The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
DEV #1: Foreplay arrived in 2012 as part of the Devil Scent Project, a collection that explored the more primal side of perfumery. Dr. Ellen Covey, a botanist by training, built this fragrance around materials that most houses avoid, hyraceum, civet, and a trio of oud accords, not as provocation, but as honest exploration. The name suggests anticipation, the moment before something happens. That tension runs through the entire composition.
What makes Foreplay unusual is its restraint within intensity. The oud accord, synthetic here, since natural oud at this concentration would cost more than the bottle, provides depth without the medicinal sharpness that synthetic oud often carries. Combined with black vanilla husk, the result is warm but not sweet. The beeswax absolute grounds the resinous top notes, giving them weight. This isn't a fragrance that wants to be liked. It wants to be felt.
The evolution
The opening hits fast, frankincense smoke rolling in alongside the warmth of tolu balsam. For the first thirty minutes, the cinnamon leaf and lemongrass add a fresh spice that keeps the smoke from becoming heavy. Then the oud and labdanum take over, and the fragrance shifts from theatrical to intimate. By hour two, it's skin-close. The civet and hyraceum become more apparent as the top notes fade, not aggressive, but present. A low animalic hum that other people might catch if they're standing very close. The drydown is where this fragrance lives: a warm, resinous amber mixed with musk and the faint ghost of black vanilla. This scent offers long-lasting wear with above average longevity that carries through many hours. The next morning, there's still something there, not the smoke, but the warmth. Like walking into a room that still holds the memory of the evening before.
Cultural impact
Foreplay occupies a distinct space in the world of animalic fragrances, embracing notes that many perfumers shy away from. What distinguishes it is the remarkable restraint, the animalic elements don't dominate the composition; instead they serve as a subtle foundation. Wearers often describe it as the scent of presence without announcement, warmth without sweetness. The Devil Scent Project label hints at deliberate artistic intent, yet the fragrance itself prefers to whisper rather than shout. It speaks to those who appreciate complexity in their perfume, who want depth that reveals itself gradually rather than all at once.
