The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Patrick Bodifee designed Use Black for Naso di Raza with a simple provocation: what if black wasn't dark at all? The concept reframes darkness as depth rather than despair. Bodifee's stated intention, draw a shadow of happiness, for without it, it is not complete, treats darkness as something that completes rather than diminishes. The scent announces itself with intention and purpose.
What makes Use Black structurally unusual is its approach to coherence. Rather than treating oud as a dark anchor and everything else as decoration, the composition uses its core materials, oud, leather, saffron, patchouli, as a continuous thread through all three phases. The same ingredients tell different chapters. Raspberry appears in the opening for a tart-fruity jolt, while warm spice and leather build a scaffolding that gives the composition structure and purpose.
The evolution
The opening announces itself immediately. Raspberry's tart sweetness meets pink pepper's delicate spice, underscored by rhubarb's acidic green edge. It doesn't whisper. Thirty minutes in, the saffron threads warmth through the tartness while oud and leather take structural command. The sweet-fruity notes darken, becoming something rounder and more assertive. This is the phase that separates enthusiasts from casual observers. By the second hour, the heart has settled. Jasmine and sandalwood add softness without diluting anything. The drydown rewards patience: sandalwood and vanilla arrive quietly, and the oud becomes intimate, close to skin, warm, almost skin-like itself rather than theatrical. On fabric, the scent lingers in the fibers long after the initial spray.
Cultural impact
Use Black occupies a specific corner of niche perfumery: bold enough for oud enthusiasts, structured enough for leather fans, with enough animalic presence to intrigue anyone who thinks they've smelled everything in the genre. The launch positioned it among compositions that approached oud with a different sensibility, making the material feel immediate rather than distant. Wearers find it speaks for itself without needing explanation.
