Bitchin' Blog Posts
Friday Videos Want Your Opinion
by SB Sarah | by SB Sarah | July 22, 2011 | Friday at 10:09 am | 76 CommentsMore than a few of you have emailed me after having gone to see Harry Potter this past week - but not regarding Potter. You’re all talking about this commercial from the previews before the movie:
Link? Link!
So, what do you think? There’s a whole lineup of “Hail to the V” commercials, with a talking hand that’s snort-worthy the first time you see it. And I’m all for appreciating and celebrating all things vagina. But I was almost disappointed it was for a product I wouldn’t use, and one that I’m suspicious of, since it uses scents to mask and generally disguise the actual vagina-ness of your friendly every day vagina, implying that soap isn’t enough. You need to make sure your downy curls and whatever else smell like blossoming concoctions of scent.
Whether folks are irritated and disgusted or totally falling-off-the-chair amused, I’m fascinated by how controversial this commercial is. Some people have emailed me laughing themselves silly, while others are irritated and angry that “hailing one’s V” involves making it smell like Summer’s Eve and Other Natural Scents like Tropical Rain or Island Splash (which, I believe, come from the same etymological origin as “one’s almighty awful yeast infection”).
So, welcome to a rather divisive Friday Video. What do you think?
Filed: Friday Videos, General Bitching
Tagged: wtfery, videos, vag, summers eve, friday videos, downthere, controversy
Bibliophile said on 07.22.11 at 11:12 AM • [link]
The ad is fantastic right until you get to the part where it turns out to be for douche. Then it just sucks. My first thought after watching it was: “Another ad to make women feel bad about themselves”.
The message that we have to smell like something we’re not - like flowers or pine trees - to be attractive to men is designed to make us insecure about ourselves. Vaginas are already considered “unclean” in many cultures, and this ad just strengthens that message.
Moenen said on 07.22.11 at 11:29 AM • [link]
I don’t find the ad to be offensive or anything, but perhaps that’s because I haven’t been exposed to these things very often. There doesn’t really seem to be a market for vaginal douches in my country. In fact, I can only think of one similar product that ran some ads on TV.
I will say, though, that “hail to the V” ranks up there along with “have a happy period” as an incredibly obnoxious, off-putting, and trying way too hard slogan. That alone would put me off buying the product.
ms bookjunkie said on 07.22.11 at 12:07 PM • [link]
Having just read a blog post on Scarleteen about how many women, young and old, are insecure about the look of their vulvas, I am incredibly offended by yet another ad designed to add to that sort of insecurity. I’ve never seen this crap on sale in Finland (not that I’ve looked for it), but if soap and water aren’t enough to rid you of any “smells”, see. A. Doctor!
http://www.scarleteen.com/blog/heather_corinna/2011/07/21/wrenna_shows_you_hers_and_mine_and_yours_and_hers_and_hers_and
Brussel Sprout said on 07.22.11 at 12:13 PM • [link]
Just like the flipbook, a redundant product. Any sane gynaecologist will tell you that you don’t need to squirt anything up there unless you have a medical complaint that requires treatment. Otherwise, nature does a fine job. And the ad is just stupid. Men didn’t go to war for women, they went and still do to war for trade routes and dealing with surplus populations, and when they are fighting, it’s because their brain cells have given way and the customary treatment of women in such situations is rough and abusive and hardly caring about the scent of the magic hoo-ha. So for me the ad is more lame and dumbass than offensive. Interestingly, I’m not aware of that kind of product being available here in old Europe.
Brianna said on 07.22.11 at 12:44 PM • [link]
I don’t find it offensive, but no way in hell would I use that type of product.
It reminds me of an ad from here in Australia from a couple of years ago. Apparently there were lots of complaints, but I find it hilarious:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwrKXwcJd58
And then this one, which has come back on air again, also hilarious:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgMl-iZ3tZM
MissFiFi said on 07.22.11 at 02:05 PM • [link]
Brianna -
Australia and the rest of the world for that matter has some pretty damn good commercials.
I am all for a sense of humor about feminine products because some men still see them as an enigma. When in truth they should be treated as casually as anything else one needs to purchase. Here in American I doubt either ad would fly, but I really love the second one. LOL
Delphine Dryden said on 07.22.11 at 02:08 PM • [link]
I almost hate my initial reaction to these ads (the whole Hail to the V concept) because it’s so stereotypical-feminist, but really my first thought was “men shouldn’t try to co-opt feminist memes to market to women”. I can only think/hope that a woman didn’t come up with this whole idea of “hailing” and “showing love” to the V by embracing the patriarchal-society notion that the V is mystical, powerful, and also in dire need of ritual cleansing for its fundamental impurities.
On the other hand, everything about these commercials, and by extension the people behind making them, is certainly on message: it all just screams “douche”.
Batty Tabby said on 07.22.11 at 02:22 PM • [link]
Oh yes, all life is lived to smell correct for those men who are fighting over us. Never mind most of them are bigger than us and could just take what they want. =P And what about the women who prefer women? Beneath notice I guess.
TaraL said on 07.22.11 at 02:27 PM • [link]
Agree with most of the above. Cute commercial, too bad it’s for a product I would never use unless my… No, no, I wouldn’t even use it then.
And “show it a little love?” Really? With a douche? I can think of so many better ways to do that…
Ben P said on 07.22.11 at 02:28 PM • [link]
DUUUUDE! - If you don’t like the taste, don’t eat it.
Srsly: It’s not like your parents or in-laws are sitting there all “If you don’t eat that you don’t get dessert!” (Which would suck, btw.)
The ad was almost going somewhere until the product derailed it. That’s some totally unnecessary gloop right there. Sigh, talk about selling insecurity.
Why not market something meaningful like a gentle depilatory creme for man-parts?
The links Brianna posted ROCK.
SB Sarah said on 07.22.11 at 03:13 PM • [link]
And here we have the foundation of the romance genre: learning to show ourselves love by NOT using douches, or douchebags, for our satisfaction.
Peyton said on 07.22.11 at 03:30 PM • [link]
I don’t mind this one, but the talking hands series is downright racist and offensive.
CathyKJ said on 07.22.11 at 03:36 PM • [link]
The commercial is ridiculous - all the wonderfulness of the “V” that it talks about is passive, then it seems to imply that back in the day men loved it for what it is, but now you need to cover it up with Fresh Laundry Scent. Cleopatra didn’t need perfume for her love portal, and neither do I.
I’d love to see a rebuttal commercial talk about amazing things women have achieved - all without using douche/deoderant spray. I bet Boudicca didn’t smell like Meadow Dew.
Also, I was very bothered by the obviously face lances during the jousting scene. Hopefully they were not doubly representative of the jouster’s penises, because then I’d feel really bad for the woman in that scene (and, yes, her “V”)
Pam G said on 07.22.11 at 03:41 PM • [link]
To me the oddest thing about this ad is the guys fighting. From woman centered to testosterone central. How does that market to women? Doesn’t offend me any more that the hundreds of misogynistic beer ads, but it sure doesn’t sell me the product.
And thank you, Brianna, for the genuine giggle.
Darlene Marshall said on 07.22.11 at 04:10 PM • [link]
My lady parts are fine just the way they are. They don’t need cosmetic surgery, or bling, or artificial smelling wipes and douches. I have yet to hear any straight man say, “Gee, honey, it’s nice you want to have sexxoring with me, but I sure wish you smelled like a chemical version of flowers!”
However, I agreed with the premise of the video and enjoyed it up until the cut to product. Thanks for sharing.
Jennifer Armintrout said on 07.22.11 at 04:27 PM • [link]
They’re also running a print campaign about Cleopatra, insinuating that her political successes were due to a habit of regular douching. On the one hand, I’m insulted by the allegation that Cleopatra only got where she did because of her “V”. On the other hand…
MarieC said on 07.22.11 at 04:29 PM • [link]
I thought the commercial was hilarious. Does it make me want to go out and buy the product? No. However, the ad did what it was supposed to do: create some noise and make the product memorable.
joykenn said on 07.22.11 at 05:21 PM • [link]
Yep, most of Cleopatra as seducer comes from her enemies. She was a very clever, well educated and ambitious woman. In those days it was use or be used and she didn’t seem to want to be a passive victim. There’s some contemporary sources and some images that suggest that she wasn’t beautiful but was a brilliant conversationalist. I doubt that the smell of her vagina got her power.
First we have to remove hair from various parts of our body (and more and more of them each day, full brazilian anyone), then use chemicals to keep from perspiring and now this. Sigh!
Chelsea said on 07.22.11 at 05:38 PM • [link]
Ok for one thing, I was told that using these products can be bad for you in the long run. Your body has a natural cleansing system that keeps everything healthy. You mess with it, and you can end up with dryness issues or infections. So, no thanks.
Above all, I find it offensive to have the worth of women reduced to their genitalia. I kind of laughed, it was so outrageous.
Cakes said on 07.22.11 at 05:47 PM • [link]
Thank God every hero worth a grain of salt ALWAYS goes down on the woman. A.L.W.A.Y.S. And enjoys it. This is why I want my daughter to read romance novels when she is a teenager. I want her to know that it should be expected and enjoyed.
And products like this only make a woman more self-conscious about her body so that she can’t enjoy herself, and give men the false idea that vagina should smell or taste like anything less than the sweet, savory brininess of vagina.
When they make a product that makes semen taste like bubble gum, then we can discuss taste.
Kit said on 07.22.11 at 05:54 PM • [link]
A+ would LOL again.
There’s a part of me that knows how unhealthy douching is and another that’s protesting selling insecurity, but most of me is just sitting here cackling insanely.
H. Vert said on 07.22.11 at 05:55 PM • [link]
Yes indeed to Ben P, and Cakes! I wholeheartedly agree!
& btw, the commercial was pretty lame, imo. I’m off to check the links Brianna posted. :)
Darlene Marshall said on 07.22.11 at 06:11 PM • [link]
@Cakes—
Word.
Lindz said on 07.22.11 at 06:27 PM • [link]
My reaction to the commercial can best be expressed by a line from Lonely Island’s song “Reba”:
Well, my pussy is tha bomb and that’s a fact!
xixi said on 07.22.11 at 06:59 PM • [link]
With the lead-up, I was really hoping it was going to be a commercial for fabric softener, or something really mundane and not sex-stereotyped (ha! as if there is such a product). Oh well. It’s not like the creative team can do anything about who they’re making the commercial for, which is what I find the most offensive; so the Man’s Last Stand commercial from Dodge [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RyPamyWotM ] still wins the title for most obnoxious sex-stereotyped (and the Woman’s Last Stand rebuttal [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou5Ens-qNRc ] the title for snarky satire).
Alpha Lyra said on 07.22.11 at 07:05 PM • [link]
Hilarious ad! Useless product.
katieM said on 07.22.11 at 07:26 PM • [link]
First: No doctor in his or her right mind says that douching is a good idea.
Second: Check out how bad it used to be: http://www.cynical-c.com/2007/02/21/lysol-ads-from-the-50s/
Flo said on 07.22.11 at 07:40 PM • [link]
I so wouldn’t mind an add that just said “Hey, if you sweat, take a shower, your vag will love you more… and then someone will love your vag more!”
There is a factor of hot weather, active people, and supah tight pants. That said, this commercial is amusing. It’s clear the whole thing is product placement. It’s like the commercials of women frolicking on the beach smiling while on the rag. It’s all a false idea and a push for women to behave and act a certain way. That doesn’t mean you have too. Too much PC-ness causes over sensitivity. The only thing that should be oversensitive is your va-jay-jay after a long lovin’.
katieM said on 07.22.11 at 07:41 PM • [link]
For even more history, go to the Museum of Menstruation and Women’s Health: http://www.mum.org/director.htm
ashley said on 07.22.11 at 08:08 PM • [link]
I like the whole “Remeber how important your vagina is! it’s not just for sexy times! it has a deep meaning and purpose!” Too bad the commercial is for a douche, something women should NOT be using. what is it with women thinking their poon stinks? like those yeast infections where the women hide in sweaters as though everyone can smell them! hello! no one’s poon smells that bad!
Liz said on 07.22.11 at 09:16 PM • [link]
i really didn’t have a problem with this ad. my only thought was that it wasn’t appropriate for a PG-13 movie, especially one that kids of all ages would be seeing.
Cerulean said on 07.22.11 at 09:32 PM • [link]
Overall, I thought it was another example of reducing women to one body part - and then telling them how to make it better for their use. And that women’s power only came from their vagina. Am I hugely offended? Well, yes and no. I’ve just gotten so used to it now that I’m not terribly surprised.
Suzanne said on 07.22.11 at 09:38 PM • [link]
Liz, I’m with you…my first thought was THIS WAS SHOWN BEFORE HARRY POTTER?? How awkward.
Alexis Harrington said on 07.22.11 at 09:39 PM • [link]
I went to see Harry Potter and got ads for new series coming on TBS and trailers for more kids’ movies! If they had shown this, I might have thought, no, not great. There were more adults in the theater than kids (2:20 PM showing) but I don’t like the whole idea. Being soap-and-water clean is very important and enough. And FWIW, menopause will steal what I think of as our “girl smell” eventually, making this Summer’s Eve stuff obsolete.
The ad was interesting until the last part, though. I wish it had been for something else, like a book or a movie.
JamiSings said on 07.22.11 at 11:02 PM • [link]
I really never got why women get so offended by products like douches or even RePHresh. Seems like a waste of energy to me. I’m offended that child rapist Roman Polanski isn’t in jail where he belongs and people in Hollywood still work with the pervert. Douches, I ignore. No one’s forcing me to buy the product. Though sometimes, after a very heavy period or if I’ve had a bad yeast infection I recently got over, I’ll do an old fashion vinager and water or mix up a baking soda and water one just to make me feel a little more confident.
And I’ve met women who, frankly, could use a little vagina shaming. Of course, they’re 99.9% of the time women who believe you should bathe only once every three days and never use any sort of product for any sort of BO, so their hoo-ha smells like a dead beached whale in 110 degree weather.
Diva said on 07.22.11 at 11:48 PM • [link]
Eh, I’m not offended about anything except the fact it was shown before Harry Potter which seems to target a much, um, younger demographic than what ought to be targeted by such an advertisement. I wouldn’t want to be a parent whose kid starts asking, Hey why are those guys stickfighting? Can I get a V? What is that stuff used for? when I thought I was just going to see Voldemort get vanquished.
The ad itself just seems silly to me. A bit misogynistic in the implication that a woman’s power is her vagina…hmm..if I start really thinking about this I’ll work myself up into being offended probably.
Diva said on 07.22.11 at 11:48 PM • [link]
Eh, I’m not offended about anything except the fact it was shown before Harry Potter which seems to target a much, um, younger demographic than what ought to be targeted by such an advertisement. I wouldn’t want to be a parent whose kid starts asking, Hey why are those guys stickfighting? Can I get a V? What is that stuff used for? when I thought I was just going to see Voldemort get vanquished.
The ad itself just seems silly to me. A bit misogynistic in the implication that a woman’s power is her vagina…hmm..if I start really thinking about this I’ll work myself up into being offended probably.
Shari said on 07.22.11 at 11:48 PM • [link]
Slightly off topic, but the comments made me think about something that comes to my mind when reading a historical romance when there’s a ball. If I think about it realistically, I imagaine that with my 21th century attitude towards bathing and hygiene, I couldn’t take the odor. I bet those were some seriously smelly balls.
Are my musings on this historically accurate?
Susan said on 07.22.11 at 11:55 PM • [link]
Dumb commercial for a product I would *never* use. The only time I’ve ever douched was when my doctor told me to after an infection. Wash it thoroughly with soap or a gentle body wash and rinse - that’s all that’s needed.
Actually, I suspect men like the natural smell of a clean vagina. I mean, from an evolutionary standpoint, it’s probably a turn on.
redcrow said on 07.23.11 at 12:09 AM • [link]
JamiSings, I didn’t know feminists are only allowed to care about one case at a time. Guess I’ve been doing it wrong all my life.
Keri Ford said on 07.23.11 at 12:18 AM • [link]
very little bothers me, so what MarieC said:
But like some others said above, target marketing fail. Why would they put this before Harry Potter?!?!
Emily said on 07.23.11 at 12:21 AM • [link]
Not really my taste~ crude and offensive. Thankfully I haven’t seen it anywhere knock on wood. so I am only mildy annoyed.
Yes this ad is offensive it implies men only want women for the “v”.
definitely Objectificatify. Also laughably bad since probably not of those ladies had the products and they got guys to kill each other over it. Definitely sick, and not HP appropriate.
Jamisings, I am offended by the ad and slogan; not the product.
I have never noticed other womens’ smells. I try to mind my own business.
Finally results 64 I care little about the product.
Cora said on 07.23.11 at 12:30 AM • [link]
Oh for heaven’s sake, just get a bidet installed instead of bothering with potentially harmful chemicals.
JamiSings said on 07.23.11 at 12:50 AM • [link]
@Redcrow - Way to misinterperate! I’m saying there are FAR MORE IMPORTANT THINGS to be offended by. By getting all up in arms about this you’re drawing attention to it, giving them free advertising, meaning women who wouldn’t have known about this are likely now to go out and buy it just to see what the fuss is about. Like how people went to see The Last Temptation Of Christ simply because people were protesting it.
What I’m saying is - stop getting your knickers in a twist about unimportant things. Douches, in the end, don’t deserve any sort of attention. Stop giving them free advertising, pretend they don’t exist. Eventually people will stop buying them because you’re no longer doing the companies’ work for them. Most of the women who use them are ones like my mom who grew up with Lysol & bleach ones. I only rarely use them myself. Maybe once every five years.
There’s so many more important things in life to burn energy on then douche. And if you think there isn’t maybe it’s time to reprioritize you life.
Wendy said on 07.23.11 at 02:41 AM • [link]
Am I the only person who looked at the dudes fighting with staffs in a forest and saw microbes and dirt among pubes? OK, just me, then.
Part of me is disheartened that another generation of young’uns is being sold the idea that girly parts are filthy and disgusting unless they’re specially cleaned and scented. Part of me admires the creative mind behind the video. All of me is glad I got the straight dope about feminine hygiene from a knowledgeable medical professional - my mother, the nurse - at a fairly young age, and was immediately rendered impervious to this particular kind of marketing nonsense. I hope mothers will disabuse their daughters of the kind of notions this campaign may impart.
Wahoo Suze said on 07.23.11 at 02:43 AM • [link]
BWAhahahaha!
Because I’m 12.
Wahoo Suze said on 07.23.11 at 02:51 AM • [link]
@JamiSings, in my experience, telling other people what is important and what isn’t leads to acrimony. It may not be important to YOU, but saying that it shouldn’t be important to someone else (to whom it may be important) is a quick way to start a flame war.
@Wendy:
You are awesome.
Lori S. said on 07.23.11 at 03:32 AM • [link]
Ridiculous commercial, but not nearly as offensive as the Hornitos commercial that makes a joke out of date rape.
Virginia Llorca said on 07.23.11 at 04:08 AM • [link]
First, I don’t think it is a “douche” per se. I believe it is a product to be used externally. Then, I love the homage and the generous use of poles, sabers and swords as symbols. Finally, I wonder how they would symbolize the action filled first part of this ad were it for a male oriented product of similar type. Maybe scouring machetes or some use of that bowling ball cleaner bristly thing at the bowling alley.
Jennifer Armintrout said on 07.23.11 at 05:08 AM • [link]
I seriously just gazed right on past the fact that this was shown before Harry Potter. Whaaaaaaaaaat? Is this incontrovertible proof that Harry Potter’s fan demographic is not children, as was purported, but women ages 25-40?
bella said on 07.23.11 at 06:29 AM • [link]
This product is not at all a douche its a wash specifically for your lady parts that is not as harsh as your typical bar soap and is pH balanced that kind of thing. Not at all meant to be used internally. Also comes unscented for people who are allergic to scented tampons wipes etc. Funny commercial
Cakes said on 07.23.11 at 07:17 AM • [link]
My eight year old daughter watched one of the hand Hail to the V ads, and her response: “That’s disgusting. That’s stupid. and that’s NOT necessary. Why should my vagina smell like flowers? And who is going to have their face down there to smell it?” *cough* that last question I left vague. LOL!
And can I also point out that the commercial is telling us that ninjas and knights found our vaginas so irresistible that they would fight and die for them…that was long before Summer’s Eve even existed.
Crystal said on 07.23.11 at 09:38 AM • [link]
I honestly didn’t even consider it offensive for the vagina-shame aspect.
Where I found it offensive was that these men are fighting and dying over vaginas. Not the women attached to them.
“The cradle of life… men fought over it… men died over it… so make sure its clean and smells awesome!”
Even if men reduce women to vaginas and what those vaginas can do for them, there is no way this should be acceptable.
Alex Ward said on 07.23.11 at 11:44 AM • [link]
Wait, there are scented vaginal wipes? Oh, the inculcated genital shame! Are there any other countries (originally typoed that without an ‘o’ appropriately) where this and applicator tampons are the norm?
Two things - water alone is perfectly adequate to wash your wholly self-cleaning genitalial (soap of any kind = bad); and, as has been pointed out before, who wants a mouthful of perfume? Ick, yuck, wrong - and that’s before you even get tot he target demographic.
BookwormBabe said on 07.23.11 at 12:29 PM • [link]
Whilst I like the idea that women probably should give their V some love and attention as part of giving themselves the same, I don’t support the product. I don’t like the idea that this is just one more thing to worry about as a woman. And the idea that that’s all women are… how do we say objectify! We’ve fought for the rights we have today, raise our children to understand those and aim for the stars and here we have an ad’ reducing us to a single body part.
And on the subject of making our V smell good - I always like the idea of the tisane mentioned in Le Divorce. I never actually tried it, but at least the idea of drinking something that “perfumes the juices” makes more sense.
hechicera said on 07.23.11 at 12:45 PM • [link]
Would’ve been seriously funny as a vibrator commercial.
But let’s face it—no one needs to advertise vibrators, because if ever there was a self-marketing product, they are it. “Feminine hygiene” products are at the other end of the spectrum, designed to address an artificially created “problem.” If companies didn’t constantly bombard us with the message that we needed this stuff, no one would spontaneously buy it.
I got seriously turned off by Dane Cook (as if one needed a specific reason) by a bit he did on a woman whose vagina was so “dirty” that she must have only washed it with another, dirtier vagina. My immediate thought was that if he’s that ignorant, he must be shit in the sack.
Andplustoo I don’t think he’s funny.
Change29: If I could change 29 things about myself, my vagina would not be among them.
Elemental said on 07.23.11 at 01:22 PM • [link]
Continuing the proud cosmetic industry tradition of inventing new body problems that they can solve, for a small fee. I remember seeing an ad for a similar product from the 1950’s (“I was trapped in a web of cruel indifference from my husband until I freshened up down there!”) and smiling at the silly attitudes of those wacky mid-century people. But I guess induced insecurity is as big a seller now as ever.
Mitzi Flyte/Macie Carter said on 07.23.11 at 01:28 PM • [link]
I can’t believe this was shown before HP. Stupid placement.
And I agree with the post saying another reason for us to feel bad about our nether parts. Love the beginning,; hated the ending.
For many years I was yet another woman who thought “that area” was ugly and smelly…maybe it was the culture of the 1950/60s. It took a man to change my mind…I bless him to this day. He even told his friends—- seriously. Unusual compliment but a compliment.
We must change the idea that vagina=smelly but cock=strong.
Leave the beginning of the commercial, cut out the very end and just list the product’s name. It would be a stronger commercial.
AgTigress said on 07.23.11 at 03:35 PM • [link]
@Shari:
Probably. If one of us were suddenly transported into the past, we would certainly notice new, and not always acceptable, smells. Various kinds of body odour would have been much more common, as would the particularly disagreeable smell of long-unwashed clothing, and in city streets, there would have been strong scents of horses (pleasant), and horse-dung (not quite so pleasant). Likewise, if a person from the past suddenly landed in a 20th/21stC environment, they would notice modern smells; traffic fumes smell worse, and are much unhealthier, than horse-dung, and the pervasive stench of cigarette smoke in many environments up to quite recently would bother anyone unaccustomed to it.
The good news is that we unconsciously edit out ‘background’ sounds and smells, so that a time-traveller would become inured to the ‘new’ smells, good and bad, within weeks or even days, just as happens when we live for a while in a different contemporary culture, where life smells different from home.
Alexis Harrington said on 07.23.11 at 04:30 PM • [link]
Oooh, oooh, I remember that! Norforms, I think they were called. I remember ads in the back of TV Guide, something about “the embarrassing problem married women face.” What? What problem? Bad cooking? I was just a kid then, so I decided to Ask Mom. I think she told me they were some kind bullet-shaped douche product. (I knew about the douching thing—Mom was an avid user of the paraphernalia. When it came to such matters, especially anatomy and sex, she was the dispenser of mostly wrong information that she sticks with to this day.) Anyway, store shelves used to be full of these different products (anyone remember Massengill?): powders, liquids, disposable bottles. Now they’re mostly gone. Goodbye and good riddance.
Anonymous said on 07.23.11 at 05:37 PM • [link]
I didn’t get anything about a douche in this advertisement, it’s for a cleanser and cleaning cloths, though they may very well have a douche product for sale. This may be tmi but I have crazy sensitive skin so cleansers containing soap cause bad irritation - I’ve used Summer’s Eve sensitive skin cleanser for years for that reason. The perfumes in the products down in the video are kinda crazy though.
katieM said on 07.23.11 at 07:30 PM • [link]
As I read through the comments I became curious about the “v.” What does it stand for—vulva or vagina? If its vulva (the outside) then the product is just fancy overpriced baby wipes and spray. If its vagina (the inside) then its a douche. Either way, why is it necessary?
My captcha is perhaps so perhaps its a douche or perhaps its baby wipes.
Sharona said on 07.23.11 at 08:41 PM • [link]
The retail-experienced cynic in me is thinking that the placement in Harry Potter previews was intentional and perfect. It was a superb venue for reaching a target audience of insecure girls & young women who are obsessed with being attractive to boys.
Wahoo Suze said on 07.23.11 at 09:18 PM • [link]
Re: smelly history. In 1990 or so, I did the tourist thing in the British Isles. A whole bunch of places we went, including the York Viking museum, were really big on making things smell authentic. I went through several tours breathing through my sweater (‘cause I didn’t have a hanky). I still wonder why they wanted to inflict that stench on people.
AgTigress said on 07.23.11 at 10:00 PM • [link]
It’s a shallow, vulgar, meretricious marketing ploy. As I said earlier, people who lived at the time would not notice the smell, so inflicting it on modern people is not ‘authentic’ in any way.
Sally said on 07.24.11 at 12:28 AM • [link]
I do think the ad is offensive and assumes something’s wrong down there. Marketing it to teenage girls just keeps the misinformation flowing.
Check out this Lysol ad. Seriously, people, just take a bath. http://imageshack.us/f/30/lysolad.jpg/
Sally said on 07.24.11 at 12:40 AM • [link]
Ooops! KatieM beat me to it. I was reading backwards. LOL
Captcha: Hard24 *snicker*
Susan said on 07.24.11 at 12:53 AM • [link]
Wahoo Suze: Now you’ve got me wondering *how* they made the exhibits and museums smell authentic. No, that’s OK, don’t tell me, I’ll sleep better not knowing.
AgTigress said on 07.24.11 at 11:00 AM • [link]
I feel sure that most smells can be chemically synthesised, and seriously doubt whether even at the Jorvik centre (in York), where this kind of approach was pioneered, they have piles of steaming ordure behind the scenes.
Fortunately my curatorial career was spent in a more conventional museum. Unduly organic smells were definitely not encouraged.
Eve Langlais said on 07.24.11 at 02:55 PM • [link]
OMG, that was an awesome commercial. I laughed myself silly. And it did exactly what it set out to do. It caught our attention, and we took note of the product. Fabulous and original. I also liked that they took it in a different direction than usual and didn’t pull the whole ‘aren’t-you-embarrassed-by-your-body’s-smell’ route.
Tamara H said on 07.24.11 at 03:39 PM • [link]
I find the product offensive. The ad is just kinda ridiculous. Leave it to marketers to try and put a positive spin on historical ownership of women (i.e. women as chattel) to try and sell a product. i am suspicious of the notion that our magical and mysterious hoo-has have somehow driven world politics for centuries, and are the most powerful things on the face of the planet. Women are powerful because of our intelligence, wit, charm resourcefulness, etc. NOT because of our va-jay-jays.
This product has been around for years.. why are women still buying into the notion our bodies are somehow dirty. Where’s Adam’s FAll ... cleansing cloths for the average douchebag?
Wahoo Suze said on 07.25.11 at 04:10 AM • [link]
Yes, they were chemically synthesized. The dominant aroma, as I recall, was burning peat. I get that it was the main source of fuel, but holy cow, unpleasant.
Phedre said on 07.25.11 at 05:47 AM • [link]
I thought it silly. I wonder though what Storm Large would have thought of it with her 8 miles wide one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5U-YT-mRmI
AgTigress said on 07.25.11 at 10:06 AM • [link]
Burning coal (familiar to people of my generation) is not a great smell, either, but burning anything is probably better than rotting kitchen waste! Exposing anyone to unfamiliar smells suddenly, and for a very short period, simply doesn’t convey a true impression of how the smells would have been perceived by those who knew them well. It’s a culture-shock experience, which is almost the reverse of what one wants to achieve, namely a true insight into how the people of the past interacted with their own world.
I remember when I first lived in the city where I went to university, I detested the smell of the local brewery which would waft over the town when the wind set in a certain direction. By the time I moved on, 4 years later, I simply didn’t notice it — and in later years, encountering the characteristic smell of brewing beer simply makes me feel nostalgic for the place where I first encountered it.
Pickle said on 07.30.11 at 11:47 PM • [link]
Not just Harry Potter, this is showing up on about 1 out of every 5 Hulu videos I (or my son watch). The first time I saw it I laughed at its outrageousness, but it gets old fast and pushes a product we DON’T need!
Alli said on 07.31.11 at 05:00 AM • [link]
I was entertained until it jumped to “reality” which to me was more of a letdown than the fact that it’s selling douche.
On a related note, has anyone else ever read “Even Cowgirls Get the Blues” by Tom Robbins? One of the stranger books I’ve read, but that more than anything else has convinced me never to try any of these products!
Imelda said on 08.25.11 at 03:29 PM • [link]
Are you KIDDING me?? I am a little late to the game, but I can’t believe this ad hasn’t pissed more people off. As if we aren’t reduced to what’s between our legs enough, now marketing targeted AT us is doing it too??
I get the appeal of men fighting over women - we all read romance novels - but this commercial actually has them fighting over our VAGINAS. come ON. Because that’s the only part of us that matters to men, right? The cradle of LIFE? No, that’s a freaking womb, tyvm, and in addition, you need a PARENT to make sure that life actually survives.
Ugggghhhhhh. This is one of the most offensive commercials I have maybe ever seen. How come guys get the Old Spice guy, and we get THIS?
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