Top Notes 
Resins
Pineapple
Bergamot
Heart Notes 
Hazelnut
Thyme
Cinnamon
Base Notes 
Leather
Patchouli
Woods
MarkRipley
19 Reviews
Translated · Show original
MarkRipley
Helpful Review
2
Play it yummy! Sweet, thyme-heavy hazelnut scent for colder days.
I have really had a (unintentional) overdose of the regular Playboy VIP scent over the past few years, as my roommate diligently sprayed it and even used the shower gel at times, which always left a sticky-sweet synthetic cloud in our tiny, interior shared bathroom. From a distance, I found the scent quite pleasant, but I didn't buy it because of its syrupy sweetness. However, the Black Edition is a truly noteworthy evolution of the standard VIPs, clearly demonstrating what can be created in terms of fragrance on a very tight budget.
Upon spraying, I briefly catch a whiff of pineapple, which gives the scent a pleasantly fruity note for a few minutes. It is probably also responsible for the associations with the gold bar, as the rest thankfully does not smell like One Million. However, the pineapple note quickly recedes, making way for a concentrated burst of spice, particularly in the form of thyme. Anyone who has ever smelled thyme in a herb garden can also confirm that this note in the Black Edition comes across as very natural and similarly intense. In the first four hours, during which the sillage of the scent is also quite good, some other notes like hazelnut and cinnamon can still be distinctly detected.
To put it visually, the strong spiciness of the thyme sits above the rest of the perfume, which consists of a sweet, slightly creamy hazelnut and a light cinnamon note. Occasionally, a certain earthiness/woodiness from the base note emerges, but it is difficult to identify further. As time goes on, the scent becomes less complex (though not in a negative sense), as it grows sweeter by the hour while steadily losing spice. The sweet hazelnut becomes a bit more prominent in the last third of its longevity, pushing the Black Edition clearly into the gourmand direction. From this point on, the perfume increasingly resembles the chocolate scent of the standard VIP, yet in my opinion, it still comes across as significantly less synthetic and much "darker." The standard VIP has a rather bright chocolate note in terms of the gourmand aspect, while the Black Edition at the end resembles dark chocolate with at least 80% cocoa.
For those, like me, who find the syrupy sweetness of the standard VIP too much, the Black Edition will certainly be more appealing. It might also be worth looking at the Platinum Edition, which personally covers too many scent directions at once and smells considerably more artificial. A detailed description is, of course, provided in my comment on the Platinum Edition.
Longevity: up to 8 hours; as a skin scent, it lasts several hours longer
Sillage: about 4 hours at arm's length, then steadily diminishing
Bottle: still an unattractive standard bottle, but at least the Black Edition is appealing in color
~Conclusion~
I was really positively surprised by the Black Edition. That you can get such a multifaceted and yet harmonious scent for less than €10 is truly remarkable. Although some Playboy fragrances are similarly well-made, the Black Edition stands out in a certain way. Due to the quite dominant thyme note, I would still recommend testing it beforehand, as too much spice can quickly become unpleasant for some people. However, those who enjoy a spicy scent with a gourmand drydown will truly find joy in this perfume. On clothing, the scent lasts several days, and in the cold season, its longevity on the skin is also adequate. The sillage could be a bit better, but it doesn't annoy anyone in the vicinity either. For this price range, the overall performance of the scent is really more than good. If my bottle ever runs out, the Black Edition will very likely find its way back into my shopping cart.
Upon spraying, I briefly catch a whiff of pineapple, which gives the scent a pleasantly fruity note for a few minutes. It is probably also responsible for the associations with the gold bar, as the rest thankfully does not smell like One Million. However, the pineapple note quickly recedes, making way for a concentrated burst of spice, particularly in the form of thyme. Anyone who has ever smelled thyme in a herb garden can also confirm that this note in the Black Edition comes across as very natural and similarly intense. In the first four hours, during which the sillage of the scent is also quite good, some other notes like hazelnut and cinnamon can still be distinctly detected.
To put it visually, the strong spiciness of the thyme sits above the rest of the perfume, which consists of a sweet, slightly creamy hazelnut and a light cinnamon note. Occasionally, a certain earthiness/woodiness from the base note emerges, but it is difficult to identify further. As time goes on, the scent becomes less complex (though not in a negative sense), as it grows sweeter by the hour while steadily losing spice. The sweet hazelnut becomes a bit more prominent in the last third of its longevity, pushing the Black Edition clearly into the gourmand direction. From this point on, the perfume increasingly resembles the chocolate scent of the standard VIP, yet in my opinion, it still comes across as significantly less synthetic and much "darker." The standard VIP has a rather bright chocolate note in terms of the gourmand aspect, while the Black Edition at the end resembles dark chocolate with at least 80% cocoa.
For those, like me, who find the syrupy sweetness of the standard VIP too much, the Black Edition will certainly be more appealing. It might also be worth looking at the Platinum Edition, which personally covers too many scent directions at once and smells considerably more artificial. A detailed description is, of course, provided in my comment on the Platinum Edition.
Longevity: up to 8 hours; as a skin scent, it lasts several hours longer
Sillage: about 4 hours at arm's length, then steadily diminishing
Bottle: still an unattractive standard bottle, but at least the Black Edition is appealing in color
~Conclusion~
I was really positively surprised by the Black Edition. That you can get such a multifaceted and yet harmonious scent for less than €10 is truly remarkable. Although some Playboy fragrances are similarly well-made, the Black Edition stands out in a certain way. Due to the quite dominant thyme note, I would still recommend testing it beforehand, as too much spice can quickly become unpleasant for some people. However, those who enjoy a spicy scent with a gourmand drydown will truly find joy in this perfume. On clothing, the scent lasts several days, and in the cold season, its longevity on the skin is also adequate. The sillage could be a bit better, but it doesn't annoy anyone in the vicinity either. For this price range, the overall performance of the scent is really more than good. If my bottle ever runs out, the Black Edition will very likely find its way back into my shopping cart.
Jomerlise
