DRIES VAN NOTEN
HAVANA GOLD

2025

PERFUMER
Jordi Fernandez

mandarin
licorice
star anise

cinnamon
tobbaco
Benzoin

roasted tonka bean
leather
cypriol

So far, the Dries van Noten line has never been able to wow me. None of them are bad, but none of them are good enough to consider buying (despite the amazing looking bottles). Havana Gold is no different.

This is an ‘adequate’ tobacco scent, of which there are legions and Havana Gold is not among the most interesting or best ones. It’s mostly spicy tobacco; with a lot of cinnamon, also clove to my nose. It has a muddy, earthy tobacco, not a dry one.

There’s some sweetness, but compared to most popular tobacco fragrances, it’s less sweet, which I would say could be the most positive factor here, depending on your taste. Personally, this level of earthy spicy isn’t as nice to me as a cozier sweeter tobacco such as Parfums de Marly Herod. That being said, Havana Gold is pretty generic and safe still; it’s not too smoky and not daring at all; no overlap with fragrances in the realm of Les Indemodables Vanille Havane or Strangers SM Cafe.

Overall… I just miss something break up the monotonous, almost moody spices. There’s no bright opening, no significant sweetness… it’s a bit tiresome after a while due to its linear nature. Not among my favorites from Dries van Noten.