Chinese New Year 2021: Parfums de NICOLAI Cuir Cuba Intense Review + C’est Hay Draw

Chinese New Year 2021 is the Year of the Ox wear Parfums de Nicolai Cuir Cuba Intense 

Chinese New Year, photo by Dyana Wing So via Unsplash  for Parfums de Nicolai Cuir Cuba Intense

 As far back at the 14th century B.C., China has used a lunar calendar. It includes solstices and equinoxes, and is influenced both by the Chinese zodiac and the concept of yin and yang dualism. The Chinese New Year is one of the most important holidays in China as it marks the end of the coldest season. It kicks off the Spring Festival and culminates with a Lantern Festival. In the Gregorian calendar, Chinese New Year typically begins with the new moon after January 20th and lasts until the next full moon (approximately 15 days). Each Chinese New Year is shaped by the characteristics of one of 12 zodiac animals and one of five elements. In preparation for the traditional Chinese New Year, houses are cleaned to remove any misfortune or bad luck that might have accumulated during the previous year. Among other traditions, people set off firecrackers to frighten away evil spirits, and offer food and paper icons to gods and ancestors. A Dragon Dance occurs at every Chinese New Year celebration to usher in good tidings for the New Year.

Chinese New year 2021 Year of the Metal Ox

 Metal Ox, photo by Ady Ven via Unsplash

Chinese New Year 2021 (February 12th) will be influenced by the element of Metal, which emphasizes good judgement and paying attention to the details. The main color for a year influenced by Metal is white. To increase your luck in a Metal year, consider wearing metal accessories. The zodiac animal that will help shape the year’s characteristics is the hard-working Ox. This suggests a year when hard work will be rewarded. The Ox is a yin earth sign, indicating great strength, patience, and methodical persistence. The lucky colors of the Ox are yellow and green, which attract prosperity and success in Feng Shui.

Hay in perfumery

Hay Bales, photo by Colin Watts via Unsplash

Since we are embarking on the Year of the Metal Ox with lucky colors of white, yellow, and green, perhaps an ideal olfactory note to explore this year is hay absolute. Its aroma tends to be sweet, herbaceous, and reminiscent of tobacco, honey, and wild grass. Hay absolute is composed of different varieties of dried grass and is often used as a fixative in fragrances. The chemical compound “coumarin” is responsible for that sweet, hay-like scent. Coumarin only activates when plants are cut and dried, which breaks the chemical bonds to releases the aroma.

Parfums de NICOLAI Cuir Cuba Intense Review

Parfums de NICOLAI Cuir Cuba Intense, photo by The Perfumed Dahlia 

 Parfums de NICOLAI Cuir Cuba Intense composed by Patricia de Nicolai ignites with lemon, licorice, and mint followed by a heady dose of crushed tobacco, which could perhaps represent components of a ritual offering to gods and ancestors. Parfums de NICOLAI Cuir Cuba Intense opens further into a deeper, dirtier, leathery earthiness. But this musky earthiness is paired with herbaceous sage and coriander to give a sense of swirling smoke. Both the musky, earthy leather and the vegetal notes could represent this year’s Ox—its habitat, body, and even components of a vernal, grassy meal. Cuir Cuba Intense smells more like straw than hay, which could be helpful for sweeping out the old year’s trials and shifting focus to look ahead. Spring is on the horizon for an auspicious Metal Ox year. Grab those metal accessories and take a long view of the year ahead. Best wishes for a happy and healthy new year!

Parfums de NICOLAI Cuir Cuba Intense was released in 2014. The perfumer is Patricia de Nicolai.

Notes: Aniseed, Liquorice, Sicilian lemon, Spearmint, Sage, Lavender, Pelargonium, Ylang-ylang, Magnolia, Coriander, Tobacco, Hay, Patchouli, Cedar, Musk, Civet.

Disclosure: A bottle of Cuir Cuba Intense was provided for this review by Parfums de NICOLAI.

Here are a few more fragrances that showcase a  prominent hay note: Erawan by Parfums Dusita is a beautiful scent of dry grasses gone to seed in the hot sun, softening later to pastel, powdery, spiky flowers from a forgotten fairyland. Tindrer by Baruti opens sweetly like a flowering prairie with spongey soil, then settles into a suggestive musk mixed with prickly, crushed hay. Cuir Pampas by Frassai smells of tobacco smoke on the air as waxy flowers bloom amidst drying grasses. Medullary Ray by Jorum Studio opens with a funky, animalic barnyard note that is very strong and leathery, then expands to blend freshly laid straw with the leather and musk.

Samples of Tinderer by Baruti, Cuir Pampas by Frassai, Erawan by Parfums Dusita, and Medullary Ray by Jorum Studio from Indigo Perfumery. 

My opinions are my own.

Dalya Azaria, Contributor

Michelyn’s Bottle of Parfums de NICOLAI CUIR CUBA INTENSE and her copy of Nicolai -Parfumeur -createur, un metier d’artiste

Thanks to the generosity of NICOLAÏ, Parfumeur-Créateur there is a 30 ml PARFUMS DE NICOLAI Cuir Cuba Intense for one registered reader  in the EU, USA, UK and Canada.  To be eligible for the draw, please leave a comment about what aspect of Dalya’s article on Chinese New year 2021 sparked your interest, if you have a favorite Nicolai perfume, and let us know where you live. Draw Closes February 14, 2021

Follow us on Instagram @cafleurebon @theperfumeddahlia @nicolaiparfums @barutiperfumes @frassai @parfumsdusita @jorumstudio @indigoperfumery

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63 comments

  • Lang says:

    I’m Chinese-American but I don’t know much about Chinese tradition on Chinese new year. These two days, my mom has been cleaning and reorganizing the house all day long and here I thought she’s just in one of those moods of doing random projects. It’s funny how this article explains why she’s cleaning the house lol. I haven’t heard of Nicolai perfume before so I don’t have a favorite. I’m from PA, USA

  • Chris B says:

    Hay Dalya article really got my attention with the year of the ox. NICOLAI Cuir Cuba Intense by Nicolai sounds great and hopefully I will get to try out.

    USA Louisiana

  • Bcigar says:

    Happy Lunar New Year Zhongguo Ren!

    Cuir Pampas by Frassai “smells of tobacco smoke” and I am sold. Sounds like a fitting seleectiong for the cigar conisseur. Lets wish all a better year for 2021. Fragrances have truly kept my spirits up even in dire times. Well, that and cigars of course.

    Cheers from L.I.N.Y

  • AlenaK says:

    Just to pop by and say I know exactly where to get the Chinese soldier figurine lol — they were part of the merchandise of the Terracotta Army exhibition. One time they transported key exhibits all the way to Thailand (using containers with very interesting shock-absorbing mechanism). There was a carriage so delicate they couldn’t risk transporting, so a replica was made at the destination!

    Quite a fascinating exhibition, and quite a match with the hay notes 🙂 Now is there perfume made with the theme of underground clay tomb? hmmmmmmmmmm

    (not eligible for the draw – just want to discuss terracotta hehe)

  • MissJanners says:

    It’s good to get some insight into other cultures, as I often do from these articles. I am so interested in the notes of licorice, aniseed, spearmint, and hay together. I haven’t tried any Parfums de Nicolai scents, although I do have a sample of Fig-Tea that I’m waiting til spring to try. I’m very interested in this house.

    Thanks for the giveaway! I’m from Canada.

  • rphawks says:

    Hay is definitely an interesting interpretation of this years sign… interesting to link the two. I’ve never tried any Nicolai perfumes. Based in USA.

  • Carboytony826 says:

    Dalya, thank you for the great review of this fragrance as well as teaching me a bit more about Chinese New Year. I didn’t realize that there were lucky colors for each new year as well! Will definitely start to wear my metal bracelets and some rings again.

    Mme. de Nicolaï merci pour le parfum, et votre générosité.
    I love Cuir Cuba Intense. It was my first foray into Mme. de Nicolaï’s creations. Unfortunately I no longer have my bottle and I really need to get another. I’ve also owned and loved L’eau de Sport and L’eau Mixte and loved them both.

    I’m in MA, USA.

  • INYA says:

    The lucky colors of the ox, yellow and green, remind me of my garden. I’m interested in the hay note combined with licorice, spearmint and sage. One of my faves is Erawan by Dusita. Thanks for the opportunity to sniff. Mich USA

  • Trinity33 says:

    I can’t believe I never tried PdN Cuir Cuba Intense. Lovely notes of licorice, lemon, mint and hay! I can see why Dalya chose it for the Chinese Year of the Ox. It seems pastoral with the citrus, hay and vegetal notes with the patchouli and leathery woods grounding the fragrance in earth. I like quite a few PdN fragrances with current favorite being New York Intense. Commenting from MD, USA.

  • BostonScentGuy says:

    I enjoyed the history of Chinese New Year–it’s also being celebrated at the school I’m currently at led by our Mandarin department, so I enjoyed hearing more context here. I also like the association of this scent with the ox–something I wouldn’t have made necessarily! The use of haylike notes in this scent intrigues me! I love another Nicolai hay scent–Vie de Chateau (+ Intense). Thanks for this draw! I’m in the US, Boston.

  • LiteAngela says:

    I learned so much about the history behind Chinese zodiac and about hay. I thank you for the drawing and please enter me. My favorite Nicoläi is cap Neroli
    USA

  • Ben A says:

    I associate Chinese New Year with my childhood in the Bay Area. It brings back many happy memories. But what intrigued me about this review was Dalya’s description of the fragrance itself, which sounds lovely. I don’t have a favorite from the Nicolaï line. I’m in Oklahoma these days. Thanks for the draw!

  • Dubaiscents says:

    I love a hay note in perfume but, I never thought of Cuir Cuba Intense having one. I need to give it another sniff. I have or have tried many of the other scents with noted hay notes which makes me even more interested in Cuir Cuba. Thank you for the lovely draw. US.

  • NiceVULady says:

    I learned a great deal about the coming Chinese New Year from Dalya’s review. The hay note is an interesting one and not one that I have come across. My favorite NICOLAI perfume is Vanille Tonka. Many thanks to NICOLAÏ, Parfumeur-Créateur for making this draw possible. I’m in the USA

  • AleksCipri says:

    Very interesting intro about the Chinese New Year. I didn’t know about all of the traditions that accompany this holiday so it was interesting to learn more. I also didn’t know that this year is the year of ox. Cuir Cuba is the one fragrance from Parfums de Nicolay that is on my wish list and has been on it for a while. That is for sure the one I want to get first. I don’t have a favorite perfume from this house since I don’t own any. But Cuir Cuba will for sure be the first one for me, hopefully in the near future. I’m from Illinois, US.

  • Claumarchini says:

    I enjoyed very much Dalya’s review, that puts in parallel interesting information about the traditions of Chinese New Year and notes that are reminiscent of those traditions. Recently, I have noticed that I am looking for and enjoying particularly green fragrances, it’s probably the long for a much awaited and needed spring after this gloomy and difficult winter. So, the suggestions of more of these fragrances is really useful: I have Dusita’s discovery set and haven’t tried Erawan yet, I guess it’s going to be my SOTD! I also love Cuir Pampas, while I am not familiar with Nicolai so I would love to be the lucky winner! Greetings from Milan, Italy

  • mronhubbard says:

    I like that the review shows how a constellation of notes can have a very different meaning or story from what just anybody might otherwise guess… like if I hadn’t read this, I might never see the connection of the scent to Chinese New Year. Have not tried any Nicolai perfumes before. (USA)

  • Wilson Chin says:

    I love the scent of hay in a fragrance! And yes, I love that it reminds us of the coming year of the ox! I don’t know the Nicolai perfume, but I do love all the notes you describe. I’m in NYC.

  • Amaziz89 says:

    Parfums de NICOLAI Cuir Cuba Intense composed by Patricia de Nicolai ignites with lemon, licorice, and mint followed by a heady dose of crushed tobacco, which could perhaps represent components of a ritual offering to gods and ancestors. Parfums de NICOLAI Cuir Cuba Intense opens further into a deeper, dirtier, leathery earthiness. But this musky earthiness is paired with herbaceous sage and coriander to give a sense of swirling smoke. Both the musky, earthy leather and the vegetal notes could represent this year’s Ox—its habitat, body, and even components of a vernal, grassy meal. Cuir Cuba Intense smells more like straw than hay, which could be helpful for sweeping out the old year’s trials and shifting focus to look ahead. Spring is on the horizon for an auspicious Metal Ox year. Grab those metal accessories and take a long view of the year ahead. Best wishes for a happy and healthy new year!

    Parfums de NICOLAI Cuir Cuba Intense was released in 2014. The perfumer is Patricia de Nicolai.

    Notes: Aniseed, Liquorice, Sicilian lemon, Spearmint, Sage, Lavender, Pelargonium, Ylang-ylang, Magnolia, Coriander, Tobacco, Hay, Patchouli, Cedar, Musk, Civet. I am intrigued by the notes especially Patchouli, hay, tobacco, musk and civet. My favourite from this house is Patchouli intense. I knew it was the Chinese New year but did not know it was the year of the Ox. Thanks a million from the United Kingdom

  • Ozzyaziz says:

    Parfums de NICOLAI Cuir Cuba Intense opens further into a deeper, dirtier, leathery earthiness. But this musky earthiness is paired with herbaceous sage and coriander to give a sense of swirling smoke. Both the musky, earthy leather and the vegetal notes could represent this year’s Ox—its habitat, body, and even components of a vernal, grassy meal. Cuir Cuba Intense smells more like straw than hay, which could be helpful for sweeping out the old year’s trials and shifting focus to look ahead. Spring is on the horizon for an auspicious Metal Ox year. Grab those metal accessories and take a long view of the year ahead. Best wishes for a happy and healthy new year!

    Parfums de NICOLAI Cuir Cuba Intense was released in 2014. The perfumer is Patricia de Nicolai.

    Notes: Aniseed, Liquorice, Sicilian lemon, Spearmint, Sage, Lavender, Pelargonium, Ylang-ylang, Magnolia, Coriander, Tobacco, Hay, Patchouli, Cedar, Musk, Civet. I am intrigued by the notes especially Patchouli, Tobacco and Coriander. Intrigued by the notes especially Patchouli, hay, musk and civet to describe Ox habitat. I did not know it was the year of the Ox. A beautiful piece by Dalya. My favourite from this house is New York intense. Thanks a lot from the UK

  • Niinocka says:

    As an east European, I have not been acquainted with Chinese traditions in my environment. However, I have always loved learning about long-established traditions, that are still very much celebrated. A succinct explanation about the basis of The Chinese New Year by Dalya was a great introduction to the article and gave the fragrance an additional festive note.

    When reading about the hay note, I realized that I’ve nearly forgotten how »real hay« smells. The consequence of living the modern, city life, I guess. However, not being happy about a realization, I am already contemplating how to get the nearly non-existing memory back in the forthcoming summer.

    Nevertheless, I am intrigued by the composition of the Cuir Cuba Intense. It seems like a fragrance for the mature crowd, sophisticated and invigorating at the same time. Something, I imagine I would enjoy wearing greatly.

    The only fragrance from Parfums de Nicolaï I tried and was absolutely intrigued by was Vie de Chateau Intense. Interestingly, my perception of this fragrance is completely different from how the other members of the fragrance community describe it. Another gem that has reached a cult status – New York Intense – has been on my sample wish list for 2021.

    Thank you for a generous draw and the possibility to acquire such a masterpiece. I live in the EU.

  • Laurentiu says:

    I think that crushed tobacco leaves, lemon, liqorice and mint create an interesting combination. I have not tried anything from Parfums de Nicolai, but I know that their perfumes are highly praissed amongst the cologneisseurs.

    I am in EU. Thank you!

  • JulietteC says:

    Thank you, Dalya, for this piece! It was captivating.

    I really hope that 2021 will be *a year when hard work will be rewarded*, it would give me motivation to keep going (motivation at work and life in general), because we don’t actually have that much to look forward to, except hope that this whole worldwide situation will get better with time.

    I love the concept of this fragrance and I my curiosity was greatly enhanced by the idea of a *swirling smoke*. From this house, I enjoy already Angelys Pear.

    Thank you, I am writing from Europe.

  • RonaldJ says:

    Great article Dayla!

    I was confused when the article started about Chinese New Year! I had to keep reading how this was going to come together as I was expecting to hear about Cuba and Leather and not China and Metal!

    It all makes sense to me now and Cuir Cuba sounds even more interesting because of it.

    I have not tried any PARFUMS DE NICOLAI’s fragrances yet.
    Greetings from the UK.

  • FC says:

    Cuir Cuba intense seems like it captures the tobacco pipe smell quite well and also has herbacious nuances. I have smelled too many tobacco fragrances that barely conjure tobacco smell. My fav. from Nicolai is New York. USA.

  • katyaplesiuk says:

    ” In preparation for the traditional Chinese New Year, houses are cleaned to remove any misfortune or bad luck that might have accumulated during the previous year.” – this is what I do every time before the New Year!
    Also, when I was a child, I used to make loud noises when I was scared to scare away the evil “something”, how funny is that? 🙂
    I have never tried Nicolai perfumes but would love to! I am in the US

  • Princess Anna says:

    I have discovered Parfums de Nicolai last year, at a very courageous niche perfumery opening, here, in Bucharest. It was very nice surprise, because the fragrances are great. Intersting notes and combinations, good sillage and persistence, very well blended. I currently live in Romania.

  • theEfat7 says:

    I loved this review – both my mother and my sister were born in the year of the Ox, and the knowledge that this year will be prosperous for them makes me happy 🙂 Nicolai creates some incredible fragrances, my favorite being New York Intense (though I might be biased, since I live in New York).

  • Sonbahia says:

    Thanks Dalya for your article. My last tryp before Covid arrived last year, was to Bangkok during Chinese New Year: I enjoyed a lot! So this year, is Ox, influenced by Metal and “indicating great strength, patience, and methodical persistence”. I hope this serves us to beat the virus and we will be able to celebrate it again as always. Loving you bring us a composition by Patricia de Nicolai. I love my New York Intense and i wanna try her last release Eau de Yuzu. Cuir Cuba Intense intrigued me! I live in Spain, EU.

  • SB76 says:

    Great review from Dalya Azaria! It’s really interesting how the Chinese New Year gives so much attention to aspects that people need to work constantly on their lives! In this year it seems we are invited to work on some aspects of our lives that might have been a little stressed during last year: patience, persistence, hard work. If we can develop more of those qualities, our strength surely must get a boost!
    I don’t now many of Nicolaï perfumes, but one of them is one of my absolute favorites: Nicolaï New York Intense. As for Cuir Cuba… well, leather fragrances have always been part of my favorite “genre”, and that hay/straw note seems just perfect!!!
    I’m from EU (Portugal)

  • Steve A. says:

    What sparked my interest by the description of what it’s like wearing this perfume. I like several from this house, particularly the New York. US

  • dorseyhorsey says:

    My favorite Nicolai is Amber Oud. But I’d love to give this one a try. I like the connection from this to year of the ox – making perfume connections to ideas, images, songs and whatnot is always fun.

    I’m in the US!

  • vickalicious says:

    I have never tried anything from Parfums de Nicoali, but Cuir Cuba sounds AMAZING!!! It was very interesting to read about the “hay” note in fragrances- I did’t realize that the smell came from coumarin. Thank you also for providing the names of fragrances that showcase a prominent hay note. Located in the USA.

  • aud604 says:

    Nicolai is wonderful! New York Intense is my favorite. The year of the ox is appropriate… we will all need some patience this year! We are almost there! Chinese new year is a big thing in my neck of the woods as we have a large Chinese population. I am from Canada.

  • vtilwani says:

    Great article.. learned so much about a year of Ox and how well the colors are translated to various scents. I love the composition of the notes here and would love to get to smell this one day…I do have a few Tobacco based ones but none with hay and magnolia. A regular reader from Los Angeles, USA, and thanks for the draw.

  • audesko1 says:

    Reading about Hay absolute in Dalya’s beautifully written article sparked my interest. I didn’t really know about the ingredient in fragrance and coumarin in scents as well. Interesting. Also learning about the Chinese New year and it’s Metal Ox for this year. I love Nicolai patchouli intense. Thank you Dalya for all of the great information. California

  • Brian says:

    I enjoyed discovering this fragrance; it seems like one that I would enjoy. I appreciated learning about coumarin and certain fragrances which have a prominent hay note. I haven’t tried anything yet from Nicolai so I don’t have a favorite yet. I live in MD., U.S.A.

  • wallygator88 says:

    Thank you for the beautiful review Dalya.

    I enjoyed the exploration of the hay note in the year of the Ox. One of my favourite hay fragrances is called “Lonestar” by a small wetshaving company called Noble Otter.

    My favourite Nicolais are Angelys Pear and New York.

    Regards from WI, USA

  • Lfotopoulos says:

    I’ve tried patchouli intense and I think it’s the strongest perfume I know. Also i tried once cuir Cuba and it was a unique leather fragrance. Would love to win a bottle. From Greece

  • ElenaChiss says:

    Nice to know a little bit about other cultures. I am not into zodiac, but it was ok to read that this year is the year of the Metal Ox.
    I am curious about Cuir Cuba because of that hay note.
    EU

  • Osman says:

    I know that Parfums de Nicolai are a well-established house, with a great legacy behind them. I often see their fragrances mentioned in different places where fragrances are talked, especially their New York if the discussion is about great men perfumes, that have a classic vibe to them.
    Cuir Cuba Intense sounds very interesting and, like other who have commented here, I am also curious about that hay note.

    Thank you and greetings from Europe

  • Ale says:

    Very informative introduction about the Chinese New Year, so thanks for that! I would have never made a connection between a perfume called “Cuir Cuba Intense” and the Chinese New Year and zodiac, so this article got me thinking about various parallels that one can draw between seemingly unrelated things. I really like Incense Oud from Parfums de Nicolaï. I live in the EU.

  • Paeonnia says:

    I love the references snd suggestions of perfumes with hay notes. And the analysis of the year ahead. My Chinese horoscope is monkey.
    My favourite PdN perfume is Un temps d’une fete.
    I’m in Slovenia, EU

  • Dami C says:

    I enjoyed the tribute to the Chinese New Year, the description of the notes in Cuir Cuba Intense, and the review of other fragrances with a hay note. Of these, I tried and like Frassai Cuir Pampas! I really like fragrances from Parfums de Nicolai and my favorite is Neroli Intense. I am in the USA.

  • Salem says:

    I have learned many new things about the year of the Ox from Dalya’s article, namely: the fact that metal accessories bring good luck, the lucky colors we should surround ourselves with are green, yellow and white and that hard work will be rewarded – that gives me some hope, because I’ve really been working hard!
    As far as the fragrance goes, it seems to me, even if I didn’t smell it, that it pairs perfectly with the year of the Ox: herbaceous, leathery, earthy, vegetal – all of these truly suggest a raw natural scenery, one of strength and work and not so much an idyllic, fairy-like place next to a lake or a stream. The notes of hay, tobacco and sage sound truly inspiring.
    I am in the EU and don’t have a favorite parfum de Nicolai yet.

  • wandering_nose says:

    I am always interested in the Chinese New Year celebrations and the Chinese zodiac so it was a sheer delight to read Dalya’s article. I love how she managed to intertwine the description of the notes and accords in Cuir Cuba Intense with the characteristics of the Chinese sign of Ox and would be delighted to try the fragrance as I haven’t had the chance to do so as of yet and I love the notes. My favorite from Nicolai has been Ambre Cashmere Intense and Patchouli Intense. Based in Ireland

  • redwheelbarrow says:

    Love the idea of the ritual offerings. These notes sound fantastic together. I do love hay but don’t have a lot of fragrances with this note. Thank you for the list! I’ve never tried this house yet but hope to soon. Thank you for the draw from the US.

  • karinjensne says:

    I was intrigued by this because I have never associated perfume with Chinese culture. My mother never wore any, nor did any other Chinese women of my acquaintance. Still, I really enjoyed the idea of analyzing what scent might be appropriate to the year and occasion. I don’t have a favorite Nicolai perfume. I live in Alameda, CA.

  • Donald Yelvington says:

    Interesting to learn about chinese new year being influenced by zodiac animals and elements. First time hearing of this house. Would love to try. I am from Hiram Georgia USA. THANKS FOR THE GIVEAWAY!

  • petrapetruta says:

    I was at one point in my life fascinated by the Chinese zodiac and feng-shui.It all came back with Dalya’s article.I never thought that zodiac signs and perfumes could come so close together and mix so well!I really enjoy this review.Thank you!
    I don’t think I have just one favorite from Nicolai Perfume,Somehow I love them all!
    Greetings from Romania!

  • Cristian says:

    Very pleased to discover new things about the history behind Chinese zodiac. Also interesting the way yellow and green are associated with ox. Very useful review and the analogy with perfumery.
    My favorite from Nicolai’s is Incense Oud .
    I live in Romania (EU)

  • oyom says:

    Thanks for your review, Dalya! I already knew that we were entering the year of the ox, but the fact that each year is linked with an element and has its own colours was completely foreign to me. Seems like I will be wearing metal accesories this year!
    I am still to try Parfums de Nicolai creations, but the combination of mint, hay civet and tobacco leaves sparks my interest.
    I am located in Spain, EU

  • macaroni023 says:

    Thanks Dalya for lovely article and bringing attention to Chinese new year traditions. I am fascinated how Chinese New Years traditions till this day is still so spirited and carnival like and focusing on bringing good luck and success to next year with simple things like color. I am not familiar with other Nicolai perfumes, but this Cuba Intense sounds like perfect smell for the new successful year.
    I am EU based

  • andrewp2003 says:

    I haven’t tried any Parfums de Nicolai fragrances yet, but I am eager to get the chance! I really appreciated how Dalya linked the notes to the symbolism of the Chinese New Year – it increased my anticipation even more! Oh, and I live in Sweden!

  • doveskylark says:

    I enjoyed reading about the Chinese New Year and the symbolism of the Year of the Metal Ox. I also liked Dalya’s description of fragrances with a hay note. I have tried Tinderer by Baruti and love the prickly hay note. Cuir Cuba sounds wonderful with hay, licorice, and tobacco notes. I love New York from Nicolaï.
    I live in the USA.

  • Sngash says:

    Thank you Dalya for the detailed review and the historic perspective you provided. It’s always interesting to read about different cultures and beliefs. Cuir Cuba Intense sounds like an excellent accompaniment for the Chinese New Year. I’ve also had New York Intense on my list of must-try fragrances from Parfums de NICOLAI. I’m in USA

  • drjedi says:

    Dalya’s review was interesting to read. Enjoyed the description of the year of the ox, and how the Chinese New Year is celebrated. Didn’t know that ox is a yin sign – because of its strength and aggressive tendencies, my hunch would have been that it’s a yang sign. Learning about Parfums de NICOLAI Cuir Cuba Intense was fun. Tobacco and hay and other notes make it seem to be an unusual perfume. Haven’t tried anything by this brand, yet. Thanks for the review and the draw. Writing from the USA.

  • Michael Prince says:

    I loved learning about Chinese new through Dalya’s article. This Chinese New Year on Feb 12 is focusing on metal. I do not have a favorite fragrance from PARFUMS DE NICOLAI, but Cuir Cuba Intense sounds very appealing to me. I am from the USA.

  • Cristea Camelia says:

    I honestly did not expect reading about the Chinese New Year. And moreover I didnt expect this celebration to be used as a link to Cuir Cuba. Well I think I forgot which blog I was reading. Obviously I enjoyed this association a lot! I haven’t tried any perfume from this brand, not yet.
    Reading the review from EU

  • smm13 says:

    I hope that my hard work will indeed pay off, and I hope the Chinese New Year helps turn over a new leaf. My favorite Nicolai perfume is Musc Intense. You can definitely tell Patricia’s perfumes are well crafted and I’m curious to try this one. I haven’t tried it it the other hay note scents. I live in the USA.

  • Dalya says:

    Thank you for your lovely comments and for reading this! Wishing you all a very happy new year of the metal ox 🙂