Hispanic Fragrance Houses to Wear This Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month takes place from September 15 through October 15 and honors the contributions of Americans whose ancestors come from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. In Miami, there is no need for a calendar to mark the occasion since it is reflected in the way people speak on the streets, in the music coming from the windows of the cafecito, and in the fact that locals still get dressed up when going downtown.

At Alberto Cortes Cosmetics & Perfumes likewise, the celebration is tied to the store's own history. Since 1967 it has been a family-run business located on East Flagler Street, catering to generations of Miami families, to visitors from all over Latin America, and to anyone who thinks that a good fragrance is an important part of being well presented.

This month we are examining something that many fans of fragrance never take the time to think about: the fact that a number of the world's most well-known perfume houses were founded by designers from Spain and from Latin America. Since both of these countries are part of the Hispanic tale that is being celebrated this month, we have kept them separate as explained below. The following is a brief tour featuring a few bottles that you can try on your skin at our downtown Miami boutique.

From Latin America

Carolina Herrera: Caracas, New York, and the Modern Latina

Carolina Herrera was born in Caracas, Venezuela and established one of the most elegant fashion houses in New York. Her perfumes have the same dual character: they are polished and international, yet possess a warmth which is clearly Latin American. For many years now the Carolina Herrera bottle has been a customary milestone in Miami, the fragrance being passed on from a mother to her daughter and a son receiving it at graduation.

Carolina Herrera Good Girl Blush Elixir Eau de Parfum
Blush Elixir, the most intense version of the Good Girl Blush story, starts off with bergamot and mandarin, then goes on to include ylang ylang and rose, and finally settles down on a base made up of vanilla and patchouli; it is an amber floral fragrance designed for use in the evening and comes in the house's characteristic stiletto bottle with a gradient finish. This is the fragrance that a woman seeking something which is both romantic and assertive should choose.

Carolina Herrera 212 Men Eau de Toilette
It is called 212 Men because of the Manhattan area code and is fresh, clean, and extremely versatile. The fragrance opens with notes of grapefruit, ginger and mandarin before settling into a base of sandalwood, guaiac wood and musk. Like some perfumes it functions well in the Miami heat without any effort, which is the reason it has remained a key scent in our men's range for so many years.

Shakira: A Colombian Icon in a Bottle

Shakira, who was born in Barranquilla, Colombia, is one of the most well-known Latin American artists globally, and her range of fragrances has remained a bestseller in Latin America over the years. The fragrances are pleasant and cheerful and are priced in such a way that buying a first fragrance or a travel size is a simple choice.

Shakira S Eau de Toilette
Shakira's scent is a vibrant, feminine floral that is easy to wear during a day in Miami; it is a suitable gift for a niece, a friend, or indeed anyone who grew up singing along to her music, and it is one of the most affordable methods of adding a Latin American name to your collection of fragrances.

From Spain

Paco Rabanne: A Basque Revolutionary in Paris

Francisco Rabaneda Cuervo was born in the Basque Country of Spain and later became Paco Rabanne, the designer known for making dresses from metal and plastic in 1960s Paris. That same spirit of boldness was passed on by his fragrance company. The gold bar bottle of 1 Million is instantly identifiable in shops all over the world and is still one of the most frequently requested men's fragrances in our boutique.

Paco Rabanne 1 Million Parfum
The 1 Million Parfum is warmer and more textured than the original 1 Million, its scent based on a salty, sun-warmed leather note enclosed in amber. It is bolder than the eau de toilette and is intended for use in the evening. If you already enjoy the original and are looking for a fragrance with more depth, then this is the natural next choice. 

Other Hispanic Names Worth Knowing

There are a few more brands that should be mentioned here, even though individual bottles may appear and disappear from our shelves. Oscar de la Renta, who was born in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, launched his first fragrance in 1977 and was responsible for dressing First Ladies for many years. Narciso Rodriguez, the Cuban American designer who created one of the most acclaimed musk fragrances of the last twenty years, has family origins that go directly through Miami's own Cuban community. Loewe, which was established in Madrid in 1846, is the oldest luxury brand in Spain and one of the most respected in today's perfumery. Antonio Banderas, coming from Málaga a Spanish brand, has developed one of the most popular fragrance lines in the Spanish speaking world. When you visit, ask our team which of these brands are currently in stock.

Why This Matters in Miami

In Hispanic culture—whether in Spain or all over Latin America—fragrance is not an optional extra; it is a customary practice, something you carry out before leaving the house just as you would when pressing a shirt. This tradition is one of the reasons that Alberto Cortes Cosmetics & Perfumes has been successful in downtown Miami for almost sixty years, and it is also the reason why so many of our customers are the children and grandchildren of those who used to shop here in the 1970s.

This Hispanic Heritage Month, we would like to invite you to go to the boutique on East Flagler Street, try out these fragrances on your skin, and select the one that feels like yours.
Alberto Cortes Cosmetics & Perfumes. A trusted destination for fine fragrance in downtown Miami since 1967.

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Resumen en Español

Del 15 de septiembre al 15 de octubre, el Mes de la Herencia Hispana celebra las contribuciones de las comunidades hispanas y latinas en Estados Unidos. En Alberto Cortes Cosmetics & Perfumes, una empresa familiar en el centro de Miami desde 1967, lo celebramos con casas de perfumería creadas por diseñadores y artistas de España y de América Latina.

Carolina Herrera, nacida en Caracas, nos trae Good Girl Blush Elixir, un floral ambarino de rosa, vainilla y pachulí, y 212 Men, un clásico fresco de toronja, jengibre y maderas. Paco Rabanne, el revolucionario vasco de la moda parisina, firma 1 Million Parfum, con su acorde de cuero cálido y ámbar. Y Shakira, el orgullo de Barranquilla, ofrece S, un floral luminoso ideal para el día a día o como regalo.

También recordamos a Oscar de la Renta, Narciso Rodriguez, Loewe y Antonio Banderas, nombres que forman parte de la historia de la perfumería hispana, de España y de América Latina. Visítanos en East Flagler Street para probar estas fragancias en tu piel y encontrar la que sientas como tuya.

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