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Cuba Authentic Dark
Cuba

Authentic Dark

Citrus
Fresh
Fruity
Green
Aromatic
Woody
Earthy
EDT · 2022 · men

Cuba is a niche fragrance house known for bold, character-driven compositions that prioritize distinctive scent profiles over mass appeal. Authentic Dark exemplifies this approach with a composition that balances brightness and depth in a way that feels deliberate rather than accidental.

Authentic Dark opens with citrus and stone fruit, specifically pear and bergamot with a sharp pink pepper kick, backed by a green aromatic quality. The heart shifts into spicier territory with galbanum and cedar, supported by white woods and kephalis for structure. The base settles into a woody amber composition, with guaiac wood and olibanum providing warmth and slightly smoky character, rounded out by musk and cashmeran for skin-like softness.

This is a fragrance for someone who appreciates complexity and doesn't need their scents to announce themselves loudly. It works well in professional settings and cooler months when its woody-spicy nature feels most at home. If you connect with The Homesteader, The Tactician, and The Romantic, Authentic Dark will likely resonate.

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ModerateLongevity
$9Best · 100ml
$930d Avg
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Price Comparison1 retailers · updated daily
SizeUpdated 20932m ago
$8.95
at FragranceShop
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Price History · 100ml
Low
$9
Avg
$9
Now
$8.95
3 days tracked · 2026-05-07 – 2026-05-28
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Main Accordsreported by community
Citrus
100%
Fresh
67%
Fruity
90%
Green
22%
Aromatic
22%
Woody
100%
Earthy
22%
Musky
78%
Spicy
80%
Balsamic
60%
Smoky
78%
Fragrance Notesbrand verified
Top · 0–30 min
Pear
Pear
Gentle, watery, and slightly floral, pear is one of fragrance's most delicate fruit notes, with a clean sweetness that is closer to flowers than to heavy tropical fruits. It adds a soft, luminous freshness to compositions and pairs naturally with rose, iris, and light musks. Often the note that makes a fragrance feel effortlessly elegant.
Pink Pepper
Pink Pepper
Fruity, slightly rosy, and gently spiced, pink pepper is softer and more aromatic than black pepper. It occupies a unique space between citrus, floral, and spice families, which makes it exceptionally versatile. You'll find it in contemporary fresh fragrances where it adds lift and personality without aggression.
Bergamot
Bergamot
A sun-ripened Italian citrus with a brightness that goes beyond lemon, simultaneously tart, floral, and slightly spicy. It's the defining note of Earl Grey tea and the backbone of countless fresh colognes. Perfumers love it as an opener because it lifts the entire composition without overpowering what follows.
Lemon
Lemon
Sharp, clean, and instantly familiar, the pure zest of fresh-cut lemon peel, not the sugary juice. In perfumery it reads as crisp and energising rather than sweet, and is often used to amplify other light notes. It fades quickly, so it's almost always a top note that makes a striking first impression.
Heart · 30 min – 3 hrs
Spicy Notes
Spicy Notes
Galbanum
Galbanum
One of perfumery's oldest raw materials, a bitter, intensely green resin with a cut-grass, slightly medicinal quality. It's the note that gives vintage green chypres their sharp, naturalistic edge. Galbanum alone is almost unpleasantly aggressive, but in a composition it adds a vivid green freshness that nothing else can match.
White Woods
White Woods
Cedar
Cedar
Kephalis
Kephalis
Base · 3–12 hrs
Olibanum
Olibanum
Guaiac Wood
Guaiac Wood
Smoky, slightly rosy, and dry, guaiac wood has a gentle, transparent smokiness that doesn't overwhelm. It's often used to add a campfire-distant quality to woody or oriental fragrances without going full leather or incense. One of perfumery's more understated and quietly beautiful materials.
Cashmeran
Cashmeran
Musk
Musk
The base layer of almost every modern fragrance, a soft, warm, skin-like scent that extends longevity and bridges other notes together. Natural musk was once derived from deer (now banned); today's musks are synthetic and range from clean and soapy to dark and animalic. The right musk makes a fragrance smell like 'you.'
Who Wears ThisScent DNA matches
📐
The TacticianBest match86% match
Precision over excess. Always.

Crisp, dry, clean, worn close. Citrus, aromatic herbs, light woods, soft musks.

🏡
The Homesteader85% match
Rooted, warm, and entirely self-sufficient.

Warm skin musks, sandalwood, soft cedar, clean vetiver. Grounding, intimate, unhurried.

🌙
The Mystic84% match
You wear what others can't place — and that's exactly the point.

Warm incense, dry resins, airy woods, smoke with softness. Never obvious.

Based on this fragrance's accord profile · Find your Scent DNA →
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Rate this fragrance
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Most Popular with this Scent DNA Type?
📐
The Tactician
Precision over excess. Always.
Crisp, dry, clean, worn close. Citrus, aromatic herbs, light woods, soft musks.
Discover your type →
Scent Profile
Citrus100%Fresh67%Fruity90%Green22%Aromatic22%
Fragrance Family
Amber/Woody
EDT

Cuba Authentic Dark— Prices, Coupons & Buying Guide

Best price today: Authentic Dark is $8.95. Without a coupon the lowest price is $8.95. Gush tracks 47+ retailers updated every 2 hours.

Are grey market retailers authentic?

Yes. Jomashop, FragranceNet, and MaxAroma sell 100% authentic Cuba fragrances through unofficial distribution channels. The fragrance is identical to department store stock. Grey market refers to the supply chain, not product quality. The price difference comes entirely from the distribution channel.

Frequently asked questions

Cheapest price for Cuba Authentic Dark? +
$8.95 at FragranceShop. Gush compares 47+ retailers updated every 2 hours.
What does Cuba Authentic Dark smell like? +
Cuba is a niche fragrance house known for bold, character-driven compositions that prioritize distinctive scent profiles over mass appeal. Authentic Dark exemplifies this approach with a composition that balances brightness and depth in a way that feels deliberate rather than accidental. Authentic Dark opens with citrus and stone fruit, specifically pear and bergamot with a sharp pink pepper kick, backed by a green aromatic quality. The heart shifts into spicier territory with galbanum and cedar, supported by white woods and kephalis for structure. The base settles into a woody amber composition, with guaiac wood and olibanum providing warmth and slightly smoky character, rounded out by musk and cashmeran for skin-like softness. This is a fragrance for someone who appreciates complexity and doesn't need their scents to announce themselves loudly. It works well in professional settings and cooler months when its woody-spicy nature feels most at home. If you connect with The Homesteader, The Tactician, and The Romantic, Authentic Dark will likely resonate.
What are the notes in Cuba Authentic Dark? +
Top: Pear, Pink Pepper, Bergamot, Lemon. Heart: Spicy Notes, Galbanum, White Woods, Cedar, Kephalis. Base: Olibanum, Guaiac Wood, Cashmeran, Musk.
What fragrance family is Authentic Dark? +
Cuba Authentic Dark belongs to the Amber/Woody fragrance family. It is an EDT.
What other fragrances smell like Cuba Authentic Dark? +
Based on shared notes, Cuba Authentic Citrus (Olibanum, Guaiac Wood, Spicy Notes, Galbanum), Cuba Authentic Crystal (Olibanum, Guaiac Wood, Spicy Notes, Galbanum), Al Haramain Bon Cherie Violette (Olibanum, Musk, Cedar, Bergamot), paris-hilton Nitro Platinum Pour Homme (Guaiac Wood, Musk, Cedar, Bergamot), Initio Parfums Privés Initio Rehab Extrait De Parfum (Guaiac Wood, Musk, Cedar, Bergamot) may smell similar to Authentic Dark.
What is a grey market fragrance retailer? +
Grey market retailers sell authentic fragrances sourced through unofficial distribution -- typically excess inventory from authorized distributors. The product is real and identical to retail. FragranceNet (est. 1997), Jomashop, and MaxAroma are well-established with millions of verified reviews.

Gush earns a commission on purchases at no cost to you · Prices update every 2 hours · Coupon success rates based on affiliate feed data · Grey market = authentic, unofficial supply chain