Hi there Posse Peeps! Habanita! Early on in my craving I collected a bunch of bottles of the vintage version. Then in a sale, thinking there was a lovely old bottle left in the box, I sold them all. Cue great Muriel’s Wedding gouts of crying and Mary Todd Lincoln hair tearing. Well, maybe not to either of those extremes but I was definitely shitty with myself. Anyway, since then I’ve not replaced them. I was having a melancholy moment about this late last year and ordered myself a large decant from Surrender To Chance. There’s not a lot left so I thought maybe it’s time to share with you all the joy of wearing and the sadness of being nearly without again. What reminded and inspired me was a fabulous historic bottle post on Insta by AromaBlog.
Habanita de Molinard vintage
Parfumo gives these featured accords for the 1988 version:
Top: Galbanum, Mastic, Petitgrain
Heart: Cedarwood, Grasse jasmine, Heliotrope, Nutmeg, Rosa centifolia, Vetiver, Ylang-ylang
Base: Amber, Musk, Oakmoss, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Vanilla
What could vintage Habanita smell like? I’m not sure how many perfume newbies there are that read Perfume Posse. I know there is a great phalanx of readers who have come all the way from MUA in the 1990s and 2000s, and many who joined along the way. I’m guessing many of you have smelled it. Well for the newbies, welcome to something awesome. To those that know Habanita well, a memory that I hope you cherish.
Surrender To Chance has very affordable samples and decants.
Anne Marie wrote about Habanita way back in 2012.
Did you ever Habanita de Molinard?
Portia xx
I know I tried this a long time ago (was it in a cigar-shaped container?) but for some reason it didn’t stabd out to me. Maybe I should revisit?
Heya Tom,
It came in a multitude of bottles, I don’t remember seeing a cigar but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.
Do you need another long discontinued love?
Portia xx
I don’t remember any cigar shaped bottles either. Many of Habanita bottles were black glass with raised female nudes. I think the earliest ones were Lalique. It was created in the early 1920’s (the Roaring 20’s) for women to cover up the smell of smoking cigarettes. It definitely has a strong tobacco element to it.
Something I love about it Maya.
So do I!
Let’s see if this works
Okay!
Seems fine now.
Nutshell: I adore Habanita!
PHEW!
and YAY
I absolutely adore Habanita. Though it’s been a minute the moment I sa
Heya Musette,
That comment went totally awry.
So weird.
Check your commenting and gravatar.
Portia xx
I just saw that!!! Yikes!
HA! Yikes indeed.
I did try Habanita and she was a big ol’ thing on me, not really “me” but fun. Huh … I wonder if Carolyn has a bottle or a mini, I’m going to go look!
Heya March, I wonder if it will work with your new normal of sc ent smelling? Hope you can find some.
Portia xx
Of course I do darling! Right in front in our perfume room. I LOVE this one and just sprayed myself heavily so I apologize in advance for stinking up our house.
YAY! Love this Carolyn. You are smelling VERY fine.
Portia xx
I’m so glad that you wrote about vintage Habanita! I haven’t thought about this one in quite a while. I love the vintage and wore it a lot! STC does have decants and I’m going to check eBay too, though It’s gotten a lot harder to find good sellers there, especially now that eBay automatically gives the seller a good review after 7 days if you do not review your purchase.
WOW! I did not know that about eBay Maya. They seem to have lost the plot. I’m too scared to sell anything there anymore.
Yes, I can imagine you swanning around in Habanita. What a glam scent.
Portia xx
I’ve read about Habanita, of course, but have never had the chance to get my nostrils on any, old or new. Since it has both galbanum and vetiver in it, and I love me some green scents, I predict I might really enjoy this one. I need to follow your example, Portia, and order a sample from STC if they still have any. I’m sorry you’re almost out. Where’s our perfume fairy godmother when we need her?!?
HA! Yes, I think my perfume fairy godmother is working hard DinaC. Yesterday I found a brand new, old slim line bottle of Néroli Outrenoir for a very good price. Swings and roundabouts eh?
STC is so good. I’ve enjoyed this 5ml of Habanita and know they have it, in case of future need.
Portia xx
I am sure I sampled this ages ago. No real memory. Lovely notes list.
I hate when we do those sorts of things to ourselves — divest something and then think ‘why oh why did I do it that way?’ Like a few moments of madness.
Hey Cinnamon,
Habanita hits so many of my fragrant love hot spots. One day another vintage bottle will find me.
Yeah, sometimes we do dumb things. It’s human nature.
Portia xx