Chan Chan by Botanicae

Filled with white flowers cocoa and that sweet savoury touch of the Caribbean with a tobacco finish. It delivers 100% on what Botanicae promises. To me it smells much more feminine than masculine despite them saying it’s unisex and it has nothing gourmand about it. The quality and balance are brilliant. It’s a projection and longevity bomb being an EDT at a price that has no rival. It’s real niche bold and intense. Try it before buying because you’ll be carrying a Cuban garden clinging to your skin for hours.

Bought it based on the reviews and I must say it didn’t blow my mind but it’s a peculiar scent. It came out strong with gardenia and orange blossom with lots of petit grain that later blended with the tobacco. The cocoa was barely noticeable. As it dried down it remained sweet and spiced. I find it more of a masculine unisex or simply unisex due to the sweetness nothing like the typical feminine smell. I was disappointed because I expected it to be more subtle. The good thing is it lasts longer than many EDPs even from the same brand which is curious. I don’t recommend buying blind.

I found ONDA to be more masculine and this CHAN-CHAN more feminine, although in the end it all comes down to personal taste. The quality of the essential oils is excellent for the price they offer.

It’s undoubtedly the brand that has surprised me most this year. Quality perfumes, fair pricing, and a modern presentation. None of their scents disappoint; they exude skill and care in their blends. They are at the very top of my favourites. Bravo.

A beautiful perfume that delivers on its promise: your dream trip to Cuba. On my skin, it’s a fairly discreet white floral, nothing strident, ‘cheesy’ or excessively dense. At first, it smells fresh, perhaps due to the petit grain, but then it becomes sweeter and more floral. I perceive the floral accord as a whole rather than individual notes. It’s vanilla-scented, warm, and slightly spiced as it dries down, without becoming gourmand (the cocoa isn’t very noticeable on my skin). Throughout its evolution, I notice that point of sweet smokiness from the tobacco. Don’t be fooled; it’s not the typical delicate, powdery floral. It’s very well balanced with the tobacco, and honestly, if you’re men who like sweet perfumes, I see it as 100% unisex. Quite versatile, though I prefer wearing it out in moderate or cold temperatures. Performance: moderate projection, lasting about 6-8 hours on skin and longer on clothes. And it’s true that when it seems to have faded, it returns in surprising bursts. Considering it’s an EDT, there’s nothing to complain about. It wears better than many EDPs that cost double or triple the price. The bottle is very well crafted: heavy glass, nice engraving, wooden cap, and a good atomiser… simply beautiful. In short, Botanicae offers niche-quality perfumes at very affordable prices. €40 for 100ml (and even cheaper with codes) is laughable. All the ones I’ve tried from this house have pleased me. This is the first one I’ve bought, but there’s no doubt it won’t be the last.