On August 3, the New York Times posted a story in which Katherine Dozier, 24, said she started smoking regularly about a year ago, when a Hollywood club passed out Camel No. 9 menthols as a promotion. She was struck by the 'cute' black-and-turquoise box with a pink camel.

Ever since Susan G Komen started the pink ribbon campaign for breast cancer awareness it seems that marketers have realized all you need to do is make something pink to sell it to women. Pink berry-flavored lip gloss, pink cell phone jewelry, pink mini purses: oh, it’s great to be a girl!

R.J. Reynolds and their Camel No. 9’s are no exception with their shiny little black box and flowery borders and pink and teal accents.  “Light and luscious” reads the feminine slogan.

Well, hook, line and sinker, R.J. Reynolds.

Camel No. 9 may be targeting the high-heel wearing crowd, but I have to wonder who else they’re reaching when they started doing promotional giveaways of lip gloss and mini purses in popular magazines like Cosmopolitan, Glamour and Vogue, easily accessible to girls of all ages.

Come on ladies, we’re smarter than that.  Stick with the lip gloss.