Devotion
Eau de Parfum, Dolce & Gabbana (2023)

Pickles!

I've read that some people get a dill pickle scent after some wear, and I'm glad I didn't buy after trying it on.

It's a lovely warm vanilla scent with a smidge of lemon, for me, and totally wearable except for .....

The pickle scent after an hour of wear.

My initial impressions about Devotion were that the fragrance, Original Devotion smelled and performed exactly like Devotion Intense. I own both fragrances, I blind-purchased both. Initially, I detected zero noticeable differences between the two fragrances with the slim exception that Intense wore as a somewhat denser and heavier fragrance versus Original Devotion.

After wearing Devotion several times now, I definitely detect nuances between Devotion and Devotion Intense. I was hoping Devotion might be a suitable "occasional" switch-out for my beloved Xerjoff Lira. But it is not. Both Devotion and Devotion Intense are all candied citrus (primarily ORANGE), heavy orange blossom and a wee-bit of vanilla. Many people describe Devotion as the more lemon-forward fragrance of the two fragrances. But similar to Intense, Devotion is citrus-orange-forward, orange blossom and base. Xerjoff Lira is heavy, creamy, dense, lactonic, sugary, vanilla, lemon pound-cake delightfulness.

With all of this said, I find myself longing for Devotion Intense over the Original Devotion version. There is a nutty, thick, dense, vanilla, gourmand opening in the Intense version that Original Devotion simply lacks. Devotion Original DOES give off an initial bread-like vibe but that note is fleeting. And Original Devotion doesn't have the characteristic citrusy, creamy, heavy orange-blossom, sweet vanilla, dry-down performance I grew to like a lot with Intense.

Never thought I'd say this, or do this but I just repurchased a 100ml bottle of Devotion Intense. I've really grown to like the fragrance a lot.

A gourmand and youthful fragrance with notes of neroli, lemon and vanilla.
I've had my share of vanilla scents for now.
My teenage daughter enjoys it more than me.

Great longevity, I must say.

Devotion by Dolce&Gabbana Eau de Parfum strikes immediately for its balmy/creamy semi gourmand tasty uniqueness inspired by far memories of Christmas holidays (especially the ones enjoyed during the childhood when Christmas is a magic of dream) and by traditional foods and cakes from south italy (a land beloved by either the stylists Dolce and Gabbana but in particular by the based in Milan but "siciliano nel sangue" Domenico Dolce). Franky I've never tested a similar fragrance so far among tons of oriental vanillas waving around on the market. The interaction between boozy caramellous vanilla, candied fruits and orange blossoms unfolds a unique kind of smell indeed. Devotion is actually a vanillic gourmand fragrance for women which was launched in 2023 by Dolce&Gabbana and performed by the legendary Olivier Cresp. The famous nose (the king of Grasse, Firmenich 1992-2012, "Cavaliere delle Arti e dei Mestieri", passionate of culture, art, culinary creativity and much more) has developed along the way a figurative and suggestive concept of modern perfumery on which he lets him to be freely inspired by events, seasons of the year, celebrations, memories, foods, folklore, art etc. He has yet enchanted the perfumery-universe with particularly "candied yummy" creations inspired by cakes, sweets and gastronomy and by daring non conformist (and controversial) performances that have significantly impressed for creativity, genius and the courage to perform outside the box as Thierry Mugler Angel (1992), Cacharel Noa (1998), Dolce & Gabbana Light blue (2001), Moschino Cheap and Chic I Love Love (2005), Paco Rabanne Black XS (2005), Christian Dior Midnight Poison (in cooperation with J. Cavallier 2007), Jean Paul Gaultier Kokorico (in cooperation with A. Menardo 2011), Diesel Loverdose (2011), YSL Black Opium (in cooperation with M. Salamagne, N. Lorson, H. Blanc)...just to quote several. Coming back to Devotion Eau de Parfum it is a really yummy "greedy" luxuriant fragrance revolving around an edible intriguing accord based on the interaction between pannacotta (the main olfactory factor imo in its caramellous toffee coffee/chocolate taste), candied citrus, boozy notes and vanilla (the latter in its more edible creamy vest). There is as well a sort of cosmetical super fancy lipstick vibe in the smell (I don't know why I think to a summer tanning foam and it seems me to finally catch a sort of saltiness as for the salty skin warmed by sun on the beach). Over the first sniff I confess to have re-experienced in a series of arcane flashbacks moments of my youth related to Christmas holidays (lot of olfactory dejavú from my childhood, with all the repertory of my aunt's cakes, sweets, almonds, Panettone filled with honey and panna, the candied fruits, the nuts etc). I detect a creamy coffee/caramellous like vibe provided by pannacotta and the luxuriant and inebriaring boozy twist afforded by rum (languid and intellectual). The former perfectly interacts with pannacotta in a really yummy lascivious accord due to celebrate and evoke the really famous italian sweet Panettone (candied fruits, vanilla, sugar, butter, honey, nuts etc). The citrus notes are candied and perfectly connected to creaminess. Onestly I don't get as a particularly heady presence lot of orange blossoms but mostly creamy lemon and kind of candied fruitiness. Anyway orange blossoms actually contribute to elicit that balmy cosmetic (lipstick) vibe I detect on skin. In conclusion this fragrance is perfectly in tune with the Dolce&Gabbana's aim to issue particularly evocative fragrance, often related to native Sicily (that the two stylists love to celebrate and advertise) and the southern flora or culinary tradition. What does Devotion smell like? I'd say caramellous vanilla, orange-lemon cream (a sort of zabaione with boozy nuances), neroli and cookies. Devotion Parfum despite not a gorgeous feminine fragrance (it's on the contrary somewhat simplistic and lacking class, austerity, boldness or elegance), nevertheless is effective, cozy, really sensual and modern in a glamour carefree mode. I'd smell well Devotion on a particularly bizarre, rebel and not conformist personality and it'should work perfectly on it imo. The fragrance ulfolds a stout duration on my skin while the projection is barely on the average.

Sweet and warm, but not cloying. I enjoy this fragrance because of the bright orange/citrus opening. Longevity is lacking unfortunately so I wouldn't purchase it again.

I expected an orange creamsicle, but the "citrus" on top is so artificial that it barely registers as a food smell. I don't smell the orange blossom, so I mostly smell vanilla, but it's a weird vanilla. As ClaireV points out, there's an artificial butter note mixed with the vanilla, which gives it a strange spoiled-milk vibe. I'll give Devotion credit for not being the immature nightmare I expected, but I don't like what it is instead, so it's a no for me....