6 Best Smelling Playboy Perfumes for Her

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Playboy became an iconic brand during the second half of the 20th century. Not just in the world of publishing and popular culture. There were also night clubs and various other branding opportunities sought out by the company.

One of these in this century, has been the fragrance lines for both men and women. Now, I’ve already done the best men’s options from Playboy, and now it is time to tackle the 6 greatest smelling perfumes for ladies.

Note: The company has undergone changes in the past few years. Which means, they’ve put out some newer scents, and some of these older ones may not be available to the same extent. Though, they do still seem to be, as of this update.

What are the Best Smelling Ladies Perfumes by Playboy?

Playboy Play It Rock Edt Spray 1.0oz For Women– The combo of passion flower and blood orange is a really fantastic aroma, with some extra vanilla note to create that smoothness. That pairs with a lovely saffron note and some patchouli, later on in the wear.

This is an underappreciated fragrance from Playboy and one of the most unique out of all of them.

A very fresh and bright kind of scent with plenty of character. It’s mostly a fruity-floral fragrance,, good amount of sweetness, but not overly sugary.

Playboy Play It Sexy Women Eau De Toilette Spray, 2.5 Ounce– Sweet, a bit spicy, and indeed a sexy perfume. It can be too much for some, the blend of licorice and patchouli, personally bothers me after a while. However, others will swear by it and absolutely love the blend.

Play It Sexy kicks things off with a citrus and pink pepper trio. Initially, it is spicy and bright. Later, when the licorice and vanilla comes into their own, it has a sweeter appeal. Nonetheless, it is a warm perfume with a spicy sexiness throughout.

This one did get an updated bottle in 2023. I think the perfume itself is the same, however. Haven’t tried it.

Playboy Play It Lovely Women Eau De Toilette Spray, 2.5 Ounce– A light and sheer perfume that strikes one as sexy and ethereal. I don’t think Play it Lovely is as unique as some of the other scents from Playboy, but even in its generic sort of vibe, it’s still a very nice aroma.

It features citrus fruits, orchid, and blackberry as the main notes. It does dry down with more of a floral influence, but Lovely sticks more to the fruity end of the spectrum.

Playboy Queen Of The Game Eau de Toilette Spray for Women, 3 Ounce– A newer offering from the Playboy line and not very well known, but Queen of the Game, is pretty much a steal at its price point.

Sweet blend of fruit and chocolate. It’s very clean, upbeat, while being understated.

Queen opens up with a sweet-tart blackcurrant note, leading things off. You get some of the patchouli from the base, which helps to further its gourmand sensibilities. That is only enhanced by the coffee (also sweet here) and the chocolate in the base.

Fruity with some jasmine is what a lot of this one is going to be. The gourmand notes hit the background, but stick around for the rest of the wear. Not great performance, but passable for this price point.

Playboy Play It Spicy Women Eau De Toilette Spray, 2.5 Ounce– It’s only somewhat spicy, but provides a lovely aroma for the warmer months of the year.

It has a fruity sweet smell with vanilla and amber notes thrown in for good measure. Also, has good longevity.

The fruity top consists of pomegranate and red berries. I do enjoy the pomegranate note, here, and in other perfumes. The sweet berries lead the way, though. That will pair with the vanilla mostly, in the middle and tail end.

Still, this one isn’t heavy nor does it have a syrup-like sweetness. It’s very wearable, pretty moderate sillage, and only some light floral influence.

Make the Cover for Her– This is one of the more recent releases from Playboy. They supposedly came out with three more perfumes in 2023, but I haven’t been able to find them anywhere yet.

This one, is fruity and fun. Similarities to Private Show VIP by Britney Spears, but not exactly the same.

Some citrus and pineapple notes, give it a bit of a tropical feel up top. But, it’s more peachy overall. Early, it feels more mixed. Sweet with some light freshness and sitting on top of a sandalwood note. Not great sandalwood, but decent generic variety.

Fruity sweet for most of the wear. Only some floral influences, a bit powdery. Mostly, just a nice sweet perfume.

Y EDP by Yves Saint Laurent

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It completely slipped my mind to do this review, however many months ago, that I received a decant of Y Eau de Parfum. It kind of got lost in the shuffle of however many dozens of fragrances, I have laying around. So, I came across it fairly recently, and began to really test out this Yves Saint Laurent EDP.

In this post, I am going to cover: how it smells, what are the notes, how it performs, when it should be worn, and if it is worth a buy. The original EDT was enjoyable to wear, so, I did have high hopes for this more concentrated edition.

Note: This review came out, when the fragrance did. It has been updated a few times since.

What Does Y Eau de Parfum Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, apple, ginger, sage, vetiver, geranium, juniper berries, tonka bean, amber, cedar

Click here to try: Yves Saint Laurent Y Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 3.3 Ounce

My Full Review

The opening of Y EDP, immediately grabs my attention, and hooks me in. I enjoyed the freshness and overall aroma, of the original Y EDT version, but the opening of this one is just better.

The EDP version, takes the bergamot of the original, and pairs it with a crisp apple note at the top. Meanwhile, you also get the cool spice of ginger, and the trio is quite captivating.

The apple is really great. Too often you can get weak or very unnatural smelling apple notes in men’s fragrances, but here, it becomes the star of the show. That top paired with the citrus and that familiar ginger aroma, is just completely delicious.

The secondary layer under this main trio at the start, is from amber, tonka bean, and a bit of juniper berry.

The amberwood and tonka bean give Y EDP, a smooth warmth, which adds depth to the composition but doesn’t kill its freshness.

It doesn’t get that heavy enveloping effect, that other fragrances with those notes, can sometimes have. No, it remains: crisp, clean, and sweet. I think it is because the tonka bean, isn’t too potent.

Some folks can get turned off by amberwood, in there fragrances, but I tend to like it. In Y EDP, it isn’t that powerful to my nose, to be bothersome.

A little bit more into the wear, the sage, really starts to come through. At first, it works in tandem with the ginger top note, before overtaking it. Y EDP does have this really great green herbal scent, especially during the dry down.

With cedar and vetiver, sitting at the base, it’s no wonder how this effect starts to take course. The EDP version has much more depth, than the EDT, and just feels more interesting and dynamic to my nose.

It really is a great blend. You get the apple top, a period of sweetness, herbal dryness, and woodiness. All the while, it comes across to me, as supremely likeable. Clean and refined.

What I’m left with for the remainder of the wear is: apple, sage, juniper berries, amber, and cedar. The vetiver and tonka bean, are pretty light but still present.

It’s mostly the apple and sage notes, sweet and herbal spice, wrapped in amber with a woody cedar base note. Y EDP is a fresh aromatic fragrance, with sweet moments, occurring throughout.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage is solid, but not enormous. Yes, it is better than the EDT, but still not a monster. No worries, Y EDP isn’t weak, and folks will definitely notice it. It comes across as quite moderate, which isn’t bad, as this formula doesn’t need to be a powerhouse.

The longevity is a pretty substantial improvement, this one can touch the 10+ hour mark pretty easily, when the original got me about 7. Very good performance. It’s still not one, you need to spray very much of, for it to be effective.

Seasonally, it’s safe for anytime of the year, really. I like it here in the late spring and could see myself wearing it in the evenings during the summer months.

It is versatile enough to be worn at work or out on a date or just casually. I would probably avoid wearing it in the daytime during summer, as it does have some notes that aren’t great in heavy heat and humidity.

Y EDP does have a really attractive, complement-gathering scent, and it’s sexy within how fresh and dynamic it can be. This is one that should be a really popular option for men, in the coming years.

This one would be a welcome addition to the nightlife, as it isn’t the usual in your face monster sillaged fragrance. Though, it has a confident and somewhat mature vibe, with a sensual edge. Women do seem to really like the EDP version.

Overall Impression

Overall, do I like Y EDP? Yes! I found the EDT to be enjoyable enough, but YSL definitely stepped things up with this release.

Y EDP is so appealing and smells really great. It has similarities with other popular fragrances, but utilizes different notes, to make it distinct from the pack. I love the apple, bergamot, and sage at the top. The crispness, the clean and modern scent, and the performance doesn’t disappoint.

This is probably the best Yves Saint Laurent fragrance for men released in years. In terms of both smell and performance, I really can’t think of another from this brand, that has achieved these heights recently.

Y EDP definitely gets a recommendation from me, and should develop quite a following soon enough.

We’ll see if it comes down in price, in the near future, to make it more accessible to a greater number of guys. I really wasn’t expecting this to be great, after trying the EDT version, but it actually is.

Update:  Since this initial review, YSL has released a whole series of these Y fragrances. Even a Y EDP Intense, which isn’t as good, in my opinion. While Y EDP, was my favorite of the lot, it did start getting boring for me after a while. I wore my full bottle often, but all but stopped at some point.

So, I’m not as high on it as I once was. Still a very nice fragrance, but it can be too sharp and the sage gets bothersome. That seems to be a personal thing of mine with sage scents, I have to use them sparingly or else I get tired of them.

Light Blue Eau Intense for Women by Dolce & Gabbana

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D&G’s Light Blue is one of the best selling ladies’ fragrances on the market. It was only natural that it would spawn a ton of flanker perfumes, as a result. The main follow up scent, is the subject of today’s review, Light Blue Eau Intense for Women. It was released in 2017. How does it smell? Is the performance any good? Is it worth a try?

What does Light Blue Eau Intense Smell Like?

Notes include: lemon, granny smith apple, amberwood, marigold, and jasmine

Click here to try: Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Eau Intense For Women Eau De Parfum Spray 3.3 oz

My Full Wear Review

Light Blue Eau Intense opens up with its fruity notes taking center stage. Initially, I get more of the granny smith apple note over the lemon, but that will reverse as it moves along.

Underneath this layer of fruit is the marigold, which provides Eau Intense with a fairly light floral, at least against the strength of the fruits. When drawn together, it has a very fresh and engaging scent, that lacks the cedar found in the original Light Blue.

I actually think that this is a nice change of pace from the original. The lemon is toned tone, mostly because the cedar isn’t there to enhance that sharpness.

Instead we get amberwood, which gives Eau Intense an added fresh kick, of a different kind.

For me, this is a fairly linear wear. I pretty much just get a muskier aroma, with added amberwood, and the lemon being the strongest of the fruits. The apple note, probably takes a 40% split.

Projection, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, Eau Intense, is exactly that. The first 30-60 minutes, this perfume is a bomb. It does settle down, eventually, but tread carefully when first applying.

The rest of the way, it’s certainly not weak, and won’t be a skin scent until the back half of the wear.

The performance is really good. Strong and lasts for a long time. It definitely got up there in the 9-10 hour range, during testing.

For a summertime scent or one for those who live in the tropics, that’s an amazing performance. This won’t get completely eaten up by the humidity and heat.

As I said, this is one for the warm to hot weather. It’s one of those rare birds, that can actually hang in that sort of climate. Of course, that can extend to the more moderate days of springtime, but you’d probably want another daily perfume for winter.

This is a daily wear type of fragrance. One you could wear to work, school, or casually. Not really a nighttime or formal perfume, but one to reach for when you need something fresh. Not a formal sort of scent, but can fit in a lot of different places otherwise.

It is an attractive fragrance, not sexy, but it does have a certain delicious appeal that will draw folks in and get complemented.

Overall Impressions of Light Blue Eau Intense

Do I like this perfume? Yes, I enjoy it more than the original, personally. However, that won’t be the case for everyone.

It is one of the better releases of the Light Blue series. But, one very much like the initial release. If you want a different smelling flanker, Sunset in Salina was surprisingly good.

What I do like about it, is the enhanced apple note, and its boldness. The performance is top notch, with an enticing cleanliness.

For some, that intensity, may scare them off. It can be too much, for those who cannot handle a little sharpness in their fragrances. I think that it settles down, with some time, but you might not want to get to that point.

I would suggest that if you want a lighter version of this or the original Light Blue, go with I Love Love by Moschino. Gives you the fruitiness and cedar freshness, with a more tolerable sillage.

You could also go with Light Blue Forever, as an updated sort of remix of the original Light Blue. Or one of the many perfume which attempt to ‘dupe’ Light Blue.

For anyone else? I would say that this is one to try out. This is especially true, if you happen to live in a hotter climate, as it could be one that you could end up using a lot.

6 Perfumes Similar to Black Orchid by Tom Ford

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Black Orchid is one of the most beloved and unique fragrances from Tom Ford, that really helped to set the standard for the brand back in 2006. Since then, it has continued on, and there have been some flankers released based on the formula as well.

But, what if you want to find a fragrance that is similar to Black Orchid or the Parfum version? Maybe one that is cheaper and shares most all similarities with it. Or, you want something with closely related style, but gives you something a bit different? This is my page for keeping track of these options.

What Fragrances Smell Like or are Similar to Black Orchid?

Orchid Alternative

Spicy Orchid by Dossier– Spicy Orchid is the first on the list for ‘inspired by’ alternative perfumes based on the idea of Black Orchid.

Dossier does a lot of designer impressions and they tend to do them well. For under $40, you can get something that is very nearly the same as the Tom Ford scent, with a high extrait de parfum concentration level.

The notes here give you a plum, orchid, and spicy opening act of pink pepper and cinnamon. Good spice, nice tart, and a bold floral scent.

Celestial Spice

Celestial Flower by Dua– The Dua option is inspired by the original 2006 formula of Black Orchid. Taking what was great about the initial release and coming close to replicating it, with their own in house ingredients.

Celestial Flower goes a little deeper with the ingredients than does the Dossier above. Truffle, gardenia, chocolate, blackcurrant, lotus, and more combine to create an amazing throwback olfactory experience.

It too, comes in an extrait de parfum concentration. I’d probably go with this one first, as it’s got the most ability to showcase the layers of notes, while having a high level of performance.

Never Forget

Unforgettable by Alexandria– The third of the four scents that try to closely replicate what Black Orchid provides. This time, from Alexandria, which is a brand that I’ve had good experience with.

They’ve always had the quality and I do like that you can pick up Unforgettable in multiple sizes, that aren’t available from some of the others on the list.

Unforgettable goes with ylang-ylang and jasmine up top with the black currant note. Spices and the patchouli note follow. I haven’t personally tried this one,  but it sounds right on target for what we want.

Orchid Parfum Alt

Guilty EDP Intense– Not exactly the same, but this release from the Guilty line has a lot in common with Black Orchid Parfum.

Here, we get violet instead of the orchid note. But, to me the ylang-ylang in Black Orchid Parfum was what I got more in the dry down, than the title note anyway.

With Guilty EDP Intense, violet and the ylang-ylang eventually merge into a generic floral aroma. It finishes with vanilla, patchouli, and plum. The undertones become a basically sweet floral perfume.

Still a dark formula, but this Gucci doesn’t have the same earthiness and spice as the Tom Ford. Depending who you are, that might be exactly what you want from an alternative. Guilty EDP Intense Review

guilty edp intense review

A bit different, more femme

Maremma by Tiziana Terenzi– Not exactly the same as Black Orchid, but it’s close. Actually, has some elements of the Parfum version. A bit in-between the two Tom Ford perfumes.

Maremma has an oak and a leathery aspect, that kind of differentiates it from our target. Plus, no actual orchid here. Still, even with the differences this one is pretty close and at a cheaper price.

You still get the blackcurrant and fruitiness. The opening act is thick with its sweetness and has a level of intensity. But, it’ll settle down into a woodier fruity scent, but you still get to keep a good deal of the honey.

Performance is decent, but nothing remarkable. A lighter fragrance than is the Tom Ford.


Solar Nights

Nuit Noor by Elie Saab– This one has a close opening act to Black Orchid and a similar style. To me, it ultimately comes across as being fairly different. While, being close enough to earn a spot here.

This one has the same dark qualities (for a time), floral notes, and woods. But, it’s a rose here instead of the jasmine and orchid in our target. Plus, this really lacks the plum and truffle notes that give Black Orchid its jammy and earthy aromas.

As we move forward, Nuit Noor really comes into its own. The spices calm, but you get a slight smokiness from incense. Mainly, its a solar accord that comes through with the floral notes and honey. At some point, the ylang-ylang feels stronger than the rose by a wide margin.

This is a good alternative for those who think Black Orchid is a bit too much. This feels more normal, while still having a uniqueness all of its own, and more wearable for lots of people.

Cool Water vs. Acqua di Gio Cologne Comparison

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So, in this head to head cologne match up, we are going to take a closer look at two of the best selling men’s fragrances of all time: Acqua di Gio vs. Cool Water. It’s an early vs. late 1990s competition, but which of these famous scent smells the best? Which gives the better performance? Has greater versatility? Which is the better buy today?

Tale of the Tape: AdG vs. Cool Water

Acqua di Gio

Notes include: bergamot, tangerine, neroli, jasmine, rosemary, patchouli, rock rose, hyacinth, persimmon, marine notes

Click here to try: Acqua Di Gio By Giorgio Armani For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounces

Read my review: Acqua di Gio 

Cool Water

Notes include: lavender, mint, tobacco, amber, musk, jasmine, sandalwood, neroli, coriander, rosemary, and more

Click here to try: Davidoff Cool Water Edt Spray for Men, 6.7 oz

Read my Review: Cool Water

Opening

Davidoff’s Cool Water opens up with a refreshing aquatic aroma laced with mint and tobacco. The smell is pretty sharp and green, as the tobacco note doesn’t have that cured scent that you’d find in a cigarette or cigar.

Beyond that, Cool Water has a soapy element that comes in, when its floral notes begin to take center stage. It always stays aquatic but it does have various facets of its personality.

Meanwhile, Acqua di Gio, hits right off the bat with tangerine and bergamot. It’s a great and delicious citrus start, that also has more of a sea breeze aquatic aroma versus, the actual watery scent of the Davidoff. Jasmine also joins in for added depth.

I recently tested out Acqua again while at a store and that opening still hits. Really an amazing balance in that fragrance.

Which is better? I prefer AdG over the Cool Water. I like the mint and tobacco opening of Cool Water, less so, when the soapy aspect kicks in. With AdG, I really love that citrus blast and great summer feel.

Edge: AdG

Projection

The projection on both of these scents is pretty moderate. Neither has crazy strong sillage. I think AdG is slightly better nowadays, so it gets the edge. They used to be pretty much on par with one another, but Cool Water isn’t the same cologne that it once was, in terms of performance.

Edge: AdG

Longevity

If you get an older bottle of Cool Water, it’ll last over 8 hours. Reformulations happen over time and the latest batch I tried was 6-7 hours. Acqua di Gio also gets 6-7 of wear on my skin, before it fades. Both are decent, but not extreme performers.

Cool Water used to have an edge. Actually, both used to be better than their current formulations. Nowadays, there’s no real winner. It might entirely depend on the batch that you get.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Both of these colognes really shine in the warmer weather, but are so versatile as to be wearable year round. They are office safe and can go completely casual.

AdG is probably sexier and has more ability to be a nighttime wear…but it’s not really a club scent. Not much advantage here. I might be tempted to lean more towards AdG, since I think it’ll have more appeal among younger guys.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

I’ve tried both of these fragrances many times over the years and have a clear idea about which I prefer to wear. Cool Water is a nice scent, it has changed over the years, and smells like it has been altered somewhat from what I remember.

It’s not completely different, but noticeable if you’ve come across that vintage bottle. I like how it develops, while maintaining that aquatic scent. From the opening to the soapy middle to the dry woods, that kicks in after an hour or so. For the price, it’s a solid everyday choice.

Acqua di Gio is just better. It’s not my favorite cologne in the world, but I do enjoy wearing it from time to time. It is more enjoyable to me, than is Cool Water. It is a classic blend of citrus, wood, and that aquatic sea breeze.

Plus, floral undertones to give it more character. The jasmine note really stuck out to me, the last time around. It was just so good with that opening bergamot and tangerine, with the marine influence.

Both have been best sellers for a reason, but the Armani takes the cake.

Winner: Acqua di Gio