As the latest addition to the Dries Van Noten fragrance collection, Havana Gold intertwines olfactive and material elements as a single, exhilarating expression.The scent, one warm, ambery notes, is echoed by the cold, sculptural bottle, the first in the collection to use brass.

Through its unexpected duality of tobacco and liquorice, Havana Gold is instantly transportive, an evocative scene enhanced by sensory richness. True to the concept of “impossible combinations” that characterise Dries Van Noten Beauty, the sweet, comforting notes of liquorice are enveloped by the deep, smoky tendrils of tobacco curling in the air.

In developing the fragrance, perfumer Jordi Fernandez wanted to conjure an atmosphere of warmth and sensuality by imagining a sultry night in Cuba where a bar is pulsing with people and music. Havana Gold captures this sense of togetherness and generosity within an opulent setting.

The fragrance’s distinctive qualities come through in the brass bottle, an innovative tribute to craftsmanship. Amber-tinted glass merges with an aged metal base, finely crafted with a patina that adds a nuanced and unique beauty from one bottle to the next.

“Havana Gold is a surprising alchemy involving nostalgic, gourmand liquorice and the darkest, leathery facets of an intensely mysterious tobacco,” says Fernandez. “These two elements may seem like unlikely partners; yet they come together in a way that feels natural and alluring.”

Fernandez arrived at Havana Gold through a complex composition of sophisticated ingredients. At top, the liquorice accord, which is sweet and regressive with anise-like notes. The leather, smoky and spicy notes of tobacco leaf absolute are revealed at the heart, along with cinnamon and benzoin which contribute to the warm and forbidden feeling. At the base is roasted tonka and a leather accord for an enveloping finish.

Responsibly sourced tonka bean from Venezuela is harvested by hand from nuts collected from the ground, while benzoin resin from Laos is also responsibly harvested through a partnership that supports local farmers. As with all Dries Van Noten fragrances, the bottle is refillable.

Available from July 15th on driesvannoten.com