The Purple Scent: Violetas' Cuban Cologne Mystery Explained

Cuban cologne violetas is purple because violetas means violets in Spanish, and the cologne is violet-scented. The fragrance was first developed in Cuba by a man named Agustin Reyes almost 90 years ago. It was not originally intended as a baby cologne, but its light, fresh scent became popular among Cuban mothers, who would douse their infants in the cologne. The Reyes family fled Cuba a year after Castro's revolution and re-established their business in Miami, where the cologne became an iconic part of Cuban culture.

The cologne was created by Agustin Reyes in Havana, Cuba, almost 90 years ago

It was in this idyllic setting that Reyes created his first fragrance, "Agua de Colonia de Agustin Reyes," which became an instant hit and brought him recognition throughout the country. He followed up with "Loción Violetas Rusas" or "Agua de Violetas" (also known as "Royal Violets"), which became his most popular creation and a cultural icon. This fragrance was not intended to be a baby cologne, but its light, fresh scent became popular among Cuban mothers who doused their infants in it.

Reyes' success was short-lived, however, as political upheaval forced his family to flee Cuba in 1960. They settled in Miami, where they re-established their business, and word of mouth quickly spread among the Cuban exile community. Overcoming tremendous challenges, Reyes created a lasting legacy that is now continued by his grandson, Agustin Reyes III, who maintains the original formula and the tradition.

It was not intended as a baby cologne but became popular among Cuban mothers

Cuban cologne Violetas, or "Agua de Violetas" ("Water of Violets"), was first created by a man named Agustin Reyes in Havana, Cuba, almost 90 years ago. Reyes began his career as a perfumer with "Agua de Colonia de Agustin Reyes", which became successful. He followed this up with "Violetas Rusas", which became his biggest hit and the "cologne of the Cuban people".

The fragrance was not intended to be a baby cologne, but its light, fresh scent became popular among Cuban mothers, who doused their infants in the mixture. Cuban-American celebrities such as Gloria and Emilio Estefan, as well as actress Eva Mendes, have spoken about their love for the scent, with Mendes revealing that she has a bottle of the cologne in every room of her house.

After Fidel Castro came to power in Cuba in 1959, Reyes and his family fled the country with the formula covertly in hand. They settled in Miami, where they re-established their business with the fragrance that had brought them success in Cuba. Word of mouth quickly spread among the Cuban exile community, and the Reyes family enjoyed newfound success, with their cologne becoming an iconic part of Cuban culture.

Today, most drug stores in Miami that cater to the US Hispanic community stock more than ten brands of the fragrance.

The Reyes family fled Cuba a year after Castro's revolution, taking the formula with them

The Reyes family's journey out of Cuba and into the United States is a fascinating tale of resilience and enterprise. In 1960, a year after Fidel Castro seized power, Agustín Reyes and his family fled the communist island, taking the formula for his famous fragrance, Violetas Rusas, with them. Reyes, who had lost his vision after creating seven scents and receiving international acclaim, carried a leather-bound formulary with him as he boarded a ferry to Key West, slipping his precious recipes past the guards.

Reyes's children and grandchildren followed him to the United States by plane. A year and a half later, his son proposed that they relaunch their perfumery in Miami. With limited resources, they decided to focus on just one fragrance, and Violetas Rusas was the obvious choice. It had become a cultural icon and the company's signature scent. The cologne was relaunched as Royal Violets Eau de Cologne, and it quickly became a cultural icon in the Cuban community and beyond.

Today, almost nine decades after its creation, Royal Violets remains a beloved fragrance for Cuban mothers and their babies. It can be found on the shelves of most drug stores catering to the U.S. Hispanic community, with over ten brands of the fragrance available. Agustín Reyes III, who now runs the business, takes pride in continuing to develop the scent in-house and using the original formula his grandfather created. He told NBC Latino, "Very few fragrances are that timeless."

They re-established their business in Miami, where it became a success in the Cuban exile community

In 1960, a year after Fidel Castro took power in Cuba, perfumer Agustin Reyes and his family fled the country with the formula for Violetas Rusas, the first violet-scented cologne in Cuba, in hand. Reyes, who had lost his vision after creating seven scents and receiving international accolades, headed to the United States for supposed medical treatment. He carried a leather-bound formulary, sneaking his famous recipes past the guards as he boarded a ferry to Key West.

His children and grandchildren followed him by plane. A year and a half after leaving Cuba, Agustín’s son realised they wouldn’t be returning anytime soon, so he proposed that they re-establish their perfumery business in Miami. The family decided to relaunch Loción Violetas Rusas as Royal Violets Eau de Cologne.

Word of mouth quickly spread among the Cuban exile community in Miami, and the fragrance enjoyed newfound success, picking up on a tradition that went on to become iconic in the Cuban culture and beyond.

Decades later, the shelves at most Miami drug stores remain stocked with more than ten brands of the fragrance. Cuban-American celebrities such as Gloria and Emilio Estefan purchase the bottles by the case, according to Reyes' grandson, Agustin Reyes III, who currently runs the business from a plant in Hialeah, Florida.

The scent has become an iconic part of Cuban culture and is still popular today

The scent of violets has become an iconic part of Cuban culture and is still popular today. The tradition of using violet-scented cologne began in Havana almost a century ago when a man named Agustin Reyes developed the first violet-scented cologne in Cuba, "Agua de Violetas" or "Royal Violets." The fragrance was not originally intended for babies, but Cuban mothers began using it on their infants, and it became a beloved tradition.

After the Castro revolution, the Reyes family fled Cuba and re-established their business in Miami, where it enjoyed newfound success within the Cuban exile community. Over time, the scent of violets became synonymous with Cuban culture, with many adults continuing to associate it with their childhood. The cologne is now considered a cultural icon in the Cuban community and has also gained popularity in the wider Hispanic community.

The scent's enduring popularity can be attributed to its light and fresh fragrance, which appeals to people of all ages. It has become a timeless fragrance, with celebrities like Gloria and Emilio Estefan, and Eva Mendes, expressing their fondness for it. The cologne is readily available in drug stores catering to the Hispanic community, with over ten brands of the fragrance on offer.

The violet scent holds a special place in the hearts of many Cubans and Cuban-Americans, evoking feelings of nostalgia and connection to their cultural heritage. It continues to be a beloved tradition, passed down through generations, and is likely to remain an iconic part of Cuban culture for years to come.

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