Devi

A truly unique perfume and one of the most challenging I have tried from the brand. As my colleague Pilar mentions, this perfume is a tribute to India, and the fragrance is full of spices that take you on a journey to that country and invite you to immerse yourself in its culture. I must confess that when I tried it on blotting paper, I didn’t like it at all. It gave me the sensation that it was a perfume that smelled directly of barbecue, or perhaps, of the aroma of tikka chicken when it is served freshly cooked in Indian restaurants. I couldn’t explain it, but something strange that bordered on unpleasant. However, then I tried it on skin, and the sensation was completely different. The perfume has a wonderful and very dynamic evolution on the skin, changing and going through many different phases throughout its long-lasting duration. The notes I could feel the most are mango, which gives the perfume a tropical and fruity character right from the beginning, but which is already broken from the start by an intense and very smoky oud that comes from the base, a bit more animalic than usual due to the effect of castoreum. The other note that stands out well is iris which, although not a protagonist, gives a talcum-like touch and nuances the fragrance, making the intense oud a little friendlier, and of course the Indian spices. Maybe it is not a perfume that I would use regularly, although I do not rule out adding it to my collection in the future because of its unique character and the olfactory experience it offers. However, I am sure that many users will love it since, although it is not the same, it follows somewhat the trends of recent years of combining tropical notes with intense oud bases, as occurs in perfumes like Oud Maracuja by Maison Crivelli.

Devi is beginning to grow on me. I find the oud opening challenging, but I am intrigued because it's a new olfactory sensation. The initial blast reminds me of Desitin diaper cream. I think this may be what others describe as "band aid" oud. The sandalwood is stout as well, it doesn't have the usual silky, creamy feel. It smells more fresh cut and rough hewn. I have to work to catch any of the other notes, but do get the sticky, piney tang of mango skin when I press my nose to my skin. There's also an underlying dry spice present... Just wish the oud wasn't quite so loud to my nose, because it's drowning out the spice and mango skin... With successive wears these secondary notes may reveal themselves further.