Habanita (1921)
by Molinard

Habanita certainly deserves the mass genuflection that it seems to have received – but more for its survival through nine decades than any great production of quality. It has aged poorly, and in its present form and formulation it is very much the musty anachronism I hoped it would not be.

The opening gathers you up and acquires significant momentum, but sadly topples over into an unacceptably harsh beginning. Although the floral element is noteworthy, it is never more than collaboration, a guiding hand through a difficult genesis. The unsullied vanilla note is evident early on, and the bittersweet accords it produces throughout are at best agreeable, but certainly nothing to delight in.

It probably has a slightly more prominent Y chromosome, but at no stage would I classify it as being gender specific. In its favour, it is modestly priced and readily available, but Habanita is certainly no oil painting. A prolonged wearing has certainly stemmed any purple prose that I may have expended onto this page, and instead it leaves me dulled and disappointed

14th January, 2012.

I got the EDT version although I'd like to have the EDP, yet I couldn't find it online to buy. Like Slane said- it resembles Habit Rouge. I love them both- Habit Rouge and Habanita. Got this sweater with fake fur on the collar and it kept in the scent all day long. Just think what real fur collars would do for the longevity of a scent!

Is there really rose in the middle notes? This perfume is so comforting, so glad I finally purchased it.

12nd November, 2011.

I am once again on a quest, this time to find an EDT, parfum or cologne that will not break the bank if worn every day! Creed's Jasmin Imperatrice Eugenie and Malle's Musc Ravageur will always be beloved. However, at nearly $250/75ml and $240/100 ml respectively, I must find more affordable alternatives if I wish to wear a fragrance every day...and I DO!!!

With this new quest, I thought I would revisit an earlier search for an incense, smoke 'n leather fragrance (with some florals perhaps) in lieu of my usual head-y, Old World-ly, grounded in resins, musk, ambers, wood, smoke, etc, Oriental florals.

So, I purchased a bunch of different samples via TPC after researching reviews here on BN. OMG...I really really really like Habanita, I do!! As others have stated, the initial opening and application is a bit rough, so rough that it actually made me sneeze! Like others, I think the opening accord is quite bitter, very green (perhaps some citrus) with bergamot, peach, other fruits...almost foul smelling! Initially, I moaned, "Oh, no...another scrubber," but based on reviews, I waited and the dry down provided a huge surprise.

On my skin, Habanita morphed into a warm, very powdery, mellow, soothing sensuous Oriental with LOTS of vanilla, amber, some patchouli, and a bit of warm honey??? After an hour or so, I definitely detected a wonderful floral bouquet of jasmine, lavender, rose, ylang-ylang and resinous wood...but NOT a lot of tobacco or smoke. Unlike many Orientals, the floral bouqet did not completely over power the middle and earlier notes, not at all. For me, all of the middle & basenotes came together and formed a beautifully seductive and pleasing scent.

Unlike JIE and Musc Ravageur, this fragrance remains close to the body with very minimal sillage. And similar to my two favorites, Habanita's longevity is wonderful... lasted for hours! I can still faintly smell its delight as I type this review some 7 hours later.

The ONLY problem is that my beloved husband, who LOVES JIE and ADORES Musc Ravageur continually verbalized his distaste all afternoon long for "whatever it was I was wearing." Told my sister, "I smelled like I had slept in a head shop." I said, "What, honey????...you usually LOVE my choices in fragrance." He said, "Not this one...being near you is like being forced to kiss my ancient aunt with her over-powdered face, smudged red lipstick, crooked old hat, stained teeth and days old perfumey clothing-YUCK!" NOT a good visual. Tears of sadness falling from my eyes. Perhaps Habanita will "grow" on him. Until then...

24th October, 2011.

I can't really read Habanita. The synergy that others describe doesn't happen for me. I actually search for a bit of dissonance in a perfume. It lends character, a bit of mystery. Maybe just gives it a laugh. Even outright antagonism can be effective (see the floral leather genre.)

Habanita has neither synergy, as in the fougere's coumarin and lavender accord, nor the stagey acrimony of Angel, for instance. It straddles an uncomfortable, tangled territory between leaden and powdery.

28th August, 2011. (Last Edited: 30th August, 2011.)

I love this scent from beginning to end. I get incense smoke over peaches at the beginning -- extraordinary-- then it gradually changes into a fruity vetiver vanilla leather concoction. Amazing work

PS. The best vanilla I have ever smelled is now available from Pierre Guillame and is called 'Tonkamande'. It seems to be an offshoot from from the PG numbered range.

6th June, 2011.

This is the friendliest scent ever. Warm, comfortable, inviting, it's like an easy-going conversation between people who have known each other for a long time.

6th June, 2011.