Thread: Vetiver?

Can anyone describe this scent for me. I am always reading about it, but have no idea what it smells like. If you like it, I'd also like suggestions on the varieties you like best.

Any help appreciated.

There are several interpretations for Vetiver by different makers however the uncut version of Vetiver is very warm, dry, raw, grassy, pungent, smoky, woody and conveying earthy. Many perfumes, colognes, after shaves,... make it more citrusy to tone it down.

I don't know what to compare it to, but I like it a lot. It is not typical of perfumes as I've thought of them in terms of scent, but it is a scent that I would describe as 'manly.' I like it in a shaving soap, such as QED Luxury Lather, and in various colognes, and aftershaves. I was gifted some years ago, or I never would have known. If you can find a place to get samples, maybe a dept store cosmetics dept, or a shaving supplies site, go for that. I think it will be either love it or not so much. I don't think anyone would hate it, like some hate Lilac Vegetal.

I was typing while Max put up his excellent description. Also, if Obie doesn't chime in soon, do an advanced single content type search, with Vetiver as the key word, and Obie as the member. I'm betting he has had something to say about it. He is a connoisseur of scents, soaps, creams, among other things.

The only shaving cream that I know off that's very close to the real deal is Cyril R Salter 'French Vetiver'. It's one of my favorite. Have tried many other soaps and creams that make use of the word Vetiver but don't come even close. A classic in the vintage vetiver would be 'Vetiver de Carven' and 'Guerlain Vetiver'. The vintage Carven is very grassy, pungent and strong. The Guerlain starts citrusy but opens up to a scent heaven. A true classic. An affordable vetiver is Encre Noir de Lalique.

Originally Posted by Maximilian

The only shaving cream that I know off that's very close to the real deal is Cyril R Salter 'French Vetiver'. It's one of my favorite. Have tried many other soaps and creams that make use of the word Vetiver but don't come even close. A classic in the vintage vetiver would be 'Vetiver de Carven' and 'Guerlain Vetiver'. The vintage Carven is very grassy, pungent and strong. The Guerlain starts citrusy but opens up to a scent heaven. A true classic. An affordable vetiver is Encre Noir de Lalique.

I'll give a + 1 on the Cyril Salter French Vetiver. I had a couple of tubs of the cream over the years and love the scent, and the consistency. It doesn't rate 'first tier' in Obie's thread on the topic, but nevertheless it is great stuff and good 'bang for the buck.'

Vetivers I've got are Demeter Cologne, L'Occatane EDT, and Compagna Delle Indie Vetyver EDT. I like them all, but judging by what is left in the bottles, the Demeter seems to be my favorite. Maybe Max could comment on the quality of those. They were given to me and I don't know that much about the topic.

Some great inexpensive Vetiver Aftershaves are: Fine Fresh Vetiver, Fine Clean Vetiver and Fine Green Vetiver....great stuff. They have a Fine Platinum as well which is also very nice...can't remember if it has the Vetiver hit or not...

Max's description of warm, woody, and grassy rings true for me. I have used Fine Accoutrements Clean Vetiver aftershave which is designed to smell like Guerlain, I believe. Fine now sells soaps with the same scents as their aftershaves. I haven't used the soaps so I can't comment on scent and performance.
Fine Accoutrements sells samples from their website as does Maggards.

Vetiver is present in some other shaving related products I use. It is notably present in Blenheim Bouquet EDT when it dries down.

Originally Posted by Phrank

Some great inexpensive Vetiver Aftershaves are: Fine Fresh Vetiver, Fine Clean Vetiver and Fine Green Vetiver....great stuff. They have a Fine Platinum as well which is also very nice...can't remember if it has the Vetiver hit or not...

I have a bottle of the Fine Fresh Vetiver which is based on Tom Ford Grey Vetiver. I like it a lot. The Clean Vetiver, now renamed Green, I think, is supposedly based on Guerlain Vetiver, but I haven't tried that one yet. Fine Platinum is a knock off of Creed Aventus.

Originally Posted by Demetrius

I have a bottle of the Fine Fresh Vetiver which is based on Tom Ford Grey Vetiver. I like it a lot. The Clean Vetiver, now renamed Green, I think, is supposedly based on Guerlain Vetiver, but I haven't tried that one yet. Fine Platinum is a knock off of Creed Aventus.

Really!?! That is very cool to know, so I can smell like a million bucks for $14.50...awesome...some great brands you mentioned there...thanks.

Originally Posted by Phrank

Really!?! That is very cool to know, so I can smell like a million bucks for $14.50...awesome...some great brands you mentioned there...thanks.

Ha! Very true. I think most all of the Fine aftershaves are knock offs of some kind. If, however, you want an Aventus knock off, my preference is Stirling Executive Man. IMO, it is a better match and it has some nice face nourishing ingredients that are missing from the alcohol/water/fragrance combo in the Fine splashes.