The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Havana Gold opens with a cool, almost medicinal bite of black licorice paired against the warmth of tobacco absolute. The name evokes an idea of golden light, a particular quality of late afternoon atmosphere. Black licorice arrives first, bold and unapologetic, its bitter edge refusing to soften. The star anise follows quickly, bringing a sharp spice that cuts across rather than forward. Tobacco absolute anchors the composition as it develops, offering depth and richness that fills out the scent's character. The opening is confrontational, assertively present, while the heart and drydown reveal generosity and warmth. The fragrance refuses to be polite or restrained, carrying a presence that announces itself clearly without asking permission.
The structure is unusual. This fragrance opens already in a state of complexity. The licorice is not sweet in the way people expect, and the star anise brings a cool spice that cuts sideways rather than forward. A brief flash of citrus, barely present, introduces just enough brightness to prevent the opening from feeling entirely dark. Then tobacco arrives and the composition tilts. What follows is a slow, deliberate unfurling of warmth, spice, and leather that earns its name.
The evolution
The opening is the test. Licorice and star anise arrive together, cool and sharp, with the citrus barely a whisper before it fades. Some people pause here. The anise is not polite. It doesn't introduce itself or ask for approval. For the first portion of wear, the fragrance reads almost medicinal, black licorice and star anise prominent, with something resinous underneath providing depth. Then the hand-off happens. Tobacco absolute takes over, and suddenly the composition tilts warm. Cinnamon appears, and benzoin follows, and the whole thing becomes something softer, richer, harder to leave. The drydown is where this fragrance lives. Leather and roasted tonka settle into the skin for hours, with cypriol adding a dark, almost tar-like depth that prevents the sweetness from ever becoming cloying.
Cultural impact
Havana Gold occupies the bolder end of the Dries Van Noten fragrance collection. The tobacco-and-leather drydown draws comparisons to heavier niche fragrances, and the licorice-anise opening has emerged as the fragrance's signature, the element people discuss most, whether they find it polarizing or captivating. This scent dispenses with any pretense of restraint, projecting confidence and refusing to apologize for its character. Wearers who appreciate this kind of presence respond strongly to how the fragrance commits to its direction.
