Life — September 13, 1917 — page 7: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Tuxedo Tobacco Advertisement This is primarily a **tobacco advertisement**, not political satire. The page shows a vintage ad for Tuxedo brand pipe and cigarette tobacco, using the slogan "Your Nose Knows." The cartoon at the top depicts two figures engaged in what appears to be a kiss or close interaction with flowers/plants between them, illustrating the ad's central claim: that fragrance alone determines quality—you cannot be fooled even blindfolded. The ad compares tobacco to a rose, arguing that Tuxedo's "pure fragrance" from Kentucky Burley leaves is so distinctive it's identifiable by smell alone, making deception impossible. The rose imagery emphasizes natural appeal and superiority through scent rather than appearance. This reflects early 20th-century advertising strategy: emphasizing sensory qualities and purity to market tobacco products before health warnings existed.