Thursday, September 18, 2008

Garden at the opera!


It's a very unexpected scene that I came across a few days ago, as I was passing by the Paris Opera (well the one we call Le Palais Garnier) ; a real "forest" growing on the front steps! I searched the web to find out more and I discovered that this was a street marketing operation to promote a new perfume for men by Guerlain (have a look at their web site, you have to be patient but it's quite impressive). I'm talking quite impressive!

50 comments:

  1. The French are truly masters of marketing and publicity. This looks so strange here, yet beautiful.

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  2. Looked at their web site, and I'm glad I hung in till the end! Tell me, Eric—was HE there in this jungle?

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  3. Alexa
    You are really committed to win the title of GF of the Year, aren't you:)?
    I like that!

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  4. Oh, let me guess. A scent based on water? spice notes? Uhh, no, no, I think I have it.... woody essences. 8^) I know, it takes me a while.

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  5. This building is as beautiful at night as during the day. Love it!

    So how does the product smell?

    Alexa: what chance would HE stand in any jungle with all the lions, tigers and cougars, oh my!

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  6. A college music Prof. of mine once said to us -- what is unique about the Paris Opera is that it almost always has a ballet sequence in it. I love the other photo. I left a little comment there.

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  7. The lighting makes this look like a miniature building, too.

    You are right - the marketing video is quite impressive!!

    The "Extras" link on the Guerlain website has some nice screen wallpaper. RAWR!!

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  8. I´ll have to look at their website some other time, it´s too slow. But I´m curious!

    Love this photo anyhow, and yesterday´s news about La Coupole too!

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  9. "Spice notes"...LOL USElaine! Definitely not "ghost notes" but perhaps accents. Bidda boom!!!

    Alexa...you did it again, amazing! Is that Queen's "We Are the Champions" playing in the background? Congrats to you. [BTW, my keyboard is typing those three words automatically now!]:-)

    Back to the photo. I see the heads of Beethoven and Wolfgang. Who is that to the right of Wolfie? Paganini? This is another glorious evening shot, Eric, with so much ornamentation. The greenery reminds me of Jilly's Monte Carlo. Maybe she'll chime in. ;-)

    I will admit that I did leave the European shores with some parfume...Christina Ricci's (sp)Memoire D'homme (US Elaine, it is a bit woody but not too overpowering, kind of like some Australian wines I've had recently.) As the wine, I liked the parfume while it lasted. It did cause the women to swoon, too, if I remember correctly, but I digress. Unfortunately, I ran out of it and am back to my Old Spice.

    I don't know much about Guerlain parfume but I can appreciate their marketing idea. Classic. I would add that like perfume, "some music definitely smells much better on others."

    Lois...you're able to comment the day after BDay? Now that's impressive. ;-)

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  10. That was a fascinating little film of the Rain Forest...In the end, I suppose we are we to use our imagination as to how we think 'Guerlain' will smell? Help me out here I'm new to this kind of advertising...

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  11. Coltrane: are you sure that is what caused the women to swoon? ;-)

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  12. Sometimes I wish we had smell-o-puters!! Eric, that lovely picture of the Opera (which I haven't seen before today) is overwhelmingly beautiful. I have stared at the picture, but there is always something new to see on the facade of the building. Gorgeous! Great angle too!

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  13. Bien sur...Guerlain!! ;-) Love the palm trees and the Opera Garnier never looked so beautiful!! Great shot Eric!!

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  14. Cali...my ear-blushing is matching my Merlot. Stop that,you! ;-)

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  15. Ok, Eric, you must be in the French secret service or something - you seem to get in any place you want to take a quick shot! Once again, it looks like Eric has had no problem getting full access behind the security fence - and ended up deep in the foliage when the shutter clicked! Do your handlers know you're squandering your top secret security clearance on pictures for us!? :)

    I didn't get to say yesterday that I was surprised that the people at La Coupole looked much more casually dressed than I would have expected. Were you able to use that "I'm really just taking a photo of the dome" excuse when you snapped that group of foregn agents posing as celebrants? Hope it worked out for you. I'm beginning to get an image of you sort of like Daniel Craig in the last Bond movie, a mild mannered photog by day, a kick**s secret agent behind the scenes. C'mon Eric, you can tell us!!! ;}

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  16. rose -- is there really a prize for most times GF in the year? I think there are a few people who might win that one.
    lois -- how were the celebrations? Or maybe they're still going on!
    gramma ann -- you're not supposed to care what it smells like. You're supposed to buy it for your fella so he'll become a sexy animal who looks like THAT GUY. As Suzy says, Rawr!
    Speaking of which -- coltrane, I'm the only woman here not flirting with you today. On the other hand, the cravatte is en route. But I must point out that you meant Memoire d'Homme by Nina Ricci, not Christine (who is, of course, the rather funny-looking American actress).

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  17. Alexa: flirting with our dear Coltrane, me? Perish the thought. I was merely standing in for Soosha, much as others stand in for Susie when she isn't available to write ET, ET, ET.

    Who am I kidding?

    Coltrane!
    Coltrane!!
    Coltrane!!!
    (hi, Mrs. C)

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  18. cali: LOL! Thanks for keeping my seat warm!

    Coltrane: Unfortunately, I ran out of it and am back to my Old Spice.

    So you're still trying to get the ladies swoon? Mrs. C better watch out, cause there's more than one lady round these parts that will swoon over you in a heartbeat, no matter what cologne you use! Because I agree 1,000%-

    Coltrane!
    Coltrane!!
    Coltrane!!! ;oP

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  19. The ad is really nice! Thanks for the link.

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  20. I only wish it was as warm here as the palm trees give a sense of it being. They do tend to use this very obvious public stage for many exhibitions or protest manifestations.

    The site/advertisement is fantastic but it makes me wonder how good the perfume is when I see how much extra space they give to "the making of", "extras", "design", etc. Perception is reality however.

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  21. Coltrane, Yes, it's the day after my birthday. This birthday was reflective. I didn't party very much. I am headed for a "mile stone" birthday next year.

    Alexa, You crack me up!!! "But I must point out that you meant Memoire d'Homme by Nina Ricci, not Christine (who is, of course, the rather funny-looking American actress)." Yes, I'm still celebrating. blush >^..^<

    Eric, My Baron said, "I love the site for Guerlain, what a commercial/website, as Eric said quite impressive."

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  22. Alexa..."Christine Ricci"--I am blushing now! LOL ;-) As Sergeant Shultz would say, "I know nothing Colonel Hogan" about parfume.

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  23. I'm going to buy this for Christmas presents for the men in my life:

    Memoire d'Homme by Nina Ricci
    Homme by Guerlain

    I love men that wear fragrance.

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  24. The trees make a beautiful building even more so!

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  25. Paris in the service of advertising, marketing and business. Business is business.

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  26. If only I had a scratch and sniff computer screen!

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  27. This is one of my two favorite spots in Paris!!! I planned it as my first stop on my first full day in Paris -- a sort of homage to my first French teacher and best friend in the world who also had made it her first stop on her first visit to Paris. I am nuts about this place!!! It looks as though it has been cleaned recently, too. The garden in frony is fabulous. I look forward to getting a better look at the Guerlain website once I have access to a faster Internet connection.

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  28. The scene is very nice..

    You are right, the website is very impressive.. It is one of a kind.

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  29. Michael, if it's any consolation it hasn't stoped raining here for over a week... it's so cold, the winter decided to show its face... :(

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  30. I didn't recognize l'Opéra Garnier at the first sight because of these trees, actually I find amazing that Guerlain had the right to put them in front of a National Monument!!
    There are so many laws to protect the National treasures, their images and their reputations. That's quite impressive though.
    And the link to the ad is nice. Really...wild? :)

    Monica!Lovely new pix!

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  31. Mon, you've got internet! Very very beautiful picture!

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  32. Yeah, I don't have patience for slow websites I'm afraid Eric, but i do ADORE perfumes, as you know! I think Guerlain do Shalimar? which i love.....mmmmmmmmmm!

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  33. I often wonder if some day soon "They" will scoop you up and give you your own spot on the television. It could still be called Paris Daily Photo, but you would narrate about your shots. This one is just so beautiful both as is and zoomed in. The combination of your material and your eye for the unusual is a marriage made in Heaven.

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  34. monica -- sorry to hear about the weather, but glad the sun is once again shining on your computer (and in your lovely picture)!

    lynn -- and I do believe you of all people would appreciate the end of that slooooow-moving video.

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  35. Soosha not yet, but hopefully next week I´ll have permanent internet.

    Guille I like your pix too and the scarv around your neck!

    Lynn, you have a great new pix too!

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  36. Lovely, unusual photo. The Paris Opera is probably my favorite building in the world. I first saw it from afar as I walked up the Avenue de L'Opera my first day in Paris looking for a bank to cash my travelers checks. Brings back memories. Sigh. Will have to check out the website later as I'm at work.

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  37. me too, monica!
    I just couldn't think of anything to say on the blog, lately!

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  38. Carrie "Ok, Eric, you must be in the French secret service or something - " LOOOOOOOOL!

    Hi everyone (welcome back Monica!) I'm sorry I don't check in too often in the comment box lately, I'm just about to release a new website (a professional one, don't get too excited!) and I barely have the time to take my daily pic.

    But I enjoy reading your comments ;)

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  39. lynn, how slow am I? Your new picture is so very lovely too!!!

    Eric, you made our hearts palpitate for a second there!

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  40. Is this another species of Fleur de Male?

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  41. Thanks for checking in, dear Eric. You do great photos even in your sleep, it seems. ;^)

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