The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Devious launched in 2020. Bitter almond and bergamot begin the fragrance with a tense brightness, an opening that feels alert and far from restrained. Amaretto brings a sweet richness, while sour cherry and liquor make the composition deliciously unsteady. Those notes move between sharpness and warmth, giving Devious its particular sense of tension: gourmand, but never simply syrupy. The result is sweet, warm, sharp, and a little too knowing, with each note making the next one seem less predictable.
The interesting part is how Devious refuses a single definition of gourmand. Almond contributes a soft sweetness that gains character from the sharper notes around it. Bergamot contributes brightness to the opening, setting up an easier path into amaretto, sour cherry, and liquor. The fruit and liquor lend the heart a rich, boozy quality, while tonka bean, vanilla, and sandalwood round the composition into something smoother and more tactile. As the fragrance develops, its almond-cherry character remains in play, but the sweetness is continually complicated by acidity, warmth, and depth.
The evolution
Devious begins with a clean, bitter brightness that puts the fragrance on alert. Amaretto and bitter almond move into the citrus brightness, establishing a sweetness that feels deliberate rather than immediate. The heart loosens the grip. Sour cherry and liquor bring a dark, fruity warmth, creating the impression of a rich dessert with a sharp edge. As the fragrance settles, cardamom and tonka bean soften the composition, while vanilla and sandalwood add a smooth base. What remains is a warm almond-cherry drydown: sweet, boozy, and rounded, with different notes taking turns at the forefront. On skin, the effect moves from crisp brightness to a close, plush finish.
Cultural impact
Devious brings a sharp, playful energy to Contradictions in ILK's fragrance lineup. Its cherry-almond profile balances sweetness with acidity and warmth, giving the composition a more mischievous character. The notes move between bright citrus, rich fruit, boozy warmth, spice, and smooth base notes, making Devious a fragrance that invites attention without settling into a single, simple mood.
The House
Contradictions in ILKContradictions in ILK is a London-based niche fragrance house that challenges the conventions of traditional perfumery through a collection of layerable, gender-free scents. Each fragrance in the range takes its name from a distinct aspect of human nature — Virtuous, Devious, Libertine, Infatuated — inviting wearers to explore the full spectrum of their personality. The brand's core premise is that scent should be a tool for self-expression, not a statement of conformity. Rather than dictating which fragrance suits which occasion or identity, Contradictions in ILK empowers individuals to mix, match, and build their own olfactory narrative. The collection operates on the philosophy that humans are complex, contradictory creatures, and their fragrance should reflect that dynamism. Annabella Fasano-Leslie and Holly Hutchinson founded the house together, bringing complementary expertise in psychology and fragrance formulation to create scents that feel deeply personal and intentionally unresolved.
The Creator
Christine HassanHassan builds accords layer by layer, much like a sculptor adds clay. She favors a clear backbone of woods—cedar, sandalwood, guaiac—anchored by mineral accords that add edge.
