Vanille Havane

Today we step away from the icy clarity of Gentle Fluidity Silver and move into something far richer, deeper, and more indulgent as we explore Vanille Havane by Les Indemodables. Translating to “The Timeless Classics,” the brand’s name sets the tone for a composition meant to honor classic perfumery through modern craftsmanship. With its promise of warm tobacco leaves, aged rum, and sun-soaked vanilla pods, Vanille Havane hints at a decadent fusion of sweetness and smoke—an intimate, enveloping fragrance that leans heavily into comfort without sacrificing poise or sophistication. Based on the notes, it appears designed to capture that iconic interplay between tobacco and vanilla, enhanced by boozy richness and soft woods. Whether it delivers a mature, nuanced take on this beloved profile or drifts into territory that’s too syrupy or familiar is what we’re here to uncover. Let’s settle in, breathe in the warmth, and begin. Opening: The opening is sweet, boozy, and warm. The primary notes I get are tobacco, rum, vanilla, and dried fruits, with the tobacco and rum taking the spotlight. Vanille Havane opens with a bold burst of tobacco—warm, sweet, and textured with herbaceous, dusty, and gently smoky nuances. It recalls the style of Tom Ford’s Tobacco Vanille, but with a smoother, more balanced execution. The rum rises alongside it, delivering a warm, rich boozy accord with a hint of woody depth, blending with the tobacco to create an accord reminiscent of a rum-dipped cigar. It’s more realistic than the average designer rum note, though not quite as hyper-photorealistic as something like Nasomatto’s Baraonda. Supporting these two pillars are the vanilla and dried fruits. The vanilla contributes creamy sweetness that differentiates itself from the boozy warmth of the rum and the honeyed depth of the tobacco. Lastly, the dried fruits sit quietly in the background, adding a final layer of sugary, fruity sweetness that brightens the otherwise warm, dense character of the opening. Dry Down: The dry down remains sweet, boozy, and warm. The primary notes are still tobacco, rum, dried fruits, and vanilla, with tobacco and rum continuing to dominate. While largely linear, the composition does evolve. The tobacco gains a touch more smokiness, the rum becomes woodier and more structured, and the dried fruits develop a subtle tart edge that cuts through the sweetness beautifully. Deep in the base, a soft cacao note emerges, adding a dark chocolate–like gourmand nuance that blends seamlessly with the vanilla. The result is a luxurious, velvety dry down that maintains its richness without ever becoming cloying. Performance: The initial projection is very strong and easily fills a room, creating a dense, enveloping trail. After a few hours, projection softens slightly but still extends about 5–6 feet, with sillage that remains noticeable and full-bodied. Around the 7–8 hour mark, projection drops to roughly arm’s length, and the scent trail becomes faint but still discernible. The fragrance becomes a skin scent shortly thereafter. The longevity is solid, though given the weight and richness of the scent profile, I expected slightly more endurance. When to Wear: Vanille Havane is a fall/winter fragrance best suited for evening wear. Its rich, heavy, and opulent character makes it a perfect choice for special occasions, date nights, and intimate settings. It also carries enough refinement and warmth to feel right at home in formal environments. That said, its sheer density makes it too heavy for casual daytime wear or the office. Blind Buy: This is a safe blind buy for anyone who enjoys heavy, sweet tobacco fragrances in the style of Tobacco Vanille. For those unfamiliar with or uncertain about rich tobacco compositions, sampling first is strongly recommended. Final Verdict: Vanille Havane brings together everything I love about tobacco-forward fragrances: richness, weight, opulence, and a level of craftsmanship that feels intentional in every phase. The blend of warm tobacco, boozy rum, creamy vanilla, and foundational woods creates a complex and gorgeously textured scent profile—one that shifts subtly over time but always remains alluring. While I anticipated stronger longevity from a fragrance built this heavily, its slightly shorter wear time is a small price to pay for the quality and character it delivers. The composition is luxurious, indulgent, and remarkably well-balanced, offering one of the most satisfying tobacco–vanilla interpretations I’ve smelled in recent memory. It’s an easy decision: I’ll absolutely be adding a bottle to my collection. Scent: 10/10 Longevity: 7/10 Sillage: 8/10 Versatility: Average Mass Appeal: Average Gender: Masculine Value: Overpriced

The review is going to be a bit long, so whoever makes it to the end will be a real champ. Grab a coffee and read it with me. I’ll try not to bore you, but every word is written straight from the top of my head and reflects only my own opinion. There will surely be someone who sees things completely differently. Let’s go. Selection Vanille Havane immediately caught my attention thanks to all the rave reviews. Everyone who loves tobacco or vanilla scents seems to go crazy over it. Just the idea alone: rum, plums, tobacco, vanilla, and cocoa in one blend! On top of that, it has a bolder, more sophisticated structure than most other offerings on the market. That drew me in. The first time I tried a sample from the perfumery, I could tell this wasn’t just another clone. There’s something that grabs you from the very first moment. At least that’s how it hit me right away. Composition I want the rum note to hit upfront. Tobacco and cocoa with a strong punch right from the start. Vanilla should be subtle but still noticeable. It’s exactly that boozy, tobacco-cocoa combination that’s fun and doesn’t get boring, and it’s not over-sweet. Definitely nothing sugary! I almost forgot to mention that. It’s crucial. I wanted a perfume that truly impresses. Since I love cocoa, if it reminds me even a little of a beloved, classic Dior Homme, all the better. Appearance The bottle and, most importantly, the liquid itself is dark, elegant, and exudes luxury. I really enjoy the deep brown color of the perfume. The bottle design itself isn’t groundbreaking. There are prettier ones out there. But the application works. The perfume leaves an almost oily feeling on your hands, which emphasizes its quality and density. From the very first spray, you know there’s no compromise here. I do need to get used to the atomizer. Though, it doesn’t feel particularly luxurious. Longevity Vanille Havane behaves a bit differently on skin versus clothing. On skin, it lasts around 8 hours, with the first 2-3 hours being the strongest. On clothes, it can last over 2 days while maintaining its complexity and unfolding all its notes. All of them. Projection is moderate, but the scent lingers around you and is noticeable to anyone in the room. Perfect for those who want sophistication and presence without being overwhelming. Personally, I can still smell it half a day later without feeling smothered. Positives This perfume is a showcase of contrasts that work beautifully. The strong tobacco is balanced with sweet cocoa and rum. Vanilla isn’t cloying; it blends with the spicy accords and leather, giving it elegant depth. I’ve never smelled vanilla like this before. Maybe that’s why it grabbed me so much. The addition of leather tones makes the scent playfully masculine while still feeling unisex. To me, it leans more male overall. It’s complex, well-layered, and enjoyable with every passing hour, whether on skin or clothing. Result Overall, Vanille Havane feels like a perfectly balanced, sophisticated fragrance. It’s a “wow” scent. Slightly sweet, but not too much. Tobacco-forward, but not aggressive. Masculine, yet elegant. It can be bold for some, but never heavy-handed. Definitely not a blind buy! Best suited for cooler weather or evening wear, where all the notes From rum and tobacco to cocoa, vanilla, and leather. Really come alive. Comparison In the world of tobacco fragrances, Vanille Havane is unique. It’s not a clone of Tobacco Vanille, but a more sophisticated, masterful scent with a stronger focus on rum and cocoa. People often compare it, though I don’t really see why. Compared to Akro - Smoke (far too cigarette-like for me), TF - Tobacco Vanille (too sweet and unnatural vanilla), or Kintsugi – Ambré (I couldn’t stand it after a few hours), Vanille Havane offers a distinct character. To me, it matches the complexity and quality of classic Dior Homme Parfum, only enhanced with dried plums and tobacco. For lovers of sweet-tobacco blends, it’s a must-have that combines intensity with elegance. Again, I didn’t want anything sugary. And here I found something I consider 100% perfect.

LES INDEMODABLES: VANILLE HAVANE First impression: This is a really dark scent in general, the cocoa is really the black raw cocoa without any sweetness, it is mixed with rich aromatic cognac and a little too much spices thrown in. The vanilla is the darkest and most masculine I've ever tried. The thick smoke of a Cuban cigar smoked for 3 hours hovers around all of this, and the aroma of dark, thick leather comes to the nose from the old Chesterfield leather sofa. The scent and the mixture are really well and qualitatively made, but first it feels completely impossible to even think that I would use it. I feel that it takes too long to evolve to that best moment, the best part of the scent. It is impossible to notice the sweetness until after about an hour and towards the end, when the scent is at its sweetest, the other aromas start to be quite weak. It’s truly an experience to wear this perfume. The difficulty of the scent is that it is infinitely deep, dark and strong in the first part of the life cycle and infinitely easy, sweet, plain and a little bit boring in the second half. I like complex scents, but it's hard to wear the scent which has two totally different personalities. In many very complex fragrances, the different phases merge smoothly and slowly together, and so they do nicely here as well, but the nature of the fragrance changes completely in the middle. In the case of this fragrance, I would rather choose a linear fragrance which is straight away in the beginning of the second half. There is an appropriate amount of darkness, cocoa, fruity rum, deep vanilla, mysterious smokiness and sweetness. On the other hand, if the scent was like that, it wouldn't be unique, because many of them have already been made. So this is supposed to be an artisanal fragrance with a very mind-blowing opening and a delicious, slightly seductive aroma after a couple of hours, depending on the warmth of the skin and air. I realised that the biggest problem with this is pre-expectations - at least I imagined this to be a rich vanilla scent. Of course, “Havane” tells me that there is tobacco and darkness, but the beginning of the scent has been made very difficult for everyone else, except for those who are used to natural scents that really take time to develop. I also love it when the vanilla is thick and creamy. There's no creaminess here at all, but stickiness and syrupy thickness appear in the middle phase of the fragrance. That's when the tender sweet fruitiness comes floating to the fore. If you could skip the first hour completely, I think this would definitely have a bigger audience. In conclusion, Vanille Havane is very skillfully made. For me, these kinds of scents are not challenging. I just want to emphasize in my review that the experience will certainly be difficult and maybe unpleasant for a more hasty tester. This needs time, passion and love. In my opinion, the beginning of the scent can be compared to (as a level of the challenge, not how it smells, and without Oud of course), for example, Sayat Nova or Lao Oud from Bortnikoff. Otherwise, the texture and style of the fragrance reminds me of Plum Japonaise and Plum in cognac. The scent described in few words: (First half) Spicy, Dark Cacao, Rum, Tobacco, Amber, Woody (Second half) Vanilla, Sweet, Fruity This is not gourmand imo. The scent is totally unisex after the first 1-2 hours but the beginning is masculine. The sillage and projection are moderate and the longevity is 8-10 hours. Thank you for reading, I hope my review was helpful. I would appreciate a lot if you want to follow me on IG and/or YouTube (English subtitles): @ninamariahperfumes It gives me a lot of motivation to write more. 🤗

Now this is a vanilla perfume. The breadth, depth, richness, and darkness are not something I've experienced in a vanilla perfume in quite a long time. Its structure is nearly linear and monodimensional in nature, but LI's and Lie's attention to detail in the nooks and crannies of the perfume's vanilla accord make it stand out from the crowd. The opening notes that call to mind rum and dried fruit remind me of a dessert cocktail-type snack my family serves over the December holidays: raisins, dried figs, prunes, dried cranberries, dried blueberries, and dried cherries that have been soaked in a very high-quality Caribbean rum for days, insert a cocktail toothpick and serve. There is a booziness to the opening that doesn't have the heat of alcohol, but plenty of the fermented caramelly cane sugar notes of rum in addition to a silky fruitiness that you would get from the dried fruit. These accords fall away quite quickly to the heart and base of the perfume consisting of, again, the broadest, deepest, richest, and darkest vanilla note I have smelled in a long time. There is a sweetness to this perfume, obviously as you would expect, but it's well tempered; it approaches the line of cloying and thick but doesn't get so close as to be uncomfortable. You might not even notice it because you'll spend so much of your time pulling notes of sumptuous bitter cocoa, rich and earthy aged pipe tobacco, and, of course, vanilla. The cocoa and the tobacco own the role of filling in the gaps of the vanilla, as I mentioned earlier, creating that sense of breadth and depth with bitter, nutty, floral and hay like notes, but it's the vanilla that's the star. The best way I can describe how this vanilla is different from nearly all other vanillas we get in perfumes is with a visual description. In most other perfumes the vanilla is a light brown, calling to our noses and minds the smells of caramel and cooked sugar, the dough of baked goods that turns a light shade of brown after a heaping tablespoon of vanilla extract is dumped into it. The vanilla of VH is black. It's the vanilla bean as you would get it from the plant, not out of a container in your pantry. The wet and sweet topsoil earthiness is here, the bitter bean fibers and pigments are here, the superbly oozing oiliness from the flesh as you scrape the seductive goodness out of the center of the bean is here. At no point do any of these notes or characteristics become so homogenized that you cannot make out the trees for the forest, but they are so seamlessly stitched together like fine fabrics to create an incredibly cohesive whole that it's difficult to picture them ever being apart from each other. If you want a true vanilla perfume that isn't going to make you gag with sugar, that will bring to your nose and the noses of those around you the incredible dimensions of vanilla, that will make you and those around you weak at the knees and wanting to take a bite out of your own skin, then this is the vanilla perfume for you. This perfume geek that is mostly impartial to vanilla is, actually and finally, completely won over.

Vanille Havane Testing Sprayed on at 925am Opening: boozy, dried fruit turned syrupy from being soaked in rum, chocolate-y cacao; smoky tobacco tiny hit of powdery vanilla opening rating: intense, comforting, like a strong secured attachment with grandfather or father/ fatherly role model. masculine leaning but feminine appreciable . Within 30 seconds to a minute this intensity is already dialing down on strength. Came in hot and almost like having thrown a wet towel over in terms of strength and intensity of scent almost immediately dissipating. Here we have the smoky and tobacco facets really coming through now. Slightly woody/ pretty spicy 945am scent has significantly dried down. Somewhat perceptible. I can only smell it if I go searching and looking for it. I have to hug myself and envelope myself to feel it. I would have to sit and meditate on trying to get the same sensation in the opening as it has massively changed. I still smell it but it’s very faint. Probably others might not smell it either unless their nose is on my skin or clothes. Scent is now smoky, woody, slightly sweet. Lovely scent but no sillage even when stepping outdoors. It is such a good and beautiful pleasant smell but for the price and projection and performance perhaps it would not be a repurchase. I will enjoy my 100ml and use it but will not buy again. 1021am now and I still can smell it perhaps the basenotes come out now trying best to save face it’s a little bit more perceivable to me but most likely to others they might not notice or care about it as much as I do. For me, it is definitely more so an art piece than something meant to be garnishing compliments. It is a very subtle scent now. Maybe if I sit next to someone as we sit on top a valley overlooking a sunset then maybe they’ll appreciate it. It’s one of those scents that make you stop and just appreciate maybe. Overall rating: I don’t give numbers I give general overview so it is gorgeous, I do love this scent and this type of scent category but for the price point and performance being too soft and short lived I would have to explore other options in the future. I would probably buy it again if I settled debt first and if I craved it enough but for now it leaves more to be desired. I’ll cherish my 100ml and use it up but not really happy with performance due to price point. Quality is there though that’s certain. Might update in a few hours to tell if I still notice it or it completely goes away. Sprayed about 6x on left arm, 6x on right arm, & 2x on sides of neck. 1 on chest.

Dark tobacco vanilla heaven Let me preface my review by clearly stating that Vanilla Havane is not a unique experience in terms of scent profile, you have smelled this composition and structure before, on the street or when sampling other niche houses. That being said, in terms of realism, quality and luxury, nothing really comes close. The similarly priced Tom Ford feels like a low end designer in comparison (eventhough they are similar in price...). The cocoa immediately emerges in the opening, like a puff of unsweetened dust in the hot wind, similar to Cacao Azteque in the very opening, very dry and bitter sweet. A few moments later the vanilla hits you like a truck, deep, dark and luxurious, slightly raisin and rum-like, clearly the real deal like hovering your nose over a bottle of pure vanilla extract. Intense, 'bubbling' in a way and incredibly deep, at this point I am slightly reminded of a halfway point between the opening of Frapin 1270 and Guerlain Spiriteuese Double Vanille, really good stuff. It is the next phase I am less crazy about. As with most compositions with a high degree of naturals in them there is a certain danger they must navigate around. The naturopathically inclined among you reading this will have downvoted me at this point, but yes there can be too much of a good thing. Those of you having experimented with 'all natural' perfumery know there is a certain vegetal bitterness that is close to unavoidable when blending essential oils. Vanille Havane drifts towards a harsh direction for a few minutes, the bitter elements of the raw vanilla, the indolic leathery jasmine and other woody compounds in the tobacco accord start clashing a bit, further spurred on by the cinnamon and cloves and other warm spices. However this phase resolves quickly, Vanille Havane blooms into a rich tobacco accord, along the lines of something like Tauer Sundowner but significantly less fruity, but with a similarly tenacious dry spice accord. The leathery facets retreat to the background and the vanilla remains dominant in the dry down for practically the whole day giving off this lovely rich dark unprocessed vanilla goodness. Overall fantastic blend, once again there are other more affordable fragrances that will give you a similar vibe, but none offer the over all richness of the experience of Vanilla Havane. A must have for the enthusiasts of this genre.

Cuban salsa dance of bold, beautiful and very masculine power notes. Initial spray was a blast of raisins and dried apricots. Gelatinous, sweet and savory. That gets carried with an alcoholic rum vapor from some heavily aged rum casks. You get both the wood and the vapor of lots of dried fruits. Quite a fiery powerful blast. Takes a bit before it calms down but I love it so far. A pure bitter 100% chocolate bar conjoins with such a very distinctive Cuban cigar character. I occasional smoke cigars of all kinds and Cuban cigars, especially those like Cohiba and Bolivar have a slight saltiness to them. It's one of the marks of Cuban cigars. I always tell people it's because the old cigar master Tio (uncle) rolls all the cigars on his thighs in the factory. The wrap gets steeped in his salty hard worker sweat creating the distinctive flavor!! But nah it has something to do with the minerality of the soil. Hits the Havane name on the nail. After a while it still retains a bit of booziness but vanilla and amber and a slightly tacky leather and coco residue dominate for the rest of the fragrance. All of this is so masterfully blended. Has very followable transitions yet complex. Many hints that play their part. One of those interesting hints is that floral haze that was there from start to mid, it is so subtle giving an unique aura. Very cool! You'd think hearing all this that it wants to be a gourmand, not at all! It's dry and woody. The vanilla is so beautiful. It has a lot smoothness. Like this is none of that synthetic or sweet feeling vanilla, it's savory even. Slightly raw and bitter, straight from the pod! The ambers getting increasingly warmer and slightly powdery with a tiny bit of sweetness left in the end next to the a very noticeable tacky brown leather. If I have to narrow down that lil bit of sweet savory vanilla that's next to the amber in the fully dry down; I perceive it as a flambeed banana accord. As someone who is infatuated with Cuban stuff. The only addition I would've loved in here would be a tiny coffee note. That would've fully captured the cuban vibe for me. So close to being a masterpiece for me. But the rest is perfect! Hit so many marks. Great for colder seasons. Worth the price tag. Just great. I love it! A favorite so far of the house. Chao, pesca'o !

Update: I did get a beautiful 10 ml decant spray from ebayer, great price. I have a lot of frags that are similar, but this has it all, in a great composition. It has the great tobacco/ vanilla combo, great Amber/ oud combo, chocolate, nice rum/ leather fragrance accord on top mostly. Tom Ford Tobacco Vanilla may be more yummy, but Vanille Havane is more wearable! In the mid they become more similar, the whiffs of rum you get is great. ________________________ Wow! I read a lot of reviews while waiting for my sample, and most of the reviews had me imagining something WAY different. My first impression was OUD! I think there is an unlisted oud note. It is an Oud and Amber accord, with some frankincense. The rum gives the resins a fresh spiciness, with the booziness restrained. Really nice fresh rum, mostly in the opening. The opening is the best part for me, with the fresh rum, but the rum lasts for 30 minutes and fades fast. The mid is mostly a chocolaty tobacco, where it is like TF Tobacco Vanilla, but less gourmand. I was hoping for a more prominent vanilla note here, but it's in the background. The cacao and tobacco are more evident. This is very very dark and resinous Oriental. It reminded me most of some Nasomatto fragrances, like Pardon, Baronda, or even some Black Afgano! Or Taur Desert Moroccan. So now I understand some of the reviews that said, this is very MEDECINAL! Or Eugene said on "U smell good" YouTube channel, this is very NICHE! I thought he meant niche in quality, but no; he obviously meant niche as, NOT mainstream at all... So this does not feel like overly gourmand. It's a dark Oriental, and the slightly sweet gourmand aspects balance out the oud, Amber and incense. It is yummy and sweet also, but more wearable than TF Tobacco Vanilla. It has a very good, rather prominent tobacco note. And the booziness is not too much, nicely in balance. The dry-down is Oud/ incense, cacao, and floral notes. I would rather have this than Kilian "Back to Black". It's more mature and sophisticated, less sweet and boozy, better tobacco note. Rating: 9/10 God bless. John 3:16

Mid March in London and it's still bone-chillingly cold, grey and stressed-out. February seems to have lasted forever. Will it EVER be warm? Will spring ever really get sprung? For now I need some scented armour: something thick, sweet, robust, reassuringly strong but nichey and nuanced. And so, lo, it is the day to wear out the last drops of my small Vanille Havane official sample and let it shine in its due and proper time. As by far the most bombastic - but also, in a way, the most conventional - of the very respectable Indemodables lineup, this one won itself a passionate UK fan base and more than justifies its existence, even its RRP, and a place in any collection. Has real depth and heft - reflected in its richly alluring, aged-rum-deep colour - and a masterful command of making vanilla un-cloying, unpredictably almost-muscular (still unisex though) and wonderfully rounded out with darker, spicier shades. The velvety cacao and well-aged tobacco notes, in particular, give it real adult character. A Mona di Orio Vanille without the smouldering ash; an Amouage Boundless without the frankincense; a Lubin Idole with more sweetness and far, far less rum. All that means it's in a quadrant I can love: charisma, extremely respectable performance, and a profile to make the heart beat faster. Still, it will not work for everyone; there's something a little raw and unfinished around the edges, and it's a great deal simpler than you might expect - not always a bad thing, but this doesn't evolve, so much as just age out (though very mellowly and pleasantly) - getting even darker, almost woodier, as it fades - though that takes many, many hours. In fact you may well still be getting hints of its presence the next day, even when sprayed on skin. May feel too butch for more-femme types, and definitely should not be oversprayed. Lumberjack vanilla, in one sense - is that a thing? Might well get obnoxious in warmer or more humid settings (ahem.) But for now, to light an inner fire when all around is grey: oh yeah, baby. A big bear hug to, and from, Mr Antoine Lie!

Interestingly, this perfume is known as a tobacco fragrance in the community. But as the name suggests, THIS IS A VANILLA fragrance. A real vanilla. Even "Fragrantica" named tobacco notes as the main ingredient. But as you can check on the Les Indemodables website, there is no tobacco in this fragrance! More than 90% of the vanilla used in perfumery, in designer, niche, and even very expensive luxury perfumes is from a cheap synthetic material named vanillin. That's what people usually know about vanilla, a sweet flavor you can smell in ice cream, desserts, cakes, and even coffee. But this is far from real vanilla. Real vanilla pods have a very fine, exotic, extremely rich, and finely sweet smell. It is a multi-faceted ingredient with tobacco, balsamic, and woody structure. Tobacco and vanilla have some common facets. And even for creating a tobacco accord, vanilla is usually one ingredient, but not vice versa. Considering all these points, I understand why this is called a tobacco fragrance. And it's fair. If you like to pick a tobacco fragrance, this is THE BEST one among many tobacco fragrances I've tried. What Antoine Lie did masterfully in this fragrance was to pick different facets of vanilla and elaborate them in the perfume. In other words, he gives some resolution to different olfactory facets of the raw vanilla pods. To make it wearable as a fragrance, he added touch floral notes like Jasmin in the background. Like many fragrances from this brand, you can't have a full experience or even understand the fragrance in the first sniff or the top note. You should wait and experience it thoroughly from the top to the base to have a full experience of the fragrance. Not for beginners and not a safe blind. 10/10

Right in my wheelhouse. Love this. I had tried TF Tobacco Vanille and liked it deal. Bought a bottle. I liked it, yet did not love it. To me it seemed too sweet, soft, and, not complex. However, I was intrigued by the concept, and so dove into a search for an alternative (a list of what I tried is below). After all this searching, Vanille Havane won out. For me, it is the perfect mix of a tobacco (a dry tobacco), rum booziness (with a touch of cognac), and vanilla over dark fruits, some honey sweetness (but not honey per se), cocoa, and amber. The amber and cocoa come out more in the dry-down but the basic mixture of tobacco, rum/cognac, and vanilla persists throughout. I found others in this genre to be either too sweet or too robustly tobacco-oriented. The mix of notes here, by comparison, sings for me. Perhaps those who might have mixed feelings about this prefer tobacco/vanilla scents that lean one way or the other. For me, though, this is just right. I also find the scent to be a natural one; others I tried oft-times had synthetic resonances. None here. Also have to note that it has – for me, at least – great durability. Lasts and lasts. The projection and sillage are also above average, yet not overpowering – basically it’s in my desired zone. Lastly, the value/price was just fine for me. All in all, this is my go-to, perhaps I might say signature scent, for the colder half of the year. Those I also tried included: Tobacco Vanille (obviously, since I still have the bottle), Tobacco Oud, Herod, Spicebomb, Red Tobacco, Mystery Tobacco, Tobacolor, Sundowner, Chergui, Ambre Russe, Bourbon, Mona di Orio's Vanille, as well as other more fundamentally vanilla scents. So, yes, I did try a fair mix of others.

When I first saw Vanille Havane mentioned in an article on fragrantica I put it on my radar. But I wasn't ready for the what came next as I might've well teleported from lower Manhattan to a Cuban cigar bar with the ghost of old Hemmingway himself next to me puffing away on a Romeo y Julieta with a drink in hand. Vanille Havane is a true work of art that manages to encompass so many thoughts and emotions in eight or so notes. The vanilla comes off very boozy and natural at the heart while the rum and tobacco dance seamlessly between. The cacao is interesting depending on what you know because I get both the frutiness of raw cacao partially overripe and fermenting but also cacao powder. The base much like the background music is followed up by a steady rhythm of leather, amber, and faint florals. In terms of sillage and longetivity, both are extremely strong for better or worse; It can be interpreted as nauseatingly sick for those who dislike tobacco and boozy notes so restraint is encouraged with sprays. But for those who are into that will be completely enamoured. As far as appropriate seasonality? Its definitely a night on the town fragrance certainly perfect for winter and the fall but therein lies the conundrum. It takes two to tango, so if layered with something more green, marine, and perhaps tropical, Vanille Havane has massive potential to go into even spring or summer. Overall though this is a masterpiece that I hope will be a staple of many gourmet fragheads and tobacco lovers for decades to come.

I will admit that it sometimes takes me a while to come around to a fragrance. To find appreciation in the work itself as well as the work of the perfumer. The recent work of Antoine has opened my eyes to how great he really is. That's not necessarily the reason why I chose to wear Vanille Havane this evening. It's a strange day over here in California. We are right in the middle of summer. It's typically 100° Fahrenheit, and right now it's overcast and barely 80°. So I thought this type of vanilla in the summer evening would be perfect. Dark tobacco, sweet cocoa dried fruit. A little bit of whatever and a lot of high-quality vanilla. Natural as can be. It's perfect with SADE playing in the background. It does bug me however. How many other fragrances have I blown off? Quite a few I'm sure. Maybe this one in particular because it was over hyped and I generally distrust a fragrance when that happens. Apparently I was wrong. Again. That and I still think the price is ridiculous. How much is it now? Never mind. Don't tell me. I also heard about the others. And how about that new one called the secret? Or something like that. It's all about the chase isn't it? I do think it's worth the price. I just can't afford the price. But this I'm sure would smell great on a man. Especially an attractive man. Or a confident attractive woman. It commands that type of look. This fragrance is not recessive by any means. It is for DADDIES. No matter who you are.

I’ve used this scent 4 times, and I have to say: Wow. I got a 5ml little hand-filled tester and immediately went to buy the full 50ml bottle after trying it. Even if it was around 230€ I just had to. Every other scent which I have ever had on which contained just the smallest hint of vanilla had every single time given me a gnarly headache without fail. This one did NOT give me a headache, which in my mind must mean it does not contain any synthetic vanillin. Maybe I’m wrong, but that’s my theory. Even if you don’t get headaches from synthetic vanillin like I theorize that I do, let this speak to the quality of the fragrance. The quality of the juice is just amazing. If I would describe the scent itself, I’d say it smells like the most juicy and moist piece of banana bread or tiger-cake with just a splash of cinnamon liqueur coming straight out of the oven. I know the listed note is just dried fruits but my nose picks up both banana and even some dates from the fruity part of this fragrance. The tobacco note blends some needed masculinity into the scent as well. It becomes a lot darker and powderier as it sits on your skin. And I mean a lot darker. Projection is good. Longevity is not as good but still decent. In total, I’d give it a score of 10/10. It is truly fantastic.

Wow, wow, wow! It’s been a long time since I’ve been excited by a fragrance, but this is an incredible! It’s been a long time since I’ve been blown away by a fragrance, but this is an incredible! "Vanille Havane (Eau de Parfum) | Les Indémodables" is a decadent, sophisticated, boozy spiced rum and coke with a delicious vanilla bean and rich cacao. This is the first scent I’ve sampled that claims to have rum where I can actually, clearly smell spiced rum! I don’t detect any tobacco or leather notes, which Im grateful for. I would completely disagree that this leans masculine. This is very much a 100% unisex scent and the name suits it perfectly. I’m completely obsessed! Great longevity and projection. I get whiffs of this throughout the day. Perfect for colder weather or date nights. While very expensive for 50ml, it’s absolutely worth every penny in my opinion. I wish I could afford a bigger bottle! You can tell this has been made with very high quality ingredients. I own several vanillas and have a large collection. To me this is absolutely THE best vanilla on the market! Absolutely stunning and extremely addictive. 1000/10! I’ll need to declutter some fragrances from my collection, as I absolutely need back up bottles of this one!

This is a Fabulous Niche Perfume ! In my opinion, Vanille Havane is a Modern Masterpiece with Super High Quality Composition. Elegant, Classy, Airy, Rich, Dark, Smoky and Complex. It is very Expensive but You can't go wrong with it. Vanille Havane was on my radar about three months , After I read positive comments and I watched reviews on YouTube, I decided to buy it . I tried it in store and I fell in love with it at first sniff. It opens up with a bit strong medicinal warm spicy , smoky, boozy Rum and dusty Cacao in the background then dry down is semi sweet warm spicy , ambery ,Tobacco and leathery with cherry and vanilla Dark chocolate vibe undertone. It is sweet but It is not cloying. Antoine Lie created many perfumes and I have some of them by Houbigant, Fragrances by les indemodables have High Quality, Refined and very Pure with modern Technology in Perfumery. I really enjoy it in cold weather and I'm so happy that I have it in my collection. It Reminds me a bit of Amouage Boundless in the dry down but it is not the same, Amouage Boundless is more Complex. Overall, Vanille Havane is a truly special fragrance. Longevity is very good, Highly Recommended. Two Thumbs Up. Bravo Monsieur Antoine Lie ! Rating : 9 / 10

Wow, my experience is quite different from most of the commenters below. But then it's not the first time my skin plays tricks on a perfume.... So I do not get any tobacco or liquor. I simply smell a dark, rooty vanilla and bitter cocoa powder. This may sound a bit boring, but Vanille Havane really is quite stunning. What I like about it is that it stays clear from anything sweet, edible or gourmand. Instead, the vanilla is used to create something earthy and gothic; a vanilla for adults! Vanilla Havane is dark and dense, almost monolithic (so spray with a very light hand)! It seems like a 'simple' composition in the sense that the formula remains unadorned and quite sobre, as if Antoine Lie really wants to give centre stage to the high quality and complexity of the main ingredients. I think of this as a perfumers perfume. I prefer Musc des Sables, Oriental Velours and the vetiver cologne from this brand, but I admire the originality and craftmanship in this perfume. The dry down especially is savory and delicious.

Exactly what it says on the tin - vanilla and tobacco, done in a rich, full-bodied manner. There's a persistent ashy smokiness to the tobacco which amplifies up close and makes it lean rugged and cosy. Suffusing, akin to the warmth at the back of the throat on a leisurely draw on a cigarette. The fruity, boozy opening shows itself for a delicious, fleeting moment. Vanilla stays subdued, flowing underneath as a smoothening, supportive texture. Avoids showing powdery nor gourmand edges. This is outstanding in a growingly crowded genre if one favours smokiness to temper typically sweet scents. It is not often at all that I find myself enthralled at first sniff, the kind where you find yourself wanting to bring your arm to your nose all day, and probably will think of the scent excitedly between wearings. This does it. Fits like a glove, a warm, cosy glove.

I’ve sampled a lot of tobacco fragrances, ranging from niche scents like Tobacco Vanille to Herod, and designers like The One and Spicebomb Extreme. Vanille Havane is without a doubt my favorite tobacco scent ever. The notes of cacao, vanilla, and tobacco are masterfully blended together, creating an aura of a beautiful memory for me. My mom had a close friend she would visit a lot during my childhood, and sometimes she would bring me along. This lady owned a cozy duplex, was a chain smoker, and loved her chocolate and coffee. She was truly an Aphrodite, and now that I think about it, she had a very strong sexual aura. Her apartment had a very specific scent that I could not forget for all these years, and Vanille Havane smells just like it. This is my memory in a fragrance, I can’t wait to try the extrait version. 10/10 is my final verdict.

Vanille Havane , where have you been all my life? This might be my new favorite fragrance after years of wearing Herod as my main tobacco-frag. This is adult territory right here, and we're talking well-dressed, sophisticated grown-up male-type of vibe with Vanille Havane. I'm of the opinion that you need to look the part if you're going to wear this, age 30+ upwards and you know your blazers, shoes and style. Otherwise you risk looking silly. You can tell they used quality ingredients with this, the notes are so well done and everything smells quite natural. It's difficult to find anything lacking here. Rum , which is not my usual like, is done discreetly and so well that it's just gorgeous. Leather is very subtle as well. Everything is so well-blended that it's just beautiful and seductive. Vanille Havane is a new favorite! 🌟🤩