Tour de Havana

Olfactory Experience

Tour de Havana aims squarely at Terre d'Hermès. The opening is bright, a citrus blast of orange and grapefruit – not quite as refined as Hermès, a tad sharper and more synthetic. The pepper quickly emerges, along with a geranium note that’s decent, if a bit muddled. It’s in the base that the divergence widens. The vetiver is there, but it lacks the earthy, mineral quality of the original. The cedar is prominent, almost too much so, and the patchouli feels like an afterthought. Overall, it gets you about 80% of the way to Terre d'Hermès. Close enough ? Possibly.

Longevity & Projection

Longevity is surprisingly respectable. I get a solid 6-7 hours on my skin, which is better than some pricier options. Projection, however, is moderate at best. It projects noticeably for the first hour, then settles into a skin scent fairly quickly. Don't expect it to fill a room, or even leave a strong scent trail.

The Verdict

Tour de Havana is a decent workhorse fragrance. It's not going to fool anyone who knows Terre d'Hermès intimately, but it captures the overall vibe. If you crave that citrusy-woody DNA but can't justify the Hermès price tag (which is often 10x the cost), this is a viable option. Just be aware of the synthetic edges and don't expect a mind-blowing experience.