This Exists: Colognes Inspired by Che and Hugo Chávez

1 minute read

New in the perfume aisle: the smell of socialism.

The Associated Press reports a Cuban company Labiofam spent over a year working with the French perfumer Robertet to create two new colognes, Ernesto and Hugo, inspired by the Argentinian revolutionary Ernesto “Che” Guevara and the late Venezuelan socialist president Hugo Chávez.

According to AP, the Che scent is “woodsy and refreshing” while Hugo is “softer and fruitier” with “hints of mango and papaya.”

Mario Valdes, who led the scent design team, told the AP, “We didn’t want to create propaganda, but rather pay homage to them and help their names endure.”

But creating a Che Guevara-inspired cologne is an ironic way to “pay homage” to the famous Marxist, since many report that he avoided bathing for most of his life. “Woodsy,” maybe, but “refreshing” he was not.

More Must-Reads From TIME

Write to Tessa Berenson at tessa.Rogers@time.com