Courtesy Dolce & Gabbana Beauty.
On the Amalfi coast, specifically in Sant'Egidio del Monte Albino, Aniello Califano wrote in 1915 what after more than a century remains one of the best-known Neapolitan songs: '
O surdato 'nnammurato
.
There are a thousand interpretations - the most famous remains that of Anna Magnani in the 1971 film La Sciantosa - of what has become an anthem of the Italian spirit.
Therefore, it is no coincidence that Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana have chosen it as the soundtrack for the advertisement for Devotion, the new women's fragrance (with original notes that evoke panettone) starring Katy Perry.
The 38-year-old American superstar, originally from California, is the image of the advertising short set in Capri, which tells the story of a day of vacation on the island.
In the film there is everything: the summer sun and the blue of the sea, the heat of the discos, the nights of Capri, oh life, oh my life!
and also the sex appeal of Michele Morrone.
In an exclusive talk for ELLE, the singer tells what her experience was like in this project
ELLE IN THE COMMERCIAL YOU IMMERSE INTO THE ATMOSPHERE OF AN ITALIAN VACATION, DID YOU LIKE IT?
KATY PERRY
It was like being on a real vacation, I even brought my mom and her friends with me.
The atmosphere was relaxed, attractive, everything very spontaneous;
I think you can tell by watching the commercial.
And I also managed to eat some local delicacies between sets.
ELLE THE SHORT HAS A FAMOUS TRADITIONAL NEAPOLITAN SONG AS A SOUNDTRACK. DID YOU KNOW IT OR DID YOU HAVE TO LEARN IT?
KP
I know her well and the funny thing is that she had already gone out partying in the same place in the commercial with the same song in real life.
Courtesy Dolce & Gabbana Beauty.
ELLE THIS IS YOUR FIRST CAMPAIGN WITH DOLCE & GABBANA BEAUTY, RIGHT?
KP
Exactly.
I admire the work of Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana;
I love their creative audacity, their unmistakable style, and the connection to their roots evident in everything they do.
The brand they created from the ground up has evolved beautifully over time.
ELLE HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE DEVOTION FRAGRANCE? DO YOU ARE LIKE THEM IN ANY WAY?
KP
It is a sweet, sweet and sensual fragrance.
She has something magnetic that makes you want to listen to her again and again.
I'm a bit picky about aromas, I've never strayed from certain ingredients, and Devotion is my beautiful new take on that cocktail.
ELLE WHAT WAS YOUR FEELING WHEN USING THIS FRAGRANCE FOR THE FIRST TIME?
KP
.
I felt absolutely myself;
It's comfortable, sweet, young and delicious... It's like flirting and falling in love for the first time
ELLE THEY SAY PERFUMES EVOKE FORGOTTEN MEMORIES, HAS THIS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU?
KP
It happens to me often and it's really like going back in time.
Perfumes know how to bring emotions back to life.
ELLE YOUR FIRST OLFACTORY MEMORIES ARE...
KP
.
The scent of the ocean;
The fresh, salty air transports me to Santa Barbara, where I was born.
And then vanilla, my absolute favorite note, which I've been using since I was 15.
ELLE DEVOTION REPRESENTS A DECLARATION OF LOVE AND GRATITUDE. WHAT ARE THE THINGS FOR WHICH YOU FEEL LOVED AND GRATEFUL.?
KP
There are three: my daughter Daisy Dove, love and music.
ELLE WHO OR WHAT ARE YOU MOST DEDICATED TO?
KP
.
First of all, to be a mother.
And then to the music that changed my life.
I try to give back through my foundation, Firework Foundation, which supports children from disadvantaged communities by igniting their inner light through art.
Our most important activity is Camp Firework, a nature experience with an artistic program.
ELLE WHAT THREE WORDS COME TO YOUR HEAD WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ITALY?
KP History, culinary excellence and fashion.
ELLE ARE YOU PLANNING ON RETURNING TO ITALY AT SOME PARTICULAR TIME?
KP
Surely very soon: there will always be an Italian date on my world tours
Devotion.
Courtesy Dolce & Gabbana Beauty.
Genesis of a sweet and gourmet perfume
by Valentina Sorrenti
It was a crazy idea to create the panettone accord,” says Olivier Cresp, creator of the nose of the new Devotion perfume, by Dolce & Gabbana.
“We worked a lot with Domenico and Stefano to find the right path that would allow us to express the brand values and Italian nature, without being obvious or similar to something that already exists on the market.
We thought about ice cream, coffee, wine, martinis, but nothing really convinced us.
My inspiration was La Dolce Vita and I reflected on the meaning of devotion (which for me means helping friends and family).
Hence the idea of panettone, a sweet symbol of sharing, present in all Italian homes during moments of conviviality.”
This is how the new Dolce & Gabbana perfume was born, opening a new gourmand category: “I am considered the father of this family of perfumes, but I must say that now we are traveling a completely new path.
If in 1992 gourmand fragrances were synonymous with sweetness, new perfumes, like Devotion, are not too sugary but have a fresh soul that makes them unique.
And then, the inspirations evolved;
In this case, with panettone, the mind flies to when we were children, to the 'safe' moments, when we felt protected.
It took me a year to recreate the panettone accord by selecting the best ingredients.
Even what it makes there makes a difference, especially because of its persistence on the skin.
I tried it again and again, asking my family and colleagues what they thought: they all loved it,” explains Crest.
Devotion also means sacrifice, which is why no note connecting to the Sacred Heart of the jar was used (like incense) and there are no connections to religion.
Stefano and Domenico installed the Sacred Heart in 2015 and it is now one of the symbols of the house.
See alsoThe feminine side of Versailles