You can really tell that the holiday season is coming by the commercials you see on TV. I'm not just talking about the Norelco sled in the snow or the K-Mart layaway pitches. I'm talking about the high end, classy jewelry and perfume commercials that are there to give guys ideas about what to give their spouses.

One of the most beautiful perfume ads I've seen in a long time has been getting a lot of exposure lately. It's for Chanel N°5 with the French actress Audrey Tautou. You probably have seen it, but might remember it more if I tell you about the music. It's a very soulful, bluesy rendition of "I'm A Fool To Want You."

The singer is the great Billie Holiday, and her vocal matches the romantic images perfectly. Take a look:



The commercial – shot in France – is very, very distinctive and shot like a feature film. Jean Pierre Jeunet, who had previously directed Audrey in Amélie, directed this spot.

By the way, It's no coincidence that Audrey Tautou was chosen to play the woman in this commercial. She has been named spokesmodel for Chanel N°5 as part of the promotion for the bio pic Coco avant Chanel, in which she plays the young Coco Chanel.

Do you think this Chanel ad is as good at the one Nicole Kidman did with Baz Luhrmann? I do, mainly because I think the music adds a lot to the mood.