ORMONDE JAYNE
Montabaco Cuba

2024

bergamot
mandarin
orange absolute
freesia
juniper

dry woods
magnolia
jasmine
tea

iso-e-super
vanilla absolute
ambergris
sandalwood
suede
tobacco
tonka bean

This is a Selfridges exclusive. Starting 2024, select stores around the world and the Ormonde Jayne main store will have it available from January 18th in limited quantities. Every year a new batch with different color bottles will be made available that way.

Note that I’ve only smelled this one in store; usually I only post thoughts after more thorough testing, but given the limited availability, I figured anything is better than nothing.

Cuba, as the name may suggest, has the tobacco amped up, but to be honest, that’s not how it came across in its opening. Instead, the freshness from the bergamot and mandarin made this a more citrussy, slightly green (juniper) and fresher take on its DNA. Probably the closest to Montabaco from between it, Rio and Flor, the other store exclusives.

More vanilla has been added to the base, which I can’t speak on yet, on first impression, it’s wasn’t really sweet and it was very classy, almost understated; I’m sure the sweetness would start to be more prominent in the drydown.