The Sinner's Fruit Bowl: Playing With The Devil by By Kilian

First Impressions

The first spray of Playing With The Devil announces itself with unabashed exuberance—a Technicolor burst of fruits so vivid and succulent, you can almost feel the juice running down your fingers. This is not the demure whisper of a single fruit note; it's a maximalist statement, a fruit market in full bloom under Mediterranean sun. Black currant tangles with white peach, litchi adds its exotic sweetness, and blood orange cuts through with citrus brightness. There's something deliberately excessive about this opening, a devil-may-care abundance that refuses to play it safe. From its first moment, By Kilian's 2013 creation makes clear that this particular devil plays with pleasure, not punishment.

The Scent Profile

The opening act is pure hedonism. That black currant leads the charge with its distinctive tart-sweet character, while white peach brings a soft, fuzzy sensuality. Litchi adds an almost floral dimension to the fruit cocktail, and blood orange provides just enough acidic brightness to keep the sweetness from overwhelming. It's an intensely fruity beginning—the data shows this accord at 100%, and you can smell why. This isn't fruit as a supporting player; it's fruit as the headline act.

As the initial burst settles, something unexpected happens. The devil reveals its spicy nature. Pimento and pepper emerge from beneath that fruit-laden canopy, adding heat and complexity that transforms the composition from innocent to provocative. This warm-spicy accord (registering at 41%) interweaves with the florals—rose and jasmine—that bridge the gap between the exuberant top and the grounded base. The florals here don't dominate; they provide structure, a kind of elegant scaffolding that allows the fruits and spices to dance together without collapsing into chaos.

The base is where Playing With The Devil reveals its sophistication. Vanilla, sandalwood, patchouli, cedar, benzoin, and tonka bean create a woody-warm foundation (39% woody accord) that anchors all that fruit and spice. The vanilla and tonka bean add creaminess without veering into gourmand territory, while the woods—particularly that cedar—provide the necessary grounding. Benzoin brings a touch of resinous sweetness, and patchouli adds just enough earthiness to remind you that beneath all that playful fruit lies something more complex, more shadowy. This is where the "devil" in the name makes sense: not in any dark or aggressive way, but in the knowing wink of contrasts, the pleasure of balanced oppositions.

Character & Occasion

The community data tells a clear story about when Playing With The Devil comes alive: spring is its natural habitat (98%), with summer following closely behind (77%). This makes perfect sense—those fruits want warmth, sunshine, humidity to bloom against. It's a daytime fragrance first and foremost (100% day rating), though it transitions into evening surprisingly well (60% night), likely thanks to that spiced-wood base that adds depth as the day wanes.

Fall wearability sits at a respectable 71%, suggesting the spice notes give it enough warmth to carry through into cooler weather, while winter (45%) is less ideal—this fragrance wants some heat to amplify its juiciness. It's decidedly feminine in character, designed for someone who isn't afraid of being noticed, who views fragrance as an expression of confidence rather than a subtle accessory. This is for the woman who orders the most colorful cocktail on the menu without apology.

Community Verdict

With a rating of 3.94 out of 5 from 2,334 votes, Playing With The Devil sits comfortably in "very good" territory. This is a fragrance that has found its audience—a substantial voting base suggests real engagement with the scent—while the rating indicates genuine appreciation without reaching the rarified "masterpiece" status. It's a fragrance worth exploring, particularly if you're drawn to fruit-forward compositions that refuse to be one-dimensional.

How It Compares

Its kinship with other By Kilian offerings is evident—Forbidden Games and Good Girl Gone Bad share DNA with this composition, suggesting a house style that embraces contrast and richness. The comparison to Sunshine Woman by Amouage makes sense given the bright fruit opening, while Angel by Mugler and Black Orchid by Tom Ford connections likely stem from that interplay between sweetness and deeper, more complex base notes. Where Playing With The Devil distinguishes itself is in maintaining accessibility—it's provocative without being challenging, complex without being difficult.

The Bottom Line

Playing With The Devil occupies an interesting space in the By Kilian lineup and the broader fruity-floral category. It's not trying to be subtle or minimalist; it's a statement fragrance that embraces abundance. The near-4-star rating from over two thousand voters suggests a fragrance that delivers on its promise—it's well-crafted, distinctive, and wears beautifully in its ideal conditions.

Should you try it? If you've ever wished your fruit-forward fragrances had more backbone, more staying power, more something beyond the initial sweetness, this is your answer. It's for those who want the playfulness of fruit without sacrificing sophistication, who appreciate a fragrance that evolves rather than flatlines. At its best in warm weather daylight hours, Playing With The Devil is less about corruption than celebration—the joy of contrasts, the pleasure of a well-balanced composition that knows exactly what it is and makes no apologies for it.