By: Mikey Rox*/Special to TRT—
Christmas just ended, but there’s another gift-buying season right around the corner. The best thing about Valentine’s Day, however, is that it really is the thought that counts. (People lie about that at Christmastime, ya know.)
To help you pick the perfect gift for your sweetie this Valentine’s Day, here’s our list of fun and frisky ideas that they’ll love to unwrap.
Boots No7 Men Grooming Products
If your main squeeze likes to primp and preen like everyday is a walk down a rainbow carpet, his heart will skip a beat with a gift from Boots No7 Men this Valentine’s Day. Boots No7 Men was launched in the United States earlier this year (it originally hails from jolly ol’ England), introducing a new line of products dedicated to dapper chaps while offering the same Boots formula as the coveted women’s collection. Affordable, effective, and available in sleek, masculine packaging, Boots No7 Men products include Energising Hair & Body Wash, Energising Face Wash, Energising Face Scrub, Rapid Revival Eye Roll-on, Protect & Perfect Intense Moisturiser, Protect & Perfect Intense Serum, Anti-Friction Shave Gel, and Post Shave Recovery Balm. ($7.99-$22.99; walgreens.com)
Between Me and You Honey Journal 
Think you know everything about your significant other? Think again. But you two can build a relationship that’s closer and more honest than ever with the Between Me and You Honey Journal, a handsome spiral-bound notebook dedicated to sharing personal experiences, life stories, hopes, fears, fantasies, and more. The books are divided into six chapters, each concerning a specific phase of life or point in a relationship, which feature questions that are comfortable, conversational and often include a bit of humor. Gift one to be filled out and returned by someone special, or fill one out for your lover in advance of the big day. Between Me and You Journals also are available for other recipients, including mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, and grandparents. ($14.95; sanddunebooks.com)
The HomeMade Gin Kit
There’s nothing more satisfying than coming home from a long day at the office and enjoying a freshly prepared cocktail with your sweetie – unless, of course, that cocktail is made from a DIY gin that you two have created yourselves. You can do just that with the HomeMade Gin Kit, which helps you produce a small batch of the herbal spirit by mixing a bottle of your store-bought vodka with the kit’s blend of juniper berries and a proprietary blend of spices, botanicals, flowers, and aromatics. The HomeMade Gin Kit also includes instructions, a double mesh fine strainer, funnel, and two clear Italian glass swing bottles, which all come neatly packed in a box that’s ready for gifting. Salud! ($49.95; homemadegin.com)
LifeStyles Pleasure Products
Sex is in the air on Valentine’s Day, but it’s important to play it safe. Whether you’re rekindling the romance in your marriage on February 14 or just kickin’ it with a rando you picked up at the “I Hate Cupid” happy hour, LifeStyles has a wide selection of pleasure products to set the mood and make bedtime a bit more exciting – while helping you stay sexually healthy. From SKYN and TURBO condoms to Warm Lovin’ Personal Lubricant to vibrating devices from him and her, you can choose from a wide array of sensual and stimulating items to make this red-hot night one to remember. (Prices vary; lifestyles.com)
Cocoa Canard Spooning Chocolate (Shown Above)
Lovers with allergies have a hard time enjoying all the sweet treats that the holidays have to offer, and that especially includes Valentine’s Day since chocolate – in all its delicious forms – is the name of the game. But this year, thanks to Cocoa Canard, lactose-intolerant and celiac-suffering chocoholics can celebrate with the rest of Cupid’s cocoa-covered targets with Spooning Chocolate, the first dairy- and gluten-free pure, non-bitter dark chocolate that instantly dissolves in a cup of hot water. The makers like to call it the Espresso of Hot Chocolate, but you’ll probably just call it Liquid Yum. To enhance the gift-giving experience, Cocoa Canard has put together a handsome gift package, which includes a can of Spooning Chocolate, Spooning Mug, and personalized stationery. ($24.95; cocoacanard.com)
Secretions Magnifiques Eau de Parfum
Have you ever wanted to bottle-up the scent of a swaggery, sweaty man to whiff whenever you want? Secretions Magnifiques Eau de Parfum by Etat Libre d’Orange has perfected that formula in a new scent that all at once blends sex, saliva, skin, and sandalwood (among other tantalizing aromatics) into a mesmerizing and masculine grooming spray perfect for giving the one you love – or keeping for yourself and owning your new status as a walking aphrodisiac. ($80; minnewyork.com)
See a Heart, Share a Heart Photo Book
It may not seem like there’s a whole lot of heart left in this wacky world we live in, but it’s there – you just have to look hard enough. That’s how photographer Eric Telchin stumbled upon his latest project and gift book; See a Heart, Share a Heart, which features found hearts in the most mundane of places – like sweaters, sidewalks, leaves, and animal fur. If you think you’ve already heard about this project, it’s possible: Telchin’s book is based on his “Boy Sees Hearts” Tumblr that continues to find and release a little bit of love back into the world on a daily basis. A portion of the proceeds from sales of See a Heart, Share a Heart and available prints will benefit the It Gets Better Project. ($10.70; amazon.com)
FreshNeck Subscription
Give the debonair gift that keeps on giving this Valentine’s Day with a subscription to FreshNeck, AKA the Netflix for ties. Your guy will always step out in style with this service that allows him to pick his favorite ties from a robust selection of neckwear and add them to his “Closet” (fancy name for queue), and in one to three business days his top picks will arrive. When he wants to switch it up again, he just sends the ties back in the provided prepaid envelope and awaits his new arrivals. FreshNeck also offers a variety of bowties, pocket squares and cufflinks so he can dress to the nines every day of the week. ($20-$55/month; freshneck.com)
“Eye Heart You” Artwork
If your sweetie skews a little funky with a dash of morbid, he or she might appreciate this interesting work of art entitled Eye Heart You, which spells out the affectionate sentiment of “I Love You” in a rebus – for the most part, anyway. In place of the first two words are stitched pictures that feature an eye and an anatomically correct heart, respectively, and then the word “you.” The 5X7 piece is set in an ash wood frame and comes ready to hang. ($41; www.stillhousenyc.com)
Égalité Wine
Even if you’re not a wine-and-dine couple (and who can blame you? It’s totally overrated), you can still mark this special occasion with a toast on the couch while watching reruns of “Roseanne” – and supporting the fight for equal rights while you’re at it. Égalité wine, introduced early last year, is the first nationally distributed wine created in support of the LGBT equality in the United States and around the world. Meaning equality, Égalité is both a reflection of the wine’s French origin and a celebration of equality for gay Americans. Since its launch, the brand has contributed more than $20,000 in cash and product to LGBT organizations. ($22.99; wine.com)
Nasty Pig Baller Line
Turn up the heat in the bedroom this Valentine’s Day – without touching the thermostat – with Nasty Pig’s new Baller line of undergarments, featuring red-hot socks, briefs, and jocks sure to excite that adorable fetishist who shares your bed. Also available in green – if you’re trying to send that ‘go-ahead’ message from the get-go – these latest additions are full of frisky pop to make his tightening denim drop. ($16-$29; store.nastypig.com)
Please Me Adult Board Game
We’ve all been in relationships where our lover is playing games – and not in a good way. That all changes with Please Me: The Game of Self-Discovery, an adult board game that facilitates openness and mutual discovery between partners by allowing each player to explore their intimate and sensual side in a non-threatening setting. The object of the game is to get your “gems” on the sundial in one of the three winning sequences while being “pleased” along the way. When the spinner lands on your gem, you’ll act out one of your Please Me cards on a player of choice (which, depending on how many players are in the game, could have interesting results). But beware: If you fail to perform a Please Me task before the timer runs out, you have to remove one of your gems. Which probably isn’t so bad if you think about it; in this game, the longer you play, the better. ($39.99; pleasemegame.com)
Pacific Beach Peanut Butter’s “Bundle of Love”
“Wanna spoon?” is the never-more-appropriate tag line of Pacific Beach Peanut Butter whose “Bundle of Love” Valentine’s gift set features three 12-ounce jars of the company’s all-natural flavors, which include mouthwatering options like butterscotch, toffee, and chocolate raspberry. Founded by young entrepreneur Matthew Mulvihill, who went into business with his mom (swoon alert!), PBPB is quickly claiming its slice of the peanut-butter pie while continuing to make and fill each jar by hand from sunny San Diego. The Valentine’s gift set is packaged in a festive red box and includes a spoon for immediate enjoyment. Makes a great gift for platonic peanut butter-loving friends – or for a bedroom buddy who likes to get a little nutty in the boudoir. ($29.99; pbpeanutbutter.com)
Impress Coffee Brewer
Cohabitating with a coffee-holic? Bring their caffeinated vice into the 21st century with the Impress Coffee Brewer, a clever one-cup-at-a-time java device that combines immersion brewing and filtering with triple-walled insulation. It takes just three minutes to create 14 ounces of amazing coffee, which stays hot for hours so your peppy paramour can relax and enjoy or take it on the road. No more paper filters, electric mechanisms, or fussy coils and plungers – just press and go for a great cup of joe. Available in Vadah Black and Original Silver, Impress is perfect for coffee lovers of all ages, as well as gadget and gearheads that have to have the next best thing. ($39.95; www.impresscoffee.com)
*Mikey Rox is an award-winning journalist and blogger who lives in New York City with his husband and their two dogs. Follow him on Twitter @mikeyrox.
