Arquiste Tropical by Olya Bar

A sultry evening in Mérida, Yucatán, where the air hums with tropical warmth and the promise of celebration. Arquiste’s Tropical captures this magic with breathtaking precision, born from a historic collaboration and a personal love story with a guava tree. In 2013, Arquiste, led by Carlos Huber, partnered with Cire Trudon—one of the world’s oldest candle makers—to create the Mérida candle, inspired by Empress Carlota’s 1865 visit to Yucatán. As the first European woman to explore the region, Carlota wrote to Emperor Maximilian of balmy nights under a guava tree, its ripe fruit, intoxicating blossoms, and lush foliage mingling with the smoky thrill of festive fireworks. That candle, crafted with perfumer Rodrigo Flores-Roux, was a revelation—so lush and evocative, I burned through two in no time.

 Rodrigo Flores Roux, Senior perfumer at Givaudan and Carlos Huber via the brand.

Years later, Huber’s own discovery of a modernist villa in Mérida, dubbed La Tropical, reignited the vision. The house, a colonial gem opening to a verdant garden and pool, was anchored by a guava tree, its scent weaving through palm fronds, ginger plants, birds of paradise, and creamy plumeria. The villa’s unique design—split between a living space and a modernist bungalow across the lush garden—felt like a private oasis, alive with tropical excess. On festive nights, like New Year’s Eve, the nearby Plaza San Sebastian erupted with fireworks, their singed paper and gunpowder notes drifting through the air, adding a spark to the sultry scene.

Arquiste Tropical by Olya Bar

Now, reimagined as a standalone perfume, Arquiste Tropical is a floral-forward love letter to that guava tree and Mérida’s vibrant spirit. From the first spritz, ripe guava bursts forth—sweet, musky, and juicy, as if plucked straight from the branch. It’s not just fruit; it’s the entire tree: the verdant snap of foliage, the earthy whisper of bark, and the powdery bloom of white flowers. Headier notes of champaca, lemony magnolia, and buttery plumeria unfold, evoking the villa’s garden under a Caribbean moon. A savory green edge tempers the sweetness, like biting into crisp fruit, before a surprising shimmer of gunpowder and incense emerges—a nod to the fireworks that lit up Carlota’s nights and still spark Mérida’s celebrations.

Photo by Carlo Huber

Grounded by warm woods like mahogany and palo primavera, the fragrance feels like sun-baked earth beneath the tree, yet the fruit and florals remain the stars. Arquiste Tropical is vibrant enough for summer’s heat and comforting enough for winter’s chill, a sensorial escape to a sun-drenched hacienda where history and nature intertwine. Huber’s personal connection shines through—he describes the guava’s scent as “overwhelming in such a wonderful way,” and you feel that joy in every note. It’s a moment under that tree, penning a letter by moonlight, with the faint crackle of fireworks in the distance.

Arquiste Tropical is a triumph of storytelling through scent, blending Arquiste’s narrative craft with the lush inspiration of Mérida. For those who crave a fragrance that transports to faraway places and timeless moments, this is an unforgettable, exotic perfume. Spritz it on, close your eyes, and let Mérida’s magic unfold.

Notes: Mexican guava fruit, Yucatan lima, Fresh ginger, White plumeria, Champaca absolute, Guava blossom, Jasmine sambac, Guava paste accord, Mexican vanilla bean absolute, amber accord, Mahogany wood.

Olya Bar, Editor.

Disclosure: Arquiste Tropical was kindly provided by the brand, but opinions are always my own.

Discovery set courtesy of the brand

Thanks to the generosity of ARQUISTE, we have an ARQUISTE Discovery sample set that includes spray vials of the three new scents: Almond Suede (September 2024), Venice Rococo (August 2024), and A Grove by The Sea (July 2024), plus two other best-sellers for one registered reader in the USA. You must register, or your entry will not count. To be eligible, please comment on what interests you based on Olya’s review and where you live. Have you been transported by one of ARQUISTE’S perfumes? Draw closes 06/_13/2025

Read Sandi’s review of Almond Suede here, Lauryn’s review of Venice Rococo here. Enjoy Olya’s essay of A Grove by The Sea here. Carlos Huber’s Profile in Perfumery here.

CaFleureBon was one of the first to review Arquiste, November 8, 2011. Read Ida’s reviews here

Arquiste Dolce Anima Dulcis is a CaFleureBon Masterpiece Modern Masterpiece

Follow us on Instagram: @cafleurebonofficial @olyabar @ARQUISTE @arquistecarlos @rodrigofloresroux

This is our Privacy Policy

We announce the winners only on our site and Facebook page, so like Cafleurebon, use our blog feed or your dream prize will be spilled perfume.

Like our Facebook page, Cafleurebon, and use our blog feed for new updates and articles.