Cuir Cuba Intense

Having started reviewing fragrance about three years ago, I am at a point where many offerings start smelling the same, not 100% the same, but similar enough to feel redundant. Today I came across a small store selling the full line of Nicolai fragrances. I had sampled some of the Eau Fraiche line in the past had enjoyed them enough to buy a 30ml, but also kind of dismissed them as innocent freshies. But wow, the intense line is probably the most amazing set of offerings I have come across in a while, honestly they feel otherworldly, a level of respect for olfactory art that transcends public opinion. I started with New York, a harmonious Creed-esque citrus oakmoss, then went over to the mysterious peppery patchouli, then came this beast. I remember reading somewhere years ago that the inspiration of this fragrance was the famous Hemingway absinthe-based cocktail, Death in the Afternoon, mixed with the signature smell of green tobacco leaves of Cuba... and it is spot on in this case. It is an ingenious combination of a potently fresh overtone of anise and licorice, somewhere between ouzo and absinthe, with a herbal incense base, resembling an airy almost green tobacco accord somewhere between the fresh hay of Chergui and the herbal dry humidor of Lorenzo Villoresi Atman Xaman. There is just the right amount of creamy sweetness and just the right amount of freshness in the base where it just comes to a perfect harmony. Unlike so many other absinthe or anise theme fragrances this one actually maintains that distinct spiciness for hours (needless to say stay away if you don't enjoy anise or licorice). I particularly love the dry down, woody but sweet, fresh and soft spicy but not as edgy as the opening and with a bit of a fougere-like musky touch, but nothing too vintage smelling. It is one of the few scents I bought after a single whiff, probably one of the most stunning creations I have ever come across, something I must own at all times, and secondly one of my favorite interpretations of tobacco out there. I think it may come from my upbringing in the Mediterranean, where anise incense and the occasional narguile are key parts of the olfactory palate.

I was apprehensive walking into the Nicolaï boutique. All I had smelled from the brand thus far was New York Intense which smells like something even my grandfather would have found old school. So, in an attempt to guide the salesperson towards changing my perception, I asked them for something a bit odd, a bit non-traditional. She ended up having me try about a dozen fragrances, but she was very right to reach for that one first. From the first sniff, I got a whiff of something I hadn't even thought of in about 10 years, but that had defined my childhood. An absolute madeleine moment - a blast from the past by my favorite childhood snack. And if you're thinking it's some anise candy, then you're close (but no Cuban cigar). See, my mother kind of limited the amount of sweets in the house. It's a little odd, but instead she often had me snack on... Freshly cut fennel!! That's what I had unfolding on my skin along with blonde tobacco and subtle animalics! I was transported back to happily chomping my way through a bulb and still am every time I wear this. Does that resonate with the name Cuir Cuba? Maybe not, but I honestly could not care less. This won't be for everyone, but for me it was an instant masterpiece. Could very well be a new signature scent: it's fresh but has substance. It's surprising and unusual but is still very classy and unabrasive - unless you're an anise/fennel hater in which case I'm sorry for you in more ways than one. Quality is supreme, performance is there and the price is right. This is modernized classic perfumery at its best in my opinion. Got me a 30ml for now as I literally haven't finished a bottle in almost 10 years, but I have a feeling this might be one of the rare bottles I'll actually need a bigger size of in time.

PPHHHWWOOOOAR! What a scent! RAWHEAD has a good description here. To me though - despite the notes - this smells like slightly damp tobacco with caramel fudge and salt! On the dry down after a few minutes the bright citrus disappears. A cursory sniff to me smelled more like caramel fudge and tobacco but its your nose playing tricks. I can smell the great projection being the same with mint and anise registering but closer nose to skin I can start smelling the note table though to me mostly mint and very much liquorice with cigarette tobacco rather than pipe as well as hay and lavender. After a while darker earthy notes like the patchouli and civet come forward. Amazing scent - if you like tobacco you will want this... haven't got anything like this except Atelier Cologne Tobacco Nuit which is simpler. This is more complicated with many changes and layers. Tope shelf next to PDM Herod, TF TV, Miller Harris Feuilles De Tabac, Comptor Sud Pacifique Rhum et Tabac, Atelier Tabacco Nuit, Xerjoff Naxos, Slumberhouse Baque, Ex Idolo Ryder and Farmacia SS Annunzia Tobacco D'AUtore - all give remarkably different takes on a tobacco scent (except TV and Herod). Wish I had a bigger bottle ;)

Meyan ve anasonun baskın bir açılış yaptığı ilginç bir parfüm. Adına bakarak tütün baskın bir parfüm beklemeyin. Meyan ilk başta biraz acı bir hava ile var. Hemen yanında anason. Ancak yarın saat sonunda tütün "bende buradayım" diyebiliyor. Zaten tütün kendini göstermeye başladığı andan itibaren parfüm kendini gösteriyor. Ilk yarim saati unutun. Ardından gelen ise karakter sahibi oldukça erkeksi bir parfüm. Lavanta sahnede değil ama parfume kalite hissi verecek şekilde arkalarda geziyor. Animalic nota kendisini hissettirmiyor ki bu çok iyi. Ama parfüm biraz da kendini hissettirmeyen bu iyi harman sayesinde farklı bir noktaya gidiyor. Bağıran bir parfüm degil ama kendini hissettiriyor. Kalıcılık makul. 30-4₺ yaş be üstü için uygun. Gençlerin bir parfumden beklentileri ile ortüşmeyebilir. Bu markanın birçok parfümünde genel eğilimin dışında harika tasarımlarla karşılaştım. Cuba da onlardan birisi. Kalite ve karakter.

One of my best Nicolaï, an amazing, unique, sophisticated, nostalgic perfume. It reminds me of taking a little siesta on a hot, summer afternoon in my grandma's old house. The soft spicy minty top note makes a kind of cacao/coffee feeling and it's exquisite. I suppose the tobacco note already emerges a little at the beginning, mixed with anise and licorice. This beautiful top note last pretty long time then gradually hay and tobacco become stronger. I can detect cumin and lavender well. Not much of geranium, ylang-ylang nor magnolia. There is no oud for sure, but the bottom note is a very stable woody mixed with patchouli. I love using this perfume in hot humid summer day like today, feeling the scent vaporizing from my skin and playing around, then slowly gone.