One of the colonial-era pharmacies of Havana, located around Habana 1791, is Droguería Johnson-yes, of Johnson & Johnson-which has been standing since the eighteenth century. However, at Habana 1791, you can still view this ages-old process in action.ĭroguería Johnson in Havana. This method is not efficient and is discouraged in modern perfume industry, which requires perfume made in mass amounts. The mariposa fragrance, for example, is extracted through the method of enfleurage, in which the extract is absorbed by wax before extraction by alcohol. Visitors can watch perfume making at Habana 1791 done through traditional extraction techniques like steam distillation. Habana 1791, located in an 18-century mansion, is a popular house of handcrafted fragrances with scents like mariposa, the state flower, and tobacco, a colonial export. Steam distillery for perfume making in Havana. Keeping this disparity in mind, these beauty points of interest offer a look back at the rich and contentious history of Cuba, from its pre-Christopher Columbus Mesoamerican settlers to its Spanish and French colonizers to its socialist revolution. These apothecaries and perfumeries are relics of a colonial past that actual Cubans, with an average monthly income of $20 per month, do not frequent. But alongside these cultural favorites, there are relics of a vibrant beauty industry based on traditional European methods and Caribbean ingredients. (Photo: Noël Duan)Ĭuba is well known for its preservation of colonial and post-colonial artifacts, from Spanish and French architecture to Afro-Cuban salsa to rum still produced in the original Bacardi factories. Nonetheless, Cuban women tend to be immaculately made up, even in the humidity, and while this sounds stereotypical, there is something very glamorous and confident about a country in which everyone, young and old, male and female, knows how to shake their hips.Įl Capitolio in Havana. Cosmetic stores are non-existent in Cuba, except for a few products sold in the government-owned tourist stores - sorry, beauty junkies, Sephora is everywhere, except for Cuba.
I just came back from two weeks of backpacking across the beautiful-and capitalism free, sort of- island country of Cuba, where I schlepped without my 10-step skincare routine and carried an assortment of portable, multi-use products in my Patagonia pack instead. HAVANA - The United States and Cuba resumed diplomatic relations in July 2015 after severing ties 54 years ago. This story is part of a weeklong Yahoo series marking one year since the opening of relations between the United States and Cuba.
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