Old Novelty Alcoholic Toothpaste Ad

Back in the day, before Amazon reviews or Reddit warnings, people bought things purely because they sounded fun. Like “Scotch” and “Bourbon” flavored toothpaste. Yep, that was a real ad.

What’s happening here

This ad taps into curiosity and humor. It promises “spirit” in your smile and winks at the reader with a joke about brushing more often. It’s not about dental hygiene—it’s about novelty and storytelling.

Why it works

• It shocks with a weird twist: whiskey toothpaste!
• Makes people laugh, then curious
• Feels like a gag gift—low risk, high fun
• Uses scarcity (mail order, only a dollar)

Examples

• Cards Against Humanity’s “Nothing for $5” raised $71K
• Liquid Death sells “murder your thirst” canned water
• Poo-Pourri made bathroom spray go viral with cheeky humor
• The “Pet Rock” hit $15M in the 1970s by being a total joke that sold itself