Habanita La Cologne

***2nd Update 12/19/25 Month and a half in*** Just wanted to add that I just recieved my very first bottle of Guerlain's Shalimar edp and mu goodness! This smells almost Identical to Shalimar! Now again, my bottle of Shalimar is brand-spankin'-new so it may change a bit with a bit of "maturation", but yeah, who.ever compaired the two fragrances are SPOT ON! ----------------------------------------------------- **Update 12/2/25 Over one month in*** So, Im happy to report that the "Funky Powder" opening has calmed down quite a bit, but its still sorta present although very fleeting and is gone within maybe 5 - 10 minutes. Im still NOT getting much in the way of Citrus, but I suppose that note adds some much needed "Brightness" for this to be a proper "Cologne Version" of Habanita which we all know is very deep and luxurious. Although Habanita La Cologne is beautifully Powdery it still manages to be quite "Unisex" atleast for today's pallette. As it begins to dry-down it becomes more Vanillic and I am most Definately getting an "Almond Like" smell in the far dry-down. I mean almost to the point where Im getting a faint Cherry/Almond-like smell, but again only in the far dry-down which brings me to how complex this little "Cologne" truley is! This transitions from sort of bright, to powdery, to vanillic to an almost nutty affair while still retaining parts of the opening and mid notes and Im ALL IN for it! The performance is impressive and I feel like it wears more like a strong edt or an edp concentration bc Im getting 6 to 7 hours on skin with good sillage and obviously lasts way longer on clothes where I can still smell it following day. Also, Habanita La Cologne can become Cloying if over-sprayed bc of the semi-sweet powderiness. Its also very unique bc although I own nearly 200 fragrances, I have nothing else that smells quite like this. I give Habanita La Cologne a solid 7 outta 10 withing its classic genre. A very nice addition to my collection FO SHO! Thanks for taking the time to read my thoughts on this cool-classic hidden-gem! CHEERS and BLESSINGS!😉 ----------------------------------------------------- ***Initial Review 10/25/25*** Hmmm, this scent will take some getting used to. She's very Powdery, classic and unisex. Im NOT getting much "Citrus" in this dna, but unfortunately I am getting a "Funky Powder" in the opening, but Im not overly concered bc SOOO MANY of these classics can drastically change with a bit of Maturation that Im not overly concerned about my purchase at the moment. Ill be back for an update once tbis settles/maturates a bit. SALUD!🙂

***Updated Update*** So, Ive had habanita La Colonia as well as Shalimar edp both for around 7 -8 months now, both have "Maturated" and both have improved as far as the smell and performance goes and I tell yall NO LIE... Habanita "La Colonia" is quite a bit stronger and lasts EVEN LONGER than the current formulation of Shalimar edp does! For instance, Ive had 2 spritzes of Shalimar edp on my left arm and 2 spritzes of Habanita La Colonia on my right for around 5 hours now and Shalimar edp is now basically a skin-scent, while Habanita La Cologne is still going quite strong and lasts around 10 hours (ON SKIN!) WTH Ya'll?! These REDICULOUS "Reformulations" are RRREALLY insanley annoying and I dont care what they say, its NOT all "Because of IFRA!" I firmly believe that these houses are purposefully NEUTERING these once upon a time-BEASTLY fragrances so that we run out sooner so that we in turn have to repurchase new bottles! What a freakin' SCAM yo! REDICULOUS. Also just a side note: Habanita La Colonia shares some similarities to Shalimar, but they DO NOT necessarily smell alike. Habanita is much more Floral and slightly indolic, while Shalimar edp is more resinous, smokey and imo, is the better smelling fragrance, yet both are quite powdery and are in the same genre which would be worn for a more formal occasion. I also feel that Shalimar leans much more "Unisex" while Habanita is more of a "Floral fragrance" making it lean slightly more Feminine, yet still unisex enough for us guys to pull off. So basically if ya DO NOT love the more resinouse, smokey aspects of Shalimar but enjoy the other aspects of the fragrance, then you should definately go for Habanita La Cologne which imo is like a more "Striped Back" version of Shalimar, but I must say that I am a bit dissapointed in Shalimar edp's performance and lingering power whereas before this lastest formulation it must've been much stronger/longer-lasting than it is today.

One of the best openings of a freshie in this price range I have smelled in ages if not ever! WOW!! Stunning beauty for a "fresh" style fragrance! I'm a Habanita nut and could not possibly be more delighted with the La Cologne version. It's like Habanita only lighter and fresher, fruitier with a dose of delicious lemon, but still has a creaminess and lots of powder and florals. I get a lot of violet which comes across as iris a bit and the rose combined with the violet and powder gives it a makeup like feel in the dry down. The fragrance is just beautiful and while it has Habinita DNA, it's so different I could see it working for people who don't even like Habanita, while still pleasing those who do. This ranks up there with Eau de Shalimar as one of my favorite fresher version of a heavier classic fragrance. For me, this is greatly superior to L'Esprit but realize all tastes are different. For me, for this style of fragrance, it's 5 stars!!!

Very close interpretation of the EDP for me. The opening is weirdly fruity and sweet, but it goes away quickly (*relief*). The whole fragrance has the same basic DNA as other members of the Habanita family, but it's lighter of course. This "cologne" version is not as smoky and dramatic as the EDP. It's more floral and powdery. For most of its development, it's all about iris and rose on a soft woody base (at least on me). I really like it. Habanita La Cologne almost has a lipstick-like quality on me, and I love lipstick fragrances ! Performance is comparable to an average EDT : soft to moderate sillage, decent longevity. In that particular case, "Cologne" just refers to the style of the fragrance, not its overall performance. So far, I still prefer the EDP over this. They just have very different styles despite having many similar notes, so pick your favorite !

The opening is quite sharp - a burst of citrus, bergamot, and aldehydes. Not long ago, I used to compare this Habanita to Molinard’s Black EDP, but I’ve come to realize they are each better on their own. Black Molinard feels smoother, deeper, and more earthy, and I think that comparison made me underestimate Habanita. With some distance, I now see how beautiful the LC is in its own light. I understand the connection with Shalimar - both share that bergamot–aldehydes opening and a deep, powdery-sweet drydown. Still, the tone is different, where Shalimar leans into warm vanilla, Habanita LC dries down to a soft, almost baby-powder finish. The longetivity is impressive; three morning sprays easily lasts until evening. It’s a perfect scent for the season of fallen leaves.

- You smell so good today! Well, you always smell nice, but what you're wearing now is just lovely. - Why, thank you, my dear, I needed that. I woke up this morning feeling like a roadkill. Autumn also decided to say "Hello" and it's raining from everywhere, so I outrageously oversprayed this little thing. For someone who is not shy on the trigger and has some serious heavy hitters, I receive few compliments. But Habanita and La Cologne are among my public's favorites. Even to people who only wear discrete citrus or polite, read boring, florals. You know, politically correct, workplace appropriate stuff. And then, there is me. It's like vanilla ice cream or cake with lemon drizzle, everybody likes it.

A gorgeous rendition of the original Habanita. Much lighter in feel and perfect for summer. The opening is really citrusy then you get that typical smoke and wood scent of Habanita. Very easy to wear. Longevity and projection are very good! Lasts about 8 to 10 hours for me, and I get many compliments when I wear this. A love and a must for every Habanita lover! EDIT: after testing Habanita and La Cologne side by side... LC is basically the core sent of Habanita, without the rich, dark and slightly bitter leather. For some reason it reminds me of an hair product scent. It's lovely when you're not in the mood for a dark, sexy, mysterious vibe. I'd say it's still not a 'mainstream' fragrance!

The opening is quite pretty and powdery and very fem. They managed to keep everything that makes the original beautiful but light. The mid to dry down is where this truly shines. The baby powder clears out and leaves behind a very mossy and mastic fairy dust. But the ylang ylang keeps it from being a straight forward green scent. It’s just really beautiful. I wore the original the day this came in the mail and god is that thing a masterpiece as well. Great dna they are all timers for me In this rendition it sorta feels like something goutal would make. They don’t smell the same but the mood is be in that would call for this would also call for Grand Amor

The opening of Habanita la cologne packs a bitter citrusy punch, bergamot! Hands down! But then nutmeg starts looming large on the horizon, so large that the bergamot takes a back seat. Then comes the woodiness that goes hand in hand with smokiness but all in a very non invasive manner. The woody-smoky quality envelops tha ambry and vanilic core that acts as buffer against any trace of harshness. The base gets quite mossy, which is again in control. The longevity and projection actually blew my mind. Amazing amazing amazing

Fresh like italian vanilla bean ice cream on the hot summer day. You can almost taste it. Only the best ingredients. Flanker done right for once. It definitely has the Habanita backbone. But you can love it even if you're not a Habanita fan. And yes, it resembles N°5 Eau Premiere, it has the same brightness and fluffiness. It is to Habanita what Eau Premiere is to N°5. A real treat for vanilla lovers. Outstanding longevity and sillage. Adorable.

Perfect sparkling icy glass of Champagne ! It does have its charming light, golden sunbeam, so fresh, and deep, and this timeless bubbling joy... Ed: The spicy dry down is deep and marvelous, it’s really blooming on a warm skin. I have the original black bottle too, very similar but serious, more introvert, and the white one, musky, more animalic and creamy.

First I completely fell in love with the Habanita EdP (modern version). And now this! Lasts for a long time both on skin and clothes and nice twists and turns all the way. I just wish that the opening notes would linger for a bit longer time. Towards the basenotes this is more similar to Habanita EdP.

I am maximum in love with this! So many different layers, from fresh lemon to warm wood and soft powder. Somehow they bottled summer hammock swinging by the lake. Yum.

it's like the sonic to eau de parfum's shadow

I recently reviewed the original eau de parfum, which I absolutely adored. That discovery made me eager to try the flankers: this eau de cologne and also the rather strange "esprit" version (review to come). I'm happy to report that the EdC is an unmitigated success. In fact, the EdC classification seems mostly nominal. While one could construe this as simply a lighter, more summery version of the EdP, it's so much more than that: a contemporary reworking of the original composition that avoids losing any of its force or intrigue. The cold, powdery spice of the original (largely the product of the lentisque, heliotrope, sandalwood, and nutmeg) is greatly reduced, ceding its throne to a woody-floral-amber triad of hearty rosewood, sweet-sour ylang, and rich amber. The trademark nutmeg is still there as a secondary note, as is the oakmoss, but rather than being softened by warm vanilla, its nutty-aromatic zeal is counterbalanced by cool, wet violet. The medicinal-botanical geranium—an esoteric glyph floating through the heart of the original—is here replaced by a prominent lemon note, which is more on the fluffy/whipped side than the acidic-citrus. The vetiver is present only as an echo of itself. In its composite form, Habanita eau de cologne retains its metamorphic intrigue. There is still something of a fresh, creamy powder, but that yields to a rather reserved woody citrus in an hour or two. Near the end, the mossy amber—tinged with tonic violet—take center stage. The progression is unexpected, captivating, and enduring—I sprayed 4-5 spritzes on myself before work last week, and I could still smell it when I was heading home nine hours later. I see the resonance with Chanel No. 5 Eau Première more than I do with Shalimar EdT; there's something here of the same fizzy lemon-meringue florals. Habanita EdC, however, is much more complex, much less of a crowd pleaser, and is indisputably more powerful, both in terms of effect and longevity. The clear new bottle is nearly as striking as the EdP, replacing its matte-black glass with clear glass and a silver lid. The exquisite bas-relief is identical, but given a new animation by the interplay of light through the transparent container and the golden liquid inside. Like the original, this works in cool or warm weather, but the lemon, ylang, and violet tip it toward spring and summer. Genderqueer as hell, and good for formal or casual occasions. And utterly ageless, of course.

As the previous review said, this is very close to the EDP. HOWEVER... not close or not different enough, I can't quite make my mind up. For my personal taste this version is just too sweet/fruity. It opens quite sweet and on me the scent changes from sweet flowery in a warm environment to a more heavy, familiar Habanita in the cold depending on the temperature of my surroundings, it still stays too sweet for me to utterly love it. By all means, it's not a sweet shop jam jar smell but it's leaning towards something I'm simply not that keen on. I fell in love with Habanita and Habanita l'esprit and felt like I had to have this one too. As I couldn't find anywhere to sample it, just like the other versions of Habanita this was a blind buy. I don't regret it, but I don't consider Cologne to be as special as the EDP or L'esprit, so I'm using cologne for work, when I want Habanita but consider the EDP to be too heavy.

Tout comme Cuir du même Molinard, la Cologne Habanita a été un achat compulsif, à l'aveugle, parfaitement réussi. Et ce n'est pas vraiment une cologne, selon moi, car on n'a pas cet effet fusant et fugace des agrumes, mais il y a une fraîcheur épicée, lumineuse, qui laisse place au fond présent et baumé d'Habanita... Parfaite pour les journées ensoleillées, en chemise de lin et panama. Et s'associe très bien à l'EDP, portée sur peau et celle-ci vaporisée sur tissus pour encore plus de sillage. A recommander!

Somewhere between Shalimar EDT and Chanel N5 Eau Premiere. It has that comforting fluffly lemony aldehydic loveliness of Eau Premiere in the opening, with the citric amber warmth of Shalimar in the drydown, made a touch more potent with that divine ylang. I reach for this in the spring because it's just so inviting, but I'll definitely be featuring this in my autumn rotation. Great sillage, about arms length, lasts upwards of 6 hrs. Excellent flanker.

Quite classic-nostalgic, citrus-woody with well constructed rosewood, green nuances, florals and powdery facets. Opening feels slightly intrusive and spicy.. as it developed, the drydown became much more pleasing on my skin. Although “cologne”, i must say the projection and longevity impressed me. Given the notes, the scent does exactly what you would expect. Nothing wrong

@ Hexagi You should try the combination Habanita as a perfume on your neck and Habanita La Cologne on your clothes or chest & arms.

@ christianne1 You did a great review of one of my favourites! Nothing more to say. ;-)

On my skin this Molinard smelling like Chanel N°5 Eau Premiere.

There is nothing “cologne” about this fragrance. It’s a thick and sultry yellow floral.

This isn't a full review as I find it difficult to define this scent. I have a bottle of EDC which is the same shape as the "anniversary" bottles made between 2005-2012 except it is clear rather than black - confusing as I have only seen one picture of this bottle on the internet, and it says the EDC wasn't produced until 2016? Can anyone clear up my confusion here? If I had to describe it I would say it was quite pungent; smelling of worn leather with a hint of sweet tobacco, and maybe vetiver / slightly medicinal Ylang. It is very distinctive but I would not describe this cologne as citrussy, fruity or floral. It would not be mistaken for any other scent I have smelled. It puts me in mind of being in a vintage car with leather seats, maybe with my grandparents - she's wearing subltle powdery violets and he has a dash of old spice on (the nutmeg being distinctive).

I, a longtime fan of the classic Habanita, quite recently, walking through the shopping center, decided to try on Habanita La Cologne. What a miracle! For me, this is the young granddaughter of Grandmother Habanite, they have one face for two, but the enthusiasm of youth, fresh charm and the spirit of the new time does its job. The fragrance just conquered me. But the most interesting was later. Continuing to walk through the shopping center, I was tracked down and found various girls on the trail of fragrance, they said compliments that found out what a wonderful scent I was, strengthening me in the desire to get this fragrance. Habanita La Cologne was very persistent and jet scent. Although, according to the pyramid of aroma, nutmeg + violet + rose is my personal nightmare, but come on ... So, quite unexpectedly, I found another beautiful perfume.

I do think that Molinard must go back to the lab and rework this one! The top accords are all over the place (shame, because if done better the perfume would gain enormously) and the rest is a bit bland and lacks articulation. It is not a bad perfume, but it could become a great one by a capable "nose". The similarities with the original are quite evident (that smoky, dusty, honey, cherry smell of Habanita) and some abstract references to Chanel but as it is, I can't recommend it. -ΙΩΝ

SheshireCat is spot on! The opening is glorious!! The dry down is just like Habanita edp on me. It is very strong for a cologne so its strength is not to be underestimated. Perhaps one of the strongest colognes ive smelt though its as edt!! If you find Habanita overwhelming, then this one is definitely wearable. I prefer this over that (edt and edp). Due to the aldehydes i cant wear this or the regular Habanita and the same is true for the Shalimar. Gutted really.

Beautiful. Powdery lovers only I’d say. Very wearable powdered amber citrus, It’s balanced out with the citrus and rosewood, reminds me of sandalwood and almost a fig leaf vibe at first. Cross between Shalimar EDT and Chanel No.5 Eau Premiere. if you like Shalimar and original Habanita, but find them difficult to wear daily, this is a great choice.

I haven't tried the original but ordered this as the reviews made it sound really fresh. In reality this is a powder scent, very much like Shalimar in the dry down. I'm amazed that it's not listed under the reminds me of section for Shalimar. I love it but it's very strong so 1 spray is plenty.

Really nice fragrance. Powdery citrus and vanilla; non offensive, comforting, „safe”; reminds me of Nivea cream smell with lemon zest. For my taste it is a little too sweet, a bit cloying and not smoky enough - I was expecting something more risky, deep and sultry after reading reviews.