Montecristo S&C Perfumes / Suchel Camacho 1999 Eau de Toilette

It must have been in the early 2000s, when I was presented with Montecristo's Eau de Toilette in my perfumery at that time. At that time, the bottle was modeled after a bundle of Havana's. I associated the brand with Cuban smokables, of course, but I wasn't really surprised by the success of Davidoff and Dunhill. Nevertheless, I didn't pay any further attention to the scent - either because my affinity for cigars was limited or because I wasn't convinced by the product.

A few years later, it was in May 2005, I went on holiday to Cuba and learned to appreciate the pleasure of Cuban cigars, which could be enjoyed there wonderfully in Havana in the evening at pleasant Caribbean outside temperatures after dinner for a cocktail. I bought cheap Cohibas, Romeo y Julietas and Montecristos in a state tobacco shop, smoked some of them at sunset and took the rest home.

Before the return flight I discovered the Eau de Toilette of Montecristo in the duty-free shop at the airport in Havana. Here, however, in a completely different bottle, i.e. rather angular and tapering upwards, like an elongated pyramid plus a counteracting wooden cap. Unfortunately I don't know if it had any resemblance to the scent of that time, but it sniffed ok and was for me, beside a small box of cigarillos, another suitable souvenir.

I've used up the bottle by now and the memory of the fragrance has more than faded, but thanks to a nice perfume company that generously sent me a small bottling, I can recall the impressions.

Montecristo starts with a spicy-citric blend, which thanks to coriander quickly drifts into shallow soapy water, and a little later, thanks to cloves and cedar wood, manages an appealing balancing act between warming and woody-fresh notes. Light patchouli and sweetish tobacco make the mid-range fragrance even more sensual, while minimal leather and a bit of amber make everything a little more masculine.

The way itself is ok, but Montecristo turns out a bit dull, as if something is missing or an ingredient is too dominant. I suspect coriander, patchouli or cedar wood here. Alternatively or additionally it might be due to lack of quality.

In the duty-free shop the fragrance was not an expensive purchase, but according to today's standards I probably would not have taken it with me. I just wonder why there is nothing to spray Cohiba on yet. And for all those who are looking for Romeo y Julieta and find it: the scent has nothing to do with the cigar brand of the same name.