Cuba Blue
by Cuba Paris

Cuba Blue, like the rest of its Cuba stablemates, relies more on its novelty elements thanks to its cheap but creative packaging that combines several disparaging and contradictory elements. A Cuban cigar body with the face of an American inventor and statesman from Pennsylvania raised in a world of Quakers and German immigrants, Benjamin Franklin, manufactured in France and given a name referencing pastoral tranquility? Maybe Thomas Jefferson and images of Tobacco fields would have been more fitting for the entire affair, but for its embracing of pure tackiness, Cuba fragrances are synonymous with fun.

The opening is a burst of lavender and alcohol that calms down quickly into a familiar CK One aquatic/floral, but reaching higher into the floral qualities. The middle notes are when the metallic elements of Azzaro Chrome surface, but they last only a few flashing moments before the nondescript dry down of lavender, musk and vanilla take over.
Cuba Blue smells astonishingly good and well-blended and the most natural of all the Cuba releases, despite being a wholly synthetic creation. Not exactly Chrome, leans more towards Calvin Klein's CK One but with far lower projection and silage and about a quarter of the lifespan. A fresh scent with a touch of floral, musk and moss that is far less cloying than Cuba's original release Gold. Hard to pick off the skin, works to its advantage in that the lavender doesn't ever overwhelm.

The major downfall of Blue is two-fold. It simply clings too tightly to the skin and lasts only about an hour before becoming quite faint and unrecognizable. Blue is a light, earthy aquatic and lavender fragrance better suited for the heat. Nothing particularly distinguishing, but the most natural smelling of the Cuba line.
Completely and purely unoriginal in all but the packaging, Cuba Blue is pathetically light and weak, short-lived and cheap, but oh so fun and unique, all the same. Only for those with a sense of humor and an appreciation of camp and pure tackiness.

25th October, 2011.

Better version of Chrome, but to be better than Chrome is not big deal anyway.
The good thing is that is not only beter, but a LOT cheaper, so if you are considering to buy Chrome, buy this instead.

28th July, 2011.

This fragrance is nauseating at best. It is not unique at all, does not last, and does not project. It is very, very synthetic smelling and does not develop at all on my skin. I guess you could say I got what I paid for, but Cuba Blue makes the rest of the Cuba fragrances look like Creeds. In my opinion, it smells like Cool Water except more synthetic and mixed with a bunch of stale herbs. Yes, the dry down is slightly better than the top, but still....... DO NOT BUY CUBA BLUE!

31st December, 2010.

Yes, this is a fresh scent in the lieu of ck One by Calvin Klein and Chrome by Azzaro. However, after the rough initial blast, there's a bit more musk and moss (?) I can detect to this. Musk for sure; I thought I could detect some oakmoss. As foetidus said, vanilla sweetens this a bit, and as with all of these Cuba scents, there is a tobacco note in there somewhere - this time in the base, for me. This stuff actually stays fairly close to the skin for me, but the longevity is sub-par.

Thumbs up for being a bit different and smelling good, and being affordable.

16th October, 2010.

Cuba Blue is a cheaper version of Bijan's Wicked, which is in itself a combination of all the best parts of CK One and Azzaro Chrome. The lavender is there but a little toned down, but the lily of the valley is full on correct. It's been said before that this won't score marks for originality but it, like most in the line, is great for the price, despite the lessened longevity. I don't love it, but I highly recommend it for an inexpensive hot weather scent.

23rd July, 2010.

This is a complete duplicate/rip-off of Chrome by Azzaro. Hate Chrome? You'll hate this. I happen to like Chrome, so I kind of like this. Thumbs up for the smell, but thumbs down for originality. Therefore: neutral rating.

12nd April, 2010.