Devils Deceit Anomalous Parfum 2025

Yes, the apple. A remarkable little fruit. Round, healthy, pleasant to look at, and the reason for the condemnation of all humankind (Fun Fact: The Latin name for apple, "Malum," can also mean "Evil" or "Misfortune." A rascal thinks evil :P).
This nasty little fruit seems to be everywhere.
As a theologian, of course, everything "from the field" is interesting to me, but I’ll spare you dear readers a 20-page lecture on the topic of the Fall.

How about a few more apple fun facts instead? No? Doesn’t matter, I’ll do it anyway! :D

Since ancient times, the cultivation of apples has been documented. Early on, people associated apples with symbolism of life, feminine power, and fertility. It is said that instead of putting a ring on his beloved's finger, a man would give his sweetheart an apple to ask her: "Would you like to move up a tax class with me?" (if tax classes had existed back then).
Somehow romantic. With an apple in hand, one can also more effectively fend off a suitor in case of need than with a mundane ring! So, props to antiquity!

Today, there are around 300,000 different apple varieties, with 2,000 alone in Germany (the oldest mention dates back to the 12th century), even though "only" 25 varieties are cultivated somewhat commercially.

If you’ve made it this far, then respect :D Let’s talk about the little fragrance here.

At first, I must admit that I had certain concerns when looking at the fragrance pyramid presented to us:

1. Will the aldehydes ruin the scent, make it "muddy"?
2. Sounds like Chypre? (I actually don’t like that, to be honest)
3. Does the animalic aspect work in this?

I must confess, I am a bit surprised. Yes, there is a certain Chypre base structure, but it is indeed quite solidly integrated into the scent. The aldehydes are perceptible, but they do not ruin the fragrance. What stands out at first, however, is the animalic aspect. It feels quite dense, somewhat old and dusty. Underneath, there is a rather pleasant citrus mélange, but it takes a while for the scent, or the nose, to get through the "animalic block" and for the fragrance to unfold gradually.

Somehow, I still can’t shake the question of whether they might be composing something that misses the mark; sure, there may be people who are really into that Chypre vintage stuff, and I’m happy for them, but I’m not one of them.

Next comes my next surprise. Instead of apple or something else, it somehow smells like bubblegum to me. Rosy-floral bubblegum, thickly coated with iris butter, additionally sprinkled with iris powder; one might think you’re standing right in a field. Therefore, I wonder, are the old texts wrong and the first humans didn’t nibble on apples at all, but simply cracked God’s gumball machine and indulged themselves?! Okay, I can understand that; I’d be pissed too.

Personally, I miss a bit of momentum in the long run, something that cushions this floral-creamy aspect towards the back, something green, to better reflect the "scene."

Of course, fragrances work differently for everyone, but at least for me, there seems to be a standstill here. Not even my good friend Moss - because nothing happens without him - stays away from me. Where are you, my herald!! :(

To stay in the scene. In the end, I somehow feel abandoned in the woods. Somehow out of time, but somehow not.

I mean, I like Zackaria. He’s a great guy, even if often completely scatterbrained (and handling the fragrances in research was somehow a certain clusterfuck this time). His first fragrances were really solid pieces for me (if you adjust your expectations accordingly, knowing you’re not dealing with high-end EO stuff, for example). Collection 3 didn’t catch me as much. But let’s see, I’m still curious about what else is to come :)

Thank you for reading my thoughts, and until next time :)