There is only one goal that cigarette advertisement has: to sell more cigarettes! Advertisements for cigarettes have been around for as long as companies have manufactured them and offered them to the public for purchase. Generally speaking, cigarette advertising in the past was a cultural phenomenon, and the companies that advertised their wares actively sought to play a role in the relationship that goods and consumers enjoyed.

Take for example the cigarette advertisements for the Camel brand of cigarettes. Ads very early on simply depicted a dromedary against the backdrop of some pyramids and palm trees. Considering that this cigarette ad originated as early as 1913 – a point in time where Europeans were gripped with an Egyptology fever that exalted all things archaeological that was even remotely Egyptian – it is not surprising that this cigarette advertisement sought to cash in on the mania by allowing the “little man” to own his piece of Egypt. Granted, unless the upper crusts he would never have an honest to goodness mummy displayed in his drawing room (he probably did not even have a drawing room in the first place), but for a small price the cigarette advertisement promises that he can have a taste of the exotic country.

Over time, this and many other vintage cigarette ads have been updated. 1960's cigarette ads no longer understood the Victorian obsession about Egypt and a new generation had grown up that had new foibles that could be marketed to. As the cigarette advertisement changed over the years the Camel brand once again stands at the forefront to illustrate that change by introducing Joe Camel, a cartoon character that blatantly markets to the younger generation. While some felt this was false advertising of cigarettes since it targeted kids, it would take until 2005 for the European Union to ban the display of cigarette advertisements in public sporting events.

This of course sent the creators of Marlboro cigarette ads, Kool cigarette ads, Winston cigarette ads and all the others scrambling to revamp their strategies. While in the past the idea was to equate exotic locales, sexy ruggedness, adult behavior, and fun to be had by all with smoking, today Marlboro cigarette advertisements are designed to just keep the colors and logos in the minds of an audience. The same is true for the Winston cigarette advertising folks and also for the designer of the Kool cigarette ad.