Timothee Chalamet's Sensual Fragrance Ad: Exploring Scents And Sensuality

In 2023, Timothée Chalamet was announced as the new face of Chanel's fragrance Bleu de Chanel. The French fashion house released an Instagram post featuring a black-and-white photo of the actor, describing the cologne as for the man who is deeply himself. Chalamet, who described the scent as subtle but still assertive, became the centre of a lengthy promotional campaign for the fragrance, which included a short film directed by Martin Scorsese.

Timothée Chalamet's role in the Chanel ad

Timothée Chalamet is the face of Chanel's men's fragrance Bleu de Chanel. The French fashion house made the announcement on Instagram in May 2023, with an evocative black-and-white photo of the actor taken by Mario Sorrenti. Chalamet described the cologne as "subtle but still assertive".

The advertising campaign, starring Chalamet, was released in June 2023. This was followed by a 90-second campaign film, directed by Martin Scorsese, which premiered in May 2024. Chalamet reportedly received $35 million for his involvement in the campaign.

In the Scorsese-directed short film, Chalamet, clad in an all-leather ensemble, steps into different caricatures and settings that stereotypically define acting. He's snapped by the paparazzi while leaving his apartment, he's charming on a late-night talk show, and he's watching his new project on a billboard and on a television. The campaign is in black and white, but the colour blue keeps finding its way to Chalamet. He's haunted by actress Havana Rose Liu, who ultimately leads him to the New York subway.

Chalamet portrays a version of himself on a fast-moving press tour for a film in which he plays a guy named Simon. As he's shepherded through his day, he keeps getting flashes of his female co-star, Liu. She is the intermediary between celebrity and art, and in the climax of the ad, she allows him to find himself. Chalamet and Simon become one on a subway platform, and suddenly you want to buy cologne.

The ad's release and reception

On May 15, 2023, Chanel announced on Instagram that Timothée Chalamet would be the new face of its Bleu de Chanel fragrance. The post featured a black-and-white photo of the actor taken by Mario Sorrenti and was accompanied by the caption, "fragrance ambassador for BLEU DE CHANEL ... A fragrance for the man who is deeply himself." Chalamet himself described the cologne as "subtle but still assertive."

The official campaign began with a 15-second "reveal" in June, in which Chalamet slowly raises his head and stares solemnly into the camera. This was followed by a commercial for the commercial in which an unseen, unheard presence asks Chalamet a series of questions. In the months leading up to the ad's release, Chanel also released several behind-the-scenes videos, interviews, and hosted an influencer-attended dinner.

The highly anticipated ad was initially scheduled for release on October 16, 2023, but was postponed. It briefly leaked online on October 31 before being removed from the internet. The ad was finally released in November 2024.

The 60-second ad, directed by Martin Scorsese, features Chalamet stepping into different caricatures and settings that define acting. He is snapped by the paparazzi, charms the audience of a late-night talk show, and watches his new project on a billboard and on television. The film is shot in black and white, with hints of blue appearing throughout, and ending with the campaign message, "Find your blue, find yourself."

The ad received mixed reactions from fans. Some praised the ad, with one fan account describing it as "fantastic." Others were more critical, with one Reddit user commenting that the ad seemed "edited for TikTok."

Chalamet's description of the cologne

Timothée Chalamet describes Bleu de Chanel as "subtle but still assertive". In an interview with British Vogue, he said:

> I like that it feels a little pulled back, it’s subtle but still assertive. I’m not someone who wears scent all the time. For me, it’s about emphasizing a moment.

Chalamet also described the cologne as "a fragrance for the man who is deeply himself". Chanel itself describes Bleu de Chanel as an aromatic-woody perfume with a captivating trail [that] embodies freedom with its strength and elegance, just like the man who wears it.

The ad's filming and production

The ad for Bleu de Chanel, starring Timothée Chalamet and directed by Martin Scorsese, was filmed on the streets of New York in April 2023. Chalamet was announced as the new face of the fragrance in May 2023, and the first behind-the-scenes images of the ad were leaked around the same time. However, the ad itself was not released until November 2024, over a year after it was filmed.

The ad features Chalamet, clad in an all-leather ensemble, stepping into different caricatures and settings that are stereotypical of the acting world. He is snapped by paparazzi, charms the audience on a late-night talk show, and watches his new project on a billboard and on television. The film is shot in black and white, but hints of blue appear throughout, with the colour finally taking over at the end.

Chalamet described the experience of working with Scorsese as "one of the highest honours, if not the highest honour, of my career". He also said that filming in New York was especially meaningful to him, as he is "a New York boy [and] a New York actor".

The ad was highly anticipated by Chalamet's fans, who had to wait over a year to see it. During that time, Chalamet and Scorsese released behind-the-scenes footage and interviews, and attended an influencer dinner to promote the campaign. However, the ad's release was delayed multiple times, with no explanation given by Chanel or the filmmakers.

The ad's director, Martin Scorsese

The ads director, Martin Scorsese, is a legendary filmmaker, and his collaboration with Timothée Chalamet for the Bleu de Chanel campaign marked the first time the actor and director had worked together. Scorsese is known for his classic films with their distinct style, and bringing his unique vision to a commercial was always going to be a highly anticipated event.

Scorsese's involvement with the campaign was first announced in May 2023, with a short film to be released in June. However, the ad was delayed, and it wasn't until May 2024 that the full 90-second spot was released. The wait was due in part to the busy schedule of the director, who was also working on his film 'Killers of the Flower Moon' and developing a Frank Sinatra biopic.

The ad itself is a black-and-white short film with hints of blue, starring Chalamet as a version of himself on a press tour. It includes humour, drama, and love, with Chalamet's character ultimately finding himself with the help of his co-star, played by Havana Rose Liu.

Scorsese's distinctive style and direction shine through in the ad, and his collaboration with Chalamet brought a new level of excitement to the campaign. The director's classic touches and unique vision made the commercial a cinematic experience, with one reviewer commenting that it was "another Scorsese classic".

The director's involvement also added a layer of prestige to the campaign, with Chalamet himself commenting on the excitement of working with Scorsese and how it piqued the interest of his friends. The collaboration between Chanel, Scorsese, and Chalamet proved to be a successful one, with the ad receiving positive reviews and generating buzz for the fragrance.

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