Heno de Pravia (1955)
by Gal

If it only lasted a little more.
It is nice, makes you feel refreshed and IMO it is as good as 4711 or Alvarez Gomez, but it lasts even less than those.
Again: if it only lasted a little longer.

18th June, 2011.

In Montreal, I have only found the large plastic bottle, which is suited for use as a body splash rather than as an Eau de Toilette/Cologne.

It's labeled "Agua de Colonia", but it has castor oil in it, a product you won't find in perfumes, but rather in aftershaves, due to its hydrating properties.

I love to splash it on after a shower, gives a nice clean scent, sweet and coumarin-y, that will evaporate quickly. Makes your skin feels good too, with that castor oil.

I'll be frank, however, I have never gotten the hay association. Whenever someone talks about coumarin, they drone over and over that is has a hay-like smell. And "heno" means "hay" in Spanish. But curse me if I know anything about the real smell of hay, I mean I have only lived the first 15 years of my life in farm country where the only crop was hay to feed the milk cows!

The similarity with hay, in my opinion, is more in terms of the impression, the sweetness, rather than the aroma.

Nevertheless, it's a great body cologne, and the soap is as good as Valobra Fougère or Yardley English Lavender.

8th February, 2011. (Last Edited: 11th February, 2011.)

I like to splash on Heno de Pravia at the end of the day, after I get home from work. Agua Lavanda is another I wear at night. HdP is an excellent eau de cologne and is unique in that it actually has a drydown. The scent starts off lemony with lavender, but it dries down with what I assume is the "beeswax" accord, but which smells floral to me (I don't know what beeswax smells like). It gives the scent a dryness I like, as well as a very clean, somewhat soapy smell. Longevity of course is poor (about 2 or 3 hours tops), but this is a very refreshing and calming scent that I find very satisfying. Just pour a ton of it in your palm and splash it on with reckless abandon!

MY RATING: 7/10

1st July, 2010.

A classic, inexpensive Spanish eau de cologne easily available in its country if origin as well as in many Latin American countries, made by Gal, a subsidary of Antonio Puig. The line is complemented with a stronger eau de cologne, soap, deodorant and talcum powder.

I am resorting to notes I know of and I can easily perceive.

Initial notes are hesperidic-like, their main characteristic being that they are kind of sparkling. As it develops, it settles down to notes similar to the ones found in woody scents, later changing to a mixture of green -amberine notes.

As in all eaux de colognes, longevity and sillage are limited, but sometimes - I can not recall when or why, if it is because of weather conditions, accidental layering or foods eaten - I feel a very unique beeswax drydown lasting a very acceptable time.

Edit, Aug. 2009: the "stronger eau de cologne" is not sold anymore, it has been replaced by a flanker named "Agua de Pravia 1905",

In the original article I wrote in the second paragraph:

"In Spanish, "heno" means fern, "fougere" in French In Spanish, so I wonder if this is what the original fougere smelt like. Since I can't tell if this is so,".

The translation of the word "heno" was wrong since "heno" means "hay", so I decide to cut out this passage.

Thank you fellow BNoter for letting me aware of this mistake!

17th April, 2009. (Last Edited: 23rd August, 2009.)

An update to my previous posting. Yes, it still burns, but I have become enchanted with this scent. It has a slight baby-powder/clean soap quality but there's something else that is just lovely. This is far, far from power. This is humility and sweetness. I never smelled anything like it. It makes me smile.

18th October, 2005. (Last Edited: 13rd November, 2005.)

This is an excellent Spanish Cologne which I have regularly brought back from holidays in Spain. It has a fresh herbal character of unisex nature by todays standards. In my mind it is closest to, but a little stronger than Guerlains Eau Imperiale. The packing could be more attractive, I believe. But then it might cost quite a bit more than it does.The smallest bottle I have seen was probably 200 ml.

22nd July, 2005.