Cuba Red
by Cuba Paris

Cuba Red, 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.

Cuba Red is a thick tobacco, spiced cinnamon and cypress fragrance that forms the backbone of the marketing and packaging concept that is Cuba. It is where the conception of faux-exoticism, Cuban cigars, pre-1960's America comes to fruition in the juice and reflects quite clearly that beyond novelty, Cuba also has something to say about substance.
Cuba Red borrows liberally from Cigar and Aramis Havana, but seems to find its own niche by finding a compromise between the two that is less herbal and woodsy than its influences. At times Red invokes memories of the original Polo in its opening, but with far less green and far more brown and soot. This is a dirty fragrance in its reliance on tobacco but it comes across clearly masculine. In a sense, this is a tip of the hat back to the agricultural gentlemen of 18th century Virginia, an attempt at refinement in a sea of tobacco fields and slaves, that brings us closer to the rootsy, labor intensive reality of masculinity and wealth and fortune made by tobacco that built the first great American families of power and repute.
Red is incredibly linear, unimaginative and clearly unoriginal given the heavy debt to Aramis, Remy La Tour, Polo, etc. Cuba Red is earthier and less refined than its influences, but therein lies the beauty of it. A no-nonsense tobacco fragrance that makes no excuses for itself by trying to hide its core with floral elements, Red brings the tobacco to the front from the beginning and leaves it there for its relatively short life span.
Consistently short on life and duration. Four hours is generous, two hours more realistic for most wearers. Not a head-turner and certainly not one for a formal night out, Cuba Red is for a man looking to reconnect with older, more masculine concepts of what masculinity used to be. A wonderfully priced monument to nostalgia. Well executed from its conception to its fruition.

26th October, 2011.

A sibling of Aramis Havana and Remy LaTour Cigar. I don't get pipe tobaco, maybe a hint of unsmoked cigar tobacco, heavily flavored, but I can't really say it smells like a cigar. Of the 3, this has the least amount of staying power, but I'll give it a thumbs up as an inexpensive alternative to Aramis Havana.

29th May, 2011.

Cuba Red is a fine bargain fragrance if ever there was one. In keeping with the theme of their line of scents, a light and nice pipe tobacco scent is maintained throughout the better part of its lifespan, which is only about 4 hours, but at $4 a bottle(?) reapplication isn't a hindrance. This tobacco is fresh and is accompanied by a light cinnamon and what might be plum or similar dried fruit, which would make this a direct imitation of Burberry's London. It's certainly a little thinner than London, but the overall effect is there, and at literally one tenth the price, I have no complaints. It's spicy, fun, and more affordable than anything else I can name that's actually worth wearing. Wish I'd discovered this sooner!

23rd July, 2010.

A wonderful tobacco and boozy blend, similar to Remy Latour's Cigar. Descriptions made by reviewers are accurate: it is linear and it short lived, a perfect choice when looking for a masculine and not overpowering fragrance - for example, to be worn in the morning before training, after a shower or when among people that do not like strong scents.

It has a kind of formal and old-school aura, strong at first due to fleeting notes of citrousy tobacco that are evident even to non-experts. The drydown is very subtle, the strength of the patchouly is restrained so Cuba Red wearers are not to be afraid of smelling like a pot-head in disguise. For the price, one of the best values for money, besides the fact you won't be among the millions of calone or chocolate / patchouly lovers

10th June, 2010.

One of my favorites from Cuba Paris , the drydown is beautiful... the tobacco note dominates !
Two Thumbs Up !!!

9th February, 2010.

I really like Cuba Red. It's probably my favorite of the Cuba line that I've tried so far. And I'm a big fan of the Cuba line. It's a real masculine frag that can be had for less than the price of Axe. What's not to love?

Opens with a woody, dirty cinnamon. I've smelled cinnamon in other frags (like Perry Ellis 360 Red) and haven't liked it. But here it's done right. Balanced with just the right amount of woods. I get a little bit of a coffee note maybe, and then sweet tobacco takes over. Just good stuff, especially for the price. I got my 1.17oz cigar bottle on Amazon for less than $3. No, that's not a typo. Less than THREE DOLLARS. Free shipping. Wow.

22nd October, 2009.