Vetiver perfumes
Vetiver is a grass whose roots are distilled into an earthy, smoky, slightly bitter oil. It smells green and dry at once, like damp soil and wood, and it has been a mainstay of classic men’s fragrances for decades. It lasts well and tends to make a scent feel serious and grown-up. Editorial inference
Perfumes with vetiver notes
Vetiver is a key note
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Terre d’Hermès Eau de Toilette
- Woody / mineral
- Orange
- Flint
- Vetiver
Orange peel over dry, flinty vetiver. Earthy and bitter-fresh rather than sweet.
Perfumer: Jean-Claude Ellena
Compare Terre d’Hermès Eau de Toilette with Man Wood Essence
-
Man Wood Essence Parfum
- Woody / spicy
- Sichuan pepper
- Cypress
- Vetiver
Peppery spice over dry, dense woods. Warm, earthy and grown-up.
Perfumer: Alberto Morillas
-
Gentleman Society Eau de Parfum
- Woody / floral
- Sage
- Narcissus
- Vetiver
Fresh sage and cardamom, a rich wild-daffodil flower and four vetivers over creamy woods and vanilla. Elegant and a little unusual.
Perfumers: Karine Dubreuil-Sereni, Maïa Lernout
Vetiver in the full note list
These don’t lead with vetiver, but it’s in their published notes, usually in the base.
-
Sauvage Eau de Toilette
- Fresh / spicy
- Bergamot
- Pepper
- Ambroxan
Sharp pepper and bergamot over a dry, mineral base. Loud for an EDT, so one or two sprays is plenty.
Perfumer: François Demachy
-
Sauvage Eau de Parfum
- Aromatic / amber
- Bergamot
- Lavender
- Vanilla
The Sauvage opening with lavender and a trace of vanilla underneath: smoother, warmer and a little sweeter than the EDT.
Perfumer: François Demachy
-
Bleu de Chanel Eau de Toilette
- Woody / aromatic
- Citrus
- Cedar
- Sandalwood
Bright citrus over smooth, clean woods. Polished, and easy to wear to work.
Perfumer: Jacques Polge
-
Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum
- Amber / woody
- Orange
- May rose
- Patchouli
Bright orange over rose and jasmine, then a clean, earthy patchouli. Polished, modern and easy to wear almost anywhere.
Perfumer: Jacques Polge
-
Y Eau de Parfum
- Aromatic / fougère
- Bergamot
- Ginger
- Sage
- Geranium
Crisp apple and ginger over sage and a warm, sweet amberwood base. Fresh enough for daytime, rich enough for the evening, and often named among the most complimented men’s scents.
Perfumers: Dominique Ropion, Claire Liégent
-
Eros Eau de Toilette
- Aromatic / sweet
- Mint
- Green apple
- Vanilla
Cool mint and green apple over sweet vanilla and tonka. Loud, sweet and built for nights out, so go easy on the sprays.
Perfumer: Aurélien Guichard
-
Uomo Born in Roma Eau de Toilette
- Woody / aromatic
- Mineral salt accord
- Violet leaf
- Ginger
- Sage
- Smoked vetiver
Salty mineral notes and green violet leaf over ginger, sage and smoky vetiver. A clean, slightly sweet modern cologne that works almost anywhere.
Perfumers: Antoine Maisondieu, Guillaume Flavigny
Comparisons
- Comparison Sauvage EDT vs EDP Dior Sauvage Eau de Toilette vs Eau de Parfum: the notes Dior lists for each, how they differ from opening to dry-down, and which to sample first.
- Comparison Sauvage vs Acqua di Giò Dior Sauvage vs Giorgio Armani Acqua di Giò: two fresh bestsellers compared, with the notes each brand lists, how they differ and which to sample first.
- Comparison Sauvage vs Bleu de Chanel Dior Sauvage vs Bleu de Chanel: the two best-known fresh men’s scents compared, with the notes each brand lists, how they differ and which to sample first.
- Comparison Dylan Blue vs Sauvage Versace Dylan Blue vs Dior Sauvage: two fresh, peppery blue men’s scents compared, with the notes each brand lists, how they differ and which to sample first.
- Comparison Bleu de Chanel EDT vs EDP Bleu de Chanel Eau de Toilette vs Eau de Parfum: the notes Chanel lists for each, how they differ from opening to dry-down, and which to sample first.
- Comparison Bleu de Chanel vs Acqua di Giò Bleu de Chanel vs Giorgio Armani Acqua di Giò: two fresh classics compared, with the notes each brand lists, how they differ and which to sample first.
- Comparison Terre d’Hermès vs Man Wood Essence Terre d’Hermès vs Bvlgari Man Wood Essence Parfum: two dry, woody vetiver scents compared, with the notes each brand lists, how they differ and which to sample first.
- Comparison Le Male vs Eros Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male vs Versace Eros: two sweet mint-and-vanilla men’s scents compared, with the notes each brand lists, how they differ and which to sample first.