There are thousands of grass species worldwide, and while it’s not much more than compost, some are worth a tiny fortune, including cannabis. There are perfumery vetiver or khus, which are either aromatic in whole or from the roots, and they are a highly prized raw plant material for making men’s perfumery.
You will own at least one scent that contains vetiver (and possibly more). Vetiver finds its way into many traditional and current accords, either in the heart or the base of a composition, where a distinctive earthiness is exhibited that can also be floral, smoky, or woody. And why is that so commonplace in masculine scents?
‘This has a captivating, complex, robust, powerful sillage, almost an archetype masculinity.’ Beaulieu continues it’s also very long-lasting and brings sophistication to fougère and woody accords.
Don’t start clearing the attic for your hydroponic farm just yet: naturally, the world’s best is cultivated on the tropical slopes of Haiti, India, Indonesia, and Réunion. The plant’s root is the easiest way to get this essential oil, but the leaves can also be used.
Grapes and wine are like wine and grapes; each variety has a quality on its own, depending on the local climate or microclimate, depending on the place where it grows. Caribbean vetiver is some say fresh and Asian, Indonesian in plant preference for earthy smokiness.
Our vetiver selection below is whether you want a dark, earthy, or nice and soapy vetiver.
10 Best Vetiver Fragrances
Vetiver de Guerlain
The most famous vetiver ever produced, Vétiver was released in 1959 and later became the benchmark, if not the reference to all other vetivers, and arguably, the reference vetiver itself. The original is taken and spun into a masterpiece about vetiver, tobacco, cedar, bergamot, petitgrain, and neroli.
Sure, it may reek of old fashioned with its contemporaries, but it’s legendary for a reason. A bottle of the original stuff, to be sniffed out, can be found on the top floor of La Maison Guerlain on the Champs Elysées in Paris, which houses the full archive.
Jean-Paul Guerlain reinterpreted Vetiver de Guerlain in 2000 eau de toilette expressing a double dose of vetiver in heart and base notes.
Vetiver de Guerlain parfum brought a new chapter to its history and heritage. Derived from perfumer Delphine Jelk’s style of an infused gin, notes of aromatic juniper berry, coriander and licorice are followed by the fresh facets of vetiver essence over the base of tonka bean and smoky notes.
Le Labo Vetiver 46
Each Le Labo fragrance employs a number to indicate the total ingredient count. Myrrhe 55 is one of the more complex scents in the collection, after Vetiver 46, Ylang 49.
It comprises the finest Haitian vetiver and 45 additional notes of pepper, gaïac, labdanum, olibanum and cedar.
A bear hug of a stink, palate strong and manly, spicy, creamy, vanilla, incense notes.
Czech & Speake Vétiver Vert
This is the modern interpretation of the ‘classic’ vetiver by the London perfumer, Czech & Speake.
A citrus opening of mandarin and bergamot follows a laurel and galbanum balsamic heart. The ultra wearable green, woody scent closes with Haitian vetiver and sandalwood base notes.
D.S. & Durga St Vetyver
Based on Caribbean sailors’ cologne, St Vetyver by D.S & Durga is inspired. The accord conjures warmth, photos, tastes and smells of a tropical paradise.
From sour orange, pink pepper and sea grass notes, a sugary, spiced heart featuring sugar cane, clove leaf, and toquilla straw (the famed weave of the Panama hat) leads to a base of vetiver, bread nut, and aged rum. The sweet, sultry undertone of this intoxicating blend was hammered home by pure aged distillate of Haitian vetiver for a bit more smokiness.
Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle Vetiver Extraordinaire
‘’The Vetiver Extraordinaire is a classic vetiver in a more woody and modern interpretation,” says Nicholas Beaulieu. If you don’t buy it instantly, the take of vetiver by Dominique Ropion for Frédéric Malle is a must try.
Freshness of the spicy opening is given by bergamot, bitter orange and pink pepper. The base notes are oak moss and musk, while middle notes contain highest quality Haitian vetiver, cashmeran, cedar and sandalwood, something powerful and slightly animalic.
Hermès Terre D’Hermès
Almost two decades under its H buckle belt, Terre d’Hermès has been an award winning bestseller. Composed by Jean-Claude Ellena, this woody, mineral fragrance of cedar, grapefruit, vetiver, and a smidgen of flint, is an olfactory exploration of the closeness between Man and Earth.
It will remind you more of someone’s rich Uncle than of nature. But it persists in its position in recent times.
Tom Ford Grey Vetiver Parfum
The Parfum is an impeccably tailored version of Tom Ford’s Grey Vetiver: classed as fruity amber rather than woody lemon as in the EDT.
As appealing in the bottle as on the skin, parfum is a very focused and long lasting homage to the original eau de parfum (there are three in the gather), using orange flower, saffron and a medley of three vetiver essences – two from Haiti, one from Sri Lanka – for bright citrus, balsamic spice and woods.
It’s like holding a cool flinty stone, which warms up with heat from skin, starts with cool, and leaves warm woody dry down with a little spice.
Creed Original Vétiver
Original Vétiver is a special fragrance in the Creed collection because it pulls together the root and leaves from this plant.
It has a smooth earthy aromatic scent; opening with ginger, lemon and green notes until vetiver, fresh floral notes, coriander and cypress find their way through a bed of white musk, cedarwood and guaiac wood.
According to some, we can smell the resemblance of Tom Ford’s Neroli Portofino. We want it didn’t wear off quite so quickly on the skin. While I say that, for lovers of a clean ‘veter,’ this is an absolutely gorgeous scent.
Lalique Encre Noire
Available in clear or milky white, Encre Noire is now an earthy, aromatic scent that’s gained a cult following for its powerful, but unique accord. It is from the master French glassmaker of the same name and has top notes of cypress, a heart of Haitian vetiver and bourbon vetiver, with a dry down of enveloping cashmere wood and musk.
Placed in a bottle, like the ‘Biches’ inkwell by René Lalique in 1913 so dark, smoky and with lasting quality for an extraordinarily low price.
Vetiver Insolent by Miller Harris
At the time of the leaves, perhaps creeping under the Vetiver Insolent. The rather wayward name – more unapologetic than rude or offensive, you could say – is a letdown for the vetiver, which takes its lead from a softly carpeted forest floor.
Top notes of Italian bergamot, black pepper cardamom, elemi and Indian cardamom sit over a floral note of iris, lavandin absolute and crisp amber on a woody, smoky base of vetiver Haiti, tonka bean and moss.
Ethan Cole is a tech aficionado dedicated to exploring the latest innovations and gadgets, providing reviews and insights to keep you updated in the tech world.
