Habanita La Cologne

8 reseñas

Mostrando las más recientes primero.

• Casablanca77

  February 5, 2019

  

  Habanita La Cologne is a refined fluffiness with a vintage vibe and modern touches. Even though it’s an EDT, it doesn’t perform on my skin as I expected; it’s hard to detect at first, but the notes are gorgeous. The citrus opening is strong, then quickly shifts to a gentle soapy scent—not harsh or bar-like on the face, but more like an oil that smells like a fancy soap, thanks to the ylang-ylang I just noticed. The resins give it that Habanita personality, with faint flashes of flowers and violets. There’s a damp earthy tone with vetiver and moss that lets the perfume float without fully defining it; this house doesn’t go for the easy route. I love its authentic beauty; it’s stunning for any season, though in summer on my skin it might feel a bit too soft. It’s luminous, modern, and blends nostalgia with a rich oriental base. The bottle is a tribute to craftsmanship, square and simple, perfect for today. It reminded me of a cold morning in Berlin before the Wall fell. UPDATE: With wear, it becomes more intense, lasts a long time, and offers incredible sillage—something that hasn’t happened with other perfumes of mine.

• Josesan

  March 27, 2019

  

  The house MOLINARD was born in GRASSE, the heart of French perfumery. In 1849, Hyacinthe Molinard opened his shop for select clients, including Queen Victoria. In the wild 20s, he launched HABANITA for Garçonnes, the first oriental women’s perfume with vetiver, previously reserved for men. It launched in 1921 in sachets to mask tobacco smells and became a perfume in 1924. In the 30s, they used glass masters like Lalique and Baccarat. Today, Célia Lerouge-Bénard represents the fifth generation, one of the few independent houses still surviving, probably because they aren’t a fashion designer brand or featured in Vogue. Nowadays, it’s better to stay under the radar, unless you’re Hermès or Chanel. Thanks to Casablanca77, I discovered this HABANITA LA COLOGNE, a floral gem with a bright aldehydic opening (unlisted). It smells classic, timeless, and luxurious. It’s very floral, intensely floral, with an animalic and raw facet. Neroli, lilac, and jasmine provide that animalic touch without overdoing it. It evolves into a darker, more serious tone, almost an Oriental Chypre. Carnal flowers like ylang-ylang appear, along with a fruity peach brushstroke, resinous notes, woody hints, slight spice, a high-quality white musk, and an intense vanillaized rose. Close to the skin, it’s an almost masculine Chypre, but its trail is a floral amber-vanilla scent, nearly edible. Worth every euro. Don’t be fooled by the name “Cologne”; it outperforms many designer EDPs. Although I don’t care about gender, I must say it’s very feminine—a floral oriental with almost gourmand vibes. Every time I smell it, I’m reminded of JAIPUR HOMME by BOUCHERON, but softer and muffled, with the same concept.

• Myosotis

  March 29, 2020

  

  I know several versions of this legend, a favorite of a friend who worships it. She adores the original Eau de Toilette, which turns 100 in 2021, and tried to convince me of its quality. I told her it wasn’t my style—too opulent, dense, powdery, and narcotic. The EDP, an update of the original, works, but it also overwhelms me with its dark, dense leather scent. Habanita l’Esprit is the one that least resembles the original. The cologne was a gift with the wink, “this one you’ll like,” and she was right. Setting memories aside, it keeps the essence but is brighter, softer, more modern, and wearable, especially in heat. I think it’s a very respectful modernized version of the EDT. Performance is excellent. Even though it’s not my style, it’s won me over. You can’t ignore its quality and craftsmanship.

• Myosotis

  March 31, 2020

  

  I know several versions of this legendary perfume; it’s the favorite of a friend who owns them all. She worships the original EDT, which turns 100 in 2021, and tried to convince me of its quality. I told her it wasn’t my style, without mentioning that I found it too opulent and dense. The EDP is well-executed, but it also overwhelms me with its dark leather scent. Habanita L’Esprit is the one that least resembles the original. She gifted me this cologne with the wink of ‘this one you’ll like,’ and she was right. Setting aside the memories, it keeps the essence of the original but is brighter, tender, current, and wearable, especially on warm days. I think it’s a very respectful modernized version. Its performance is excellent. Although it’s not my usual style, it has convinced me. It’s impossible not to recognize its quality and craftsmanship.

• Edu Lezana

  November 16, 2021

  

  In short, it’s an excellent fragrance. The name is misleading: it’s not a light, citrusy cologne. It’s intense, full of personality, with amazing longevity and sillage. On my skin, the Ylang-ylang shines alongside well-blended woods, rosewood, and a slightly damp vetiver. Molinard keeps delivering rich, distinctive scents. It’s a daytime fragrance, perfect for errands and work. Night isn’t its ally; it lacks a bit of sensuality. It’s unisex: suits a man in a suit and tie or a woman in jeans and a casual blouse. The bottle is gorgeous and the price is fair. Pure quality.

• Edu Lezana

  November 17, 2021

  

  In short, it’s an excellent fragrance. The name is misleading: it’s not a light, citrusy, ethereal cologne, but an intense perfume with personality and great longevity. On my skin, the ylang-ylang stands out, paired well with woods like rosewood and damp vetiver. Molinard continues to make great perfumes—rich and with their own presence. It’s a daytime scent, ideal for errands and work. Night isn’t its ally; it lacks sensuality. It’s unisex: on men, it looks great with a suit and tie; on women, it pairs well with jeans and casual blouses. The bottle is pretty and the price is fair. It’s a quality fragrance.

• Golden Nose

  February 7, 2025

  

  I don’t want to spoil anything or encourage others to use it without knowing. It’s the best of the Habanitas for my taste. If you like dense, vintage, and tobacco-infused perfumes, and if Shalimar moves you, you should try this incredible HABANITA LA COLOGNE—a huge hit in all caps.

• Golden Nose

  February 10, 2025

  

  No spoilers, and fair warning: I don’t want anyone else to wear this. For me, it’s the best of the Habanitas. If you’re craving dense, vintage scents with that powdery touch, and if Shalimar gives you goosebumps, try this HABANITA LA COLOGNE. It’s an absolute powerhouse.