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ZITHROMAXBUYNOW – :
This is exquisite! I never tried the original because it may have too many notes that do not work on me, but I’m glad I blind bought this one due to notes and your reviews.
It is certainly a cold weather scent (under 20 degrees Celsius). I tried it first in summer when it was cloyingly sweet without development. But now in temperate climate autumn it develops wonderfully.
I too share the thought that this is more of an oriental because I get spices more than anything else with a hint of heliotrope on a labdanum cardamom-musky background. I think mimosa gives it a light powdery aspect. Patchouli isn’t strong here and it’s the dry-earthy (not musty) kind. It is not linear and in the evolution to the drydown I get more of the floral nuances – a bit of rose, some white petals.
It is interesting and special in the same way Dune Dior is and shares some similarities with Shalimar Edt like someone already mentioned.
I find it perfectly executed. Not in your face but noticeable and thrilling, head-turning, captivating…. you name it…. I love it!
7404040 – :
This has become my next signature scent. And I wasn’t even looking for one. I realized, while I was stocking up on it, I was thinking to myself ‘will this be enough for forever?’. That together with the fact that I am willing to part with my 5mL mini of my up-to-this-point signature scent – this has taken its place. <3
Butidxandas – :
Immediate love. It opens almost musky and masculine but within minutes it transforms to soft, sensual and sweet.
I cannot explain it, I cannot grasp it. I need help getting the words.
This is beautiful. I want to sleep in it.
Max696 – :
Habanita EDP/EDT is my #1, so I had to get this. I wonder why it took me so long? This is getting rare on ebay, but I got a cap-less tester (2.5 oz) for $29 or so.
This is powdery panties. Seriously. Which I don’t really mind… lol…. It smells older/vintage, so I love that they are keeping the tradition of Habanita’s history. The skin sillage was disappointing, but good-great sillage/longevity on clothing. To me, this is a quiet demure small town girl, in her floral print conservative dress… but she goes into the big city, hits a club, has the time of her life, and meets a super sexy city stranger and has hot sex all night. This is her the next morning. She’s got her sweet innocent powder on from the day before, but she’s all skin/sweat/musk now. It really is a cool scent! I know all that ^^ sounds funky and bad, but for me– it’s a unique scent that I can wear for me.
I find it hard to pick out the notes like others do. I def get 75% POWDER with 25% pure skank/musk. There is something a tiny bit resin-y and balsamic, and I’m sure the powder comes from the florals. This is creamy/silky powdery, a bit dry, and somewhat sheer feeling, without being weak.
While I have a stash/stockpile of Habanita, my one bottle of L’Esprit is fine.
I wore this on a Spring/Summer Michigan day where it was about 60 degrees with a bit of wind. It did dance around me beautifully when I took the dog for a walk. It does smell like you stripped about 65% of Habanita Original and this was the leftovers.
klubnika – :
Opening 5 minutes features a sharp, almost synthetic musk. It’s overbearing on me but it fades within minutes to a charming but complicated powdery benzoin, labdanum and floral scent. It stays there for about 30-45 minutes and then it’s a skin scent. No sillage and no projection and weak longevity means I regret my 30 ml purchase.
It is interesting during the hour that it’s alive on my skin. I think I’m very sensitive to overtly chemical driven scents, and unfortunately I smelled something un agreeable during the first few minutes of the opening. L’Esprit does calm down quickly, but then fades quickly too.
Don’t make the mistake I made and blind buy it.
Kid – :
It’s taken me two days to be able to describe the scent better.
Its very different to what i had expected it to be.
Think of the original Hababita edp with all the smoke removed and the sweetness reduced by at least 50%. I dont pick up on vanilla in this at all compared to what is in the original. Initially i just got the similar scent of L’Ombre rose with more depth, less rose, honeyed sweetness and an animalic vibe. Now i still smell the same but can smell the notes from the original habanita.
It indeed smells like a very sophisticated baby powder with an honey animallic combination. Not one to blind buy as i can see this being variable on different skin. It is quite sweet on my skin considering my skin doesnt amplify sweetness.
Thank you Sofia <3
Falmioninyham – :
Hi! I’ve got a 75ml sprayed once with box for sale or swap in the UK. (For swapping please see my “I WANT” list).
lotuss12 – :
Poor, misunderstood Habanita L’Esprit.
Is this Habanita Black? No. Is there some common DNA? Absolutely, but you need to get past the labdanum-laden top note. Both scents share the nutmeg, heliotrope, patchouli, vetiver, and musk. Black rounds out the composition with heavy hitters – vanilla, amber, mastic, geranium, petitgrain, etc. L’Esprit is a bit more delicate with labdanum, benzoin, and mimosa.
What’s more of a puzzle then calling this Habanita is calling it a Chypre Floral. Sure, the labdanum is there, but I wouldn’t call it a Chypre overall. It’s closer to an Oriental or even a Woody Musk.
It might be misunderstood, but I enjoy L’Esprit on its own quirky, musky merits.
dksabeatz – :
L’esprit makes me feel clean and feminine whenever I wear it. I only really save this juice on days when I truly feel put together, but it is such a pretty fragrance! Very powdery, with the right amount of musk. It stays close to my skin but that’s okay, I feel like if it projected more strongly I would probably get a headache. I’m not going to lie, I bought this mainly for the gorgeous bottle BUT the fragrance is as beautiful so all in all a solid buy 🙂
Ulyashinskiy – :
What a great perfume! This is kinda like Shalimar EDT or cologne with the powdery citrus but there is an amazing animalic musky skank, it’s just incredible! The only downside is that is doesn’t give off huge silage and I sooo wish it did. It’s kinda so so. I have never tried the original Habanita but it’s on my must buy list now.
bald691 – :
I was very intrigued by the reviews both for this and the original and I managed to obtain a sample for L’Esprit.
For the first hour I was choking on a huge mouthful of baby powder, much to my disappointment.
The second hour was powder toned down and fluffier, more abstract.
I’m now in the third hour and I can finally detect some very elegant nutmeg, musk and benzoin. It is really lovely now, but sadly I can’t see myself waiting for two hours before I can enjoy the fragrance I’m wearing and dare to go out of the house.
Apologies to the lovers of L’Esprit, I wish I could join you.
noch72 – :
Received today. Warning: If you order the 1 oz bottle,like I did, you are not getting the “raised effect” of the ladies across the bottle, this 1 oz bottle has just the design of the ladies on the bottle…UGH !! Oh well….on to the scent.
This sprays on like Habanita original edp….for only a few seconds….then morphs to a dusty/musky/light powdery like vibe. It is very wearable,compared to the original. The magic is in the drydown…so be patient.
I have original Habanita…and do not wear it often…have to be in the mood…but L’Esprit…is a good day or night scent. It turns out to be a warm and cozy scent IMO.Yje longevity is medium on my skin…projection, medium as well. I am happy with the outcome !!….EXCEPT…I like the bottle on the larger size waaaaaaaaaaay better….sigh…
opening…rose/musk labdanum…underneath comes more floral…powdery….I can’t say this is “spicy”.
I do get the nutmeg vibe too.
8/10 for being “different”
Quobutectutle – :
I really don’t get the dislikes based only on the impression that L’Esprit has no connection to black Habanita. I have a FB of black Habanita, and a FB of white L’Esprit.
Are they alike, or similar?
Probably as much as the colours of their bottles, so: NO.
But, do they share the concept and Habanita’s familly DNA? YES.
I think it is fair to say that the concept behind the two different scents is the same as much the shape and ornaments on black and white bottle.
If black is the devil, the white one is an angel, but – with no mistake – their faces share bone-structure and, rightfully, the name.
As the black original, L’Esprit opens loudly and intensely, but instead of a blast of mastique supported with petitgrain (in black one), this white one hits with labdanum and nutmeg, supported with rather sharp citrusses. I can really smell all three notes, but on me labdanum dominates, as mastique dominates in the opening of the black one. So, if you have the problem with labdanum, it would be quite difficult to pass its concentration in the opening. But, I love it and I enjoy opening very much, because this is where this white Habanita introduces herself by her familly name and says: “Hello, I am Habanita, but the other one – L’Esprit.”
After about half an hour L’Esprit starts to calm down and soften. The same happens with the black one, too. Though nutmeg and labdanum are present, flowers take over, turning the middle of the fragrance into creamy, calm, tender flowery-balsamic composition. This part is beautiful, so lovely, so tender – barely a hint of familly DNA, but don’t be fooled. Habanita is there, and deeper we go into the drydown, the more seductive it gets.
Further in the drydown the creaminess remains, but flowery component that dominated the middle is toned down. Tender powdery-almondy heliotrope, characteristic for Habanita – family stays, but now is enpowered with again more proiminent labdanum. Traces of nutmeg and citrus are still here,now joined with mostly musk, warm, tender and sensual and vanilla-like benzoin.
The final musky hug is divine. I’m not a fond of musk in general, but this is the musk done superbly: warm, light, cuddling, fleshy but clean.
L’Esprit is silky, smooth, tender, light but complex. There’s nothing to cloy, nothing to offend, but everything to reveal sensuality.
This is Habanita you don’t have to be prepared for, as for the black one, but it is as capturing, as sensual and as womanly all the way as her black sister.
It is L’Esprit in approach and stile, but not in the effect or performance.
Her heliotrope-powder is not “grasp-for-air”, but the airy one.
Her balsam is less thick, and more silky.
Her musky-labdanum skin is not tobacco-leather type, but nourished-creamy one.
But she is Habanita, and she is tenderly capturing and descretely seductive.
She would only do it differently – smoothly, like a spirit – L’Esprit.
This fragrance is beautiful. And so cuddly.
This white Habanita has all the qualities of the greatly done perfume – development in which the notes interplay not only horizontaly, but vertically too, and they drydown instead of “fall off”. L’Esprit, like the black original, has progression, soft but persistent projection and very good longevity when applied on skin.
So:
Habanita -yes.
L’Esprit – yes.
White – yes.
But, even when compared to the black Habanita – not simplified, and certainly not pale. Just differently beautiful.
Really, really beautiful.
Highly recommended as a summer option for powdery oriental lovers and musk lovers – she doesn’t mind the heat.
Highly recommended in any season, in any other case. Period.
*love (will repurchase)
*longevity: long lasting (8+ hours)
*sillage: moderate (arms lenght at least)
* weather/season/time: All year round. Endures the heat (+30 C) without changing or becoming heavy. But I plan to wear this white beauty trough early, warm, golden autumn. Casual to formal. Day.
АСАДОВ – :
Just a quick note to say I find the comparisons to Narciso Rodriguez surprising as I dislike his line and can’t wear it yet I love Habanita l’esprit. Just shows you how different our perceptions and noses are 🙂
Ravenheart – :
This is a primarily a modern white musk scent along the lines of the Narciso Rodriguez range with just enough Habanita to be recognized by those familiar with the original. It is dense and chalky without being in any way heavy, underscored by the chypre-ish bite of vetiver, labdanum, and lemon. It gives the effect of vintage European sunscreen underneath thick powder, recalling an overcast, hazy day at the beach. I wear this casually during the day in the summer and it feels fresh and clean without falling into any of the usual clichés that come with that territory. The lasting power is fairly poor, but it’s also never overpowering in the heat. The things I love about the original Habanita are not whatsoever the same things I love about L’Esprit, but I think that is the hallmark of a successful flanker — it references the original while casting a completely different net.
yah466speagoessenda – :
It is more similar to Narciso Rodriguez for Her Eau de Parfum (but on the low key) than it is to the original Habanita Eau de parfum. I prefer the original Habanita which I find more distinctive, sexy, mature. Although Habanita L’Esprit is feminine it is on a different path than the original one.
UtetUritterge – :
This smells very powdery floral for me, with a bit of balsamic and musk. But mostly powdery creamy the musk is very subtle it’s very feminine. The citrus, rose and nutmeg are super subtle I’m getting the rest of the florals only. Doesn’t really last on me I couldn’t smell much after about an hour and a half. Very faint.
I have 100+ niche samples for swap within Europe – updated spreadsheet of samples on my profile, get in touch!
djvnes – :
Sweet dreams are made of this… And So are memories. I won’t talk much about noyes because my nose is not ready for properly fine tuned vintagey perfumes I have just started learning about. To me perfumes have very emotional meaning, they take me to people and places, some ld and some new.
I bought Habanita l’esprit because although as tempted as I am to try Habanita EDP I’m not sure I’m ready for it yet. So I blind bought this wonder, blind buying becoming my secret adventure. It came in post today and so I eagerly opened it and sprayed on my arm.
My mind immediately took off and there I was in my friend mum’s house, fifteen years ago. Now, there are two reasons for that. My best friend’s mum was a doctor, and the first wiff of Habanita l’esprit smells a bit medicinal to me. But that goes away in a moment or two. And then I’m getting comfortable in their house. My friend’s mum, although being a doctor, was very keen on spiritual things, art and oriental philosophy. Every time I visited my friend we would sit in the semi dark living room, listening to some blues, drinking coffee or wine, breathing in heavy incense. Their house always had an incense stick burning, so everything there was penetrated with that delicious secretly scent. And that’s where Habanita l’esprit takes me. The incense, the comfort and memories, warm rainy autumn day, secrets and shadows. Oh Habanita, you temptress! I want to close my eyes and go back there.
Two hours have passed and I can finally smell some bitter lemon. The smell has slightly changed but it still remains divine.
I think I found my new love. I’m looking forward to my favourite season, autumn, so I can wrap a scarf around me, spray some Habanita l’esprit and go wander, watching life reflected on wet maroon and golden leaves… I’m in love.
Roolezz – :
The air is so thin up here – you dip in and out of the earth’s atmosphere silently wondering what the inhabitants are like….it’s been centuries since you paid a visit. The sun gleams off of your porcelain skin as the air whistles throught your massive wings – you leave a sparkling citric rain that ignites as it falls to the earth. If any were to look up it would appear as if the sky was torn open and raining a heavenly fire. You dive down for a closer look. The powdery clouds streak across your rosy cheeks, thier iris cold dew clings to your feathered wings. Something goes awry as your wings are set ablaze – you barrel down to the earth at a frightening velocity. The smoke pouring from your wings bears the tinge of sacred incense and heavenly heliotrope – your trail can be followed to a cropping of acacia trees through which you crash landed. Your angelic presence has somehow diminished in your fall. Your skin is thick with a humid patchouli like sweat and dirt – no longer a magical porcelain, your skin has adopted an ambered hue and a thick musk. Not quite human, not quite angel, you feel compelled toward the horizon….you wonder what things await?
Day 93 – Descent
Listening to: Agnes Obel – Chord Left
Notes: I forgot how absolutely gorgeous this is…its muskiness rivals all the greatest musk fumes I have tried and the journey to that musky drydown is dazzling! The opening is a dramatic aldehyde mixed with pure powder, sparkling lemons, and a dewy rose. The heart blooms many floral notes – a cool iris, a sweet and vanilla-like heliotrope, a warm mimosa, and a delectable trail of smoky citric incense. The scent slowly spirals into the depths of a warm amber and nutmeg with interlacing traces of a sharp yet calming patchouli. From here, a decadent white musk grows in power, playfully mingling with the smoke and sweet resins before reigning supreme on its own. This fume is truly magnificent and I don’t ever want to be without – it is undoubtedly unisex and anyone who loves floral musky should give this a try. For longevity lovers, this lasts a solid 12 hours in my skin….and it is a breathtaking ride!
brat1611 – :
Habanita travels for summer holiday..
In the midway Guerlain Shalimar makes love with Hermès Eau des Merveilles..
..and there we go..it’s a girl! Habanita L’Esprit!
369 – :
Habanita L’esprit doesn’t want to give me her flower notes,she refuses to allow me even to sense them.That’s why i’ve purchased her last winter and use her only in winter.All i get is bit citrus with powder,benzoin,patchouli.Can’t even think of taking her out in hot/warm weather,and i’m so sorry cause we are great friends and i do love her so much.
dashacom – :
Nice try – musky creamy labdanum, benzoin, nutmeg and heliotrope. But it is just too artificial and castrated. There is no Habanita and I don´t find any esprit in it either.
It´s like a pool of sweet chemical generic scents with one drop of something interesting, the labdanum – barely noticable.
Beautigul flacon (when brand new)
Aerohoplenerisal – :
this really is very beautiful! IMO perfectly balanced – none of the notes shout, they mingle and compliment and develop with my skin, like a perfume should!
it is feminine, musky, silky, gentle…oh wow.
on me it has turned into a musky dusty soft floral, gentle but with great depth and character. best blind buy yet. Molinard certainly know what they are doing. No surprise there.
…..it is like they mingled the 2 perfumes i want to love into one perfume that i actually do love! my nose and skin make it smell like the best of arpege (without the stink bomb aldehydes and sickening vanilla)…agent (without the ash and occasionally slightly stale rose). yippee.
might have to stock up!
EDIT: i have since bought Habanita in black bottle and i definitely can see our soft feminine l’esprit has been influenced by her dark, leathery sassy stepmother….
preenturl – :
Habanita L’Espirit is good for warmer weather. It’s light, with ever-present lemon wrapped in a cloud of soft white musk. The lemon is muted, soft, but tenatious. Nutmeg appears at first spray, but calms down considerably within the first hour. Patchouli is gentle, just a hint, and vetiver keeps the whole mixture slightly crisp and “awake”. Labdanum adds a strong, smooth, rich, creamy texture that lasts, combined with equal amounts of benzoin. The powdery florals are enveloped in the cloud of white musk, giving a lightly fluffy texture to the scent. It’s both creamy and delicately powdery…… a “chic” light powdery touch, not overpowering.
Longevity is very good on my skin, lasting 12 hours or more. Silage is moderate for the first 2 hours, calming down to a close-to-skin scent after that. Great to wear to the office, since Habanita L’Espirit is non-offensive. It floats around close to you like your own personal cloud of creamy softness. It’s a very good choice for Spring and Summer, day or night.
Дядя Саша – :
This did not strike me as a chypre fragrance at all; I got a confused and strong floral opening with eventual powdery notes, but not much else. I only applied a drop, and it was overpowering. I had high hopes, between the notes and the reviews, but it just did not work for me at all.
Okuw – :
Baby powder gone wild. Boozy vetiver and citruses with chalky musc in the opening make rather disturbing combo.The middle notes somewhat remind me of Bvlgari’s Jasmine Noir with its unusual, metallic interpretation of jasmine. The drydown is much easier to like – more creamy and very powdery, but still on the naughty side due to labdanum.
I usually don’t pay too much attention to perfume packaging, but this bottle stole my heart.
xXx132 – :
At first it is quite heavy, balsamic scent. However, after an hour it starts to be better. Teasing but pleasant musk. What is more, base notes are really good, warm, full of harmony. Esprit deep inside, I would say!
All in all, it’s interesting, even if not in my style.
serjbadiu – :
I don’t grade a flanker on how similar it is to the original, but I feel like Habanita L’Esprit makes sense.
The three basic elements of the original Habanita EDT are present leather (in this case, labdanum, which smells leathery), powder (heliotrope, mimose) and citrus (bergamot in the OG, lemon here).
I am reminded somewhat of Shalimar, but with a lot less vanilla, a much softer, less sharp / industrial citrus and a less rubbery leather.
Creamy-musky, balsamic, earthy. I think Molinard did a great job with this more modern re-interpretation of Habanita, which is QUEEN OF POWDER and although I love it, I must admit it does smell dated.
L’Esprit may still be a bit of a challenge due to it’s powdery character and earthy base, but if you saw something great in Habanita and just couldn’t get past all the baby powder, you will find a lot to love in L’Esprit.
qvverty88 – :
I didn’t think there was any connection, but yes there is, like happiness, it isn’t a summit, it only comes in moments, Habanita moments perhaps that jolted me back in time. Creamy, nutty, musky, all those aforementioned things are present, labdanum is strong in this. So, for those who don’t dig the notes thing, where would you wear this? After a day at the beach, your skin still carrying a slick of Ambre Solaire, this would be scrumptious. After a spot of tennis, I see white caftans, toe sandals and Habanita L’Esprit. I think it’s sporty rather than cocktail driven, I guess that’s because it has quite a musk to it and I have an impression that the skin is still hot. It isn’t run of the mill so you can be surprising, go surprise yourself, go and have fun
Feleelect – :
Sweet, balmy, lightly spiced, just a hint of smokiness like the original but not nearly as strong. This is a Habanita one could wear to work or more casual occasions. Very sweet resins, powdery musk. Lovely! Good for any occasion, very versatile — not overwhelming in a work situation but distinctive enough for formal night time wear.
Maxxxx – :
A musky citrusy vanilla. , quite easy to wear compared to the EDP. It keeps the same character as genny17 mentioned , it’s like EDP ‘s daughter , younger, innocent and citric , creamy. The white bottle is suitable as the smokey character of the EDP has been lost and replaced by citrus and white musk.
L’esprit is very musky and the Labdanum and nutmeg are very prominent along with its main character vanilla and the young citrusy beginning ,this is a fresher version of the black . Definitely benzoin and Labdanum rich. All the reviews here are very much how I would describe it as well. I like it, especially in its dry down !
Update. I find myself reminded of PENATEN baby cream as well as NIVEA. Its high in Labdanum and vanilla and Musc and so are those creams. Pleasant to me. Reminds me of the smell when my kids were babies.
Диман777 – :
Why all the dislikes? I don’t get it…it smells really nice. I wasn’t expecting it to smell like Habanita but they do smell somewhat related a little in the opening. L’Esprit is like Habanita’s more dainty and ladylike great (step) granddaughter. While really different, you can smell an ever so slight bit of a connection. Actually I think this is a fairly interesting little flanker.
L’Esprit is fresh and light and warm and creamy all at the same time. I love the musky base. A bit of the “hairspray” musk but that is something I enjoy if done right. Smoothed out with the almond like scent of heliotrope. I love labdanum so I appreciate the nice dose of it in this. Everything is nicely balanced and blended. Boy, this is a nice surprise. I was afraid of something dreadful with all the dislikes but it isn’t dreadful at all, in fact I quite like it. Love the bottle, too. And the price! Smells like something that would be great for layering also. Really nice little bargain right here. Low risk blind buy also despite the dislikes. Just don’t expect Habanita and you might be pleased.
truth_np – :
For all benzoin & labdanum lovers, a real gem…this is really wonderful balanced and it’s quite longlasting, incredibly alluring and somewhat unisex. Ir’s even dusty and smoky. I like benzoin, but can’t cope if it’s too diminant. Well, here it’s done perfectly; vetiver adds some freshness to it, while labdanum seduces with slightly creamy feeling on the skin. Perhaps it is not a recommendation for some, but for me this is the real thing.
sereja30 – :
Not as intensely rich and smokey as the original, but very faithful to its character, Esprit is more wearable but I still think it will do better in winter, the spice side is a bit much for me in summer..so will re evaluate this fall..so far nice creation, a bit of a challenge though for me as this isnt what I usually go for.. I wish the musk and amber would be more present, the galbanum and nutmeg take over and never smooth out..
kimjgcqiwzs – :
All overall lovely presentation in white bottle. The scent is very creamy opens with a blast of french labdanum and a hint of nutmeg, the lemon note are not exsisting her or i cant smell them in the opening.
Labdanum stays on the skin for long time then a hint of rose and a dose of heliotrope join the labdanum for more smooth,sweet version. I cant smell any jasmin or mimose her.After some time benzoin notes join the blend giving definition and sharpness for the other ingredients,there is a slightly note of patchouli and vetiver but they are very airy and does not stay for a long.In the end the musky notes are join the other notes to balance the sweetness,round it and to give it the silky touch. Lovely fragrance not that rich and complex as the oryginal one but definitely worth try.