The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Sale Perfume 02. Ribes oud. arrived in 2020 from Michał Szulc. The name states the central idea plainly: ribes, or blackcurrant, meets oud. One fruit brings tartness and cool juiciness; the other brings dense, resinous woods. That contrast gives the composition its character, pairing a vivid fruit note with the depth and texture of oud. Bergamot and lemon brighten the opening, while blackcurrant adds a sparkling, slightly tart impression. Black pepper introduces dry heat, and geranium lends a green, aromatic facet. Jasmine brings a soft floral layer that settles naturally into the darker notes. Patchouli, sandalwood, guaiac wood, and cedar give the fragrance a grounded woody structure, while agarwood reinforces its resinous depth.
What makes the pairing memorable is its clean line of contrast. Blackcurrant gives the composition a tart, almost polished fruitiness, while oud introduces depth and resinous weight. Bergamot and lemon keep the opening lucid. Geranium and jasmine add a green floral hinge, and black pepper supplies a dry snap without pushing the scent toward pure spice. Patchouli, sandalwood, guaiac wood, and cedar ground everything in a woody register, while white musk softens the final impression without making it sweet.
The evolution
The opening lands bright and lucid, with bergamot and lemon cutting through the fruit. Blackcurrant soon takes the lead, bringing tartness and a polished, almost jewel-like edge. Geranium, jasmine, and black pepper then pull the scent toward an aromatic middle where green notes meet dry heat. Oud and patchouli deepen that center without burying it completely. The fruit gradually becomes less pronounced as the woody notes take over, while patchouli adds an earthy darkness and sandalwood rounds the composition with a creamy texture. As the hours pass, guaiac wood and cedar lend a steady, structured quality to the drydown, and white musk leaves a smoother woody trail close to the skin and lightly incense-like. The final impression is composed and gently smoky, with the fruit softened and the woods remaining the clearest trace.
Cultural impact
Sale Perfume 02. Ribes oud. was released in a limited edition of 1,000 pieces, giving its blackcurrant-and-oud composition an air of rarity. The fragrance opens brightly with bergamot, lemon, and tart blackcurrant, then develops through geranium, jasmine, black pepper, oud, and patchouli. Sandalwood, guaiac wood, cedar, agarwood, and white musk create a smooth woody finish with a light incense-like quality. For wearers drawn to aromatic woods with a modern, tart edge, it presents a distinctive meeting of juicy fruit and resinous depth in an intimate, composed scent.
The House
Michal SzulcMichał Szulc is a Polish designer whose work spans fashion and fragrance. His perfumery output remains deliberately small, with just three releases from the Sale Perfume series. Szulc brings the same conceptual rigor to scent that characterizes his broader design practice, treating fragrance as an extension of artistic vision rather than a commercial venture. The Sale Perfume line, launched in 2011 with a 2020 remake of the first fragrance, and a second edition released the same year, suggests a methodical approach that prioritizes refinement over expansion. Operating from Poland, Szulc maintains an independent presence outside major luxury conglomerates, allowing his work to develop on its own terms.
The Creator
Michał SzulcSzulc’s signature is restrained, modern and materially focused. Sale Perfume 01 places a modern oriental structure against woody facets, creating a composition that feels polished without becoming ornate.
