Habanita Eau de Parfum Molinard for women

Yeah, it's nutmeg which makes it smell like grannies to me. It's does smell really pleasant, but it does smell like an old aunt.

Once I got over my fear of smelling like baby powder, the whole world opened up to me. Wearing this feels like stolen valor, in the sense that I'm a 26 year old nonsmoker and not a venerable Virginia Slims loyalist. But for all those same reasons, it feels a bit like wearing armor. Somewhere out there, I'm still six years old, tromping around in my aunt's pumps after dinner. Goes well with taking a nighttime stroll and peeking in the lit windows of other peoples' apartments.

This is an excellent EDP. However, it reminds me of a play dough from childhood, which kind of ruins it for me. But seems no one shares this experience, lol.

This smells like grandmas house. The dust on her bedroom floor smells like this. Dusty and vintage, this tries to be powdery and comes off as DUSTY. I wanted to love this, I think I fell in love with the bottle, but just like people, it’s what’s on the inside that counts.
And this is granny’s house smell in a leather jacket bottle. Nothing sexy or mysterious or magical. Old enough that this must have smelled young an aeon ago.
I tried but she’s le heure blues little sister and the two of them are not for me.

It has got to be more than a year ago, maybe even two, since I tried on my lovely Habanita. And I am struck by this gorgeous licorice TASTE in my nose and in my soul. And vanilla and old vanity makeup powder. And lovely harsh rubber AND smoothe leather. And flowers picked from beneath the sidewalk in an old town, and roses in a huge vase from an admirerer. Oh sweetheart girl, how I missed you! 🌹

Well I love this perfume and as a man I feel totally comfortable wearing this starts with a lovely smokey incense then as it dries down a lovely heliotrope kicks in and this lasts for quite some time then I am left with a soft vetiver and vanilla ending which is so good my lovely lady doesn't care for it but I love it a work of art for sure!

It smells like an old house with wooden furniture that somebody has been taking care for for generations. The house is full of things handed down - hand painted china with images of birds, books, maps, flasks, spices, you name it. Wearing this perfume feels like spending time in that house which is full of memories, but also love. It makes me feel comfortable and mellow, but never sad.

I don't love power smells, but this one is so nice, it's a darker powder smell, not basik at all. If anyone has advice on how to toughen it up with layering then dm me

@darkbeauty When a perfume is 100+ IMO it's difficult to talk about vintage. What do you consider as vintager? The EDP was launched in 2012, no big change since. Before, both EDT of perfume extrait are different. Of course it has different versions and formulations due to regulations and harvests too. I have a few versions of Habanita EDP and the latest is still beautiful with a hint of leather and powder that makes its charm.

Can anyone tell me if the current formulation still has the leather note? It looks like it’s missing from this current rendition based on Fragrantica scent profile. I am looking to purchase a bottle however I am worried the leather, which I love so much from the vintage (gold cap EDT), will be missing.

To my nose, this is powdery purple flowers, amber, ylang-ylang, sandalwood and a bit of rose & spices. I was shocked to see that iris and/or violet are not listed in the note breakdown, as this definitely comes across as an iris-dominant fragrance to me. This is VERY powdery, so if you are not a fan of powdery fragrances, you may want to steer clear. It smells like an expensive, luxurious dusting powder to me. I really enjoy this a lot. It reminds me quite a bit of Casbah by Avon.

To think this is the perfume that made me register to Fragrantica so I can leave a review.
This is a gorgeous perfume. As a man in his late 20’s I can say that I really enjoy this!! At first I was like, this smells straight up like baby Johnson powder but let it marinate on your skin, and bam! The woody and spicy notes come through. I can’t stop sniffing my wrist! The powdery aspect lingers throughout, it’s soft but has edge. It’s such a huggable scent!! I adore this perfume and can’t wait to use it during the colder days. Sweater weather is upon us and this is a must have. :)) P.s. I’m not opposed to wearing women’s fragrances, I mean as long as I smell good I’m happy, I can see why men may not want to wear this as it leans to the feminine side, but it’s a true beauty. Dress for the occasion, add some confidence, and you’d have everyone captivated by your scent. :)

This is so beautiful I could cry. A gentle beast.
Floral, powdery, woody. As smooth as smooth can be, timeless and genderless. Extremely French. It smells dignified, refined, intellectual, but also humane, benevolent, wise.
It's like that one aunt, older but not old, who has lived in some exotic, faraway place for her entire life, that you have never met, and finally she is supposed to join a family reunion, and you're a teenager. The family has mixed feelings about her, there is some gossip, but also a lot of mystery, and she's basically "the one who got away". Then the moment arrives to meet her and there she is, a beautiful, cultured, soft spoken brunette who has lived her life according to her own rules, who has seen things that most people haven't and knows things that most people never get to be aware of. She's down to earth, easy to speak to as she is able to understand and resonate with everyone else's intellect and sensibility, regardless of age, gender or status. She has even brought you a souvenir from that faraway place, maybe a lucky symbol made of a precious gem, a silk scarf or some other "girl charmer", that you will keep and cherish forever, just the way you will cherish the memory of this totally out of ordinary woman.
Sorry for the long rant, but I had to share this little movie that played in my head as I smelled Habanita for the first time, as I believe it might give a different inspiration than a list of perceived notes would.
All in all, PLEASE smell this. You might love it or find it dated, but it has to be experienced.

beautiful, classic, elegant, special in cold and cool weather. It is a very sophisticated perfume❤️

Smells like a theatre changing room. It does smell very old, but also very powdery, woody and kinda smokey. I love it, it makes me feel nostalgic

This is so woody I swear I smell oud in it. A very rich, balsamic perfume that is difficult to describe. It smells a bit dated

Deep, dark powdery perfume. I don't care if it's summer now, this scent makes me want to try all the heavier, spicy perfumes I know about and haven't tried yet. This feels almost mystical. Like one of those dreams at night that feels kind of creepy and surreal, but yet you also can't stop thinking of it during the day because it also feels very interesting and you try to figure out what it could possibly mean.
To my nose, this smells like leather covered in cosmetic powder with something strongly animalistic in the background. Then there is some spice to it and the geranium. As it is drying down, there is a hint of almost minty freshness to it but it is very subtle. The vintage powderiness is still there. Despite being powdery it doesn't feel rosy, vanilla, baby-powderish, of course... More like a black powder. 😏
I will update my review as I discover more about the scent. :)

Beginner, novice or experienced; anyone who has delved into the world of fragrances should smell this incredible beauty once in their life.

The final verdict is up to you, but you should experience Habanita.

I'm so, so late into the game, but better late than never. Sometimes old classics with a lot of admirers scare me, as I'm afraid of not liking or being able to appreciate the beauty of them. But here I am, and I can't even find enough words to describe the journey with Habanita. Just incredible.

Powdery femininity at its best. Balsamic florals on a bed of soft powderiness. To me, melancholic, dark but also happy. Just like me.

Some time ago I asked for suggestions about gothic/dark scents and Habanita was mentioned multiple times. I can now understand. If this scent was a colour, it would be a deep, royal purple.

A review about the gender of Habanita:

I had Obsession, too sharp on me, spice notes that pull bitter. Indian cooks fry spices beforehand to remove bitterness. That scent is hugely popular and I totally got why. But it smelled WAY better on a man IMO. For him, the sharp notes pulled "fresh spice".

Habanita, is CK Obsession with the spices fried in butter. Once the base starts creeping through the floral middle, they turn the floral spice blend into a carnation/honeysuckle vanilla moss bomb. On first spray out of the box. I can't wait to try it again after a few months.

This is to spice scents what Poeme is to white florals. The calming intimate hug that sensually caress you. It's for expressing who you are on the inside. That takes guts!

TL;DR this is a creamy spice floral bouquet not bomb. If you're a man, and that works it gives suave mature tender vibes. (To a woman)
If you're a woman, this gives sensual spicy passionate vibes. Non-binary, (ie both) it says sophisticated, down to earth. Approachable yet mysterious.

If you find this anything other than unisex you need to rethink your rigid concept of gender.

For men: you do have to vibe with a vanilla amber base to enjoy this. I'm not as knowledgeable on men's fragrance, but I know it's a thing. It makes me want to try a cedar based scent to educate my nose. But, the vanilla and oakmoss are the yin and yang at the base keeping it from reading too masc or too femme.

For women: you have to be self assured and not need your perfume to define your femininity for you. That self confidence is at the core of what makes this an utter love for me first spray.

A GORGEOUS!!!!!!! Floral Masterpiece.
Very feminine.Not Powdery at all.
Also a Nice bottle for collectors to acquire before it gets discontinued.

I'm on day 2 of testing Habanita and it certainly smells much better than my very initial sniff, which was disappointing but I'll put it down to the juice in the atomizer being off. Habanita smells quite old-fashioned and vintage to me, heavy on the powder and very lightly tinged with something like an almond-violet-heliotrope mix you'd smell in LUSH's Confetti or Guerlain's Insolence. I don't smell the mysterious darkness and complexity the other reviewers are speaking of, but I will continue to test to find it. The dry down reminds me of Amouage Gold Man, which I wish I had seen before buying this (I'm not the biggest fan of Gold M). Amongst all the powdery, soapy, vintage-type scents (e.g., Gold, Habanita, No. 5, L'Heure Bleu, etc.) I prefer Chanel No. 5 the best.

Such a magnificent perfume. Sophistication is its name. Whenever I apply this I marvel at that tug-of-war between the bitter, nicotinic upper powdery note (which seems to hint at the smell of cocaine) and the sweet, vanillic/balsamic Oriental base with its curious lilac/anise inflection.

Did you ever see the 2017 TV series, BABYLON BERLIN? That's the milieu I picture this perfume in: like a louche underground cabaret in Weimar Republic Germany. Or like a painting by Otto Dix or George Grosz . Freaky and jazzy and sexy... but with a whiff of menace? Like: The world's totally going to hell outside these walls, but we are going to have plenty of licentious, dizzy, pandrogynous fun tonight within them. That's what HABANITA smells like!

Every note is blended so suavely, that no one quality sticks out. A great masterpiece for women or men.

* * *
"souligne votre personnalité" . . .
(from vintage ad)

An immediate "jolt" of balsamic, turpentine-ish resin from the mastic tree, native to Mediterranea, soon morphs into deep greens and powdery florals—petitgrain, patchouli, vetiver, heliotrope, mimosa, ylang-ylang—mellowed underneath with vanilla and nutmeg, grounded by sandalwood and musk. Since the Roaring '20s, Habanita has prevailed as Molinard's most iconic fragrance, which remains piquant, complex, and modern yet classic.✿

Longevity on me: long-lasting
Scent family: Amber Floral

I absolutely love perfumes like this...not for the way it smells, but for the way it smells completely different to different people. Look at this mixed bag of reviews! Fascinating.

I love the thought of rocking a classic perfume that has stood the test of time. Shalimar and I are not compatible, I've learned. So I was anxious to try Habanita, another big name in the classics lineup.

On my skin, Habanita smells decent. Inoffensive but forgettable. No fiery romance or detestable hatred, more like an acquaintance towards which one feels indifferent.

For me: powdery, soapy. Not hot, not cold. Chanel No. 5 all the way. A great office scent, if one is quite conscientious of offending coworkers. Very safe. Uninteresting. Unexciting.

That said, as far as I'm concerned, there are no safe buys. Try a sample before you invest in an entire bottle of anything, unless you don't mind wasting your money. Perfume is very personal and subjective. And although I love nerding out on fragrantica descriptions and note charts, they are not foolproof.

This is a true classic women's perfume. The mastic powderyness is so classic but very well done. The rose dominates the other flowers that are fighting for attention. That gives this jewel some kind of sensual energy. The soapiness is uplifting and not "handbagish", and gives a nice clean feeling. The silage is outstanding, you will get noticed. The base is long lasting and has some complexity. This kind of perfumery is so nice to experience. It gives me a genuine feeling of the long gone times of endless class and elegance. I will not wear this often but I will use my decant once in a while when I want to dive into the elegant past. I think Habanita is a masterpiece. Well done Molinard!

Cigarillos. Perfectly unisex. Not because it lacks notes usually identified as female or masculine, but because it has plenty of both.

I get a slightly sweet and powdery mix of geranium, heliotrope, ylang-ylang, nutmeg and vetiver right after spraying. At this point, Habanita smells like a sunny fall day. A few minutes into the drydown, I start getting wafts of a drier L‘Heure Bleue. The more the drydown progresses, the drier and more bitter Habanita becomes, which I contribute to the dominance of oakmoss and dry resinous notes. Once dried down, the fragrance reminds me of the cold air on a foggy early winter day with fallen leaves on the ground. I think that lovers of dry and classic fragrances would appreciate Habanita.

Habanita (1921)

Warning: May be a bit NSFW, just a smidgen though.

I’ve been a collector, I’ve been a connoisseur, it’s been some time now, the nose knows what it likes with an unshakable conviction, that’s something I thankfully picked up early on. I’ve always had a strong appreciation for the classics, once you find yourself attuned to the grandeur of the old perhaps there is a bit of derision for some (definitely not all) of the new-fangled creations in perfumery, which I think we can all agree are in sheer abundance these days and has many a simpleton convinced that wearing such concoctions will result in setting some well-meaning passerby’s loins on fire.

You cannot ‘market in’ sensuality where none exists, you cannot advertise desire and hope it seeps into the actual scent, you cannot have fools on our magic boxes parrot that wearing such and such will inspire a carnal riot and promise to all those who fall prey to buying a bottle, that they will be at the centre of a tumultuous orgy.

It was back in the day, they made perfumes which spoke, and they mostly spoke of sin, they spoke of needs that robbed you of your virtues, a wanton abandon of reason and restraint, of rogues and harlots, of taint and stain, of robbed innocence and utter submission to your baser desires, of darkness that didn’t need the word ‘noir’ to exemplify it, because perfumery back then just was, it didn’t need to be bleated out to be a sensual masterpiece, it just was and you were lucky enough to let it touch you, mingle with your sweat and skin and rouse in you that primal instinct.

That very primal instinct which is natural to all warm-blooded creatures such as yourself, the one against which you were civilised, it is what makes you scream your lover’s name because by God that name is sweet, claws and canines, it’s what inspires your inflictions and adornments of bruises and bites, your hardened embraces signalling your need to be one, the rips in the fabric and the broken buttons, gasps and thrusts, the brutish marks of your lover upon silken skin, it makes you remember that you are an animal, you’ve always been an animal, your hunger can only be satiated, it cannot be suppressed, you need it because simple satisfaction it is not, it is your only salvation.

This isn’t one of those days where you worry the neighbours will hear, this is for days when you’re ready to put on a show if that’s what the pesky neighbours want, this is for days when you put a silent prayer to Mae West and hope your aerobics and antics don’t break the bed. Are you blushing yet? I hope not, because I’ve left out the most important bit, for when you feel all the things I’ve described above, make sure you’re wearing Habanita, and nothing else and I do mean nothing else.

Someday I’ll follow this up with an actual review (added on the page for Habanita EdT), for now, this was just a cascade of rambling thoughts.

Your very own,
The Perfume Vigilante

"Where have all the flowers gone..." sorry, this just popped into my head. In spite of my opening, I am pleased to see the floral notes take a back seat. This is a well balance oriental fragrance, though perhaps it lacks some of the intrigue that its description might suggest. Still, this is safe. I would not be disappointed if you were to wear this on our dinner date.

Hmmm..I just bought Habanita. It's on my want list for a long time, and now I have mixed feelings about it. I feel something is missing. I imagined Habanita a badass chick, and she seems to be a softy. Don't get me wrong, I love it, it's a beautiful scent. Powdery, smokey, warm. But still, it lacks the kick..the oomph.
On my shelf, it's near hypnotic poison and loulou. Sweet warm embracing scents, sweet girls marketed as badass chicks.
Later edit..it's November, and the weather is not so warm anymore. I had time to get to know Habanita a little better, and I can say I was soo wrong. It's not lacking the kick. It's a dark girl, not in your face, but rather a little shy. If you only tried this in hot weather, it's completely irrelevant..must give it a chance when it's colder outside, it's a game changer. Now I understand the hype about this, and I totally agree. This should be a lesson for me, not to judge so quickly. I do this often, and not only with perfumes:)).

Oh habanita oh how I love you so.This perfume was always one that scared me for some reason but I bit the bullet when I got it for a really good price.As a perfume lover this is one of these potions than excite you when you discover it.Habanita on me starts of powdery before she really sinks the claws in then I smell smoky incensy floral with a smooth vanilla sandlewood base I love it.It kinda is in the same vein to me as guerlain shalimar but is smoother darker and abit more mysterious I love love love this perfume and am so glad to have finally purchased this timeless ageless beauty

This is a review of the eau de parfum in the square heavy black glass bottle. Michael Edwards classifies this as a rich woody oriental. This is a luxurious fragrance. This is a classic which is not dated.
The base notes of vanilla, sandalwood, amber and patchouli and absence of fruit or citrus makes this unique among current fragrance trends. The dry down is what this fragrance is all about. This is unisex. Longevity is 5+ hours and sillage is moderate.
As with all fragrance, judicious application would enable the wearer to use it in multiple venues, although I would not wear this for dining out. I can see wearing this for a cocktail date. I would wear something simple and elegant for this perfume. This one is best suited to a woman with dignity, poise and an upright bearing. No ruffles, floral prints or casual clothing. Think a well dressed woman from a European country.
A great perfume!!!

I honestly don't know how anyone can dislike this. Maybe because I like vintage scents ... I'd say it's more discreet than I expected. Not exactly a church scent either, to my nose. A comfort scent. A most delightful vetiver in the middle - a keeper!

Must test for those who like unique perfumery. This has no alternatives. In such an interesting way it combines what seems pure, light and what is sultry, dark. To sum up in a few simple words - to me it smells like spicy, balsamic powder.

This is the one! I’m sure I’ve reviewed this before, but I can’t find it down below.

If you love powdery scents that have depth and nuclear longevity: this is the one for you!

Habanita EDP opens with a Johnson’s Baby Powder note (nuclear level) that made me go “HMMMMM!” I thought that this was all that this perfume was going to reveal, but no! She’s soft before she sinks her claws into your skin. The powder is followed by a sweetly fragrant spice that emanates a warmth. This perfume is both comforting and sensual. Anyone can wear this one! The EDP maintains the powderiness throughout. Be careful if you’re a liberal sprayer! This one can go off the deep end and become suffocating if you overdo it!

The EDT is deeper and stronger (vintage). Molinard kept this one (the EDP) almost EXACTLY the same as their vintage Habanita. LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!

This, THIS is my love! Marked for women, but it couldn’t stop me. I read reviews telling it sounds like orthodox churches and I like the aromas in ‘em so I went ahead and bought a decant. And just ordered a full bottle.
I swear - it’s clear unisex. Can be used by women in age or young men either. Any time of the day, any weather - it’ll suit everything. Habanita becomes a part of your natural skin scent and it’s a type of symbiosis you can see in Venom : D

Soft, deep, balsamic! I can smell incense in it clearly (why isn’t it in notes??). I haven’t tried Norne Oil from Slumberhouse, but I think they can be kinda similar in their vibes and oiliness?
Habanita is a dark perfume composition with vintage sillage. It has sweetness in it, but it’s not mawkish. Mostly resembles a good aged wine with bitter balsams and spices. It has no temperature for me - not cold nor warm.
I also can’t say that it’s a clear Orthodox Church smell. Idk maybe I haven’t visited ‘em for a really long time, btw. It’s not enough stuffy n gross for that.
Habanita’s Patchouli is a special Patchouli, for sure! And vetiver here is kind of barn noted, not awkwardly sugary. It has vanilla (I personally dislike any vanilla, but pharmacy/herbal variants), but this vanilla just completes the full picture and doesn’t disturb me at all. Amber gives a good warm shade, too. Musky typed mimosa took my heart! I love mimosa flowers, but in Habanita it’s a totally different scent - really musky and oily, but you can still guess it’s mimosa.
For my luck I smell no nutmegs. Maybe only a little in far sillage as a dessert accords? At first I thought there’s no oakmoss at all (I really adore mossy notes and mostly buy fragrances with it), but later I found it - a bit hidden under the incense, but also deep, dark and balsamic.
It resembled me a lava balsams from Iceland I really liked to drink. Habanita is a mix of temperatures just like a frozen magma on the mountain surface under the cold breezes. Yes, if it’s a church - then it’s an Icelandic church!

Nobody advised me to try this masterpiece, but I’m so happy I did it. This perfume is a real peace of art worthy a brush of someone like Van Gogh.
I highly recommend to try it, no matter of your gender and age. Just… give Habanita a chance to show you the world of true art?

A cracking EDP of Habanita (1921) one of the great ‘tobacco’ perfumes alongside Tabac Blond (1919) and Bandit (1944). Originally manifest in small sachets designed to be slid discretely into women's cigarette packs to cover the smell of tobacco, Habanita became the first feminine oriental in perfumery and blazed the trail for the new ‘oriental’ fragrance genre. Smokey vetiver combined with sweet vanilla (and 600 other ingredients) evokes a chic and sensuous ambiance. Fabulous on a woman or a man.

Resinous/leathery/smoky/tobacco vanilla heaven, very different from Shalimar, darker, dryer, and almost as good. Let it shine in summer, you'll be rewarded.

I adore it and would wear it often, but if anyone is familiar how it smells inside of the Russian Orthodox church, it is EXACTLY this smell. It couldn't be more accurate, as if they tried to recreate it on purpose. Sometimes if you approach an Orthodox nun or just a woman who works in the church, they also have very slight smell of this. It is crazy.
Sweet incense. It also gives me an impression as if someone walked into Russian Orthodox church and started smoking right there, not the cigarettes but some good cigar. It is also very powdery.

Getting more acquainted with this beauty, I noticed that being mysterious and sultry, the scent is very comforting at the same time. It is addictive and gives you confidence. It is hard to explain it, you just need to live this experience.
It creates a sense of a special ocassion. I get the picture of beautiful women, who have the same vibe about them, even though they belong to different eras. Habanita from roaring twenties, when women knew how to be la femme fatale.
She smokes a cigar, wears a black dress. Sometimes she sits in a cafe on her own, thinking about her secrets, with some strong coffee, and again, cigar. And then, in 2022 the same Habanita sits in the cafe or even expensive bar. She is still sultry, mysterious and seductive, just like the one in 1920, but now she wears a black leather jacket and a black eyeliner. Both Habanitas, of course, enjoy makeup, especially powder and a good lipstick.

don’t be put off by the initial blast of baby powder. there’s more to come: green resins, soft spices, plush incense, smoky vanilla and sandalwood, dried flowers dusted in yet more powder… not gonna lie: the powder never fully dissipates; it merely becomes a veil through which you get hints of the warm, velvety mystery that is Habanita. strictly speaking, i suppose she is an oriental — but she’s the weirdest oriental i’ve encountered so far. Habanita might need to be in her own category.

i put her away a few weeks ago, with a sigh. all i got that first try was baby powder and cigarette smoke. pointless. but then, recently, i tried Opus 1144, and it immediately reminded me of Habanita. but Opus 1144 doesn’t smell like baby powder OR cigarettes, so i realised there must have been more going on. some perfumes are temperamental. this is definitely one of them. give her a minute; she’s feeling herself.

musical accompaniment : Bloodletting (album) by Concrete Blonde

/current edp

I just received my unopened 2018 bottle of Habanita from eBay. I had never sniffed it before, so I knew I was taking a risk, but the price was right and I was encouraged by all the positive reviews here. Also, I am a huge longtime fan of Molinard de Molinard, so I figured the house knew what it was doing.
First impression: lovely powder superseded by leather and tobacco (both utterly new to me). Now I'm getting spices, vanilla, and something faint and medicinal. I'm enjoying the trip so far, and look forward to the next several hours.
I must remember one thing: one small spray on one wrist only! I sprayed twice and was tempted to open up the house to air it out.
Edited to add: I'm wearing one spray today. Oddly enough, for the past several hours I've been getting a scent almost of gingerbread. Very pleasant and unexpected.

Habanita, mon amour! What a discovery you have been.

There is so much I cannot fully grasp about you; you are my favourite enigma. You are both luminous and dark, a measured play of smoky depth and powdery delicacy. You indulge fortunate women and men, somewhat in equal measure, with your mystery of bright vanilla and sandalwood, your dusky intensity of leather and spices. You are the seasons combined, a complexity of soft sensations: the gentle stroke to a velvety blanket of snow, the comforting warmth of a bodily embrace. I cannot wait to meet you anew, to get acquainted with vintage Habanita - what an extraordinary privilege it will be. Au revoir...

wearing today the current formulation. Is more powdery, feminine. The lalique bottle formulation can be received as unisex, while this one is leaning on softer side.
if you want to really discover the potency, multifaceted beauty, you have to hunt the older bottles. the first ones was heavy on leather as well. it's still beautiful, but her raven hair get softer, she's gentle, mature with grace, don't need to scream anymore, she know who she is, and demand respect. addictive

My goodness gracious! I can't believe I've slept on this for so long. It is marvellous.
Powdery,woody,spicy,all the notes in perfect balance.
It definitely smells classic but it is so modern at the same time. Totally unisex. A jewel of a perfume.

Holy macaroni, I am loving Habanita today! She is such a grand dame, but you'd never guess her age. She is like the fountain of youth, a timeless beauty.

Sometimes I find Habanita overwhelming. It packs such a puch that the timing needs to be perfect for me. Or, maybe it just works better for me now, after I gave up cigarettes? - Oh, the irony, since this was indeed created for smoking ladies. Who cares, I just love that it works. Powdery, sweet and warm goodness surrounding me as I type. Thank god I kept this beauty.

Everyone with an interest in perfume should try Habanita at least once. Very unique and hard to describe. Very contemporary dispite it's age, no need to worry about "too vintage" here!

I first sampled this in the spring. It was alright, but slightly weird. I put it up and didn't think much about it. Since it finally got cold, I decided to pull out some of my stronger scents. I picked this one out of my collection. I'm soooooo glad I did!! It's spicy - like baking spices (for some reason I smell cloves), it's sweet and it's soft florals with a little musk thrown in. I feel like going on a hayride, snuggling with my significant other. Or just sitting under a blanket in front of a fire. This is a great cold weather fragrance.

UPDATE - I put this on after my nighttime bath. 12+ hours later, the fragrance is still very evident in my clothes and on my skin. It's softer, but still very nice.

A cozy warm powdery hug, with a slightly greenish opening. I personally find it dark and seductive, in a soft mysterious way.

This will be my first ever review, because nothing has quite touched me like this truly beautiful fragrance. I have been a fragrance collector since my teens, over 20yrs. I have a passion for fragrance, the memories and powerful feeling it evokes. I don’t wear anything that doesn’t scream I have arrived. I’m often told I’m smelt before I’m seen, and have never been told that a scent doesn’t carry well on my chemistry except by one very mean & vindictive colleague, who is bitter and had been single for nearly 15yrs 😂 I wonder why!!! Anyway I live for powerhouses, silage and projection bombs. I don’t like to smell like everyone else, I don’t go for what’s popular. My first in love scent was Coco Chanel I was probably about 14yrs old the 80s Coco black & gold bottle, I knew at that point I was different, because the body shop was popular then, and they just didn’t touch my craving. I purchased my first bottle of Coco Chanel Parfum at 17yrs old and wore it shamelessly on dates, special occasions, weddings, funerals without thinking it was a confident boss lady scent, it was what smelt good & expensive on my chemistry. Knowing Estée Lauder, Cinnabar, Shalimar, Passion Elizabeth Taylor, Miss Dior originale, Miss Dior 2017, Gucci Rush, Emmeraude, & Boucheron, if that helps paint 🎨 a scent picture of me. I dress Classy, and sophisticated even as a teen & still do now with a hint of unspoken sexiness, carrying off pearls & twinsets long before my time. I’m 39 by the way, of Jamaican heritage, living in the UK. Coupled with a cigarette rolled in licorice paper or a French vanilla cigar the air around me reeks something sexual, powerful, of an era long gone by. So when Habanita by Molinard was suggested to me, by a fragrance sister, I knew it would be hit or miss. I looked up the 1921 notes on fragrantica, and my scent obsession heart pounded with anticipation, I waited 5wks for it to come from Grasse on back order directly from Molinard, sourced by a hard to find company I use locally to ensure it’s authenticity. I wore it yesterday, and can only describe it as sexual tension, and the throws of passion in a stunning black bottle. My ex looked at me like food, and several other random men during the day, I was approached a countless number of times by men in particular one describing me as utterly spell binding. I collected an item I had purchased, and got talking to the old owner, several days later he contacted me to say he could still smell me on the coat he was wearing when I gave him a hug goodbye, and couldn’t get me out of his head(not the impression I meant to make, he was a widow and I gave him a hug out of sympathy not of any sexual intentions) needless to say it’s a scent I will be reserving for my next sexual encounter, it’s not a scent I’ll be wearing as a signature scent as much as I’d love to, because it contains something animalistic not listed in the notes, something passionate, and completely debase it’s stunning, absolutely stunning, don’t say I didn’t warn you 😂😜🥵🤤❤️🔥I love her with a passion, she will be staying firmly in my classic loving collection xXxMwahxXx enjoy with caution ⚠️ 😉

Powdery woody delight, starts green and balsamic at the top and develops into the coziest powdery floral woods with a touch of spicy sweetness.
Signature scent worthy, lasts long (8+ hrs for me) and leaves a comfortable scent trail. Perfect for autumn and winter, though I think it can be pulled off all year round.

On my skin it’s 70/80% similar to amouage Fate woman, but less spicy, more powder and smoother.
Quite unique and memorable if you’re looking for a more interesting signature scent this definitely smells expensive and niche, so if you like unusual fragrances you should try this one, however I definitely think it’s polarising so do not blind buy lol.

woody powdery aromatic but idk something about it doesn't do it for me and it leans masculine under my nose for some reason which is odd since i like unisex and perfumes leaning male

Very woody scent. Suitable for Autumn, winter and spring time. Says it for female, but I would definitely call it a unisex fragrance.

One of the reasons I'm so passionate about fragrance is disccovering special potions transport me to another realm, transform me into a better, more magical version of myself. This is one of those potions.

Gorgeous fragrance!! Smells like a 1920's flapper partying in a smoke filled jazz club or that's what my imagination is telling me..LOL! I would love to smell Habanita with a cigarette burning in an ashtray close by.

I am SO glad I followed my own mind and purchased Habanita. I received the shipping notification and my heart dropped because I was convinced I made a fatal mistake. The notes and some of the reviews about it smelling like an old lady or being too strong haunted me.
Well, my package arrived today and with vigor, I tore through the cardboard. I stared at the little black bottle and braced myself to be let down should the first smell burn my nostril hair (lol!). I pressed down on the sprayer and the juice flew onto my wrist. I sniffed. Paused. Sniffed again and smiled. Wider than the Cheshire Cat.
This is BEAUTIFUL.
On my skin, it is powdery and woody. It smells like soft temple incense mixed with baby powder. It reminds me of my younger days when my mom would bathe me, put lotion on me and pat in a little bit of powder so I'd sleep comfortably. In this, I feel delicate and gentle like a true lady. I absolutely adore the scent and will unapologetically douse myself in it all fall and winter. What a surprise!

I met Marisol several times in Little Havana. She was still a girl always wearing a colorful dress, although it looked like a grown woman, a true "habanita" who used to go round and round on Calle Ocho. She passed in front of me several times on a sweet swing on the way to Taqueria El Santo where she worked. As a taco lover, I could not help chatting a few times with Marisol in that restaurant, while getting myself ready for a "Taco al Pastor" or a "Taco de Camaron".
Life in Little Havana always revolved around Calle Ocho. You cannot visit Little Havana without tasting an authentic Cuban coffee, a very potent and extremely sweet espresso that is served in tiny cups. But if you want to cool off, there is nothing better than sipping an icy Guarapo - a kind of sugar cane juice on the rocks - sitting in an esplanade. If you're lucky enough, you may even catch a glimpse of Marisol passing by. More than twenty years have gone by but I never forgot the charm of my precious "habanita".

My other cherished Habanita is this perfume by Molinard. Its first launch took place exactly one hundred years ago, although currently, it is only easy to access the 2012 redesign.
Like Little Havana's habanita, this fragrance is beautiful, simple and complex, elegantly decadent, passionate, dominant, and self-confident; but it is also powdery, spicy, floral, amber, balsamic, woody, and earthy.
This landmark of perfumery has had an interesting journey over the past hundred years. It is said that the 1921 original version was not born as a perfume. It seems that it was created as a masker of the strong smell of cigar tobacco. It was used by ladies of French high society who appreciate a tasty and fragrant cigarillo but could not smell like beard men. Its intense aroma quickly conquered the noses of the elegant socialites and became one of the perfumes of fashion in the crazy post-war 1920s. As a regular perfume, the first Habanita appeared in 1924.
Although some other very fines and well-known perfumes were created in this decade, Habanita was very original. It was the first female oriental perfume to use vetiver as an ingredient. Until then, vetiver was an essential oil used exclusively in men's perfumes and beard products.
Jewellers and glassmakers like Baccarat and Lalique designed and produced some of the flasks ordered by Molinard to house the early Habanita. The current beautiful black bottle is based on a 1930 original design by René Lalique.

Habanita is quite a complex perfume and some not listed notes and accords may be perceived. Molinard claims that the current version has more than 680 ingredients, the very same number and type of ingredients used in the vintage version, but blended in different proportions.
At the opening, we are flooded by a resinous, slightly salty, and astringent balm due to a strong mastic note. This balsamic tonic quickly blends with various florals - mainly centifolia rose and heliotrope - and the earthy smell of nutmeg. The base becomes predominant perhaps two hours after application, with vanilla and amber standing out on a woody and leathery background.
On my shelf, this Habanita lives with other pseudo-feminine perfumes like Shalimar and Mitsouko by Guerlain. For me, they are all naturally unisex.
Longevity is enormous, and 10 to 12 hours are ensured with 3 sprays. The sillage is sufficient to attract the attention of people between 8 to 10 feet away. The projection is reasonable for almost three hours.

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
Overall rating: 8.95 / 10.00

Recommendation: Sometimes it's hard to give a straight and honest opinion on a perfume that I love and consider a masterpiece, but it's really hard to spot any defects in Habanita. Ok... If you are a man, it's not a manly scent, and, at the most, can only be considered a unisex fragrance leaning to the feminine side. But if you are like me, perfumes have no gender. So go ahead and enjoy it! Your wife will certainly steal it from you.
Blind shopping? No, because of its complexity. Also, forget any family ties with any blue or fresh fragrance so in fashion today. But if you happen to smell it, you will surely love it. This perfume is ageless!

Music: from Bizet's Carmen - "Habanera" sung by Angela Gheorghiu.

Note: "Habanita" means literally "a young woman from Havana"

On me it smells like dove deodorant mixed with baby powder, maybe a hint of other florals and a dash of sweetness. I don't really think that this is something I would wear often.

@ Nnoemi You would have loved the pure perfume concentration even in its last version, discontinued in 2012. A real gem.
Happy to read your comment because I prefer it too on a humid/lightly sweating skin in summer and do not associate it with winter.

Oh Habanita, how sweet it is to be loved by you! She begins as an early twentieth century chypre in many ways, but as she melds, Habanita burnishes down to a sweet, woody, incense like amber musk. There is something in the manner of dark chocolate in her dry down which elevates the amber into the realm of deliciousness, however it is a cool fragrance and holds very little warmth in its notes. My first impression of Habanita was that she would be like all fragrances of that era, a woody chypre, but Habanita is something else entirely. To make a long story short, I am in love!

After hearing all the stories about how difficult this perfume is, i think there must be something wrong with me because to me it is a beautiful comfort scent. A complex warm, spicy abstract perfume reminiscent of the powdery spice of L'Heure Bleue. It smells high quality and niche (if synthetic) even though it is very affordable. I will be wearing this often.
Great longevity and sillage.

my 5 year old grandson rushed by me one day on his way out to play and stopped dead in his tracks and exclaimed GRAMMA WHAT IS THAT SMELL??? IT SMELLS SOOOOO GOOOD!!!! well well - from that day forward HABANITA has and will always be on my shelf.....nothing else needs to be said.....

I just got Habanita, on me it is powdery and a strong incense smell, for my nose it is pretty similar to Montale Aoud Bleu. I cannot distinguish other notes :D. It is easy to wear, a little bit dark, but I like it. Very nice!

Holy cow I love this fragrance. It starts out somewhat powdery and spicy - someone else mentioned L'Heure Bleu and I agree it has some of that same powdery mystique, only more spicy. Then it gets MUCH more floral - really getting the jasmine. And settles into something woody, musky incense still with hints of powder and flowers coming through. It shifts over time and smells a bit different every time I put my wrist to my nose. It is unisex to my nose, dry and not too sweet. And just amazing.

The red anniversary bottle is beautiful

HUBBA HUBBA HABANITA! You pack a spicy meatball. Powder, spicy zing, vetiver/oakmoss combo, patchouli type earthy, peppery-incense concoction. An alluring fragrance. This is not a dainty powdered fragrance - this is a I am going skiing - ill meet you at the lodge by the fireplace for cocktails - ill be wearing all black with a red scarf type scent. I love it.

Except the opening, I find it quite similar to L'Heure Bleu, that must be that lovely helliotrop note. I just couldn't help falling in love with her. It's a smell of a woman who had some hard times and secrets to hide from the past, but she's still soft hearted, gentle and very intriguing. I love the fragrances that make us imagining some stories :)

On me, this starts very loud with a sweet, fruity, spicy explosion which quickly turns into something almost boozy and fizzy. After a couple of hours, it quietens down to almost nothing (which makes me question if I got a fake)...a quiet, leathery whisper, which is pleasant but barely perceptible.

Surprised this hasn't been compared with Tabac Blonde (Caron). Especially the very prominent leather and tobacco. This is sexy. Those Flappers knew! I hesitated to buy because I avoid powdery notes, and it definitely opens with a Baby Powder note, but then that quickly subsides, and what follows is a flash of incense and a Chanel like aldehyde and green, green, grass, and then cigar tobacco (the Habana?) and so much leather. Then it's sweet, sensual, musk for hours. Wow! Gorgeous! Redolent of necking sessions in cars of the bygone age. This is why I got into perfume, after the initial spray of YSL Opium, way back in 1979.

I can't believe I have never reviewed this one! So weird! I absolutely love Habanita, I still prefer vintage EDT but this one is beautiful as well. It's basically original Habanita without the rubbery car tire leather. I love the rubber/car tire vibe so the original is still my favorite but this one still outshines many other modern oriental scents. It is best described as a dark spiced powdery doll head concoction. It recalls other popular powdery oriental scents like Toujours Moi or Lou Lou, Habanita doesn't smell as fusty or old fashioned as the vintage powdery spice scents though. This is a fine example of the right way to re-work a classic scent. Fantastic silage and longevity too!

this just smells like parma violet sweets to me! very odd.

I love the bottle ..however the only reason I bought is I wanted the experience & what 1920's smells like....so a movie that shows u how it was back then,is how & why i got this in the perfume world,anyways, so this is not a scent to buy thats a love,it is& was just an experience & one I don't care to smell like....at least not everyday,however the experience made me feel like if I were outside with the strong notes of the earth like leafs,vines greens,slight whisper of florals..with a lot of smoke like smoke incense plain...with a whole lot of grass green trees,floral non sweet,maybe vanilla ash like bare there,but this is a very °Powdery• Smoke• greenflorals only like if you ripped the green plants out of the earth like 🍃 leaves& grass, not my cup of tea just interesting,not what I can smell on myself or around me daily no way& yet I love incense, no its not for wear....only 3 hrs in do I sort of enjoy& it lasts 12hrs so its only good for the experience or perhaps their perspective on how a lovely woman should smell ,vintage memories in a bottle experience for sure!!!! I can see a woman in a flapper dress,long cigerette stick,holding green florals,and incense,shes wearing lots of powder....hence this smell~ very strange indeed.

Powder puff explosion + Shalimar like..

I like this scent. This stays put on my aggressively eating skin.. Two sprays is all that is necessary. If you over spray, it seems to suffocate you with its dry cotton feel aura. Definitely has a vintage vibe to it. Got a decant at PoshPeasant. I was curious to try this one. I enjoy all the scents that seem to inspire a love/hate relationship and I can see why this could go either way. My boyfriend claims it is choking him when he is in the room as I put it on however he enjoys the end of the day dry down....yes...it seems to take that long to be enjoyed by him. Powder + incense to my nose. Full bottle worthy....smh no....but fun to try as a decant.

I have to run errands today and the wind is whipping round, I can hear it at my back door. It's a hat and scarf day and I figured it's the perfect time for Habanita. It's heavy enough to have the strength to wear itself in this weather, yet calm enough to not make people in lines purse their lips and sniff "Who's wearing that extremely strong scent?", although in this day of masks, I wouldn't see it if they did. It reminds me of a fireplace that's been burning for hours and the sweet smoke is in every corner of the house. I blind bought this simply because the reviews here were so positive and it's considered a classic, along the lines of Shalimar and Samsara. With 600 parts, it is hard to pick out pieces, especially since it's so well-blended. I have the newer 2012 EDP and when I first sprayed it, I got some of the powdery, sweet mastic, and spicy geranium, the woody herb of petitgrain. It flows forth and I can smell some of the nutmeg, heliotrope, vetiver, and a deep, dark vanilla. I swear I smell incense. To my nose, this is very much a unisex scent. This lasts on my skin for quite a while and the sillage is strong/moderate. The price is affordable for such a beauty.

It is incredibly deep, and tells a story of glamour, smoky eyes, black feathers and passion in each sniff. Much darker than the usual powdery smells, very unique, although Toujours Moi by Dana is quite close to it. Gothic beauty, starting to produce it again was the best decision they could have made.

I finally received my Habanita and what a stunner. This is not your sexy bombshell. Habanita is that comforting powder fragrance with great performance. It does remind me of L'Heure Bleue and V Canto Kashimire but also has it's own character. I see the reference to baby powder and yes, it does remind me strongly of Johnson's baby powder or Love's baby soft. Must be the heliotrope. I love it and find it very warm and comforting. Cool weather appropriate.

Louismanuel
Reviews are automatically deleted when they have many people downvoting them. I do remember yours and understand why it's not there anymore.

Released originally in the same year as Chanel no. 5 and in fact also Shalimar, as a man I had to buy this Classic Masterpiece. If not to wear it often, than at least for my collection.
It reminds me of another centennial, Knize Ten for man. Smoky, Dusty, Mysterious.
What I get most is an Animalic, Tobacco, Leather combo.
Knize Ten meets Shalimar.

Most unisex fragrances I own are shy performers.
The few female fragrances I own are by no exception Powerhouses, like this one.
I bought it recently, so have not wore it yet on skin.
I will update in Winter.

On me this is very powdery, and a little soapy. With having nutmeg, I expected a spicy woody mainly. I must admit, this was such a pleasant surprise.

I love powder, and I love soapy. And, there is actually a slight hint of the nutmeg, and the slightest tinge of boozy vanilla (seriously, just a tiny bit, barely there on me) and amber. Most of what I get is mastic, oakmoss, ylang-ylang, vetiver, and heliotrope.

This is such a classical concoction, however as others have stated it seems both modern and classic. Absolutely timeless. It's neither feminine nor masculine to me, this is an entirely genderless fragrance in my opinion, perfectly androgynous and enigmatic.

Every 30 minutes is like experiencing a new fragrance. There's a bit of a "baby doll head" note in there - and I LOVE those. That aspect of it is reminiscent of HM Butterfly in that powdery baby doll way. It smells just like an old budoir, rose water, fragrant powders, sweet pipe tobacco smoke, and vintage perfumes.

It's so soft and gentle, but is very strong. My skin eats up EVERY fragrance in seconds (Dior Addict, lasts maximum 2 hours on me before becoming an auric skin scent - my performance issues on skin is that bad), and this is the longest lasting, best projecting fragrance I have EVER had/tried. It's performance is so incredible, I immediately bought 2 back up bottles after my first use, and I know they will last me a good long while and serve me well.

The longevity is a feat. I get 10 hours give or take on skin, with 6 hours projection, at 8 hours becomes an auric skin scent, 9 hours it's a close to skin scent, 10 hours, it's fading away, but still smell the amber/oakmoss if I dig my nose into wrist.

Now, on clothes, this is staying STUCK until the next wash. Incredible.

The sillage is over an arms length, easily, but it's gentle and inoffensive, just noticeable by others, perfectly balanced in longevity/sillage while not being overpowering.

On my fragrance eating skin, I've never had people be able to smell my fragrance, and the compliments are so many that I actually grew tired of getting them! Every time a client or coworker came anywhere near me they complimented it, and I probably said "thank you" 100 times over the week and weekend!

I've never ever had a fragrance perform SO WELL on me, so I am completely in awe. I am super impressed because this is incredibly rare for me. I cannot emphasize this enough. Never in my life have I been so impressed by a fragrance. I can't say enough how well this performs, and how gorgeous it smells.

It's absolutely a beast- but a soft, gentle, gorgeous one. It reaches out and grabs people without knocking them out. It's so interesting and unique, and unlike anything else.

This will be my permanent go to. Gone are the days of 10 sprays only to get 30 minutes for me - this beauty gives me the best I've ever had with only 3 sprays total a day. If I could only have one fragrance, this would have to be it, because it lasts, and lasts, and lasts, it's a work horse projector, yet not too heavy. It's the perfect balance of everything.

Habanita sings to my Scorpio soul!
She opens with a gothic insense and dark mustiness that says it's going to be a heavy sweet thick fragrance but then it's lifted by a soft baby powdery lightness. The flowers and vanilla come gently through and the benzoin and half an hour after initial spray she is gentle and womanly and well rounded. Just like a Scorpio, she is black and white, nasty and nice, love and hate all at once.
On the dry down, it has a similarity to my nose to Paloma Picasso and Arpege.
I am 52, this is a good age for Habanita. Well lived life with so much still to explore.
It was a blind buy for me and I will definitely recommend it.

IngaMM,
You only get Vanilla, of a fragrance containing 600 ingredients????
Wauw, I thought my nose was bad.

Released originally in the same year as Chanel no. 5 and in fact also Shalimar, as a man I had to buy this Classic Masterpiece. If not to wear it often, than at least for my collection.
It reminds me of another centennial, Knize Ten for man, but without the Suede. Smoky, Dusty, Mysterious.

Most unisex fragrances I own are shy performers.
The few female fragrances I own are by no exception Powerhouses, like this one.
I bought it recently, so have not wore it yet on skin.
I will update in Winter.

Given the massive fan base of Habanita I was expecting something with the finesse of Ruth Mastenbroek’s Oxford, all I get however is Vanilla. Vanilla and more vanilla. If you just tolerate this note you will not enjoy this scent, you must have a proper love affair with it. I don’t, so it’s back in its box now waiting to be swapped away...

I got a sample of Habanita since I heard it smells like L’heure Bleue. It’s very close. Habanita is more masculine, woody and nutty. L’heure Bleue is softer and less linear. Habanita has heavy projection and almost a day longevity. I like L’heure Bleue better

Ah, Habanita...

It was a blind buy and I was intrigued by the olfactory description, the history of the scent and the many oftentimes polarising reviews. My short verdict: Habanita is something far too modern for its actual age in a way that it seems like what it is, if you free your mind of the learned old-lady associations that every vintage perfume seemingly has attached, is incredibly gender-less, and niche-smelling (in the best possible way). It's almost like it is what modern niche has been trying to achieve over the last 20-30 years and this one is about a 100 years old.

Now, when I first sprayed it, it opened with a thick, dense cloud of incense reminiscent of the one used in Christian Orthodox churches. It's not abstractly smoky, it's 70% incense that is more apparent when sprayed liberally and stays this way longer, too. Under this thick cloud of incense, something interesting starts to evolve in the next 20 - 40 minutes. First, you can detect that creamy almost Chanel No5 base but richer with prominent ylang ylang and also moist geranium shining through the smoky mist. Then you realize that the smoke gets warmer and sweeter, and less incensey. Now you can detect true, beautiful, non-gourmand vanilla with plenty of vetiver, also moist, and thick. Frankly, it gets better and better with every hour and the drydown is this warm, sweetish smoky vetiver, saturated but also more translucent. I would even go as far as to say this smell is meditative in its deepest drydown.

Habanita is a complex beast and be ready for a ride. If the smoke is too much for you at first, try smaller sprays, maybe start with one. She may open up to you, if you prove you are worthy and persist. The quality of the bottle and design is a bonus. But the juice is really quite something. It projects a lot if you spray it like you would your normal modern EDT or a weaker EDP but you can control that with the amount you spray and it's really easy with the quality of the atomiser. Longevity - easily 12 hours on the skin and heaven knows how long on clothes. I prefer the skin scent as I am quite happy with the way it works with my chemistry but you may find otherwise.

I hope this version never gets reformulated.

I've been running across references—usually highly laudatory ones—to this perfume for a couple of years, but hadn't tried it because of all the comparisons to L'Heure bleue. I know L'HB has its devotees, and I understand the appeal, but it's never been a fragrance I've connected with. I usually fawn over more old-fashioned perfumes (especially ones by the iconic French houses) but L'Heure bleue—described by many as Mitsouko's melancholic sister—has always seemed too cold and thin to me, with its intensely purple bouquet of heliotrope, iris, and violet.

When I got the chance to test Habanita, though, I took it—and I'm so glad I did! This is indeed akin to L'HB, but much fuller and multi-dimensional. It's an incredibly complex, progressive perfume, taking the cold florals of L'HB and adding spices and woods for an altogether richer composition. I still get the cool, powdery heliotrope front and center, accompanied by that queer lentisque note—a kind of woody, balsamic astringency—and warm nutmeg. The vanilla and sandalwood add even more creamy-spicy powder, which is simultaneously complicated by the emergence of metallic-medicinal geranium and grassy-woody oakmoss and vetiver. The petitgrain and jasmine spar around the edges, bitter against indolic. With time, the frigid florals and resinous spices mellow out, allowing the sandalwood and amber to come into focus, as well as a hint of radiant ylang. At the very end, it becomes a pure, clean, fresh powder.

Other reviewers' allusions to ancient spice racks and medicine cabinets are spot-on. Habanita is a spicy-floral beauty from another era. It's a puff of dusty air from a witch's potion kit that hasn't seen the light of day in a century—and that witch has damn good taste! You know who would have adored this perfume? Virginia Woolf's Orlando. Like that character, it lives outside of time while registering the plenitude of its spiritual weight; it’s both worldly and ethereal, alluring and enigmatic, masculine and feminine, noble and profane, impenetrable and profoundly human—breathtaking.

If you don't like old-school scents, you probably won't like Habanita. Everybody should smell it at some point, though. It's timeless and defies gender; while not quite formal, it tends toward the austere and abstract. The various contrasts of cool and warm make it wearable in all seasons, though night suits it better. The sillage and lasting power are impressive. The redesigned bottle is absolutely stunning, definitely among my top five. I so hope this is never reformulated or discontinued. By far the best of Molinard.

I MUST have this perfume. I tried it in a perfume shop in France, and I fell in love with it. Since I love vintage perfumes, I was blown away when I smelled Habanita. It`s a real vintage fragrance, smokey, dark, "heavy", unlike anything that is popular today. I love the vanilla dry down, as it gives it a powdery dash. This is not a kind of blind buy perfume. You must try it first as it is a kind of fragrance that you either love or hate.

Almost all my perfumes are blind buys, but this is the one I was the most exited to try! Sadly, the bb that dissapointed me the most when I first tried it on. I expected dark and mysterious, and I got none of that.

But wait, I gave it another try today and I actually loved the opening punch (which actually is a bit dark). The only scent I have with a similar vintage vibe as this is Esprit by Oscar, this one is noticably "older" though. It's one of those scents where I can't really pick out many singular notes to explain what it smells like, but I believe it's safe to say that it's quite heavy on the heliotrope - it is very well blended and complex. It probably smells nothing like you would imagine by the voted notes or the reviews. I am sure this will be experienced very subjectively, depending on who you are and how compatible your taste is with this vintage wonder. Absolutely an experience to try - and if it's not your cup of tea then at least you have sniffed a bit of perfume history.

I really enjoy this today. So powdery and unique. And I bet you'd be hard presses to find other women in my country who actually wears this. I'm sure those rare unicorns are out there, but I admit to feeling a bit unique in Habanita's cloud 😉

I have a sample of the older one and it smells like a rich brandy with honey and talc.
This one smells like the old one, but with cherry on top!
It is a lovely modernised version which I DO like.
I can't find any darkness or mystery or gothic aura here, but one can easily be inspired by the reputation and appearance of things so..
It is luxurious and sexy enough and easy to like (even a lot!) so I'd suggest you bought it with no hesitation (chances are that even if you don't like it your best friend will).
You don't have to go for the bigger bottle though; it is strong, so a little will last and it has a character so it might not be for everyday.
Well done Molinard!

This is a review for the Edition Privee version, although I couldn't tell you if it's any different from the original. I got it on ebay as a preowned blind buy because it was a steal. I knew it was a gamble because it seems like this is a perfume you either love or hate (maybe that's why the person was selling their bottle!) and the reviews are very hot and cold. Well, luckily, my blind buy paid off! It's VERY powdery, which I usually wouldn't like, but combined with other notes it totally works. Some of the reviews say it's more "smoky" than "powdery" and I would say that's exactly it. Also I'm not really sure what the vanilla is combining with but when I sniff out of the bottle it kinda smells like root beer or cream soda to me? But I love root beer so whatever...

Very heavy, not a soft summertime scent. It's sexy and sensual though but very powdery and that may not be everyone's thing. Try before you buy unless you find a deal like I did or are just willing to spend the money I guess.

Since I have sprayed the beautiful classy Habanita five hours have passed. I do not own it (yet), however as according to my memory the initial spritz is smoky spicy 'something', yes something. It is difficult to recognize any scents in particular - but one knows there are many. All of them topped up with smoke and vanilla. I am surprised there is no incense note in Habanita, it has that 'holy' vibe. Habanita by Molinard is not as heavy not as spicy as I remember it, perhaps my perception has changed. For the better! I like it A LOT now! The very dry down, which is the only smell I have access to at the moment is divine. 'Oriental' does not capture the beauty of Habanita, I do not think it can be classified at all. Habanita is leathery, incensy, smoky, dusty, warm, sweetish and intense. Soft intense. The bottle corresponds perfectly to what is inside of the bottle. Habanita is mythical, vampiric, dark and seductive, she is absolutely high class, hot couture. She is the moonlight in the clear night sky. She is the wild panthere in the woods. She is the royal, black satin dress wearing woman with curly black hair, smoky eyes and a faint smile. The sound of her footsteps echoes as she walks to her luxurious bedroom. The interior is surprisingly light, she is the only duality - darkness and lightness - in the room. She sits on her ivory silk bed sheets, grabs a philosophical book and sprays some more Habanita. She is absolutely beautiful.

Habanita is a glorious fragrance that takes you back in time to powdered boudoirs, and feather boas.
This is a very sensual perfume. But not in a sugar bomb gourmand type way. This is ultra feminine, powder, with rose spice on a bed of sugar coated bitter almonds..
Think of warm showered skin, patted dry with a beautiful old world talcum powder. Not baby powder.. as some have suggested and also referred to Shalimar as being the same.
These two perfumes are for mature noses. And by that I mean, you don’t have to be a grandmother to appreciate it.. our grandmothers just had more sophisticated noses when they were our age.
Habanita is my biggest compliment getter.. and I have a large perfume collection..
Try it, you might be surprised.

Notes: Geranium, Mastic, Petitgrain, Ylang-Ylang, Vetiver, Jasmine, Cedar, Nutmeg, Heliotrope, Mimosa, Amber, Oakmoss, Patchouli, Vanilla and Sandalwood

Powdery, Spicy, Smokey, Woody and Musky. A masterpiece from Molinard in a classy, gorgeous and elegant bottle.

This is a sexy scent for the winters.

I absolutely love this perfume! I’m not a big fan of powdery perfumes but with this one there’s more going on besides the powder that keeps it interesting. I describe it as a “powder with a twist”. When first wearing this I became turned off by the powdery scent, soon after the aroma of the spices take over with a slight touch of sweetness. This was a favorite of my aunts back when I was a teenager and I just had to have it in my collection. I need a bigger bottle. I find myself savering my 1.7 oz bottle. I love this fragrance.

This one is a lot of fun! Happy, carefree dancing girl! A Latina in red and black dress and beautiful shoes on beautiful feet. Wild and sensual but innocent.
Incense, a tone af liqorice, dark roses, heliotrope like marzipan, jasmin, nutmeg, vanilla, tonkabean, sandal and other woods and spices... and some civet. But unlike Shalimar for me, which is from the same period of time, here the civet never becomes too dominant; it is just there like another kind of spice, giving that beautiful oldfashion feeling. It’s like a movie about a romance in another time. When people were just like us, but the world was different.

I am amazed by the interpretation of this being sexy. I also think my nose sometimes misses notes. My very first impression was that it starts out as Shalimar minus the lemon and spice.
I get some leather. I’ve worn it for two days in very cold weather. The overall impression on my skin is this: I went hog wild sprinkling baby powder all over my body. It is the epitome of a comforting and cozy powder scent. It is pretty powder, but not dark or mysterious to me, which is what I was expecting. I enjoy it and will continue to wear it and see if I pick up on other nuances/notes. I may also layer with something that needs a fluffing up, like a sharp spring floral.

Not sure what reform I got, or what y'all are smelling, but this Sh&t is god awful. I had to laugh at the "Used Women's Underwear" Comment. Lawd chile, my draws have never smelled this bad, I am POSITIVE! Nervy people putting this is the Opium & Shalimar Category. I don't think so. Ever.

OK, here we go ...opaque bottle nerds...

Weight of Habanita EDP mini bottle EDP spray 15ml:
- in box when full: 94g
- without box: 88g
- without lid: 66g

This is for people with used bottles, so they can have an idea how much is left :-)

Habanita, summer test.
It’s a cool and windy day.

Well. This scent reads very interestingly, I’m still on the fence about it. For me the accords don’t paint me a picture of what I actually smell (I have this happen a lot).

My little child smelled the wee tester nozzle and said smells like honey. This made me have a spray on my arm, I thought perhaps the weather has changed enough for me to no longer perch on the fence about it.

Today habanita has a rounded, cool, talc feel, as well as dried herbs/spice of some kind. It’s soft ish, up close you feel the dryness.

I can’t pay a high full bottle price for this, I would happily do a split or buy a used one. I think that’s down to personal frag tastes.

Very much a talc with spices scent on my skin.
Later on EDIT, I sprayed some dove original deodorant and I like the two together, the dove gives this a clean lift.
The scent has softened and lost the almost roughness it had. I could wear the drydown. This genre/sort of scent is not in my ‘love to wear’ basket, I seldom find these scents in any stores except perhaps men’s scents.

Ok, I put on Habanita this morning. I don't wear it very often, but unlike most people on Fragrantica, I've been seeing Habanita around for literally 60 years, so here's my perspective.

Like most people, I concur completely this perfume was made for older women, 40+ year old women who were beyond sweet floral fragrances. This was the 1920's, the roaring 20's, when a huge percentage of men smoked, and some women, and this sort of scent went with smoking and covering up the scent of tobacco on ones breath. Although I doubt that it really did; cigarette odor is hard to mask.

But what Habanita is selling here is the mysterious element. The intrigue, the sophistication. Hence the black bottle. Unlike now, there weren't that many perfumes made in black bottles. Nothing cutesy about them either; nothing girly. Very serious stuff.

Not that Habanita sold much. I don't ever remember an ad for it anywhere. I never knew anyone who wore it. Of course I was around 12 when I first saw it among the iconic bottles of French parfum displayed at Marshall Fields in Chicago. But throughout my adulthood, I never knew anyone who wore it. You think, someone must have worn it, but by around 1980 I seldom saw it on the shelves of places like Marshall Fields, Neiman Marcus anywhere, or I. Magnin in San Francisco, in an era when Molinard de Molinard was on all of them and had a huge following (and is well worth following too).

I didn't buy my bottle until the dawn of the Internet, maybe 1996 or so when suddenly you could buy perfume at less than full retail. (And all hail the Internet!) There's tons of Habanita around, so as some other reviewer said, don't buy Habanita at full retail.

It's a historic scent, but one that has been totally eclipsed by all the oud/leather/resin scents now on the market. Nearly all of them do much better at what Habanita was trying to do. And even in the 1920's and 1930's Caron's Nuit de Noel is a far better scent at conveying the sophistication of that era than Habanita.

Two days later: I just remembered that even when I went to the Molinard factory in Grasse in May 1982, they didn't do much to promote Habanita. They probably mentioned it when they gave their little tour; I think it was one of their first fragrances. I could be wrong about this; I think they produced fragrances in the late 1800's but Habanita was the only one from the early 1920's they were still selling in 1982. And they were selling it at their "factory shop," but I don't recall people on the bus tour with me buying it. The shop had those little wax solid perfumes though, in the little plastic screw top containers with flowers painted on top. Sets of them, and individual ones. Those would distract anyone.

Oh, and long overdue, I finally looked up the meaning of the French word Habanita: Little Havana. So Molinard was going for a Latin American motif here. Remember in that era Havana was a tourist area featuring nightclubs and gambling, and an escape from Prohibition for Americans. I didn't know the French went there too.

Today we have a very good time to think about our plans to new year. We can summarize the outgoing year. I didn't know which a perfume is suitable for this. But now I know. I met Habanita Molinard. It is perfume of Christmas and New Year. I feel notes of cedar and vetiver in it. I remember my childhood and atmosphere of holiday, when my mom bakes a cake and and I smell cloves in the kitchen. This perfume is the best for these days.

I am testing this and la heure blueu same time.
I will retry both on a different day and its remarkable how similar they are in feel

OK EDIT:
jeez this scent is giving me a hard time.
skin and natural fabric test today

aromatic, sharp, tobacco-like spice, maybe like the strength of Opium, cool rather than warm, goes a bit like aromatic talc sort of powder.
could be worn unisex easily.
its a bit softer on clothes.. i think...
i dont *like* the opening per se. really not a scent that i would buy normally, its summer here so maybe thats inflencing me.

the notes are not what you think they are unless... if youre a young person unless your mother wore some scent like this you wont have tried this... i dont think.
this is defo a vintage feel, that colder, spice background, these days those notes seem to be included where there is some sort of warmth, i havent smelled any newer releases with this kind of talc powder, spice, thing profile (in womens scents anyway).

i dont know what to do with this scent

Habanita edp. Windy day, cool.

I agree with the similarities @DrRosie below me suggests.

I dont feel the accords really convey this scent in a way a younger woman would understand, there aren't any mainstream scents with similar accords that have this 'older'.. feel, maybe you might find some by guerlain that you could try and get an idea of the base.
try my suggestions below

it's like theres a splash of bitter running through it.

Cool, fresh in an aldehyde, talc, aromatics (but not modern bright greens) way.
For me the feel is in the same road as samsara (but this is much lighter), mitsuko, la huere blueu, maybe jicky and jardine bagatale ... those sort.
I have real trouble describing them.

For me it's not all all sexy, its interesting sure, but belongs to a category I just dont like to smell like.
I'm not a sweet freak either.

Just bought it after a long fascination.
I bow down to this scent and Molinard still have it in their range somehow.
Love the idea of keeping the notes of the original but changing its concentrations.

Guys, it’s not talcum. But it’s also not a dry and intimidating smoke like SL Fumerie turque.
To me it smells like opium (not the YSL creation).

Chanel 5 is not for me. I am the habanita girl.
I love it and I’m happy that it’s still around in that new form.

Oh, oh, oh!!! This is an absolute bomb! Very different, dark, powdery, seductive..Vanilla and spices mainly, but with a secret ingredient..It is for ladies who like strong stuff with a twist. The drydown is heavenly! And the bottle gorgeous, will decorate the room for sure..The man in my life asked what it was and told me that I smelled intoxicating and mysterious, like a goddess who just descended from heavens into a room full of incense! :-D I had only samples, but now I ordered a full bottle..

I bought a bottle of this based on the rave reviews. I wish I'd tested it first! Maybe it's just my body chemistry, but this was almost pure powder and nutmeg for me. After an hour or so I could get some hints of geranium and leather or something a bit smoky but the baby powder scent pervaded. Hardly any of the florals or other botanical smells came through. It really reminded me of a cheap old lady scent. I will try again in the winter.

Habanita remains imperishable and great aroma on a par with the classic Chanel 5. These aromas are like two poles, on the axis of which the whole modern perfumery world rests.
Where is 1921 and where are we now? Many perfumes have sunk into oblivion, and these flavors still excite consciousness.
For me, the hot, hot Habanite is like an olfactory picture for the brilliant films The Great Gatsby and Midnight in Paris.
In my opinion, luxurious bohemian parties of the twenties of the last century were saturated with perfumes from Habanita and No. 5 Chanel.
Of course, these current perfumes have changedthen , but they are still more alive than all the living ...
Habanita ... love, admire, appreciate.

Less is more with this beauty. You can easily wear it in summer but you'll have to use the EDP as a pure perfume: two sprays on both sides of your neck and it's done, it will follow you all day long. Want a lighter version, go for Habanita La Cologne.
Not for the yummy kids and the teenagers. This is an educated nose only, for people who act like adults.

I finally put a finger on why I dislike this scent. It smells exactly like a hair and scalp treatment I used to buy. I could’ve bought a $4 jar of that instead and greased my entire body down in it. Giving it a 1 because it’s not totally unwearable...I can understand someone wearing it who doesn’t have the same scent association as me. Just not something I want to walk around smelling like all day. If I find a great scent to layer it with - or if one day it suddenly grows on me - I’ll update this review.

1/5

Опияняващ, пухкав и прекрасен - този коментар е точен. Носих го нарочно в в много горещо време - прекрасен!обича топлината, красив, ненатрапчив.

Smokey and powdery. The white flower-ish scent adds a bit of cleanness to it. Smells like a very expensive soap, and I love it. Sexy but not really dirty. I wouldn’t mind men wearing this. I hope this to be a long lasting. Goes away after four hours of wearing.

The packaging and bottle are absolutely beautiful; so unique and retro. It's got a vintage, sexy, bittersweet vibe to it, if that makes any sense. The scent itself is powdery and warm, with a hint of roses and, somehow, raspberries, and woody, with a bit of almondy sweetness and a wispy note of smoke lingering on your clothes after a night at the jazz club, and a touch of the coolness of leather from a borrowed jacket. It's not something to wear on a daily basis, but perfect - like a deep, vampy, wine-red lipstick - for those times you want to evoke a certain mood/style.

There is this note in it that smells like used women's underwear. It is true that the perfume is dark, intense and smoky, but I couldn't bear this note. It softens after a while, but it is still there. Maybe it is sassy, but it gives retro feeling to Habanita.

A spicy, smoky, sweet scent that has a certain heaviness on me.

The packaging and bottle are absolutely gorgeous! I bought the current EDP in a 30ml version. The box it comes in is a touchably soft matte black card (a sort of velvety feeling one if that makes sense?) with the classic Habanita women motif in black gloss on it. It's really nice in a tactile way and I wouldn't hesitate to give it as a gift. Inside, the bottle is again all black matte with the women motif in gloss. I like the look of the old Habanita bottles with the moulded black glass, too -- this is a perfume with real style, timeless and striking.

The eau de parfum is a rich-smelling, buttery, spicy, smoky. On me, a little too much like cigarettes - I found it a bit too much although I can see from other reviews that it sits more lightly on others so I think this is down to my body chemistry. On me, it was definitely an evening scent. It smells powerful and confident and alluring. It's not a flashy scent, but the sillage is reasonable and people notice it. Personally I could not wear this to work, but somebody who got less of the cigarette edge definitely could. I can see this working on men as well as women; in fact just thinking about a man wearing it makes me think they would probably smell great!

For me, a scent that I like very much -- but not on me. I can see it being amazing on a more outgoing, confident woman. Or very attractive on a man.

Talc talc talc talc talc talc talc talc, whisper of vanilla, talc talc talc talc, alittle spice, talc talc talc talc, such a small amount of suede/leather that it’s legit not worth mentioning.....

толкова много е изписано, че направо ме беше страх да отворя бутилката. ароматът е страхотен, мек, кремообразен, изненадва с различни лица в различни моменти, и има невероятна жилка на черно натурално прахообразно какао! все още го наблюдавам и тепърва ще добивам още впечатления
Добавям: той е като сбор от най-женствените парфюми. Любим.

I love the powdery vanilla in this fragrance, but I'm not sure about the rest of the composition. Even though it is not listed in the notes, there is a strong rough leather note and an underlying bitterness that is really throwing me. I believe the bitterness is coming from the geranium, but I have no idea about the leather since there is none listed in the notes. Honestly, not sure about this one yet.

I hesitated on blind buying this one for so long because I was worried it would be too intense and overbearing, smoky, or intense. It’s none of those things! Habanita is a great example of how much marketing and packaging influence our perceptions.

Habanita isn’t intimidating. It doesn’t smell dangerous. It’s actually just very powdery. I like it. It’s pleasant (for me) but distinctive. I don’t get a lot of leather though, which is really what I was hoping for.

Such a lovely perfume! Like many here, this was a blind buy for me based on reviews. I also read about it in a wonderful book I've been reading called "Perfume: A Century of Scents" and was intrigued as visions of flappers and speakeasies danced in my head! I am not getting any femme fatales vibes from her, but what I am getting is a lovely powder with shades of L'Heure Bleu, though softer. I think I'm in love! Price wise, I can't think of any other perfumes that offer the same quality at such an affordable price. I think that she is a scent that can be worn year round, day or night, depending upon how lightly one sprays her. A true gem that I am so pleased to have in my collection, one that has the potential to become a favorite.

EDIT 2/24/2019 - Just like the beginning of any new relationship that holds potential for enduring love, I am discovering more and more about this juice and her many facets. On my first wearing, I was so overwhelmed by her powdery softness and sheer beauty, and how she reminded me of another old love, L'heure Bleu. Today I discovered her oriental side. So she IS a seductress afterall! Having smelled this on me for the first time today, my mother said that it reminded her of Shalimar, and it hit me right then that mom was right! Shalimar was always a love for her, and it is because of her that I grew to love it as well. So that is two Guerlains, both different from each other yet linked by the Guerlinade, that are brought to mind by my darling Habanita! That is not to say that this is derivative in any way - after all, Shalimar came out after Habanita - but it is an endorsement in my opinion because of how fond I am of so many Guerlain fragrances. I continue to be blown away by this potion. It has been decades since I have even considered having a signature scent. I don't know how it is possible to own and enjoy so many different perfumes yet have a specific one that people associate with me exclusively. Naturally, I will continue to wear whatever strikes my fancy on any given day, but this is a fragrance that will undoubtedly be with me forever. For that reason, I now consider Habanita to be one I would like to have as my signature scent. In the meantime, I am enjoying every minute of our courtship!

Got a small decant based on that at least half the notes are my favourite, and all the loving reviews and.. just can't. There's just too much flowers for me.
Like @trabuquera said, it's "a scent for a woman who's lived and loved and drank and smoked and seen a war or two," and i'm not that.
I will keep the decant for roleplaying just in case i need to be a woman from the noir movies, but still it makes me feel i'm two generations too young for this scent.

This is gorgeous.

In the dead of the winter I remember how it felt wearing it in the summer. Because it works both ways; dry woody spicy freshnes envelops you in the winter and radiate on your skin in the summer.

True freaking masterpiece.

Less is more with this true gem. Don't spray too close from your skin and let it blossom with your chemistry and warmth. Never regretted the 500 ml purchased. Waiting for the 100 ml EDP Arabic design limited edition.
Edit 15/01/2019 Drop dead gorgeous bottle!

Mon amour <3 Je suis littéralement amoureuse de se parfum! Il sent si bon! Je me baigne dedans sans jamais m’en écœurer. Il est divin. Je sens vraiment bien la vanille, étant une adepte de LOulou, je trouve que celui ci est dans la même lignée. Une jolie vanille non sucré. Je le vois bien porter par une femme qui s’assume, hyper stylée, un peu rock and roll! La tenue est superbe et le sillage monstre. Je recommande vraiment ce parfum aux femmes qui comme moi veulent se démarquer.

Apparently I haven't reviewed Habanita yet. Here goes:

From the very beginning to the very end, I get incense. Powder, amber, candle burning and more incense. Habanita requires a cold day and a settled stomach. She could easily become a dislike if I didn't apply her at the appropriate time. This is is the heaviest fragrance in my collection and I only wear in the coldest months of the year. The only other fragrance I can think of that is anywhere nearly as intense and fog-like, would be vintage Opium. Habanita doesn't smell like Opium but behaves like it.

Yes, a dense fog around a very elegant woman in the 1930's, just stepped out of the confessional. The cathedral is old and cold, with years of candlewax and incense. She adds the scent of powder and leather gloves to the haze.

The very first sniff and my first thought was - "I love you" , right there and then I knew that this is my new signature. Oh these kind of loves are really rare. It's perfume perfection to me.

The beginning is amazing, oh that short blast of geranium, very feminine, at one moment I was afraid that it will be too flowery and it will be ruined for me, but no, only rich leather, penetrated with viscous flowers; some tobacco around, it's powdery vanilla, it's warm amber, sandalwood and vetiver. It's got everything - powder, expensive vanilla, good leather ant tobacco, warmth, the most important thing- it has right expression, mood. I'm so in love. Oriental, classic, timeless, sexy, powdery fragrance.

It's a well balanced, characteristic, strong foundation, sophisticated, expressive, savory a bit subtly provoking, but at the same time not caring of other opinions. Balancing on edge of light and dark. It's confident sexy.
It represents all that past glam, but at the same time it's so modern. No wonder, Molinard is an amazing house and knows how to create really good perfume with character and story telling.

I blind bought this beauty based on so many great reviews. I'm not disappointed at all and am so glad to have it! It's so warm, mysterious, and sensual. Spicy, vanilla powder with a hint of heliotrope. It reminds me a little bit of Givenchy Organza due to the nutmeg and vanilla, but Habanita is darker and spicier. Sublime!

Habanita EDP is perfume perfection. It's not a reformulation--it's a totally different fragrance. I have a tiny Molinard-produced sample vial of Habanita (with the deco letters HA BA NI TA in a vertical column) to compare with. They share more similarities than differences but are distinct.

Considering vintage fragrances, we are normally faced with two alternatives: a reformulation or a vintage composition. Neither of these are ideal. Reformulations are notorious for being "watered down" or redesigned for modern tastes, making them inherently less edgy or potent. Regarding vintage compositions to use on the skin, there can be some success, but on the whole, vintage compositions do not always age well. Even the most base-heavy orientals can suffer damaged top notes. Personally, I find that vintage perfumes are more likely to give me headaches or skin irritation.

Habanita EDP is a perfect sort of solution and I applaud Molinard for its direction. Habanita EDP is not a reformulation. It's not attempting to pass as the original. It's a contemporary composition created with modern technology and materials and is marketed as such. The EDP itself is delightfully potent and long lasting. It has a classic flavor while being freshly produced. No expectation leading to disappointment, no spoiled notes.

The fragrance itself is clean and sexy. A mix of darks and lights. I can put it on after a shower, or after a romp, and it's equally well placed. While being a modern fragrance, "trendy" notes are absent--no synthetic woods, overbearing white musks, faux leather, or cotton candy here. And yet the fragrance is woody, musky, leathery and sweet... Recalls vintage men's fragrances while being exquisitely powdery and floral. I enjoy wearing Maurer and Wirtz Tabac in the day and this is a perfect after-dark complement.

I confess: this was a blind buy and it's not a "LOVE". However, I use it more often than any other night fragrance. Regularly complimented. It is a quality fragrance with stellar performance and it's so much bang for the buck.

P.S. The packaging is some of the best. Not only is the bottle a work of art, the sprayer is excellent. On my bottle, the sprayer can be depressed fully or with a tiny push. A full push gives a gracious spray. On so many bottles, a tiny push gives a *squirt* which then drips, but with Habanita EDP a tiny push gives a tiny *puff* of perfume.

i can only compare it to what i've smelled before: the woody smokey spicy opening reminded me of Opium/Shalimar.. the floral sweet soapy drydown (after 12 hrs) reminded me of Red Door. beautiful, rich and complicated 10/10

The foil inside a packet of cigarettes. I always loved to smell that, the paper side, which had absorbed the fragrance of the tobacco, yet still, slightly painfully twanged your nose with a tang of metal.... I confess, I actually chewed cigarette papers as well. Though I don't know why. Or maybe I do? A sample of Habanita lay in my sample cabinet for some time until I absently rummaged therein and laid hand to it to fragrance the air in the steamy bathroom (something I am given to doing when I need to REALLY relax enough to write a song - yes, really!). I was transported back to Sunderland Mayfair nightclub, on Rock Nights, specifically the ladies' "powder room" which was nothing more than a dimly lit, glorified snog shop with the obligatory "claggy mats" (beer soaked carpet), where you would drag your sorry self for a grapple with your beau du jour. There is something very sexy about Habanita. Primal. It doesn't scream, it moans, softly. It breathes heavily, words like heat, passion, it speaks of having your face held in two hands while being kissed softly but ardently, it speaks of writhing and agonizing restraint. It sounds like Michael Schenker, the Scorpions, the swishing of tiered hippie skirts with bells on the ties, of loosened white cotton and lace camisoles falling from the shoulders of barefoot dancing girls, lost in the music and the lights and the pounding heart of passion. The notes don't matter. Put all these notes in different order and proportion and the scent will be awful, but in this configuration, it's marvellous, inspiring, at once exciting and soporific. I imagine that if the wearer of this is trailing a smouldering cigarette it will smell even sexier, despite not actually liking the smell of cigarette smoke. I am going to wear this to bed tonight, and have the best dreams ever. It will scare you a bit, but if you like walking on firey hot coals, this is worth every penny.

Habanita is full body oriental with spicy leather soul. It is as delicate as it is robust. Many notes here are more common in male, hm, offerings.
Its woody powderiness makes you want to roll in it. Strangely, like a clean baby's bottom on the old chesterfield.
Clean, warm and comfy. Dark and sensual.

This classic has become way too confidential. People do love and compliment it frequently. It tickles and enchants the most exigent noses.

Beautiful.

A very specific scent, polarizing: hate or love. Luc Turin gave 5 stars to Habanita, descriving it as "vetiver vanilla".
In small doses a classy perfume also suited for daytime, imo.

A great scent. Its still in my top 10. You immediately get hit with the nutmeg, vanilla, mastic and what I thought was leather. It is a touch powdery. There is a nice dose of ylang. This is potent dark juice.
It settles and becomes a slightly softer spicy and powdery scent. That is backed by the warmth of Amber and some more kick from the geranium and oakmoss. It definitely has that vintage feel.
It's the scent to wear when dancing the tango. It's up close and personal. Sex in a bottle.
Good longevity and sillage.

Blind buy because I was looking for something along the lines of Cabochard by Gres.
Cabochard it isn't and neither is it Shalimar.
I'm getting a soft warm perfume, slightly powdery the leather is warm (i'm getting 1950's hand bag) and the smoke floats around in the background shrouding the whole thing like a mist.
It does tread a fine line between being old lady and being sexy (if that's possible).
On relfection, it's Liz Taylor wearing her slip in Cat on Hot Tin Roof.

Tried this today at the Molinard maison in Grasse (what an elegant place!), I knew it was popular, so I was curious. It is an interesting perfume, different from everything I have smelled before. I like it, it is just not my cup of tea, but you can tell it is good quality.
I got mostly Amber, vanilla and vetiver, plus an animalic note. Intresting! Projection was good.

"A question: I had purchase the Eau de Parfum. Loved it, got many compliments, good sillage and long lasting. So I bought the parfum. It pales by comparison. I have never tried the EdT. Anyone else have this reaction to the Parfum vs EdP?"

I have the newest EDP, vintage EDT, and Parfum (date unknown) so I think I can help.

I've always been disappointed in dropping big $$ for parfums and I get no sillage. I was told by another member that the alcohol in perfumes/fragrances is what projects/creates the sillage. With a parfum, the alcohol is less- with more fragrance oil, so you are also losing the benefits of sillage.

As far as Habanita goes, the EDT is my fave, but the EDP is awesome and a wonderful replacement. The only diff is the EDT/Parfum is darker/more smoky/oily/skanky. The current EDP is a wee bit more sweet rose/powder. All have amazing longevity/potency. DAYS- even weeks on fabric. (My skin doesn't seem to hold anything for more than 3 hours)

Weather and activity seem to also change the sillage of Habanita. If I put a scent on at home, but never leave the couch/house-- I can't smell myself. Activity/movement and body heat seem to project scents better.

Last night about 8pm, I put one drop of Hab Parfum on my wrist. It actually was pretty hot/humid for Michigan when I took a walk with my dog. Holy hell-- the sillage off that ONE DROP was crazy. I was in a huge cloud of Habanita. So body heat, movement, weather-- all seem to create the sillage with Parfums.

I wouldn't buy more Habanita Parfum tho. I have a stockpile of both EDT and EDP, so I'm good. I prefer a spray anyways. In this case, the potency/longevity of the EDP/EDT are so good, it's not worth more $$ for the parfum.

I like this very much but I find it simple. On me it's pretty, powdery and almost innocent.
I think of it as a "harmless" scent. Nothing like I read on other reviews (maybe they were for the vintage formulation). I expected something strong and challenging but it's really nice.
Also I think it's mostly for day use in cool weather, or at night if you don't want to offend anyone. But I personally prefer something bolder for night use, like Magie Noire or Black Orchid.
Performance is good, I still smell it on myself after 5 hours.

This one starts of very powdery but in a pleasant way. It is reminiscent of a young lady attending afternoon tea in an understated tea gown. There is nothing old or decaying about the powder phase. Thankfully it avoids the old lady vibe. On the dry down you start to get a sweetness like sugared almond sweets but in a restrained ladylike manner. There is a tiny hint of violet and if you bring your wrist to your nose there is an underlying spice rather like a cake that has been left in a tin for a few days. A perfume that speaks quietly and never shouts. Restraint and decorum.

@ jacinto I'm a bit surprised by your comment because I had the parfum too and have very good memories of it, huge projection and longevity. Are you sure of your supplier? No fake from the web or bottle refilled with alcohol?

A question: I had purchased
the Eau de Parfum. Loved it, got many compliments, good sillage and long lasting. So I bought the parfum. It pales by comparison. I have never tried the EdT. Anyone else have this reaction to the Parfum vs EdP?

Powdery, sweet, spicy, musky...this fragrance is everything in a gorgeous classy bottle that looks amazing on my perfume shelf. This is a classic scent in the same vein as Shalimar, Ciara, BaV, etc but it can pass as modern thanks to the sweet powderiness. There isn't a lot of skankiness or mustiness in this one, it's very clean and fresh but with a seductive spicy edge from the nutmeg. Great sillage, I am constantly aware of this scent and it lingers in rooms when I've left.

A beautiful confidence booster wrapped up in mystery.. I am a quiet person and an introvert but I feel like a powerful femme fatale when I wear Habanita.

I keep a small piece of paper with one spray of Habanita in my purse all the time since I bought it. For the first 2-3 hours, I couldn't stand it because it was so strong that my nose was blocked and couldn't smell anything else for a while. However, when I opened the purse next day, a very fresh and slightly sweet scent came out of it. It was a big surprise that the scent was still going strong, but changed to a slightly sweet and fresh scent, very pleasant.

I've been giving this some time before my review. Like all quality Perfumes, it unravels itself slowly. This started out as a Like, then over the day's to a Like very much. Now it's a love. I wear it all day in work and it lasts a good 9hours, but I spray it again in the evening just to smell my arm as it goes through the phases. I'm hooked. It's warm and sexy, but not the usual, it's also intriguing. I'm passed caring about how modern a perfume is as I don't really like any of them. I tend to look at the older scents now. This is deep and comforting. Please, please, please don't let me wear it to the point I go off it. I want to keep this one.

This version is very similar to Arpege as the nutmeg is dominant over all else..

I like it, but my husband says it smells like stale and musty day or 2 old baby powder.

So, I won't be wearing it except right before taking a shower.

Got it in the mail just now. Giving me lots of powder right now. I wanna try the edt next.

This is nice. I honestly was expecting something a bit more intimidating. I love my orientals definitely.

It’s like I always expect orientals, and supposedly intense scents to smell like the blood of virgins; Nonetheless, I enjoy this.

Edit

I sound ambivalent. A very good powder fragrance!!

Gorgeous beautiful powdery . I smell the vetiver but just a hint of it . It's gorgeous .

I blind bought Habanita for a bargain price based on curiosity, the bottle design, the story behind the perfume and reviews here. Now after few test runs I am enchanted; I can imagine how Habanita could blend with the smell of cigarettes, night clubs and all that jazz. I enjoy especially the drydown: warm and a bit smoky, close to skin if applied sparingly.

It is winter now where I live and the air is dry and temperatures below zero. I have a feeling the Habanita will be a different kind of beast altogether on warmer and more moist climate. But for now Habanita purrs warmth, sensuality and tamed decadence to my evenings.

I am totaly in love with Habanita!! For me this is all what perfume is about and don't understand why I have not found this until now. My new favorit amongst all other perfumes I own. This was the best blind buy I've ever did and I could not wait til it arrives and boy, I was happy as A child when I smelled it, love at first snif and immedeatly orderd the bodylotion, so I can baith in it all day long!! The pricetag for this glorious perfume is also great in comperrison to A lot of other perfumes, €33 for the 30 ml bottle and about €62 for the 75 ml! This bottle will be empty very soon I'm afraid and then I order a full sized bottle, I wil never be whithout this masterpiece!!! All other reviewers wrote what this perfume is about, so I don't have to anymore. Will soon be testing other perfumes from Molinard, this one made me very curious!! 10+++

She finally arrived! I waited a long week for her arrival and she arrived today! Now, she is rewarding me with her intoxicating stories of strong women and beautiful notes! She is gorgeous, self assured, and warm!

Great perfume. Bit unisex with Nutmeg, Mastic and lot of Musk. In drydown I`ve gotten some fruity tones which are not listed.

I've just received my bottle today. I blind bought it as i was pretty intrigued by the comments. In the beginning mastic is the most prevalent note. After a while vanilla emerges with the company of incense.I can't really say that i smell any tabacco in this one. It strikes to me as a voluptuous and mysterious fragrance for bewitching females. As for the longevity i guess that something is wrong with the distributor in my country cause none of the perfumes that i am purchasing lasts.

Reminds me of growing up in Havana, amongst the smell of tobacco in all of its forms and in the afternoons, people freshly bathed covered in "talco" (powder)... I'm not sure the name of the perfume is evocative of Havana but it does take one back there... There's this little artisan perfume shop in old havana, were you can get your colognes custom made with the accords of your choosing... this perfume reminds me of the distinctive smell of sandalwood inside that shop. Wow...beautiful fragrance

Habanita came to me as a blind swap. It wasn’t even on my radar. Most fortuitous as it is now one of my top winter fragrances. There is a lovely mix of winter spices, incense and vanilla, but it doesn’t smell gourmand to me. Habanita smells exotic and makes me imagine how we must have reacted centuries ago, when introduced to cloves and other previously unknown spices. All the mysterious exotic goods that came from foreign lands.

Then there is the link to the modern, emancipated woman, living a “fast” life between the wars, dressed in slacks with cigarette in hand and a cocktail in the other. Simply divine.

Sorry I'm late to the party Habanita!
Wow , how did we not meet sooner? Just Wow, what a beauty is the matriarch Habanita.
I had seen people over the years leaving the party, I just presumed they not like you and then even worse, I assumed that I probably would not like you either, (face palm) ....So many beauties to dicover, I did not bother, but wait, suddenly a swap offer, so I took her and I love her. <3
Wow, how wrong can one be to presume what only the eyes did see, sweet lady, you can live with me, bff's, You and me.
Stunning, dark, resinous, smokey,beautiful perfume.
Quite pungent on spritz, settling fast to a glorious, super sexy, smooth scent that I personally think is unisex, leans to the feminine side.
Old school yet fit and ready for this modern world, she will show alot of the younger perfumes just how it's done.
She is staunch, dominant and self assured while being, sweet and amorous at the very same time.
She is a A+ and a big, yes, yes, yes for me.
Many thanks to my considerate swap partner for suggesting I take this one xxx

It's a classic for a reason. Many reasons. This is a perfume for a whole, adult, wordlywise woman, a woman who's lived and loved and drank and smoked and seen a war or two. It is redolent, for me, of 1940s glamour (even though no, I wasn't alive back then), a scent for gorgeous dames in great frocks to show off their gams in. It totally conjures Lauren Bacall in To Have and Have Not: insolent, sexy, more masculine and daring than was usual, but smouldering still.

What does it smell like then? To me, really, really sweet honeyed cured tobacco and some spicing all the way through, fading to powderiness at the end - and bizarrely, even though none of these notes are easy on me, somehow all just completely right together. The opening is pretty in-yer-face (it literally made me sneeze - one of the spices, maybe?). The honey comes on realllllllly strong in the stretch say 5-8 hours in, and may go on the verge of urinous on some chemistry; it was skirting that with me. But, again - despite everything, all its peaks and troughs, it's just consistently good, and might be great depending on your taste. For me it's Chergui but womanlier and far more vintage.

Like those gals with the gams, it has legs for days - the longevity is absolutely awe inspiring.

It is possibly just too much woman for me (a woman! but not a 1940s siren type, sadly...) to wear regularly, but it is really something to admire. You must try it, even if it's just the once. That Habanita, she's a heck of a dame.

Baby Powder, Tabu & Old Spice. YUCK!

OMG!
This is the sexiest perfume I own.
Its definitely one for seduction and love-making.
It makes me feel naughty, sensuous and juicy and guys around seem to go Mmmmm...
Oh wow, I am begging for more, Love me one more time....

How strange Habanita is...
No advertisment, often very poorly diplayed in the shelves... if not covered in dust... And worldwildly worshiped by those "who know her"...
Incredible performance even with the 2017 formula and totally affordable.
This beauty comes from the roaring twenties and performs pretty well compared to her old friends who suffered from IFRA surgery, Brussels botox and greedy reformulations.
Molinard goes its path with respect for its patrimony, legacy AND buyers!
As others reviewers below say: why do I still bother with the rest when I have it?...
Noticed and remarkable.
A dark unisex gem from the past that helps me to face the future, confident, at peace.
An issue? I intoxicate my colleagues and just don't care! I buy it directly from M's site in the 500 ml big bottle when it's available.
;-)

a blind-buy.

i love it!

spicy, powdery, floral but not too sweet and it has that vintage mark. i love the images it evokes in my head.

i think my 30ml bottle will go fast. good thing i'm not too far from grasse.

I know Habanita since 15 years now and it still surprises me. Every time. And this althugh I have about 6 bottles of unopened EDP last version before reformulation when eveybody was stocking up from Molinard's site when the new Habanita was announced, 2 opened bottles of various versions before that and 2 new ones. Knowing that a bottle lasts forever. If a nuclear war comes, I think I'm safe for a very long while in terms of Habanita reserves and probably still leave some for posterity. I wear it on and off in autumn and winter (I tried middle of hot summer and guess what - it''s equally fantastic although I much prefer it's warmth in winter) and every time I put it on I ask myself why do I even bother with other perfumes. It has a warmth like no other fragrance has, including Shalimar in perfume concentration (although they are not sisters at all!), same for the depth of the leather-dry (not juicy) sweet-light smoky notes, and clearly more than all In strength. All this for a price that, even increased for the new version, defies all competition. Niche fragrances should take notes here about how to do "extraordinary" and not so expensive when they do "not that great" and very expensive. I find the new Habanita lost a bit the impressive dry vetyver that came straight through the cigarette smoky leather and vanilla but gained in immediate warmth. In the old version the full warmth of the fragrance came after some few 30 min or so, maybe a bit more, in the new one after about 15. But, so beautiful, old or new. From where my frustration that after getting caught in all kinds of other attractions, ouds, roses, Guerlains and other Amouages it is enough to spray a drop of Habanita home or in a random Sephora (where Habanita is usually hidden on the lowest darkest dustiest shelfs), to say again "why even bother with the rest of them!"

This was a blindbuy because I couldn ´t get a sample. But the description and reviews made me want to try it. And I´m so happy that I did it.
I must admit that this is a very interesting fragrance, I´m quite impressed. I can´t describe it but it is a bit sweet, a bit spicy, a bit powdery. It is really delicate, sexy and feminine. It is perfectly blended. I think I love it every minute more and more. The bottle is simple gorgeous but luckily the perfume is not worse. I´ve just fallen in love. There is a lot of comparing with Shalimar, but for me there is no similarity. This is really an original.

I've no idea why this has to be just for women. It's so blatant, woody and spicy, only a real femme fatal would have 'the bottle' quite literally. I had a teeny-tiny, vintage bottle of the perfume years ago, long since emptied, the bottle can still be used as a room enhancer.

I bought my newer EDP from Molinard's store in Nice. Lovely to be treated to the 'histoire' and be able to chat scent. That was Summer 2014, a little goes a long way and a bottle lasts forever. Good to know I can buy it online, let's hope they're still making it in 20 years when I'll need a new one. The dark, opaque mostly matte bottle is beautiful, very in-keeping with the nature of its contents.

The Geranium is thoroughly entwined in wine-y (amber?) woody darkness like a curious innocent waking into an enchanted forrest. This is a scent that evolves slowly but the amber and wood never leave just as they will never leave you. This fragrance is not for common wall-flowers - or confined spaces. Love this sensuous spirit only if you dare.

Ok, Let me start again... haha... my review below was scatterbrained and emotional... which is totally my personality when I'm excited.

This is stunning. I want to stay married to Guerlain- my true love. My favorite children are Shalmiar and Vol de Nuit... but I'm gonna have a hot steamy affair with Habanita.... and who knows... maybe I'll leave my "family" for Habanita in the future. ;)

Fans of Shalimar should love this. They aren't the SAME but they def have the same delicious vintage flair, without being dated or old.

Habanita changed so much on me last night, into the morning, and then applied freshly today. This is so layered and interesting. It truly is beautiful.

Right off the bat, quicky... there is some aldehydes, animal funk, and then Habanita goes all over the place-- IN A GOOD WAY. I don't get "stages" per se... just changes like the flow of a beautiful river. It goes here, then there....

On clothing-- it lasts FOREVER and changes slowly. However, I don't find the sillage too overwhelming. After the opening, it hangs around the powder-- def more like a talc/makeup powder-- I don't get baby diapers or baby powder at all. Beautiful vintage makeup/lipstick. And while it's 60% powder in this stage, it's SMOKY and leathery with present woods and vanilla.

There is also this SWEET (super sweet) liquor/tobacco on my skin, placed in the crook of my arm/elbow. AMBERY, syrupy tobacco. It was super sweet-- so that may be the deal breaker for some. Not me tho. Bring it on!
That sweet tobacco then moves into smoky incense. While my clothes are powdery for 8 hours, this was the middle stage on skin.
The amber resin also comes across as dark fruit in a way... like raisins?

So, the way to wear this (for me) is some on skin and some on clothes. And then you are surrounded by the perfect cloud.

The next day clothing smell was the incense. (mind you, vanilla and woods are present this whole time, but never screaming) It almost hurts to wash this shirt because it still smells so beautiful. (Haha, my Sid Vicious mug shot tee shirt I sleep in... I'm still a punk rocker that loves vintage perfume)

I think I like this more than Shalimar... oh I'm so sorry Shalimar! I just can't help it. The heart (nose) wants what it wants!

I have a big vintage EDT coming. That is what credit cards are for. I shouldn't have... but again.... when it comes to love.... you do what you gotta do! Lose your head and try HABANITA! I got a new Tester (with a cap! YAY!) from ebay for $27 shipped, so this is a freakin STEAL.

UHHHH! I literally CAN NOT with this. It's too beautiful... so perfect. Wow.

I also get a rubbery smell.... kinda like Black Sugar (Aquolina)... but it's not bad at all.

And, I find the creamy waxy lipstick/face powder similar to Shalimar Parfum Intial... which makes me happy because I love SPI! <3

Whoa. What is this? It's a game changer, that's what.

Love!! Just blind bought today, having never sniffed the original.

This has to be moved into my top five. It's just.... so good!

Yes, it's powdery... but a smoky, leathery, woody powder vanilla. It smells vintage/classic but not old or dusty. It's got some sort of interesting aldehydes funk/animal thing going on at first... it's deeper than just powder. I love it.

I don't find it super potent... and so help me... I want a big EDT vintage now, or at least many backups of this EDP.

The powder rivals Guerlain in my opinion. Reminds me of a smoky woody leathery L'Instant Magic.

I get some spice too.

Hot Damn, I'm in love. Fans of Police Dark should try this.

Omg, worn on the crook of my arm, I get an uber sweet syrupy tobacco. I love love love this!!!!!

I had to try this perfume simply because of the lore... wondered how a saucy gal making bathtub gin might smell... figured really good. But... it's infuriating to me because it really does take you on a trip of unfolding smells. I really appreciate it... it might even be a masterpiece. I've been known to first be repulsed by a perfume and then somehow come to love it... but I'm not there yet? Here's why. The stages. I like a perfume to effortlessly go from one stage to the next... nuances of change... deepening or sparkling of scents... but still the same backbone. This one, for me, goes like this:
Stage 1: holy aldehydes... like I'm drowning in aldehyde and right before I die... I'm suddenly brought back wearing White Shoulders... what the heck? Where's the dark smoky beauty? But then...
Stage 2: here's the smoke. Like dirty bar smoke... with heavy rose perfume wearers lining the bar. Oh wait ...
Stage 3: someone let off a bomb in the bar. It was a baby powder bomb. We are all covered in it. (At this point I'm pouting because I didn't expect flappers to smell like this) and then... it's like I find the back room of the bar and ....
Stage 4: I'm wearing my flapper dress and nifty headband on a leather couch being fed creme brûlée off the finger of a man who looks like Rhett Butler and is smoking a cigar. Sexy sexy sexy ... can't stop smelling myself.
So. It's so good at the end. But I'm so impatient as a person anyway and the other stages are so much less appealing. I'm glad I have it... I'm not sure I'm the girl for it. But I definitely respect it.

Habanita is a wicked witch among perfumes. Structurally, this is a cross between Gloria Vanderbilt and Shalimar, but the very concept is more on the Poison by Dior side. Dark and mysterious scent. There is more of a leather then tobacco in it. Something for Maleficent to wear.

I swear, this makes me smell/feel like Phryne Fisher from Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries–and I can't think of a higher compliment. Very long lasting, good sillage. Just don't, like, bathe in the stuff... which you might be tempted to do. You'll knock people out, and not in the good way. Unless you're into that.

I don't have tremendous experience with powdery perfumes, but this is definitely on the "glamorous and mysterious yet somehow approachable" end of the spectrum.

I am convinced this perfume is a magic potion

It is not for women (or it is...but in an indirect way). Put a drop on your man's neck, under his ear, and you will go crazy. Sexy, powdery, profound,and dark as polished black column of marble. Every single woman who has smelled it, smells sex, but in an elegant masculine, refined manner. Fragances have no gender, not anymore. This is for both men and women. I use it to remember the smell in my husband's skin. Exquisite.

Pictures of the bottle do not do this one justice...the bottle really is breathtaking...as for the juice, I like this...it's very, very, very powdery...vanilla baby powder with a touch of spice...classic, clean, definite a mature perfume from another era...

You learn as you go with perfume. I liked this, right up to the moment after wearing it for 2 hours I realised I smelt like an ashtray. Man, I wanted to buy into this so bad. The history, the bottle, I mean cummon FLAPPERS!! But alas tobacco is not for all of us and I sent it to the great eBay in the sky.

I was scared of this for a while, as I thought it will be an overly loud, sweet and 'old' musky scent.

Wow, how wrong I was. A beautiful, sexy smell, classy. Strong and just one of a kind. It is heavy and smoky though. On my skin vanilla, amber, powder and vetiver are the main players, a little smoky leather in the drydown.

It is meant for a strong, sexy and very confident woman, mature, but not old. Extravagant, breathtaking and so feminine. I am in love.

Lasting power and projection are amazing and the bottle is gorgeous as well.

Un parfum qui confirme l'expression "Less is More".
Il est parfait à petites doses, dans le cou ou sous la chemise, et dure toute la journée. Il semble s'être évanoui et puis un coup de chaud, un mouvement, et c'est une évidence, il est toujours bien là, mais c'est peut-être une autre de ses multiples facettes qui vient se faire sentir.
Molinard a réussi le challenge de moderniser sa pièce maîtresse sans (se) trahir, là où tant de marques en viennent à se discréditer à forces de reformulations aux normes toujours plus strictes de l'IFRA, de Bruxelles et de la rentabilité marketing emballée dans des discours qui ne tiennent pas la route plus de dix minutes.
Et, en plus, ce petit bijou est peu porté (quasi inconnu en Belgique en tout cas) et plutôt abordable.
Parfaitement unisexe, pour caractère affirmé, de jour comme de nuit, sous les draps ou au bureau... Et sa Cologne la complète très bien pour les beaux jours ou vaporisée sur les vêtements.

Habanita. Baby powder, mixed with vanilla, mixed with Amber?? It's not bad by any stretch. I do like it. I want to say it's the new formula because my last bottle was a scrubber without redeeming quality. Drydown is all powder and a resin. I can't catch leather, though I wanted it so badly. As with the incense I crave. No dice. The hype is as enormous as the silage. Try before you buy. This one's not for everybody.

EDIT...I have worn this almost every day since purchase. It's so easy to wear. I still stand by my original opinion that's it's not for everyone. Not everyone loves powder, which is THE standout note.

God, this is really good. When I first smelled it I was really sad because it was so SHARP and...jabby? It was like stepping on a burr. But then it dried down for a mere minute and it was powdery, woodsy heaven, and I am buying a bottle immediately.

If they still scented cigarettes with this I would take up smoking again in a second. It's vanilla and powder but it's for a woman, not a girl. If you like sweet vanilla perfumes, turn away, cause this bad bitch ain't for you. Weirdly, this is more of a Bad Bitch perfume to me than Bandit is, because the powder and vanilla remind me of a heavily made up flapper in the twenties, but one who's been up dancing, smoking, and drinking with the dudes in a wooden humidor for hours. She's the lady who "entertained" Prohibition business men, this is something Zelda Fitzgerald would have worn.

I love it. Buy it, if you like smoke and woods and vanillics and powders just buy it - it isn't too expensive it's truly a piece of history, reformulations be damned! THIS smells like the 20's!

EDIT: I brought a sample of this, SL MKK, and Bandit on a trip and I wore this the most. It seems pretty versatile and I had no problem wearing this to work.

Attempting a review of Habanita, in whatever concentration, is like trying to describe Greta Garbo's beauty, or, more fittingly, Amelia Earhart or Mata Hari. Strong, haunting women who could command a room, a plane, the secret service, an alcove, the universe.

Impossible to forget the start of Habanita in 1921, a perfume designed to go well with cigars and women smokers (NOT a perfume which smells of cigars/cigarettes/smoke, NB this is very important as the perfume name is somehow misleading) , like a complementary aroma to the tobacco lover or the frequenter of tobacco-filled speakeasies or bars. A perfume from another time.

I have worn on and off as a "signature" perfume all of Habanita's versions I could find: vintage EDC, vintage EDT, modern EDT, pure parfum, and this latest EDP.
Without delving into the minute detail of each formulation, suffice to say that this modern EDP has been fine tuned to a modern nose, but only just. The mother of all orientals is still there with her alluring, make-people-faint headturning scent.

In Susan Irvine's underestimated Perfume Guide, where perfumes are graded according to strength, Habanita is the last one: the strongest, the one that turns it all up to 11.

Old advertisement of the time when it was created said it was "the most persistent perfume in the world".

The EDT and EDC have a sharper opening which to me is equally pleasant, before settling happily into oriental comfort.

I had men literally kneel at my feet smelling this. People stopping me in the street. Elbow nudging at the cinema. Women saying I was taking up all the attention by wearing this. But also: people being overwhelmed, or feeling like it was just too much, too unsettling.

If one could have imagined what Cleopatra must have smelled like, this was probably it.

This is a perfume that definitely does not go unnoticed.

An oriental in its purest sense, abstract from all the notes it is a sum of , which is also why it's hard to pinpoint any one of them. It could be the geranium, or the Madagascan vanilla making an appearance, but its combination of sharp, comforting and downright HOT notes defies any description.

A perfume you only need one drop to last you for days.

The scent of a seductress, who also turns out to be a PhD in astrophysics, a Michelin star chef and an award winning artist.

This is the scent of power in female form.

I was looking for my new smoky oriental for quite some time, and now I have Habanita.
It is not as smoky-incensed as I wished it to be (though I feel and really enjoy the mastic layer), but oh... she doesn't need to be, because she has me, and - thanks to Fragrantica - I've got head over heals.

I haven't tried the vintage EDT, so I can't talk about it, but all the reviewers who wrote that this version (reformulated, EDP) of Habanita didn't lose the vintage feel, are absolutely right.

Habanita is smooth, incredibly warm and aromatic, quite powdery (and I fall for heliotrope-powdery orientals) and divinely leathery.

In fact, Habanita's aromatic leather “bought” me.

It is the most beautiful kind of leather: high-class leather, very firm but at the same time very soft, and with some “worn” feel to it - like some worn vintage leather is kept for a long, long time in unopened wooden box with vanilla, mastic, powder and some fine, unrefined naturally dried tobacco leaves on a side.

In the drydown, Habanita is soooo deep, rich and divinely rounded, without being too much, or too loud, and also somehow warmly soft on my skin.
Absolutely wearable.

There should be some other word for orientals like Habanita, some which won't have "east" (orient) in it, some which will embrace tobacco, leather, and skin complex - Habanita is just that marvellous.

I'm so looking forward to winter months, but I'll test it on a warmer weather too.

I'm in love.

* LOVE
* longevity: very long lasting (12+ hours)
* silage: moderate (arms lenght, at least, but thickly)
* weather/season/time: Moderately cold to cold. I wear it form late autumn until the first days of spring. Day. Night. Casual to formal.

I love the top notes but quickly after it reminds me to
Agua Brava that my great-uncle had when I was little, which in my oinion is awful. It only reminds me of it so I can still see its appeal, but I can't get past the Agua Brava vibe.

A female assasin.
Dark, potent, strong, sexual, deadly.

For some unknown reason, Fragrantica keeps putting my reviews under guest. The review below is once again, mine.

Habanita is gorgeous dark and powdery. The top notes are divine and quite floral. The vanilla-vetiver accord in the base dominates and I am glad it does. Good overall performance!

Habanita EdP smells quite nice when sprayed in the air: sweet vintage powder with a smoky touch. However, my skin turns it into a disaster and all I get is a bitter explosion of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). I'm sad to say that it's pretty much unwearable for me. The performance appears to be good, though.

What a masterpiece! How dark and sensual but still powdery and light.. I am in love! Best blind buy ever!

Welcome, Habanita, I`ve heard so much about you! Your bottle is a piece of art, your character is dark and wild and louder than me but somehow I am totally in love with you.

This was a very pleasant surprise! A just because gift, my favorite kind! I opened the wrap to a fragrance I had never heard of. Open the box and pulled out the most beautiful bottle. Very intriguing matt black glass that almost looks like an actual stone carving. I sprayed the fragrance in all my usual places 4 sprays in all... immediately I'm in love with this... how can that be? Soft around the edges, but dark, smoky and sensual at the core Habanita EDP is an experience. I have never come across anything quite like this fragrance. Absolutely divine from the start and all through the dry down and it lasts and lasts. Thank you my love for this beautiful experience called Habanita!

Habanita Poudree Seche

A reformulation done right, this stuff is awesome. I liked the original Habanita, as a reference perfume, but mostly it smelled like rubber cement + fresh band aids on me. I couldn't get past the rubber bandaids part, and the original perfume remained in the reference category (ie interesting but unwearable) until I swapped it.

Anyway I swapped again for the new Habanita, and this is a Habanita done right. This is dark, dirty, animalic, sexy stuff. It lasts forever with 3 sprays and it is extremely affordable. It is a perfect mix of old school sass with new age niche snobby sensibility.

Overriding this all is powder. Dark dry skanky powder overrides everything. On the topnotes I smell powder paired with a fresh pair of patent leather shoes. The drydown is slow, and occasionally I can smell, among the fading patent leather, a strong incense note that weaves in and out, a faraway burning resinous amber, a seductive spicy nutmeg, a hint of honeyed rose, and then a pure vanilla.

The drydown is pure skanky/sexy dry powder, patent leather, woods, incense, and vanilla. It is so...of the skin, worn in, no deodorant, fleshy, scantily clad, Habanita. There it is.

Very nice, but I can't help thinking of Kanon Norwegian Wood...the sandalwood/vanilla thing...or is it me?

It's... how do I even begin to describe this? I am currently sniffing the 2012 version after leaving it to dry on paper overnight. First off, the bottle is very appropriate - this scent reads pitch black to me. When I first sprayed it yesterday I remember thinking that it smelled like straight up tar, now, I am getting associations of gasoline, new car seats, rubber, burnt plastic, chili, liquorice, salmiac, cinnamon... at the same time there is this refined vanillic ambery sweetness to it that is incredibly moreish, and I keep smelling it just to try to figure out what the hell is going on in this one.

It's a love.

This is very dark,mysterious & addicting...I don't know why I like it so much,its like a chalky powdery smoke of incense, with vanilla but like the powder of makeup,its like a sweet smoke if that makes any sense,also I get a greeness from flower stems but in a well blended way,the longevity is amazing, it lasts & lasts.It would be perfect to wear to a costume party,it reminds me of a party,sweet&smoky,like It lures you in like a spell&your supposed to stay away&can't,I don't know when I'm supposed to wear it yet I want to,its like one of those perfumes, I own because I liked the bottle&also vintage,yet I find this addicting&weird,mysterious.Its like a spell in a bottle stay away lol

I purchased this out of curiosity and great hope---I wanted to know how it would stack up to my eau de toilette of Habanita that I have and adore---and my great hope is that I'd be getting another gem to add to my collection.
I am not disappointed. This is glorious. Warm, ambery, powdery (but not overly so). There's no leather in the note matrix and I don't get as much leathery vibe as I did from the EDT--but it's just as amazing. Sweet and still has that smoky feel. And a bit of woody vetiver in there mixing with the heliotrope, giving a bite to the creaminess of it. One spray is all you need for hours of wear. This is a timeless treasure and I love it.

Habanita is a fragrance of time, but more importantly, of place. Or places. And things. Places and things the "hoi polloi" could not know, could not afford. Therefore, it's a fragrance of social status, and one that predates the Roaring 20s. It has strong Victorian roots.

It arises from experiences and the material things that only the most wealthy could afford. Vanderbilts, Astors, who predate the "liberated" females of the 20s. That particular class were "liberated" by incredible wealth well prior.

This is a fragrance of mansions built with imported stone complete with ballrooms. Gentlemen's clubs to which the ladies were invited during the day, if accompanied. Of smoking rooms, first-class steamship cruises and the exotic places they took one to. Of new automobiles and driving gloves. Of lipstick, face powders and rouge that was scandalous to the lower and middle classes.

Habanita, like the "old money" that brought us the Industrial Revolution, was ahead of its time. There are strong hints at what was to follow: Je Riviens, Tabu, Bandit, Bal a Versailles, even Ambush.

So, to me, this was and is the smell of money and all that it could buy at that time. The fragrance is not modern by any measure of the fragrances of today. But neither is it frankly dated. Is it timeless? Possibly. Because it evokes the passage of time, if that makes any sense.

This is a bit of a conundrum. Ok, so Habanita has been recreated but I still feel that I am getting a glimpse into another era when I inhale it on my wrist. I use the word "glimpse" deliberately. If you are on this site, you are by definition sensitive to the evocative power of scent. it conjures up emotions, moments from our emotional history. Habanita lets me see into a time and place before I was born, and I can't explain why, but there's a visual component to this. Here's what I get from Habanita:
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There is a whiff of tobacco in the mix. It isn't like someone smoking next to you, it's more like being in a room where someone was smoking earlier, and I can see her shiny black bob, her emerald flapper dress trimmed with black lace and her long jade earrings swinging either side of her face as she bends to put the needle into the groove and dances a few steps to the ragtime rhythm of the gramophone. There is a powderiness as she reaches into her tiny leather purse for her compact, and as she dances, cloves and woods breathe from her skin and mingle with powder and the leather, and the smoke from the cigarette in her long jet holder.

But, but, but ... the vanilla is too sweet for me. The clove, the incense, the balsamic notes and the woods are marvellous. I don't get the floral notes at all. The powdery notes really work for me. If only it wasn't so sweet.

I had an interesting experience at work with Habanita that reminded me just how much human beings are subconsciously affected by scent. I adore vintage perfumes. I have worn Mitsouko and Vol de Nuit for years. My current favourite is Baghari. So maybe people around me have become accustomed to a certain style of perfume when I walk into a room. I have only just bought Habanita and I had it delivered to my office. On the day I first got it, late in the day, hours after I had tried it, a colleague appeared in my doorway. "I knew you were still here when I came onto this floor because I could smell your perfume". This from the most prosaic of men and he DIDN'T mean I'd drenched myself in enough to float a battleship.

It's the trait others have commented on: Habanita lingers. When you walk into the room, you know she was there and her presence still whispers to you. You might not like everything about her, but this is a fully-formed personality, an undeniable presence, and whether I like it or not a colleague thought it was MY presence. So I don't think I have a choice on this one - I have to learn to live with her.

Habanita... i still cannot tame you!
You are strong-charactered and particular. One of those who never sacrifice wisdom to diplomacy. You like to dance and smoke. And when you laugh... everyone stops in awe and starts laughing too. This is who you are - loud and strong, you fill the whole room with your presence, you are a statement of self-sufficiency! I hope I can approach you one day, but just not yet...

New version. Incredibly good. I think I must like old fashioned perfumes, because I find this scent delicious.
I get something like amber incense (I think), and vanilla, and patchouli? Turning to floral after an hour or so
If it was designed to scent cigarettes I think people must have been constantly taking a cig out the box just to inhale the smell

I sprayed this on my skin eight hours ago and can still smell it, that's what I call staying power

This is extremely powdery. The Vanilla is just a touch sweet but mostly powder. The original formulation had a much sweeter Vanilla. There's a hint of smoke and leather but nothing like the original. This is more of a powdery make up scent, like the leather in jolie madam. The original is much stronger, like smoking in a dark bar with leather seats. This formula is more polite, like a lady putting makeup on before slipping on leather gloves.

I could not be happier! I had a couple of years ago the older version but swapped it out only to regret it almost immediately. The only problem I had with the older formulation was that it lasted MAYBE an hour. Not only does the "reformulation" smell just as good but OMG! I have had it on since yesterday about 5 pm and its 3 pm and I still smell it! Thank you Molinard. I will always love you!

When I ordered this from ljshopping.com, I selected the older bottle EDT and was shipped the EDP, newer bottle. So, I tried it anyway...it's a Molinard...how wrong can it get? On initial spray, it's a STRONG woodsy floral, but I LIKE it! Then comes the leather (YUM!) and the soft, floral powder. It's BEAUTIFUL!!! Best mistake, EVER! Definite KEEPER!

My go to fragrance. Daily wear for me, although I don't consider this my signature. It's superb.

Sweet resin, spice, amber, herbs, woods, powder, flowers, smoke, and all the dark sultry stuff you can find on earth, mixed into a bottle, give you Habanita. I purchased the EDP after reading your reviews that it was a good reformulation, and was relieved that in order to try this scent, I didn't always have to seek the older formulation sitting around for years.

It is a deep, complex, and lovely perfume, and I have worn it several dozens of times, but I can't seem to form an emotional connection with it. It just doesn't put a spark in my brain. (This would have been perfect to wear to a swanky bar with dark paneling and red lights! Oh, well, I don't go to those places anymore anyway.) Plus it doesn't stay on my skin all that long, just a few hours. I guess there is a lack of chemistry between us. It happens with people, so I guess it can happen with perfume.

Habanita EdP opens with sharp resins and a bit of petitgrain. I also smell sweet nutmeg. The scent turns sweeter and I smell ylang as well. The scent becomes powdery, I smell jasmine and heliotrope. The mastic resins are still there, they are moving to the base of this scent now. They are still quite harsh and power up the scent at this point. After half an hour, the scent changes again and becomes very sweet on me. The resins have now moved completely to the background and the focus is on the sweeter notes of this perfume, sweet and very dark. A mix of cedar, sandalwood and patchouli gives the scent a lot of power underneath the powdery sweetness of vanilla and vanillin. It even smells a bit smoky and leathery to me.

Performance is awesome on me. Sillage is moderate to heavy, longevity long. Don't overspray, a little goes a long way.

Totally hooked on this scent, wow! I love the complexity, the changes it undergoes as it develops, the sweetness of the vanilla powder, the harshness of the resins, the spices. Everything. And the bottle, lovely black matte with Lalique design, beautiful! Habanita is a lady with an edge. My new favorite.

It is really complex perfume, for my nose it is a mixture of Mitsouko, Shalimar and Black by Bvlgari. A bit harsh at the opening, that might not everyone's taste...but if you give this time to develop, you will find one of the most beautiful powdery note, and I really thanks to my friend who gave me this!

EDIT: this is beautiful btw. i don't think i mentioned that in my review from a while back:

they're in the church, at the wedding and she sniffs as she opens her new soft leather bag to retrieve his cotton hanky engraved with H.
Habanita is the inside of her new leather handbag into which has been tipped her grandma's powder compact and some red lipstick, half a packet of custard creams, a vanilla ice cream wrapper and her husband's old tie.
they are treating the new fence outside with creosote and in it wafts through an open window as the couple up front say their vows.
...new leather, makeup powder, creamy vanilla, a wellworn man tie and wood tar...and did i mention the big brown poodle waiting in the entrance with saw dust in his wool?...he sniffs the air and creosote, brushes the potted geranium with his tail, licks his chops remembering the wrapper and jangles his leather dog leash, which smells of his owner's Habanita and the whole thing begins all over again......
"i do" they say.
and there she is again...Habanita is the veil of inside the vintage car they climb into, a bouquet of colourful flowers adorning the back windowsill wilting in the sun, decades of bridal powdery perfumes, and a panting poodle on hot leather seats....as the oily engine starts up and off they go....

i am on the creosoted fence on this one...as it is far from my original EDT. but i think i like it a lot.
and yes, i agree with HeavyBeatsUK......this is INTENSIVE leather on powder.
leather should be in the notes here.

The first thing I smell in this is leather. I'm surprised it's not in the notes list. It seems to be strong rubbery leather sitting in a pile of powder. Someone recommended this as a baby powder scent but I would not say this smells like baby powder because of the leather smell.

This is the perfume I wear in a special mood, it's for those times I want to spend some time with myself alone, to sit still and listen to the silence. It takes some time to really appreciate this perfume, for this is complex, unique, mysterious and even saint. For me there's something spiritual in this scent. Like you entered an empty church, the candle flames are burning slowly without moving, the sun rays come through the colorful vitrails, and there are flowers in tall glass vases on the altar or next to it. There's been a church service, and you feel some light, aromatic, very subtle and expensive encens lingering in the air. And that church transforms into an artistic creation, a performance. And it's not connected with any religion at all.
The opening can be described as a quite strong vetiver and vanilla mixture with something balsamic, earthy, aromatic ( now I know it's mastic). In about 5 minutes it settles down and my soul starts celebrating - a well rounded, soft, unusual and feminine combination of already mentioned ingredients + subtle, fresh flowers touches my nose. I smell some aromatic powder... not like an usual cosmetics scent, but something more, something noble.
The base -expensive, slightly burnt woods with some flower notes left over from the heart stage, soft, mild roses and dark vanilla, nothing sweet here, but so, so tempting, so very attractive, even cozy and sometimes sinfully sensual too. A mystery. Long lasting, changing all the time, something to discover over and over.
Today it's foggy, I went for a walk and sprayed this on my silk scarf. The fog, this perfume, the whispering and invisible (because of that fog) Baltic sea, me and my thoughts. My sanctuary.

After reading much about Molinard's Habanita I decided to give it ago. However, as a perfume purist I knew I that it could only be the vintage version. Luckily, I scored a clear, flat glass bottle, with the flat glass stopper, usually attributed to the wartime 40s, embossed with the M and laurel wreath. It really wasn't anything like I expected it to be.

The opening is heavy and sweet on my skin. Dark, thick vanilla plays the most prominent role. Within a few minutes a herbal, medicinal quality rises, like syrupy cough mixture. Slowly tobacco blooms, but the tobacco of freshly rolled unlit cigars. I get the merest suggestion of soft, buttery leather on occasion. The heart opens as a warm spicy, ambery incense, undulating with the vanilla. Sweetness remains but more tempered now, languid and sultry. It reminds me vaguely of vintage Shocking, where the honey is replaced by vanilla.

I like it - a lot and will wear it. But nothing will replace my signature - Shocking. I'd love this more if it had a real skank factor. It needs a heavy dose of civet to really vamp it up. It's a little too genteel. May be I started on the wrong foot. Vintage Bandit was my first leather fragrance and nothing can compare to that dry beast.

The dry down is gorgeous spicy vanilla, warm and comforting. To my mind this is not a leather fragrance, but it is a damn good vanilla, not gourmandy but rich, warm and languorous.

For some reason I picture Marlene Dietrich singing "I'm the Laziest Girl in Town" whenever I smell this.