The Majestic Vetiver

Green, vegetal vetiver. Has a woody my vibe, which somebody else described as dusty. That’s pretty accurate, but it somehow sounds worse than it actually is. :-) I am not an oud fan. Oud is in a supporting role here. I would not guess there is oud unless someone told me. Official price around 120 EUR but can be found for around 80 on discount sites. Even though I do not wear this one very often, I have a backup bottle. This perfume has the possibility to age well. Summed up: for me this is an underrated vetiver. Should at least have a score of 4 (3.71 as I write this).

My first Alexandre J (3+ years ago) purchase because I couldn't resist the packaging and bottle/color. Extraordinary. I loved it from the first sniff. It's a spicy beauty...one of the few perfumes in my collection I don't ever contemplate layering (okay...I occasionally spritz a little vanilla...) because it's wonderful just the way it is. It's different from any of my other VETIVERS...so much so that I don't even think of it as a Vetiver perfume; it's just....excellent.

I really enjoy this juice. It is Tom Ford Grey Vetiver meets Prada Infusion Vetiver, and I feel it has the best facets of both fragrances. The subtle smokiness of the Tom Ford and the beautiful vegetal qualities of the Prada. I can see anyone who enjoys a nice green fragrance being able to wear this male or female, as it comes across straight unisex. It performs well projects about 4ft for 3hrs with 5 hours afterwards of skin scent. Overall I'd give this an 8.0 out of 10 as it's very nice but it's just missing the "IT" factor.

Pleasant vetiver fragrance with quite noticeable grapefruit actually quite enjoyed this one even though its very soft. Performance was just too weak for me 5/6 hours maximum and its gone and its a skin scent. Its just overpriced in my opinion i would rather just buy Guerlain Vetiver for around a quarter of the price and it performs slightly better.

The opening you can smell the cardamon and basil and grapefruit distinctly. The combo offers a sweet black licorice/anise accord. If you are not a fan of licorice or anise smells, you will hate the opening. As it dries, the bitter licorice like accord fades but not completely, and a more natural sweetness starts to form. I have never smelled Liatris before, so based on the description, that is what I am likely smelling. Combined with coriander and the basil, its honeyed herbs, and very enjoyable. Honestly I can barely smell vetiver. I have tried/sampled/own many of the popular vetiver perfumes and this is by far the weakest and most subtle vetiver. Even a cheapie like Monotheme Venezia Bourbon Vetiver is far stronger. The vetiver is there, but barely perceptible, you reallty have to be within inches of where you sprayed to sense it. The labdanum and oud notes are non-existent, at least to my nose. There is a very slight leather undertone to the base, that is about it. The sillage is moderate, longevity is great. All that being said, this is an extremely linear scent. I smell nothing but basil/licorice-anise/liatris. The basil and licorice scent most prominent. I happen to love both scents, but not when I am expecting vetiver. For such a named perfume, its underwhelming. "Liatris Spice" would be more fitting. Without vetiver expectations on smell alone, i give it a 6.5/10, based on what the notes are, its a 4/10. The basil, cardamon and liatris just absolutely drown everything else out.

The bottle color is the first clue along with the familiar Alexandre J. DNA—pointing to the kind of made-in-the-lab Oud that is used in all of their offerings from this line—combined with a dusty, green vetiver and mouth puckering grapefruit. A little weird but still like-able even though something about this mix screams synthetic. I’m also picking up petroleum in the dry down, making me think of a mechanics shop. A pass but I can imagine this working on others. A note about aesthetics: bottles from this line look like middle eastern kitsch.

Just purchased a bottle, based on an excellent review by GaVo. After initial few sprays, the perfume came across as a very soft cardamom accord with some creaminess in the background. This is my first wear, so will test a few more times. My wife likes it on my, and according to her it is very strong, although I don't really feel it. Its about 30 degrees C outside and I'll be going out, so will see how it goes. The packaged was outstanding, I think I would prefer they put more money into the perfume myself.

On paper: aromatic. Rosemary, sage, hint of peppermint, aquatic cilantro and rooty vetiver with a slight soapy sweetness. Gorgeous! On skin: Way deeper green hues, very coniferous herbal tones. Even gives off some slightly smoked leather nuances. Unfortunately also a bit of amberwoody tones but only up close.

I enjoy my time wearing it. But it is very intimate and easy to lost it on your skin. Loving the soft herbal notes of vetiver, cardamom and light Agar wood. Never have I ever heard anything like this before.