Black is many things. One of those things is a positive number on a balance sheet, the opposite of red. That may be the thinking behind BLACK, Comme des Garçons’ fragrance started in 2009 “in response to the general negativity engendered by the recession and to counter the feeling of things being blocked or stopped because of the crisis.”

This year marks the latest iteration of BLACK, which Rei Kawakubo, never one to shy away from literalism, has infused with Madagascar black pepper and Somalian incense, with essences of leather, licorice, birch tar and pepperwood.

BLACK eau de toilette, 100ml, $100, exclusively in BLACK stores from April 2 – 15 and Comme des Garçons shops from April 16.