Black Cube Ramón Molvizar 2010

I’m usually not quick to use superlatives, but this fragrance is of fairy-tale perfection. Today, rather coincidentally tested at Zdeluxe, I’ve been wearing it on my wrist all day and even now, at this late hour, I’m still intoxicated by the symphony that is presented to me. In this respect, this comment is less based on an extensive engagement with the fragrance, but rather should be understood as a snapshot.

My enthusiasm is owed to two facts: on the one hand, the quality and interplay of the ingredients demonstrate a dreamlike skill. Rarely have I had the experience that in a fragrance everything harmonizes perfectly, and yet I miss no edges or corners. With Black Cube, this seems to be balanced to the brink of perfection. Each ingredient masterfully integrates into the overall composition, while all the ingredients engage in a delightful interplay with one another.

The second aspect I want to pay homage to is the fragrance development itself. How did they manage to do this? The top, heart, and base notes seem to stretch endlessly, transitioning into countless variations, holding each other closely while simultaneously allowing each the necessary space for independent unfolding. Over the course of eleven hours, Black Cube has transformed from a fresh, incredibly elegantly spiced oriental into a fantastical heart note, which is never sacred, but entirely unpretentious and playful incense accord, only to surprise in the base with exquisite, whispered, smoky tones, flanked by soft sandalwood and warm, subtly sweet nuances of musk. The individual phases have a wonderful duration and expression; I have yet to encounter a fragrance that gives so much space and maturation time to its individual stages. Whenever you sniff at your wrist, Black Cube always presents itself in a slightly altered form, and each time it is a true delight.

All of this, of course, is reflected in the pricing, as the fragrance is definitely in the high-end segment. What one should think of the artistic freedom of Ramon Molvizar, which is expressed, among other things, by adding small flakes of precious metals to the fragrances, is something everyone must decide for themselves. Olfactorily, however, Black Cube is definitely a revelation, a longing 100% from me.