Cuba Cologne

Cuba by Czech and Speake - The secret lovechild of Potion DSQUARED2 and Virgin Island Bay Rum by Pinaud Clubman. It doesn't have the longevity or complexity of Potion, it doesn't have the inexpensive hit of rum and cloves found in the Pinaud bottle, but it's a fine fragrance none the less. The opening is all about the bergamot lime and rum, pure sweet freshness. Then the cloves and bay leaf come through. A beautiful warm spiciness held together by a something I can't place. I know that something is the mint but it's not a regular peppermint, so I'm not smelling it as such. It's definitely got the warm coca cola vibe. Over the next couple of hours the warm smell softens a little more with a light floral tobacco and the unmistakeable amber tonka bean scent. The frankincense and woody cedar stops it from becoming too soft and keeps a light sharpness. Longevity is only moderate. After 4 or 5 hours it's pretty much faded away. Sillage is moderate with a small amount on the neck. All in all another 'I Love It' for the house of Czech & Speake.

I've been hand wringing for a while trying to decide if I wanted to purchase this one because of all the "fecal" note comments that have been made. Getting a sample of Cuba has proven difficult, so I finally bit the bullet and ordered a bottle. I'm relieved to report that there is no fecal note on my skin at all, and I'm slightly annoyed that I waited so long to enjoy this excellent fragrance. If those who think this smells like fecal actually excrete something that smells like this fragrance does, then by "Grabthar's Hammer, what a blessing!" Seriously, this smells no more like excrement than neroli does to my nose. Cuba is very complex and there are some notes that are almost competing, but that I feel work wonderfully well, almost like a musical composition that is pushing the boundaries of dissonance but doesn't quite go off the rails and ends up being more interesting becoming a favorite in time. Cuba has been a pleasant surprise. Another that I'm enjoying so much from Czech & Speake!

As a fragrance that approaches a tobacco theme, Cuba is unique by design, highlighting a spicy camphor, bay leaf, clove and mint to elevate the feel of its tobacco core. For those who can't divorce themselves from the association of medicine or that of the dentist chair may want to steer clear. I haven't any issue with that, and revel in the rush of such aromatics. They are all especially pleasing here with the added quenching squeeze of lime. The tobacco itself is like a dry, somewhat greenish cigar tobacco leaf, like the wafting of its aroma from an apothecary jar in a tobacconist shop. This is accompanied by a warm bay rum effect in the heart. The earthier, somewhat more animalic facets reveal themselves further into its dry down, but the effect is never smoggy or dense; it's a handsome vivaciousness. What remains in its last stages is an frankincense-cedar skin scent with whispers of spice. Cuba is simply gorgeous.

The top is mostly a bllast of fresh mint, supported by aromatics and a hint of sweetness (rum, supposedly?), somewhat reminding me of Lalique Ombre Noir (which also starts with a spicy mint supported by a dry myrrh). Shortly after, a mix of cloves and bay rum (aka pimento berries) kicks in giving a great impression of dry cigar tobacco leaves, quite close to MH Feuilles de Tabac, at that stage. In the base, I get mostly an animalic musk with a very subtle non-sweet honey, reminding me of SL Muscs Koublai Khan (like others have underlined before me), but also - more remotely - of Guerlain Lui (because of the cloves/musk combo and the hint of sweetness). I smelt this one in the early stages of my fragrance journey, and always desired a bottle. I now have one, and can tell without hesitation that this is possibly the most beautiful dry tobacco fragrance I got to smell in my life. Masterpiece.

On the faecal note: An insight that I'd like to offer is this: A few years ago I got my hands on a Cuban cigar. I smelt it...expecting a delightful scent...and I recoiled; I was convinced it smell like faeces. Through and through - a quality Cuban. Smelt like s***. I was shocked and disappointed. A year on from that, I smell the same cigar, and the smell is different, appealing and not revolting. Cuba, for me seemed to capture elements of this pleasant cigar smell. I think the fact that others mention a faecal note is perhaps only a testament to achieving the scent's aims. To smell reminiscent of cigars. Perhaps those who cannot appreciate it, simply haven't developed their noses in that direction. It's an acquired taste. Personally, from my samples, I'd love to have this fragrance.

This is a real treat. Not one I reach for often, but it's a special occasion when I do. I'm sure the earlier bottles had more tobacco, with a more rough and rugged feel to the fragrance. It's had a wash and a shave since then, and is a little (although only marginally) more polite these days. It captures the imagined fragrance of Cuban nightlife admirably. Love it.

At first it seemed scary, I thought this drug is, after a while I began to feel the development of the fragrance in a light spicy sweetness of the clove, and the beauty of rum and tobacco. Great Combination. So I would rate it: Smell: 9/10 Projection: 8/10 Longevity: 7/10

For me, it smells like a Mojito VERY briefly, and then settles down to an anamalistic musk, very reminiscent of Lutens' Muscs Koublai Khan. Out of the middle notes, the only one I really get is clove.

This is straight up a well made Cuba Libre. High quality rum in a Fentimans Curiosity Cola (or other craft cola made with botanicals) and a squeeze of fresh lime. Stunning, 10/10.

I think this fragrance is really nice. I do not get the fecal note people are talking about! lol I guess it comes to the surface on different skin. Its not 88 but I do enjoy it.

Without having spent much time with the cologne version of this scent and not being a huge tobacco fan, the Eau de Parfum's note breakdown came as a pleasant surprise. It is also longer lasting and more wearable than the cologne. Right from the top, the scent comes across as quite camphorous (perhaps due to the peppermint), delicately sweetened (though nowhere near as sweet as the typical sugar-syrup designer scents of recent times) and evidently 'dirty-fresh' (that could be an effect of bergamot and the other notes). The cloves are quite prominent from quite early on, which to my nose make up the backbone of the scent. Nothing overpowering here, nor are we talking about cloves a la a 1980s dental surgery, but it provides a spicy woodiness throughout. In the heart, the cloves are joined by the bay leaf and a rose accord; this provides supporting floral-freshness rather than taking centre stage. As the scent evolves to its dry down, the woods are quite prominent, but held back by the incense which at this stage is still surprisingly camphorous, calming and meditative. The incense is hard to single-out, but it is there; just nowhere near as prominent as incense-heavy scents such as CdG, Tom Ford and Montale. This is nonetheless a positive point as the whole scent has a lot more going on. As per its name, Cuba, the scent is a celebration of the Caribbean island's heritage and culture. As a result, a tobacco note is mentioned in the literature, but this is very carefully woven in to the base. It is by no means a sickening overpowering tobacco (I'm looking at you Tom Ford!), but instead it almost plays 'hide and seek' with the incense and woods. Not necessarily a 'refreshing' scent in my books, but a long-lasting woody-spicy scent with some interesting combinations of notes. Czech & Speake, you have my attention!

Wow! I gave this to my friend ages ago. I had mixed feelings about this. It was one of my learning curve buys. I writing this after using the bath oil which presents a lot smoother and softer and more of rum, bay leaf and tobacco. I re read reviews here and I’m reminded of how people’s noses work. The Yes/No about the fecal side for example - and this is what I mean about learning curve. The fecal aspect is definitely there. I smell it but you may not. My friend doesn’t and loves it. Sometimes I don’t - sometimes I just break down the notes and I love it. I also get some people’s comments about urinals - yeah - I get that too - quite common and understandable as the boozy rum and oily green ingredients and lime will actually smell close to this naturally. I also get the Coca Cola comments. People are also wired differently both in their senses and how their brain works. Now I have over 400 perfumes (a lot more since I bought this - it was a blind buy as I love tobacco) I find I can tolerate some of the more ‘demanding’ perfumes but I’ve managed to maintain perspective and call a spade a spade. I think that as your nose experiences more, it becomes more ‘tolerant’ and hence I’ve become melancholic as I miss this scent. The reality is this is a scent I like but wouldn’t wear In public as I know some people will think - ahem - poorly of it and quite frankly they’d be quite rightly entitled to that opinion. Sample first or even two times. This is one of those rare perfumes (like Houbigants Cologne Intense - manufactured batches from a few years back that smelled like vomit to most including me) that I do not think there is a definitive opinion that is correct. I can however recommend the bath oil which does not replicate the possible negatives.

OK folks this one is really intriguing but it's absolutely doing my head in. The only possible review is a stream - of - conciousness review: Oh good Lord...Is it Cuba in that little vial or is it some kind of expensive Single Malt scotch whisky ? Ahhh no, it's Cuba. I suppose that's the rum that I see listed in the notes but it definitely feels a bit more Northern European than Carribean! Oh this feels a bit wrong with the mint coming in, like drinking a glass of fine Lagavulin whilst chewing some Spearmint Extra gum. Ah but as it dries down I am getting a pleasantly soft and powdery sandalwood-vetiver.Maybe...iris? Maybe not. No! Wait! Where's that sweetness coming from? Tonka? I dont think so...Now it's vanished! Bergamot! Hello that's nice...Gah this is so confusing...Now a bit of tobacco...more kentucky than virginian. Every time I raise my wrist I'm getting something different. Hmmm..more vetiver but it's tempered with ummm... is that bay leaf/laurel ? It's not in the notes. Now it's cedar. What happened to the Sandalwood I got earlier? That wasn't in the notes either but I would put money on it..Oh the mint has made a reappearance. Mint...just a suggestion, 'a hint of mint' I'm a poet and I don't even know it. Oh Cuba, I like you but I don't really understand you. It's like someone talking to me in a foreign language, if I pay close attention & observe the gesticulation I think I am beginning to understand you but then you throw something new at me and I lose the plot again. I am going to keep trying with you, because I think you are really something quite special, I just wish you would stand still for a few minutes and let me catch up... Oh Lord...I think I just found the lime....

I am reviewing this based off a sample, so I was surprised to see that the bottle looks like off-brand budget liqueur. I am also surprised to see remarks about a supposed "fecal note" being brandished about in the reviews - my nose picks up nothing of the sort. This fragrance reads both very green and dark, musty brown to my nose, dry tobacco and something rather camphor-like; somewhat similar to Maison Incens Tabac Licorii but the latter is saltier and less complex. I can detect every single listed note in this composition if I choose to focus on them independently, which is oddly satisfying. Having never visited Cuba, smelling this fragrance does evoke what I imagine Old Havana to be like - walking along narrow streets after dark, the rhythms of timba musicians and inviting golden lights luring you into a small pub where a giant fan is set to max speed but you would never know it existed unless you saw it, the stifling air inside being offset by natives in good spirits, sipping on rum, smoking cigars, playing chess. A caramel-skinned woman with red lips and black eyes is dancing with her partner for the evening in the middle of the room, her flowy dress and black curls creating a pleasant movement of air in your direction in the packed locale. Out of the two of them, I feel like the gentleman would certainly be the one wearing this perfume, not her. As a woman, I could see myself wearing it, but as a very Finnish person living in The Netherlands it feels like it would be false advertising for me to wear it.

Interesting. Took me two months to get used to it - at first I thought it was a horrible blind buy (I also bought the bath oil). But the bath oil had a more pleasant presentation and so I kept coming back to the bottle. AT first it had a somewhat urinic or stale sweaty presentation but I grew to ignore that and embrace the dusty lemon spice and tobacco. I find the note table here skewed wrong and comments about the strength of the mint exagerrated. To me I would describe it as a damp tea bag with lemon and a light tobacco top note. The clove, bay leaf and grass giving the body under the citrus and the Rose, Vetiver and Mint and tobacco polishing it off and giving it an old school feel somewhat ala Guerlain Habit Rouge, Eau Sauvage (it could even pass as a flanker to ES) and Floris 89 etc. Now when I wear it (mostly as a personal scent at home in the evenings) I find it pleasant to put nose to skin and pull apart the pleasant ingredients. It is however not strong and poor value for money for me so, yeah prob won't buy again...

This exquisite fragrance truly does justice to the name "Cuba". It is a very well crafted fragrance. At first application, the tobacco sent is almost pugnacious (it smells like the inside of a humidor box where luxurious Habana cigars are stored), but allow it to settle in for a few minutes and the melange of luxurious tobacco, rum and tropical flora scents will bring smiles to your face. The scent truly took me back to 2004 when I last visited la isla bonita, Cuba. I would say this "rich smelling" fragrance is more suited for a mature, refined and charming Gentleman (of Latino, Arabian or South European extract) on those special occasions, he wishes to entertain that special lady in his life. For younger males (like myself) looking for a tobacco based fragrance I'm more inclined to recommend Aramis Havana.

I can understand why some people might be offended by this cologne.but I think it's great. If you're a cigar aficionado, you know this smell. It's opening smells you put your nose up close to a moist cigar in a humidor. I'm BLOWN AWAY by how close this is and yes; it has the funk that moist tobacco carries. It's almost barnyard but not quite all the way there. It smells like coca cola spilled in a barn thereafter. But trust me, this is exactly how a fine cigar smells up close! If you're a cigar enthusiast, it doesn't get any better than this. Tobacco, aromatics, and fresh hay. The drydown is beautiful natural cola and then a smooth and very spicy finish. 🍂🍾 🔥 Scent 7.5/10 Performance 7/10

Above all is a minted-tobacco fragrance; at the start i detect mint, lime(not always); then sometimes i detect cloves(not always), sometimes franckincense and patchouli, and a rum "barrique"(woody); no sweetness, only dryness; is not a vintage fragrance. It doesn't last, is a eau de cologne, and this is the only flaw; is a fall/winter fragrance, not for the younger people. PS: i wear it today, but i felt a sense of "retrò" scent, very '60.....perhaps the tabac is a note very classic, but in a "older" and "vintage" way; however it's a scent very classy and elegant.

Before the drydown this reminds me of YSL Pour Homme, at least La Collection version that I have. Dirty citrusy mint. Citruses and mint sounds clean, but all that surrounds them makes it a little bit dirty. Drydown here is less original, but still good. Classy and mature.

Cuba starts out smelling medicinal with an antiseptic quality and dries down to a minty-floral. It's nice. I'm not gaga and it's only a skin scent on me; combine that with the high price and it's a pass for me. If price and performance were better (like No. 88 now being offered in an EDP), I think I would then buy a full bottle.