Got stink?
You know how I feel about smelling stuff. I'm still a little obsessed with the Westin White Tea smell. I was delighted to discover, this weekend, that they also sell it at Nordstrom. So I bought another diffuser. Sniff, sniff.
Have you heard about the controversial cookie smell advertising in San Francisco? Yeah, cookie smell is causing quite a fuss. Personally, I think that the advertising is brilliant. Especially since milk doesn't smell like much.
While I can understand why people may want to be sensitive to people with allergies (the smell is made with flavors...their word...so evidently not allergy inducing) and the homeless, I can't see how this kind of smell marketing is any different than a bread store opening it's doors to let the smell out. Frankly, all kinds of marketing is insensitive to those that can't afford the product. You know what I mean?
When I lived in Chicago, I regularly experienced 2 of the best smells ever on my way to work. I lived in the River West area (for those that know Chicago but aren't familiar with the area, it's approximately Halstead and Chicago...or ten blocks west of water tower place). My walk to the El stop took me right by the Gonella bread factory (it was so close that I got the smell in my loft when I opened the windows sometimes). Also there was a chocolate factory. Any Chicagoans that would regularly drive up I-94 would know what I am talking about. I will admit that the chocolate smell got a little old. But for the first few minutes it's great.
Neither of those smells made me rush out to buy bread or chocolate. And they didn't make me crave lunch meat or whatever it is you are supposed to eat with chocolate...diet pills. Granted the chocolate chip cookie smell is intentional, but I don't think that anyone is going to convince me that the bread and chocolate people don't know that they put out a smell or have done anything to stop it. For me, sometimes a smell satisfies a craving for a thing rather than causing it. Sometimes a smell is just a smell. I never heard of anyone there complaining of the smell being insensitive.
I'm sure someone is going to disagree with me and I definitely think that homelessness is a big problem that deserves more attention than it gets. But I don't think that banning chocolate chip cookie smells is the answer any more than banning magazine covers, street vendors and bill boards is. Life is insensitive to homeless people. Just regular daily life. There are lots of things that people can do to help the homeless. I think the focus on the smell marketing is really focusing attention on the wrong thing. Well, just my personal opinion.
Maybe the "Got Milk?" people can donate some dairy products to homeless shelters and then everyone is happier?
Anyway, I still think the marketing is innovative. Anyone in San Francisco experience it yet? Does it really smell like cookies? I'm so over cookies right now but I would love to know if the smell is nice.
Comments
Anonymous
December 05, 2006
The best cookie smell I've ever smelled is of Mrs. Higgins Oven Fresh Cookies in central Auckland, New Zealand. You can smell the chocolate chip cookies from across the street, you smell them before you can see the shop.Anonymous
December 05, 2006
I experienced this cookie air this past weekend. It smelled like peanut butter cookies, not chocolate chip.Anonymous
December 05, 2006
Hmm, maybe they have different flavors.Anonymous
December 09, 2006
Peanut butter cookies smell the best, hands down. Of course, when you said "got stink" I immediately thought of my site...dirtyDogStink. :)Anonymous
December 09, 2006
Hmm, I just think of your site when Jonas comes in the house wet.