Choco Cubano A & E - Ariana & Evans

Choco Cubano arrives as a deliberate provocation—not the gourmand confection its name suggests, but rather a spiced rum that's been steeped in tobacco leaves and candied with an almost pharmaceutical intensity. The frankincense and bay leaf opening signals something aromatic and herbaceous before the heart reveals itself as decidedly savoury: cinnamon and clove collide with patchouli in a combination that evokes neither baked goods nor dessert, but rather aged leather and spiced hide. There's a honeyed warmth from the tonka bean, yes, but it's tempered by the smoky, almost medicinal character of that rum and sandalwood base—this isn't sweetness overindulged, but sweetness darkened and aged, the way honey can turn almost bitter after years in a wooden barrel. The amber provides ballast, softening the sharper spice edges into something warmer and more enveloping.

This is a fragrance for the unconventional dresser, someone who gravitates toward earth tones and suede, who appreciates the scent of old libraries and cigar boxes. It's unisex in the truest sense—equally at home on skin that favours vetiver and oud as on someone seeking depth over florality. Wear it in autumn when you want something that smells like it has a backstory, like the person wearing it has actually lived. It's not a crowd-pleaser; it's a confidant's scent, something discovered rather than announced.