Café Tabac

I recently bought a sample of this while on the hunt for a tobacco fragrance after I first experienced Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille. That was a pretty good and interesting fragrance though I was a bit put off by the price and at the time, though I believe it is a bit cheaper right now. It's also a bit of a tougher wear due to it's projection, but I liked the scent and thought to scour around for the best one. And what do you know, Bertrand Duchafour had a recently release offering available to try so I decided to pick one up On to my sample; when I got Cafe Tabac, I expected it to be too sweet and too quirky for my liking. I also expected a coffee note considering the name "Cafe Tabac" as smoking at a cafe was considered more common in the US and even around the world a while back, but there is none to be found. I'm aware that in other languages/cultures, a "cafe" can actually refer to a drinking bar. So I'll assume that that's the origin of the name. As for the scent and sweetness, there are a LOT of fruits in here along with the standard cacao and vanilla notes you see in these types of tobacco fragrances. Luckily for my liking, it's not actually too sweet. The scent opens with slight wafts of unlit tobacco before being superseded by cacao and fruits. For the first 1-1.5hrs the fruits hold the most prominence in the scent profile. You can clearly pick out the fig, apple, and mango in right around that order of strength. The dates last the longest through this period, but are also the most subtle. I'll admit that the tamarind was hardest for me to pick out. Again you'd think the fruits would go a ways toward making this smell gourmand-y, but along with the bergamot they keep the scent fresh and interesting during this initial period. It's definitely not the sweetest scent I've ever tried. After the first 1.5hrs the fruits recede and become a background note, while the honey, sugars, and vanilla pull forward. They're present without being overly strong and they provide the majority of the sweetness for the remainder of the life of the fragrance. The most interesting aspect of this fragrance is it's evolution. From here the harsher notes of the tobacco, birch tar, peru balsam come forth. And as if crossing in different directions, these darker notes grow stronger and the previously mentioned sweet notes inversely die down. From about hour 3 onwards, this fragrance has just about completed it's evolution. You're left with surprisingly dense and dark tobacco as if you're now holding lightly smoldering cigar. This tobacco is not harsh, acrid, or smoky, and the cacao, vanilla, and honey now serve as the background with the fruit notes gone completely. Project and sillage are strong, but not massive like Tobacco Vanille. This fragrance lasts around 10hrs, longer on clothes as tobacco fragrances typically do. Cafe Tabac is the most realistic smelling tobacco without being harsh and astringent. And though it initially takes a back seat for about 2-3hrs, the tobacco is still the star of this fragrance showing that Cafe Tabac balanced with an incredible level of care. I haven't tried every tobacco fragrance, and I may yet try a few more, but it looks very likely that I will own a bottle of this Cafe Tabac come winter. To me, it's the best tobacco fragrance of what I've tried so far. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Slight aside as this is just me venting. Stop wasting your time commenting how some "x fragrance is just the same as y" It's totally useless information that helps no one. They clearly do not smell the same. Comment what you think of the fragrance, whether you think one is better or worse, or whatever. But saying one is the same just makes you look dumb.

The description of the fragrance written by Aedes de Venustas is worth reading as it provides historical background on the name, the spirit and various locations and notes that went into its creation. Although the description is poetically nostalgic and a bit "see how cool we are" it still provides useful information. The scent itself is quite good, one of the better of the tobacco fragrances I own or have tried. There is a bit of resemblance to Opus XIV – Royal Tobacco by Amouage, but disagree with those who think it is similar to Dior’s Tobacolor. The latter is much lighter. Café Tabac, as almost everything says, starts out as a beast. Strong from the first spray. This dissipates pretty quickly but it is worth knowing. In any case, the fragrance contains quite a few notes that begin to blend in after the strong blast of tobacco. I would say that those who are looking for a strong coffee note will be disappointed. The name of the perfume is a bit misleading since it is named after a NYC bar. There is a slight hint of coffee, but it is the burnt sugar, tonka bean, birch tar and dates that add to its early oomph. The fruit notes are a subtle touch and add some lightness that make it less of a masculine fragrance tha some might expect. It has moderate silage strong longevity and develops over time. It’s more suited to evenings. It can be worn throughout the year, but I see it more as a cool weather scent despite it tropical inspiration. I encourage anyone who loves tobacco scents to at least sample this one.

Café Tabac is another triumph from Aedes de Venustas, following Iris Nazarena and Copal Azur. At its heart, it is a tobacco fragrance, pipe tobacco to be precise, rendered with striking realism and balance. The tobacco feels rich and textured. Its sweetness is beautifully rounded and never overwhelming, and both longevity and sillage are excellent, perfectly matching the scent’s depth and confidence. It’s a bold and multi-layered fragrance that tells a story of its own. Maybe I’m a little biased by the brand’s narrative, but I can easily picture the warm, amber-lit atmosphere of a New York bar as the night winds down, smoke in the air, laughter fading, and a soft sweetness lingering. Aedes de Venustas may not be known for narrative scents, yet Café Tabac paints that scene with impressive clarity. Now to the inevitable question: does it smell like Tobacco Vanille? In the same way that every pineapple fragrance gets called an Aventus clone, sure, someone might say that. But that kind of shortcut misses everything that makes Café Tabac special. It shares a general theme of tobacco and sweetness, but the execution is worlds apart: it is drier, more nuanced, bolder, deeper and more elegant. And that’s without even mentioning the presentation. Aedes bottles feel luxurious in the hand, the sprayer delivers a beautiful mist, and the magnetic cap adds a satisfying finishing touch. Don’t take anyone’s word for it, not even mine. Try it for yourself. I did, and I don’t regret it for a second.

☕ Coffee, Dark Wood and Sticky Tobacco 🍂 You step into a study hidden from the world, tightly paneled in dark, aged wood. The walls are filled from floor to ceiling with a massive library of old, leather-bound volumes, and the space vibrates with a dignified, hollow silence. A cup of thick, pitch-black coffee steams on a heavy oak desk, its noble bitterness perfectly grounding the senses. Instead of mundane snacks, a crystal bowl full of sweet, dried fruits rests nearby. Their fleshy, sticky juice from dates and figs gleams in the focused, warm light of a brass lamp. Someone unhurriedly opens an artisanal pouch, releasing the intoxicating aroma of tobacco. This is no dry, scratchy smoke. It is an incredibly moist, sweet leaf, completely steeped in the scent of burnt sugar and fruit nectar. Cafe Tabac is an overpoweringly rich composition, where luxurious sweetness and caffeinated darkness create an absolutely sensual, elite sanctuary. TikTok: @the.scent.files

I liked it but I've been told its more for an older man. Its a very Hispanic tobacco though. The main thing most people don't understand is that its a tobacco + fruit scent, more specifically Tamarind which i find is a thing people either love or hate and unless you know what a bodega is or have ever had a tamarind jarritos before, you wont know what it is. For those that do, its instantly recognizable. The result is something dark, sticky, tangy and definitely tobacco flavored so its name hits the mark in that regard. Silage is pretty good but your skin chemistry is gonna determine how far out it radiates. For me I'd say its moderate, but it lasted a long time. Hard part is nailing down the age bracket. I could see a guy over 40 wearing it easily but the fruit keeps it vibrant enough its not an old-old man scent.

Amazing. I love both tobacco and coffee fragrances. This is the best mash up. It's like taking Coffee Break (which my wife often wears) and mixing with Babieca (one of my favorite tobacco scents). Absolutely fantastic when we wear each at the same time and let it mingle together. This allows me to capture something similar on my own. A tad on the masculine side but really can be worn by anyone. The story portrayed really fits. Lasted about 8 hours on my skin and about a little longer on clothes. So dang comforting. Comforting with a presence. This can boost your mood and make you feel on top of the world. Now I hunt for a place to get a FB on discount. Ughhhh, I hate this hobby. 🤣

Normally, I’m not the kind of guy who’s into tobacco fragrances, but this perfume impressed me so much. Yes, the opening is a bit challenging, but after a few minutes, when it settles, the luxurious and expensive cigar aroma that emerges is truly admirable. Sweet, fruity, and vanilla-infused tobacco. It’s far more complex than Tobacco Vanille. It feels as if you’re smoking a expensive cigar by the fireplace in a luxurious, snow-covered mountain cabin. Definitely worth to try.

So many notes in the gem Café Tabac Aedes de Venustas. It does evoke that smoky, boozy club atmosphere it was created to replicate. Bertrand Duchaufour is the guru of fragrance for me, and he has put out another great offering. It's hard to say exactly what is in this one, but it is a unique and interesting smell. Projection is awesome and it lasts 12+ hours on me. It's not going to be for everybody, so sampling is a must. 10/10.

I don't know any ohter tobacco scent, and never thought I would love a tobacco parfume, but this fragrance stunning! As many others, I feel like I am in a bar, the scent bubble beautiful. The story behind the scent stunning too. The pricetag is high, but if I would win the lottery, surely buy it! 😊

I am obsessed with tobacco scents and I think this perfumer has managed to make my very favorite. It blankets you in warmth with a sweet sugary smell of a fresh rolled cigar and I find that I'm taking deeper breaths to smell myself. Long lasting, very realistic and beautifully sweet and boozy.

It lasts over 30h on clothes and around 8h on my skin. I had contemplated getting a full bottle for over two years and finally bought 100ml. Its sweet, sticky and slightly smoky. To me it smells like a night in Havana. Definitely worth a try not a safe blind buy though.

Café Tabac is an absolute masterpiece fragrance from my favourite perfumer, Bertrand Duchaufour. Heavy tobacco with sweet sugar, tar and dates with coffee and cardamom among the many notes. Lasts for ages. Very cool bottle. Incredible signature scent for an evening out.

So delicious. Warm, inviting, makes me think of a cozy cafe during a winter holiday, or a spiced drink. Dries on me into something spicy, sweet, fruity with a vanilla undercurrent. Complex and beautiful

Fabulous tobacco fragrance, sweet and a bit sour (could be read as tamarind, or the "burnt" flavor in burnt sugar) with a strong cinnamon element I'm surprised to see absent from the notes.

Absolutely gorgeous tobacco scent, by far my favorite for my style. Everything is so smooth and well blended. Performances are exceptional. Another 10/10 by Bertrand Duchaufour.

This is a fragrance steeped in intelligence - smoky, rich, and undeniably crafted with an artisan’s hand. I thought this should be one of the scents of my favorite time where laying on my brown leather sofa, slow-burning my mini cigar paired with a triplo espresso, jazz humming low, time standing still, and thinking about life. But The issue that is an herbal undertone - unmistakably present, cardamom and clove take the lead with sharp clarity. almost medicinal that commands attention but, for me, pushes the boundaries of comfort. The base tells a more sensual tale. A balsamic sweetness from dates simmers beneath the surface, adding depth and allure like a well-aged pipe tobacco left smoldering beside a glass of Armagnac. It’s here the fragrance flirts with greatness. I only wish the cocoa subtle and shadowed were allowed to rise and wrap around the spices like a velvet cloak, rounding the edges with warmth and indulgence. As for projection its kind of weak, I found myself overapplying just to coax out more presence, more gravitas. In sum, a beautifully intricate blend - intelligent, spiced, and mysterious but yearning for more cocoa, more volume, and a little less of the apothecary. Still, for those who seek a quiet storm of tobacco, it may be exactly the kind of enigma they crave.

Sparkling citrus and apple opening then comes the dusty dried fruits.. Perhaps plum? Who knows but it's very intense and intoxicating. The great thing is that dried fruits accord lasts the entirety of the scent which is easily 10 hours and then some. Looking at the notes you would think the drydown would be more gourmand than what it is but I love it nonetheless. As mentioned by other reviewers this does seem like a mashup of more famous tobacco frags but with a twist. I'm happy to have gotten a sample but the price and it's comparison to Tobacco Vanille which has been cloned to death for a fraction of the cost it can stay in whatever warehouse it resides.

I have tested cafe tabac on one hand and diptique volutes on the other, both tobacco perfumes, one with cafe notes, the other with iris. They are quite different, as cafe tabac tobacco "sticks" and is more prominent than volutes's rounder and more inviting sweetness. The coffee element is "there" but it reminds me of dark chocolate (probably the birch tar note?). Unlike volutes that transorms in a sweet scent, cafe tabac is more linear and a tad on the masculine side. I think is suited for daytime and cooler environment. It stands out, so is either you love it (in time or by the first sniff) or not. Price wise, is a bit expensive imo.

In the opening I get a dark fruity smell that seems a bit like grape. A bit of this sweetness lasts into the mid. The dark tobacco notes creep in after a minute or two, but to me this fragrance isn’t overtly just a rendition of pipe tobacco. There is also a bit of birch and oakmoss — to me both are visible, but neither is overpowering. I haven’t smelled anything exactly like this. I think it is rather different from other tobaccos. It is closer to Royal Tobacco than Tobacco Vanille, but still quite different. Royal Tobacco is like a brown paper bag with licorice and molasses. Cafe Tabac is like burnt grapes. 8.2/10

In my opinion the opening Is challenging, It reminds me cough syrup, something "burned" or super smoky... Then It settles down and After a while It becomes more wearable and pleasant, I can't distinguish any particular note but I can Say that Is warm and confortabile, surely It Is a well crafted fragrance, I won't buy a full Bottle because It's not my Cup of tea but It's interesting!

Tabac cafe reminds me of replicas jazz club. A sweet, boozy tobacco with vanilla and dried fruits. I don't get a lot of coffee here which is to my liking since I am not a big coffee lover. Mildly spicy sweet, woody, boozy, fruity (think more dried figs dates) warming comforting vanilla tobacco. Easy dumb reach for the winter season. Unisex but I prefer this type of scent on men.

It has one of the best, most sophisticated and alluring tobacco, similar to one in Opus XIV – Royal Tobacco by Amouage. The tobacco here is warm, aromatic, sweetened and comforting, not as ashy as in The Oud Affair and not as plain sweet as in Herod. Similar to Vanille Havane, a distant cousin of Tobacco Honey by Guerlain.

This is my first and probably last AV. Bought blindly after watching Erin Parsons talking excitingly about it... Too many mistakes in the first sentence already. The opening is absolutely horribly rotten smelling like a bag full of old clothing brought directly from the dark and humid cellar into daylight. It’s such an abhorrent smell I can’t fully describe it in words. It reminds me of my diabetic grandmother... She smelled like this. I can’t explain :/ I loved my granny, don’t get me wrong, but I can smell diabetics and they’d smell like this. It’s sharp, ultra sweet and can make you a bit “dizzy”. After this monstrosity of a scent is less powerful and sharp I can detect some green burnt tobacco, tamarind and probably apple or dates. It’s developing but it’s still very sweet. After three to four hours it settles into a fruity amberic mix whereas this finally scent reminds a lot Boucheron Amber Alexandria or Ambre Tabac from Daniel Josier without the beautiful opening of both of course. As I said the opening of Cafe Tabac is horrendous. It’s also a beast modus perfume meaning it will stick the whole day on skin and clothes and the box still smells after the perfume after 3 days of opening... I’m actually overwhelmed by the power of it. I think I’m my collection only Red Tobacco had this kind of beastly mode. It’s unique. It’s NOT a blind buy. You must be mature to wear it and to appreciate its bestiality. Not for everyone. And, as I said, I will remember what is this smell from my childhood associated with my granny that irritates me at the opening. I can remember the smell perfectly, but I can’t associate it with what produced that smell. Try first.

Fruity cured tobacco. This smells a lot like hookah tobacco, actually. The notes pyramid is laughable. Does it contain all of those notes? Yeah, sure, with some healthy imagination. The opening is fruity, presenting a sort of oily rind zest quality, going fairly quickly to a second stage of vanillic, cured pipe tobacco, and patchouli. Then, curiously, a bit later a cooked fruit note different from the fruity top notes makes an appearance that definitely reminds me of fruit flavored hookah tobacco - something similar to mangos and apples. Slowly creeping upwards from the base is a salty vetiver note before the perfume completely dries down to a woody, vetiver and amber base. I'm not sure where the cafe/coffee accord is; I never found it. Cafe Tabac has a sweet, rich, diffusive, and opulent presentation that unfortunately also manages to be quite vague and ill-defined. So, perhaps I should be thinking of this as an abstract tobacco perfume - a relative of the famous abstract floral genre? I don't know. The genre of abstract tobacco, if it exists, is a very uncommon one to my nose, and unlike good abstract floral perfumes Cafe Tabac does not put an image into my mind's eye. Far from bad, far from great, it's simply "nice" - it's a nice perfume, but it leaves very little desire to pursue further.

When I smelled it in the bottle, it reminded me of yogurt or milk, in a good way. I sprayed it on paper and found it bold, but somehow also like a comforting drink a mom would make her kid before bed to help them fall asleep. On my skin, it started out really bright― it vaguely reminded me of my dad, possibly of the Listerine he uses? It was a lot at first and while I didn't hate it, I doubted it was right for me. As it faded, it read as animalistic, like Astier de Villatte's Tuscon or Naomi Goodsir's Bois d'Ascese. This is the first fragrance I've ever smelled and thought, there are times of day and seasons for this, but it can't be worn always― it's definitely a fall/winter/night fragrance. It would pe perfect for drinking a warm spiced cider or walking through a Christmas tree lot. I would not wear it to the park on a sunny spring or summer day. I think this is a really intriguing fragrance that I might wear on very particular occasions, but it's not going to be my daily signature scent, which is the journey I'm on to find.

I was expecting more from this but it is definitely easy to wear and the initial 30 min are quite interesting. I am a big fan of Bertrand and this is a solid work overall, but pretty fast it gets soft and predictable, non-descript fruity tobacco scent... Great for colder months, it is very wearable and unisex, don't be intimidated by the first minutes when the cloud and strength is on the massive side, as it quickly becomes tolerable and quite gourmandish and cookie-like. I will surely use my whole bottle this winter in the southern hemisphere but I'm sorry to say I would never go for a second bottle. In the same group there are a few other perfumes I find better such as Tabac Doré or Oud Balsam but the best advice is: sample and see which one fits you best.

Halfway between Amouage's Royal Tobacco (less intense on the herbs) and Montblanc Patchouli Ink (a take on Le Labo Patch 24), so more of a nutty, amberwoods and synth oakmoss supported by a large dose of Hedione than a traditional sweet, vanilla & tonka tobacco. The opening showed some creativeness but the rest of the perfume didn't live up to the (my) expectation of something a little bit different than a catch on some minor trend (thrown in a little of Tobacolor too) Edit: after trying again on skin a more realistic tobacco accord (including the natural material) emerges and in the late phase it deviates from the trend mentioned above. It's a nice perfume overall but not my first tobacco themed choice

A very cherry take on tobacco.

I didn’t particularly enjoy this myself. Too many things going on so many different spices I don’t feel they all work together in harmony then the tobacco and vanilla are also there. Just all over the place. I much prefer simpler more elegant options Ambre Narguile heck even wanted by night and Althair by PdM are more enjoyable than this. Spice overkill coming from someone who used to wear Nishane’s notorious cumin bomb Spice Bazaar. At least that was one spice mainly overdosed this is just a mess. Scent 2.5/10 Strong dislike almost hate. Sillage is decent Longevity I don’t care coz I wouldn’t want to smell like this for hours. Value Terrible and difficult to find samples. In the few times I’ve worn it I have received compliments yet that doesn’t change how I feel about it. It’s not the worst I’ve owned that award firmly belongs to Burning Barbershop.

I am sorry, I cannot bear this. To be fair, I am not a fan of tobacco or cafe fragrances anyway. It is rare though, that I spray something on and immediately need to change clothes and wash it off. Cafe Tabac is like that. Lot of smoke, tobacco, sweetness, spices in a suffocating way. :(

This is absolutely perfect. I’ve been dreaming of a scent like this, and finally someone made it. It has touches of so many great tobacco fragrances all in one, but it never feels too much or not original. I love royal tobacco by Amouage but on my skin it’s ALL birch tar. On paper RT has an amazing blend of herbs and licorice, but I only get birch tar when I wear it on skin. I love the dry down of vanille Havana but I can’t stand the strong rum opening. I just don’t enjoy smelling like booze. Rhinoceros by zoologist has a great hay and dry tobacco feel with a bit of dark ground coffee. That one can by a little funky, so it’s hard to wear on most occasions. Still great one just not versatile at all. But tabac cafe..... This opens with the herbal licorice from Royal tobacco without the crazy birch tar. It then has a very slight boozy dry mid that sees the herbs move to the background. It makes a wonderful airy herbal tobacco tone around me. At this point the wet, slightly hay scent of the tobacco, really starts to show. The herb tinged smoke mixes with a beautiful wet tobacco and touch of vanilla in the dry down. It’s creamy non syrup wood without resins. What a perfectly done perfume. Such a journey. Worth every penny. Moderate projection and good longevity. This is best in class in my opinion.

An interesting take on a tobacco scent—as expected from the quirky Bertrand Duchaufour. This one toggles between sweet pipe tobacco and charred smoke billowing in the air. I like this duality because the sweetness is never linear; it weaves in and out. What doesn't work for me are the davana and cardamom notes. They come in hot. At one point the cardamom really takes over, spicy and reminiscent of a chai latte with cinnamon sticks dipped into it (even though cinnamon isn't listed in the notes). Davana makes an appearance about 30 minutes in, but I wish it didn't. Together with the clove, I'm getting mulled wine. This part definitely doesn't sit with me too well. I don't pick up anything else other than the tobacco, davana, spices. It's nicely done, but it's just not something I'd want on me all day.

Very tasty smell. It's lactonic so if you don't like lactonic smells in your fragrances this one is a no-go. It's very smooth. You can smell the tobacco giving support in the background along with that lactonic note. It's like the tobacco and lactonics are holding up all the other nuances in this composition. On top of those, you get sweet dates with added sugary stuff (it's not too sweet, don't worry). It's like if you drank the smoothest, creamiest, milkiest hot chocolate / coffee / chai and put a lit tobacco pipe next to it on the table. A delicous date has been thrown right into the drink. In the dry down the birch tar comes through which I could live without, but it does give the composition a nice flair. Ultimately, this is gorgeous.

Unexpectedly delicious. Got some decants from the Aedes site and they sent this one complimentary, I thought eh whatever, and this was that rare but pleasing case of the free sample being better than the ones you chose to buy. This is better than Roja Manhattan, Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille and any of the tobacco trend fragrances I’ve smelled as of late, and I’ve smelled many of them. So underrated.

Sweet tobacco and vanilla, reminiscent of TF Tobacco Vanille. It has some smokiness to it too. It feels like some cannabis or davana are also in the mix. Sweetens as you wear it. It’s not bad if you are into tobacco heavy scents but there are better and more nuanced options out there. Unisex but masculine leaning.

So I might have kinda Overspray Jay'd this stuff. All I smell is sweet honey with a tiny bit of fresh tobacco leaves. Really sweet honey like I expect my arms are sticky. Winnie the Poo would love this stuff

This is a fully realized fruity tobacco. No corners cut, fantastic components. There is no real comparison to Tom Ford’s Tobacco Vanille — TF is a pale comparison to this full-bodied version.

i smelled this at a coffee shop and i literally sniffed like a dog until i found the owner. it’s so captivating yet so comforting. men should be introduced to this once they hit puberty

I would say this is the GOAT insofar as this tobacco genre is concerned. This and Atman Zaman are the cream of the crop. If you like big, sweet tobaccos run don’t walk to this gem.

Love this scent with all of its intoxicating beauty, I could have sworn this had a rum note, but it isnt listed anymore?!? This perfume is perfect still

wee bit sharp first 12 minutes, smooths out to tobacco then tobacco/amber. bit vanilla few hours in. just a bit sweet

Boring, it was done so many times already: TF tobacco vanille, akro smoke smell exactly like this. nice try

This legit smells like tangy brown sauce to me!