The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Havana 1825 is House of Puente channeling the city where Eliam Puente spent his childhood, before the Atlantic became the distance between who he was and where he makes perfume now. The name points directly at a place, but the fragrance is less about Havana as postcard than Havana as interior landscape: the warmth that stays with you even after you've left. Cuban identity filtered through Cantabrian restraint. That's the tension at the heart of every House of Puente release, and it shows up here in full force, the spice and sweetness of Caribbean light held in check by something cooler, more considered. For Eliam, this was about capturing a specific time of day rather than a season or a smell. The hour just before evening, when the heat softens but doesn't break. When the light goes amber and everything feels like it's ending on a good note.
The structure of Havana 1825 is unusual in how deliberately restrained it is, particularly given the richness of its materials. The opening saffron paired with ylang-ylang is unusual: saffron is metallic, even medicinal at first spray, while ylang-ylang is lush and tropical. They don't naturally want to share space, but in this composition the ylang-ylang acts as a softening agent, it tempers the saffron's sharpness without canceling it out. The heart is cedar and clove, a classic woody-spicy combination that provides structure and warmth without heaviness.
The evolution
The first minutes are all about the saffron. It arrives sharp, a metallic brightness that cuts through any other sensation on the skin. Within ten minutes, the ylang-ylang arrives, bringing a creamy, almost banana-flower sweetness that softens the metallic edge. The citrus oils, likely bergamot and a hint of lemon, add lift, keeping the florals from becoming heavy. Thirty minutes in, the florals recede and the heart takes over. Cedar introduces a cool, woody structure. Clove adds warmth and a hint of spice. Rose de Mai and jasmine appear as a floral cushion underneath, present but not dominant. This middle phase lasts roughly two hours. The base notes arrive gradually, beginning around the two-hour mark. The burley tobacco absolute is the star here, not the harsh, acrid tobacco of some compositions but a sweet, slightly green tobacco leaf that reads almost like honey. Vanilla and tonka bean amplify this sweetness, creating a powdery warmth that settles into the skin. Amber adds resinous depth without heaviness.
Cultural impact
Havana 1825 occupies an interesting position in the House of Puente lineup, warmer and more accessible than the dark assertions of Medusa or the airy refinement of Iris Doux, yet carrying the same Atlantic restraint that keeps everything in check. The Cuban warmth is present, but so is the Spanish coast's cooling influence. That's the tension that makes this house interesting: identity as something between coordinates, not rooted in a single place. Collectors who have followed the house since 2022 will recognize Havana 1825 as a continuation of that theme, but newcomers will find it an easier entry point than earlier releases.
