WHAT I SMELL: Habanita has a dramatic opening that is glowingly sweetened, with a blast of fruit followed quickly by a warming floral mix that is highlighted by lilac and rose. The perfume is so deliciously inviting as it seems to envelops the wearer. Habanita has a sweet edge to it, but it’s not a perfume that I would categorize as sweet. Maybe because as it develops the dryness of the oakmoss, the fresh tobacco and sheen of leather tone down the higher pitched notes. As the perfume settles down, the various notes even out creating this incredible balance between the spice, florals and woody notes. Habanita is sexy without being dangerous, but it draws you in making you want more.
From the Molinard website:
1921 – Habanita was born in the exuberance of the Roaring Twenties. With trailblazing spirit, Molinard revolutionized perfume codes, creating the first women’s Oriental fragrance featuring vetiver, an essence hitherto reserved for men. From perfume extract to the essence of the femme fatale, Habanita’s innovative style was eagerly embraced by the garçonnes- France’s flappers – and soon became Molinard’s runaway success and an icon in the history of French perfume.
Top notes are orange blossom, raspberry, peach and bergamot; middle notes are lilac, orris root, jasmine, heliotrope, ylang-ylang and rose; base notes are leather, amber, musk, benzoin, vanilla, oakmoss and cedar.
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Cyd Charisse
THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE HABANITA: whirling, energetic, dynamic
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT HABANITA: Fragrance Daily, Yesterday’s Perfume, Grain de Musc
BOTTOM LINE: Habanita is one of a kind. It’s the kind of perfume that I crave. Unique, beautiful, radiant…I can’t imagine not owning a bottle.
- Bone Rating: 5 out of possible 5 bones
- Scent: Oriental
- Classification: To me this is perfectly unisex
- Expense: Review based on the vintage parfum extrait version. Prices vary on eBay, etc.
The Scented Hound 
February 27, 2017 at 5:23 am
I only have the modern version. It’s powdery to me but I’m okay with powdery for the most part. There is another perfume that goes powdery on me that is testing my limits though, but I digress… I used to spray Habanita on Stanley when he was a puppy. As with most perfumes, I imagine the vintage was much more interesting.
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February 27, 2017 at 5:49 am
I could see how this could go powdery…maybe the modern version’s oakmoss synthetic makes it that way? I have no doubt that powder or not, Stanley was the best smelling puppy around 🙂
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February 27, 2017 at 7:35 am
This is -amazingly- a perfume I have never tried, but then it always seemed so stately and static that I (who fidget) could never get away with it.
However, this review may make me change my mind on this classic. Whirling sounds so much better than fidgeting. Thank you.
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February 27, 2017 at 5:55 pm
I don’t think of this as stately at all…beautiful yes, stately no. You must give it a whirl 🙂
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February 27, 2017 at 8:28 am
Just subscribed to their newsletter .
Thanks you.
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February 27, 2017 at 10:59 am
I just finished reading The Perfume Lover, which I really enjoyed. That experience has left me very eager to try Habanita. And now this review. It’s a sign.
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February 27, 2017 at 5:56 pm
I am drawn to those signs too that make me go out an explore new perfumes…go forth with my blessing!
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February 27, 2017 at 1:15 pm
Ooh yes, another Habanita fan here! Vintage extrait, you say? That sounds divine.
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February 27, 2017 at 5:56 pm
Divine like you my dear 🙂
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February 28, 2017 at 3:09 am
I tried EdP, most likely, a modern version. I wanted to like it because I liked the bottle – but the opening was unpleasant on my skin. Most likely, parfum wouldn’t work for me either but it’s impressive to see the rating. Now you have to keep wearing it – before you change your mind 🙂
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February 28, 2017 at 5:14 am
I will NEVER change my mind on this! But I do have to be in the right mood to wear it. 🙂
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February 28, 2017 at 11:47 am
🙂
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February 28, 2017 at 10:59 pm
I love this, love it -and have been craving it again recently. That vanilla/ vetiver/ tobacco……so moreish and fantastic.
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March 4, 2017 at 6:59 am
Funny, I go through cravings as well. Mitsouko has been my craving for the last 6 months though. This makes a nice break from that.
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March 4, 2017 at 9:06 pm
I am obsessed, OBSESSED! With Vol De Nuit. I know the feeling! You wouldn’t believe how much vintage Mitsouko is knocking around in Japan. You would be in heaven. What strength do you wear it in?
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March 5, 2017 at 6:23 am
I love the parfum extriat and I have an vintage cologne as well which really is exquisite…i have the modern EdP which actually gets tiresome to me though. So is there a ton of vintage Vol de Nuit in Japan as well?
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March 29, 2019 at 1:22 am
I love the vintage cologne (small bottle with black cap) but can’t stand the modern edp. I hate the pins and needles vibe that runs throughout the fragrance. What is that anyway? Is it supposed to be Molinard’s interpretation of leather? I’m baffled!
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