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For Him · Aromatic
Quba
Inspired by Tsar by Van Cleef & Arpels
Lavender and leather with moss underfoot — old-world, upright, assured.
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Made in Johannesburg
Blended and bottled by us, from A-grade French oils.
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The scent, layer by layer
Top notes
The first impression, in the opening minutes.
- Lavender
- Neroli
- Bergamot
Heart notes
The character that settles in after half an hour.
- Pepper
- Lily Of The Valley
- Carnation
Base notes
What lingers on skin hours later.
- Balsam
- Sandalwood
- Leather
- Moss
- Patchouli
How it wears
- Longevity
- Lasts all day
- Projection
- Balanced
- spring
- autumn
- day
About Quba
Quba is a classic aromatic fougère eau de parfum for men, inspired by Tsar by Van Cleef & Arpels. It is the smell of a man who irons his own shirts.
Lavender leads, clean and slightly medicinal, with neroli and bergamot making the opening bright without ever making it casual. This is barbershop territory, but a good barbershop with leather chairs and a proper mirror, not a cheap aftershave.
The middle turns floral in the old style. Carnation is spicy and peppery, lily of the valley is dewy and green, and a thread of black pepper runs between them, keeping everything sharp. It is a heart that would feel dated in a lesser composition and instead feels deliberate here, like a well-cut suit from a decade ago.
The base is the payoff. Balsam brings a resinous sweetness, sandalwood adds cream, leather gives it an unmistakable masculine grain, and moss and patchouli root the whole thing to the ground. The finish is dry, warm and dignified, with none of the sugar that dominates modern releases. Wear it to work, to lunch, to church, to anything that calls for a collar. It is one of the few fragrances here that suits both a twenty-five-year-old wanting gravitas and a sixty-year-old who has always had it. Two or three sprays, and no more. Applied well, it leaves a trail that reads as grooming rather than fragrance, and that distinction is the point of the entire style.
If you love Tsar
If you love Tsar by Van Cleef & Arpels, Quba shares its DNA closely. The same crisp lavender and citrus opening, the same spicy carnation and green floral heart, and the same mossy, leathery base that gives classic fougères their spine and their seriousness.
Ours takes a slightly softer line. The sandalwood and balsam are more generous, which rounds the dry-down and takes a little of the bitter edge off the moss, making Quba an easier wear for anyone who finds vintage fougères austere. The original projects more sharply in the first thirty minutes; ours settles faster. Longevity is comparable, around seven hours. Quba is inspired by that fragrance and belongs to the same family, but it is an original composition with its own, gentler finish.
Ivana Sofia is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the brands named on this page. All trademarks belong to their respective owners and are referenced solely to describe scent character. Ivana Sofia fragrances are original compositions inspired by these scents — they are not the original products.
When to wear it
Best in mild weather: spring mornings and autumn days, when lavender stays crisp rather than turning sharp. It is a daytime fragrance by nature, well suited to work, family occasions and formal daylight events. Two sprays, one on each side of the neck. The 50ml at R120 is the sensible choice for a classic you will wear regularly but not every day.
Questions people ask
Does Quba smell like Tsar?
It shares the same classic fougère character, with lavender up front and a mossy leather base, which is what people recognise in Tsar. Ours is an original composition inspired by that fragrance, not a reproduction, and it is a touch softer.
Is a fougère fragrance old-fashioned?
It is traditional rather than dated. Lavender, moss and leather have been the backbone of masculine perfumery for a century, and they still read as polished and confident today.
Day or night?
Daytime, mostly. The crisp lavender and green floral heart are at their best in daylight, though the leather base makes it perfectly acceptable for an early evening.
How does it differ from the sweeter fragrances in the range?
There is almost no sweetness in it. Where our gourmand-leaning scents finish on vanilla or praline, Quba finishes dry, mossy and resinous, which suits a more conservative taste.
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