Habanita

These woods come mainly from the Orient and were used very early in the history of perfumery, notably by the Egyptians. Over time, certain fragrances established themselves as references in this category. Such is precisely the case of Habanita by Molinard, a juice built on vetiver with a slightly “garçonne” effect.

The evolutions of the Habanita fragrance through the ages

Habanita is an ancestral fragrance that has built the reputation of the house Molinard across the entire planet since its first composition, in 1921. Originally, it was a rather tenacious and sustained fragrance, conceived to soften the unpleasant smell of tobacco. Moreover, its dilution was not the same at the time and Habanita was then sold exclusively as an extrait de parfum. Women used to soak their cigarettes with it before smoking. This fragrance was not offered as a perfume proper until a few years later, in 1924. Moreover, its slogan at the time praised its merits in this form: Habanita was “the most tenacious fragrance in the world.” Since 1970, the renown of Habanita has grown further through the creation of various derivative products. Likewise, it is from that period that it truly expanded its television advertising campaigns. Its original form, however, was slightly modified in 1988 by the company Roure Bertrand Dupont. Habanita thus became an even more woody fragrance. Nevertheless, since 2012, Molinard has chosen to relaunch Habanita as it originally was. Likewise, its bottle is at least as famous as its formula. Now entirely lacquered in black, it has kept the shape of the motifs designed by the company Lalique during the 1930s. This motif appears on a frieze and gives this fragrance a historic dimension.

The striking fragrance of Habanita

If Habanita has been able to endure through the ages without ever aging, it is simply because it is a fragrance that resembles no other. At first, it may indeed surprise with its spicy, smoky and coppery heaviness. Nevertheless, this first impression is refreshed by a floral accord of jasmine dew as well as by the lightness of a Cologne. Likewise, after a few hours, Habanita leaves behind a more oriental and ambery sillage. Its breath skillfully blends the scent of vetiver, vanilla and patchouli. Many liken its scent to that of Armenian paper, minus the sweet and gourmand side. Habanita is a timeless fragrance that one never tires of rediscovering. Thus, it is not without reason that it has delighted knowledgeable perfume consumers for nearly a century.