Sensory Indulgence, Courtesy of Dita von Teese

Many of our conversations about Immersive Sensory Experiences have focused on physical experiences: 3D projections, gesture-response technologies, and other interactive tactics that completely indulge the senses.

But, there’s no reason to think these principles are restricted to the offline world. While touch, smell, and taste are (hopefully) inaccessible online, clever digital marketers can still take sight and sound to their indulgent extremes. And, few know how to “indulge the senses” quite as effectively as burlesque star Dita von Teese. So, placing her in an interactive, choose-your-own-adventure-style mansion is a sure-fire combination for an immersive digital experience.

The only thing missing in this equation is, of course… err, sparkling water? Yes, welcome to the mansion at Perrier by Dita. (“Not safe for work” might be a little strong, but considering there are interactive burlesque routines, perhaps “not advisable for work” is more appropriate.)

While the site seems like a curious fit for a sparkling water brand, that doesn’t take away from the excellent execution overall. Not only is the first-person experience displayed in a compelling manner, but the interactive elements (such as a teasing dice game with Dita and a chance to “photograph” her in the dark) ensure that the experience is not a passive one for the viewer. This level of indulgent interactivity (meaning the user experience, not the stripteasing starlet) should be the benchmark for online experiences, since they are now competing against everything from pristine iPad apps to augmented reality mobile experiences. Is your website offering a compelling-enough experience to hang with these alternatives?