make it appealing. My faves are Hypnotic Poison and DKNY Women.

HP has some vanilla in it I think- would that make it sound interesting enough on an advert?

DKNY - a bit tangy? Not the greatest slogans.

Use fragrantica

Scents don't smell the same on everyone so it's impossible to do as you suggest. I love some of the Penhaligon scents and they sell 'scent libraries' so you can try before buying larger bottles.

It doesn't matter what they smell like. Perfume is pure marketing.

I think the Gucci Bloom advert is quite clever, as it does (as much as a TV advert can!) show you what the fragrance smells like. The hazy hot summer day, the headiness, the flowers, the heavy blooms in the water I think convey a musky heady floral scent as much as it is possible to through a screen.

(Disclaimer - I haven't actually smelled this perfume so if it smells like blue cheese or bubblegum I stand corrected)

I think a lot of people don’t actually care very much what perfume smells like, as long as it doesn’t smell like cat piss or something, they’re not fussy. And anyway they’re not trying to sell you a scent, they’re trying to sell you the dream of an amazing lifestyle 💷 💷 💷

I don't use perfume.

Wouldn't buy from Lidl, tho. I'd try to get something that only contains plant extracts. (Is that possible? I honestly never even tried buying perfume)
The ingredient list of something like that would probably give you a good idea what it smells of.

My rosemary shampoo smells of rosemary, it is very reliable that way. Just how I like it.

I agree - even if they do smell different on everyone, it wiuld be bice to hear what they’re made of (light and summery, or heavy and musky etc).

FWIW, this twitter is hilarious
mobile.twitter.com/perfumeads?lang=en