Habanita by Molinard: the essence of Havana, was launched in 1921. Interestingly, the fragrance was first created to perfume cigarettes, which was a fad during the 1920s. Other companies such as Bourjois also had perfume for cigarettes as well with their Ashes of Roses scent. The idea behind perfuming cigarettes was to cover up the stale smell of the smoke as well as make it more enjoyable, especially to women.
San Diego Magazine, 1980:
Habanita, the very name suggests a woman from Havana. One could perfume her cigarettes either with a small sachet that could be tucked neatly into the pack itself or a liquid which could be applied to the cigarette itself. The popularity of the scent drove Molinard to create a perfume so that the woman could apply the scent to herself. The perfume reportedly is composed up of over 600 different ingredients.
As was the trend back then to ascribe a fragrance to a woman's physical traits, Habanita was recommended to be worn by brunettes.
San Diego Magazine, 1980:
"Paving the way for unisex was La Habanita by Molinard. In the early 1930s, reports Seftor Gonzalez, a class act for a gentleman smoking a Havana-Havana in a restaurant or other public place was to put a drop of La Habanita on the cigar. This rendered the smoke inoffensive-a gesture many of us would appreciate still."
Habanita, the very name suggests a woman from Havana. One could perfume her cigarettes either with a small sachet that could be tucked neatly into the pack itself or a liquid which could be applied to the cigarette itself. The popularity of the scent drove Molinard to create a perfume so that the woman could apply the scent to herself. The perfume reportedly is composed up of over 600 different ingredients.
As was the trend back then to ascribe a fragrance to a woman's physical traits, Habanita was recommended to be worn by brunettes.
Fragrance Composition:
So what does it smell like? It is classified as a warm and ambery oriental fragrance for women. Hot and ambery. I believe that the notes shown below are for the original scent.
- Top notes: bergamot, peach, vetiver, raspberry, orange blossom and strawberry
- Middle notes: Grasse jasmine, orris, ylang ylang, heliotrope, Oriental rose and lilac
- Base notes: vetiver, Penang pachouli, Indian sandalwood, Tonkin musk, Tahitian vanilla, ambergris, benzoin, leather, oakmoss and cedar
Habanita made use of some aromachemicals, namely, vetiveryl acetate, coumarin and methyl ionone.
"Habanita by Molinard: Warm. Dominant note: amber. For brunettes."
Bottles:
Presented in several different flacons, the most famous being ‘Beauty’ by René Lalique et Cie, a crystal bottle with a sculptured frieze of caryatids. This bottle can be found in opaque black glass, frosted glass with applied patinas or entirely gilded.
Also in a flacon named ‘Diamond’ made by Cristalleries de Baccarat in 1934.
From a 1949 Molinard catalog:
"This splendid perfume blends differently, but ever harmoniously, with each person who wears it. Its tenacity, its peculiar personality are legendary. Flacon cristal Baccarat en coffret luxe."
Fate of the Fragrance:
Discontinued (date unknown).
In 1988, Habanita was reformulated by Roure and relaunched as a woody oriental fragrance.
Discontinued (date unknown)
In 2005, Habanita was reformulated again with modern ingredients and relaunched as part of Molinard's Molinard Collection 1849.
The eau de parfum was launched in 2012.
- Top notes: mastic, petit grain and geranium
- Middle notes: ylang-ylang, heliotrope, vetiver, jasmine, mimosa, Centifolia rose, nutmeg from Java and Virginian cedar
- Base notes; musk, ambergris, patchouli, Mysore sandalwood, oakmoss and Madagascar vanilla.
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