No.4 Vetivert

Of all the perfumes of the Orient, Vetivert is perhaps the most evocative. Native to India, it is known and loved throughout South East Asia for its cooling qualities and pungent, unique scent. Reminiscent of roots, earth and woods. Here it is blended with the coolness of Lavender, uplifting Bergamot and precious Woods and Spice 9/10

A vigorous, fumey, woody opening. Angela Flanders' vetiver seems to be camphoraceous (I confused it for patchouli when testing Precious One ). A fair amount of bergamot is present along with a smidgen of lavender. This is an enjoyably bright vetiver scent, a little soapy, some might even say harsh. But what's this lurking in the background? That Angela Flanders dirty spice note coming through again in the drydown. Cardamom? It spoils several of the perfumes I've sampled from them

Although this is advertised as being predominately aromatic, I don't get that from it at all. On me, this is pure earth. I think that's perhaps because the lavender never seems to come through. This is a very rugged scent and as such, there is something very pure about it. I've never smelled a vetiver that's been treated this way before. It's a very raw, simple treatment of it. No attempts to mask or romanticise the earthiness of the natural scent. It's certainly a very interesting fragrance, but I feel I would prefer it in a bath oil than as a fragrance on my skin. Of course, that's purely subjective, and may be to do with how masculine it smells on me. Sillage and longevity both moderate. Angela Flanders offers samples on her site. I would advise sampling this one several times before making up your mind (same for everything, I know, but this one really seems to need some time for you to decide about it).