I was 5 years old when my parents had to stampede to the hospital because of an accident that injured my eyes.
It was a December day; they were enjoying a television program and the silence in the house kissed the surroundings. I took advantage of the fact that they were in the hall, I went into their room, and there it was resting on the glass, that bottle that for my senses, was like a treasure.
It was a fragrance that caught my attention because of its appearance. A bottle covered with a wooden grid, and an exquisite smell.
I climbed on top of a small stool to reach it. I managed to unscrew its cap in the shape of a brown hat, and emptied the entire contents over my head. I wanted to smell good.
You can imagine the show afterwards. The screams, the sensation of fire and the impossibility to open my eyes, broke the atmosphere of harmony and tranquility of my house, to become a scene of medical emergency.
My parents never forgot it. They always remembered that when I arrived at the hospital, in the corridors where I was transferred until a specialist on duty attended me, the atmosphere was impregnated with the traces of that exquisite smell.
From that moment on, I learned the lesson that colognes could not be applied that way.
In my last post titled: Women's Fragrances: from Europe to Cuba, I shared a collection of Women's Fragrances. Today you will have the masculine one, and you will know which are my favorites.
This is an inexpensive eau de cologne, ideal for after bathing.
French fragrances, take the scepter within the history of world perfumery; but even so, I like to know brands from other latitudes, and Cuban ones could not be missing.
More than the design, personally, the most important thing about a fragrance is that I like it, that it lasts and projects well. It doesn't matter if it's a cheap eau de cologne, a good nicho brand or another one that costs three figures, like Clive Christian No. 1.
I try to make sure they have a vaporizer, so as not to contaminate the liquid. Some I put in the bottom of the fridge. The excess heat changes the properties of their ingredients and with a lower temperature, the effect of their three notes is more noticeable.
I always shake the contents, to enhance its ingredients. And I apply it on my skin in layers.
Its design in the shape of a combat grenade is outstanding and differentiated. Its golden cap with its fuze, and the die-cut glass with lines, provide more similarity. Its aroma is moderately sweet, without being cloying.
Its soft citrus outlets and green colored glass is what stands out.
Years ago it was my favorite brand within the masculine fragrances of my country. But not with this current design, but with the previous original.
Its scent was different from the current one, very rich, differentiated and long lasting.
Both VEGUEROS and CUBA, and CUBA ROYAL are luxury fragrances, where they achieve a balance between their design, their pristine packaging and their contents.
They have a beautiful metallic case in brown tones, with an aromatic woody scent. Ideal for evening outings, in cool or low temperature days and months. They project and last well.
The 360 fragrance of this brand has several types, from white to black. My favorite is the classic one. With its cylindrical gray cardboard box and the bottle with its light blue contents.
It is a clean, fresh and exquisite fragrance. A combination of citrus notes with those aromatic woods that leave a mark, and you get compliments from people.
This American brand, with this fragrance stood out with a mixture of exquisite scents, where cucumber, mandarin, geranium, musk and wood melt. Its design with that blue bottle and its silver-colored logo symbolizing its brand, in harmony with a cap of the same color, make this fragrance something special.
I was introduced to this fragrance in 1984, in my first year of my medical career. My anatomy professor used it. In his classes, the scent would overpower the strong smell of formaldehyde that preserved the cadavers.
Once I learned the name of this toilet water, I didn't stop until I got it. At that time it was not sold in Cuba and had to be imported. After my first bottle, others followed, until today.
Every time I used it at that time, people stopped me at the hospital and in the street to celebrate its rich scent.
Its trail of projection could be felt meters away, and it remained impregnated in my clothes, even after washing.
The name of its brand, and the design of its bottle, enhance a scent that reflects seriousness, maturity, prominence and seduction.
People knew of my presence, even without seeing me. I used it every day, during the 6 years of my career.
Today, it is no longer the same. Even legendary fragrance brands no longer smell as they did when they were launched years ago, nor do they last olfactorily. Nevertheless, I still buy it, because it reminds me of beautiful moments in my professional training; and it is a fragrance that, for a French fragrance, is inexpensive. On average, between 20 to 30 USD for a 100 ml bottle.
The French Jacques Bogart launched this brand in 1980. It is a vintage cologne, and a classic in perfumery, exemplifying woody and dry oriental fragrances.
If you want something lasting, spicy, and woody, from a French brand with history, then you will love this fragrance.
Ideal for nights out and love affairs, where the scent of cinnamon helps to eroticize the passion. The current versions have declined a lot, and that original scent is hard to find.
This cologne, also a classic, has a beautiful design and a distinct scent that lasts on the skin.
Cartier is a Parisian brand of fame, born in 1847, and dedicated to various items of luxury and elegance; from watches to fragrances.
Of the 3 that I present to you, my favorite is SANTOS de Cartier. A fresh spicy, woody and ambery scent; inside a black glass bottle with fine vertical die-cut stripes. To contrast, its metallic band with its die-cut brand.
Azzaro is a French Italian brand, created by Loris Azzaro. This was his first fragrance. It is still very popular for its aromatic, woody and spicy scent. With more than 300 ingredients in its composition, it became an international bestseller.
It is a very refreshing scent, ideal to harmonize the tensions and daily stress. It is a cologne that is well liked; it is citrus aromatic and aquatic in its freshness.
The German brand, with this fragrance, gives us a blend of woody, fruity scents with vanilla tones. Its bottle reflects its brand in large letters and relief.
Created by the Venezuelan designer and entrepreneur Carolina Herrera. A fragrance that has great style and elegance in the design of its bottle with silver cap. A rich fresh scent, where citrus scents end with the woody.
This fragrance belonging to the French-Spanish Paco Rabanne, has an attractive shape in its design, with a cap that rises in the style of an antique lighter. Its scent is fresh, aromatic, woody and spicy.
To end this post, I wish to reflect with my letters other of the fragrances that were of my predilection (in their initial versions). Although I do not have the pleasure of having their bottles in my collection now, I never forget them:
Thanks to those who read me. I wish you a nice Thursday.
Own photos. Camera: Panasonic Lumix model DMC-ZS100
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Text by Andrés Brunet
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