Cubalibre by Mallo

Another ambergris? 🧐 The Spanish house brings us ‘Cubalibre’, this limited edition (paying homage to the cocktail) reveals itself upon spraying with a base of genuine ambergris, slightly salty, where Coca-Cola and rum enter giving an effervescent and playful texture without falling into the gourmand trap. The ambergris smells old, a sign that time has passed and it has aged, but in a positive way. Very linear, with good performance, unisex and versatile. On first sniff it didn’t blow my head off, but it did draw a smile because I knew I had found a great ambergris perfume. With all due respect, what Atlantic Ambergris and Creme de la Creme (from Areej le Doré) couldn’t achieve, Cubalibre has. What a good perfume. Here the ambergris isn’t drowned or covered; it has all the spotlight, very balanced. It has the right effervescence, the correct level of salt without being too marine and very little alcohol. Nothing animal, sweaty or piercing. It is a simple, relaxed and high-quality perfume (28% concentration with Norwegian ambergris). It is not formal or pretentious, but relaxed and versatile like a Silver Mountain Water by Creed, although in scent and quality there is no comparison. I’m simply comparing them for ease and versatility. €210 for 30ml in very limited bottles (already hard to find) and 15 bottles of 200ml for $1,000 which are still available. Is it worth it? Yes. Normal prices in niche, but the quality and execution are extraordinary. 9/10

It is the most amiable fragrance I have tried from Mallo and one of my favourites; perhaps it is the best gateway to niche perfumery for those not accustomed to it. You can feel the high quality of every ingredient blended to create a rich result. Above all, the ambergris stands out, sublime: the Coca-Cola smells like spiced, fruity ambergris, finishing with a salty touch. It’s an amberado, dirty and salty, like enjoying a Cuba Libre on a seaside terrace. As it is a limited edition, I hope you still have the opportunity to try it.