Description
This Old Spice classic is pure chaos wrapped in confidence. A shirtless man with a towel-scarf, sitting backwards on a white horse, casually pours body wash into his palm while staring into your soul. The whole scene feels like it was designed by someone who asked, “What’s the most dramatic way to sell soap?” and then refused to edit anything out. It’s absurd, over-the-top, and somehow unforgettable.
How It Works:
The magic of this ad is that it never tries to be realistic. It leans completely into exaggeration as a strategy. Instead of talking about fragrance notes or moisturizing benefits, the brand sells a lifestyle, one where smelling good makes you impossibly cool, hilariously confident, and capable of riding a horse on a beach without questioning why. Humor becomes the hook, the actor’s delivery becomes the glue, and the absurdity becomes the brand identity. That’s why it sticks in your head long after you’ve stopped laughing.
How You Can Reuse It:
This formula thrives on contrast: take an everyday product, place it in an impossible situation, and let confidence carry the message. It works anywhere, in shampoo ads, cereal brands, deodorants, even tech products. The idea is simple: don’t explain the product; exaggerate the outcome of using it. Give people something so ridiculous and entertaining that they love the brand before they even try the product. That’s the Old Spice playbook, and it still works.
