Spice It Up With Havana Harvest

Get Hooked onto Havana Harvest

When you think of tobacco, the word is often associated with cigarettes' unpleasant smell and smoke. Nevertheless, when it comes to perfumery, the base note of tobacco has nothing to do with cigarettes, and instead, you will be surprised by the divinity of its scent. A drug of an ingredient that is exceptionally deluxe in perfumery!

Natural Tobacco Leaves absolute is truly an ideal companion for refined taste, a perfect complement for dress-to-impress occasions, and a frequent aroma that lurks in the trendiest speakeasies. Due to its high price, perfumers restrict their use of this ingredient in their compositions; however, you will still find it present in niche and oriental perfumes!

A Little History

Derived from the Solanaceous family, Nicotiana tabacum's leaves were widely used in perfumery.  Relatives of tobacco include vegetables such as, tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes, and bell pepper, as well as some poisonous plants, including Datura, a powerful and dangerous deliriant, used for shamanic and medical purposes, one that when misused could cause severe health risks.

Like the rest of the plants falling under the umbrella of this family, Tobacco leaves had been bought to Europe and Asia from the American subtropics, where the indigenous tribes of America were using it in their shamanic practices to enter “the mystics altered states of consciousness”. Therefore, it was not surprising that a clear majority believe that it was during Columbus’ expedition that tobacco was first brought back to Europe.

Nevertheless, history does show that the seeds of tobacco only got to Spain during the second expedition, in 1496 by monk Roman Pano. From here onwards, the spread of tobacco begun.

The most critical year for the plant’s distribution was in 1560, when Jean Nicot, a French diplomat and the Ambassador of France in Portugal, proposed tobacco to the Queen of France, Catherine Medici, as a remedy against migraines. Its popularity accelerated in an instance with doctors and even perfumers falling crazy over the leaves.

With qualities as a herb, a medicine, a pain killer, a remedy for depression, and even the most effective first aid for venomous snake bites, Tobacco was quickly nicknamed the “herbs of all pains”. In honour of Jean Nicot, the herb was named “Nicotine”.

Within the perfumery world, tobacco was similarly expanding, with perfumers experimenting with this unique aroma. Obtained by the volatile solvent extraction, from different varieties of the plant, the Virginia Tobacco is the one that is most commonly used in perfumery.

What Does Havana Harvest Smell Like?

Tobacco Absolute is a very tenacious, aromatic material that adds warmth, and depth to natural perfumes. It is a labyrinth of scents and sensations. A robust and rich character, with a herbaceous aroma, carries slight nuances of rose-fruitiness and smoky accords. With regards to the underlying facets of its woody character, it has undertones of maple and caramel, with a touch of osmanthus, that are collectively tied together with the dry tea leaf note, as well as undertones of hay accords.

Tobacco Absolute is prominently used in tobacco-themed fragrances, but it is also commonly used in aldehydic fragrances to add intensity and character and be used in masculine fougere and oriental compositions to divulge the dry aspect of the fragrance.

The Tobacco Craze

Starting from around the mid-1980s, the use of tobacco in perfumery began its boom. The industry saw the launches of endless tobacco fragrances from big named brands, such as "Les Exclusifs Sycomore" by Chanel, "Tonka Impériale" by Guerlain, "Tobacco Vanille" by Tom Ford, and "Belle d’Opium" by Yves Saint Laurent.

Nevertheless, creeping into the new millennium, there had been a boom of niche fragrance brands that have also been boldly using Tobacco within their perfume creations. These include "Tabaco" by Coqui Coqui, and "Santal 33" by Le Labo, and "This Is Not A Pipe" by Demeter.

This craze continues to grow, with niche and large perfumery brands all getting their hands on this vastly desired ingredient!

Our Recommended Mixes

Although Tobacco compliments well with most ingredients, it remains fundamentally an oriental scent, and so when in combination with this deluxe ingredient, your signature scent, your custom perfume, will inevitably adopt a new irresistible and robust touch.

If you seek a creation to freshen you up throughout the day, then our TEA TIME fragrance with a touch of the HAVANA HARVEST perfume is the combination for you. Luxuriously fresh, with an aromatic dry core.

For something to uplift your sex appeal, something more suitable for the later hours of the day; we suggest HAVANA HARVEST and our VANILLA VENUS scent. Maintaining its masculine edge, this fragrance will offer fruity and woody nuances, with a gourmand touch.

Alternatively, our VETIVER VIRTUOSO perfume and HAVANA HARVEST creates a more outstanding and charismatic fragrance. The rich and polarising scent produces a sophisticated Eau de Parfum, as the spices and wood interlace together.

Finally, one of our favourites. A beautiful blend, ROSE RITUAL with HAVANA HARVEST, bringing a luxury and leathery effect to the flower's bloom as it settles onto your skin.  

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