Under-$50 Friday: Playboy VIP scents

Get past the retro perception of the Playboy brand as all sexy platinum-haired, Barbie-doll lookalike women and randy, testosterone-at-the-ready octogenarians in bathrobes. Yes, gotta get past that.

Do that, and then spritz a little of Playboy’s new his and her fragrances. Dubbed Playboy VIP for Him and Her, these are scents that are warm and sexy and totally likeable.  Surprise. You might even want to be with them every day. Imagine that.

The accompanying ad campaign may play along with the stereotype—the parties, the limos, the unfairly good-looking people in a sexy, dishevelled, back-of-taxi embrace—but the scents are better than that.

VIP for Her has orange flower sorbet, nectarine, and peony at first sniff; love apple (what is a love apple, anyway?), red fruit and heliotrope at its heart; and wood at its base: cashmeran, sandalwood, and musk.

VIP for Him opens with spicy rum, rhubarb and bergamot. Apple, watery accord and lavender make up the toilette’s middle; and white chocolate, tonka bean and sandalwood define a warm finish.

Atop the curvy VIP for Her bottle sits a pair of Playboy’s signature bunny ears and gold bow tie. The men’s flask has a more masculine classic shape, with less adornment, allowing for the suit, tie and limo to be added without fear of overdoing it.
—Ashley Kowalewski

Playboy VIP for Her EDT, $25 (30 ml); and Playboy VIP for Him EDT, $22 (50 ml), www.playboyfragrances.com