Havana (1994)
by Aramis

There is nothing like Havana. Spicy, warm yet invigorating, complex, refined, yet it has a bad-ass edge to it. There are so many facets to this fragrance. This cologne is not for the clean sweet and fruity or powdery-vanilla crowd. Havana is super masculine. The aroma is powerful and assertive, yet sophisticated and classy.

I get cinnamon, bay rum, an ever-present spiciness, a light grassy vetiver at the end along with many other notes I cannot describe. In addition, I get that perfumer's tobacco note you catch in Guerlain Vetiver (ribbed bottle).

For those who like to leave the house crisp, confident and "boldly spiced". Can be worn year round too. Check me into the clinic, I'm addicted to it. Also worth mentioning: I'm highly sensitive to chemicals used in most modern fragrances and I do not detect synthetic chemicals in this. To me it is extremely natural and niche quality.

Definitely sample this one first though.

30th January, 2012.

My new everyday scent. Layered and fabulous - I have been looking for something that is spicy but not real sweet smelling and found it here. I don't want to smell like a powdered doughnut or a flower. This juice has too many notes to describe. I'd say get a sample and try it for a couple weeks if you like scents that are spicy with lots of layers.

28th January, 2012.

Top notes smell like you slept in the grocery shop selling spices. I wasted my $60. There is whatsoever no trace of tobacco.

9th December, 2011.

I obtained a tester bottle of Havana on-line and so have tried it a dozen times over a few months. I love peppery, leather, tobacco, and patchouli. This was not as described, at least not really. Havana is predominantly soapy and waxy, rather candle-like with vague synthetic spice notes that come out slowly and breakdown within a few hours. Longevity is hard to fully judge as it disintegrates so quickly within it's fragrance profile which, again, is vague and synthetic. I never know what I'm supposed to be smelling when synthetics are mismatched and thrown together. Havana is ultimately an inoffensive fragrance if not extremely bland or bold. I'd suspect it would suit those who are themselves neither extremely bland or bold...

4th December, 2011.

Note that this review for the newer version. I just don't get all the positive and superlative reviews for Havana. First of all, I don't smell any tobacco whatsoever. None, no pipe, no leaf nor any smoke. I love tobacco and have many scents in my wardrobe to prove it. What I do smell is an acrid and bitter pimento/red pepper note that dominates into submission. Unlike the divine pimento note in PdN NY, the pimento feels like the chef put too much spice into the mole sauce. I can't smell anything else as Havana feels one dimensional and just plain boring. I can't help but feel let down after all the hype. This may be Aramis' poorest offering. Avoid unless you're into a nosefull of pimento and red pepper.

22nd October, 2011.

A spicy tobacco scent that does not fall into the trap of been to sweet. A fragrance I wish was more readily available.

27th September, 2011.