Habanita Molinard

Desirability: Full bottle

Source: Fragrantica

Refined. Warm. Inviting.

Habanita is more my cup of leather/vanilla than the whisper-soft suede/vanilla that is Cuir Beluga from Guerlain's exclusive L 'Art et la Matière line. As much as I am a loyal fan of Guerlain and as much as I appreciate the quality and class of Cuir Beluga...it's a shade too sheer for my enjoyment, resembling the easygoing soft suede Cuir Ottoman, a scent I like but not love. 

Habanita is definitely not a light fragrance but neither is it as dark and dangerous as its bottle suggests and I can't recommend this as a "strictly" leather scent. Put it simply, both Cuir Beluga and Cuir Ottoman are blonde suedes and Habanita is a dark suede. When asked to recommend leather scents, what comes to mind are the likes of Cuir de Russie, Anubis and Cuir Mauresque to name a few. Habanita wears more like an Oriental vanilla scent, infused with a leather note that is more prominent at the beginning then fading away by the drydown. Never harsh but a smooth and thoroughly enjoyable polished leather smell that captures the luxuriousness of Habanita as it smoulders its way into an amber base- sweet vanilla with a generous amount of smoky resins thrown emanating a heart-warming glow for hours.

A wonderful creation with an average projection and very good longevity. I recently adopted a bottle of this beauty who keeps her softer and more feminine sibling Habanita L'Esprit company. By the way I know there is endless debate on whether Habanita L'Esprit deserves to be named as such and having spent time with both, I do agree that they share DNA. 

Rausch J.F. Schwarzlose Berlin

Desirability: Sample

Source: Fragrantica

Sweet, heady stuff that is not for the faint of heart but possibly faint-making when worn by the right individual. Projection is phenomenal and longevity is very good, be careful when applying as it's hard to scrub off.

Lightly spiced and smoky wood notes, a dense moody amber as thick as syrup and the smell of sweet leather make up this potent if none too complex scent that conjures up images of the stereotypical bad boy that all good girls want to look after despite their survival instincts telling them to run for the hills.

There's a burnt rubber note that lingers in Rausch and I can't decide if I like it or not but overall this is a dark and bold unisex fragrance ( I say unisex but the guy who wears this must be able to take sugar with his scents) that isn't particularly original but is undoubtedly good. 

The war of the two roses.

Trivia: The War of the Roses was a 30 year long and bloody battle, which began in 1455( as the First battle of St. Albans), fought between the House of York (whose symbol was the white rose) and the House of Lancaster (symbol was the red rose), a battle that ousted the incumbent, mentally unstable Henry VI and established the House of York on the throne of England. 

On to a more pleasant battle of two roses, between Ambergris Taifi and Ispahan Black, from Agarscents Bazaar, perfumer Sharif LaRoche. I've worn both perfume oils separately but today I am wearing both together, well on different arms, to compare and decide if I need Ispahan Black in my life. On a side note, I smell like a blooming rose garden with animals running all over the place, everyone seems attracted to me today. 

Notes listed for Ambergris Taifi: Ambergris, Ambra, Ambre Gris.

Notes listed for Ispahan Black: Opium, Deer Musk, Rose Otto, Spices.

Comparing side by side, Ambergris Taifi seems more uplifting and sweeter, the rose a very delicate pink, almost just a blush. Comparatively, the scent is much fresher and lightly spiced greens. For some reason, I'm smelling rosewater and vanilla? A creamy mildly sweet vanilla and the combination of both rose and vanilla is making me think of desserts. The animalic musk is there but isn't overdone, sort of like a Beauty and the Beast relationship with the pink rose. 

Mini Raw Strawberry Rose Ice Cream Cakes with Chocolate

In contrast, Ispahan Black has become even darker and mysterious next to its fair companion. The rose is a smoking, spiced musky rose, sophisticated, possessing a unique élan and whose idea of dessert is "une clope et une cafe". 

Both perfume oils last a ridiculously long time and have a presence you won't miss. I have decided in the end that yes, I want Ispahan Black in my life too.