Thread: Vetiver

If you want to smell how it should be, try original vetiver from creed, it's damn expensive but theres nothing out there that can touch it as a fragrance imho.

While I would agree that Creed is expensive, and makes nice fragrances, IMHO their Original Vetiver (which is actually their newer vetiver fragrance) is not what should be classified as a vetiver fragrance. I think I fall more in line with Luca Turin's appraisal of the fragrance listed in his definitive book Perfumes: The Guide, wherein he describes Creed's Original Vetiver as "Not vetiver..."

Well, I still haven't made it to L'Occitane yet as events seem to be conspiring to stop me from shopping for more shave den supplies , but I'm hoping to make it there over the long weekend.

If my wife will tolerate any more stops I may check out a couple more places. Are vetiver fragrances generally common at department stores/fragrance centers? It seems to me that they usually cater to the modern fragrance crowd.

They're more common than they used to be, but will still be a 'modern style' interpretation of it. Obviously the high-end stuff would be better. For example try Terre d'Hermes the drydown has rooty vetiver, but it's a much more complex fragrance than that. Iirc Tom Ford had a decent vetiver too, and those should still pass for dpt. store fragrances.

I'm a big fan of vetiver. I regulary use vetiver shaving cream / soap, vetiver AS balm and vetiver cologne in combo. I'd describe vetiver as being an earthy / complex citrus. One of the nicest budget vetiver colognes is the Saint Charles Shave one. If you're not so budget conscious then the Etro vetiver cologne is a real beauty.

I finally made it to L'Occitane yesterday. The good news is I really liked their vetyver EdT; even better, my wife LOVED it! I didn't buy it though, as I was given the hint that Father's Day and other special occasions are coming up

I didn't walk out empty handed, as I picked up a puck of their Cade shaving soap and got a sample of the aftershave balm

Originally Posted by LegalBeagle

While I would agree that Creed is expensive, and makes nice fragrances, IMHO their Original Vetiver (which is actually their newer vetiver fragrance) is not what should be classified as a vetiver fragrance. I think I fall more in line with Luca Turin's appraisal of the fragrance listed in his definitive book Perfumes: The Guide, wherein he describes Creed's Original Vetiver as "Not vetiver..."

This is very true. Many people have said that the Creed offering is a lot sweeter than the natural Vetiver. However, it's worth mentioning that the equivalent shaving soap by Creed is a lot more "woody", albeit subtle, than the cologne. That as a little aside. On the other hand, Creed's cologne is much longer lasting than any other Vetiver I've tried and more suited to summer use.

As far as other Vetiver fragrances go, I would suggest you try Martin de Candre's "Vetyver" Eau de Candre or Murdock of London's Vetiver cologne.

Vetiver is one of my favorite scents. I've found quite a few good examples over the years, but the one that still stands out is Vetiver Extraordinaire, Frederic Malle. Grassy, woodsy, with some citrusy overtones. Excellent fragrance, long lasting, worth the $$$!

Here's my favorite vetiver scent. A lil dab will do. And yes, the ladies like. Just don't go overboard. Sorry, the French still make the best parfums. Comme des Garcons. I like the apothecary bottle too. I'll have to try Als stuff.
Mike

I was watching a TV show a few nights ago called Richard Hammond's Engineering Connections. They were showing how the roots of the vetiver plant were used to hold sand in place under a bridge in Greece. I found it interesting that even though they were talking about scientific principles Hammond commented about how good the roots of the plant smell. No matter where or how vetiver is used you can't help but stop and go "ummmmmmmmm" when you smell it. That must be the best smelling bridge in the world.

Lori