Black CurrantOpens with
PimentoHeart
VanilaDries down to
Calice BeckerThe nose · 103 fragrances · also made Ambre Eccentrico (2015)Portrait →Will you like it? Mark a few fragrances you own or love and we'll tell you.
By Kilian · Sold as feminine
Playing With The Devil
The moment just before a storm, when the air is electric and the scent of petrichor mixes with the sharpness of citrus and spices.
Full bottle: Luxury tier, typically $250+. Links open each seller's own page. We may earn a commission; it never changes the order.
Playing With The DevilLuxury · $250+
50%Similar accords, often for lessDahlia Divin Eau de Toilette · GivenchyPremium tier, $100–250 · shares 6 of its 9 notes8 matches →How it wears
From community votes · bars are each option's shareComposition & Character
Notes Pyramid
BaseFoundation
Main Accords
When to Wear
Who Wears It
The story behind the bottle.
Launched in 2013, Playing With The Devil by By Kilian is a daring Oriental Floral fragrance crafted by perfumer Calice Becker. This composition opens with an electrifying burst of black currant and litchi, followed by the warmth of blood orange and pimento. As it unfolds, pepper and rose introduce a spicy freshness that cuts through the sweetness, while jasmine and vanilla add depth. The base notes of sandalwood, patchouli, cedar, benzoin, and tonka bean create a rich, woody backdrop that grounds the fragrance with earthy warmth.
This fragrance has a strong presence from the start, so one or two sprays are sufficient. The spicy top notes dissipate quickly, giving way to the rich woody base within an hour. Best worn in cooler weather when the warmth of the wood and spice is most noticeable.
Fig. 01 — Playing With The Devil, By Kilian
Where to buy.
Wear it for a week first
A decant costs a fraction of a bottle and tells you how it lasts on your skin.
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Calice Becker
Flowers inside a bottle of eau de cologneCalice Becker (Asancheyev-Becker) is a French master perfumer and director of the Givaudan Perfumery School, whose fascination with perfume began as a child asking how flowers get inside a bottle of eau de cologne.
“I like to add a dose of intrigue because nothing catches the attention of a touch of something unexpected.”
Calice Becker · Fragrantica nose page bio (scraped into fragrantica_bio); primary not located
Designer By Kilian
More from the house · founded 2007 · Ireland
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Chosen from what wearers say it smells like, what its fans also love, and its notes
Love it, not the $250+ price?
Matched by accords and notes. Sample first, then decide.
The originalPlaying With The DevilBy Kilian · Luxury · $250+Givenchy · 2015Dahlia Divin Eau de ToiletteShares 6 of its 9 notes$100–250★ 3.96 (938)47%Match
Rochas · 2022Byzance GoldShares 6 of its 9 notes$40–100★ 3.62 (216)43%Match
Montblanc · 2016Lady Emblem ElixirShares 5 of its 10 notes$40–100★ 3.84 (343)43%Match
Zara · 2016Delicious BlossomShares 5 of its 8 notesunder $40★ 4.36 (58)
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Adds aromatic, green and herbal; shares two accords.
Suggested from accords and notes · not yet tried by wearers
What people
are saying.
Respected, if divisive: loved by 35%, disliked or hated by 14%.