Eau de Cartier Vetiver Bleu

Woody Aromatic 2015 Top: Mint Middle: Licorice Base: Vetiver That is it!! One of the best Vetivers from my humble perspective--if for no other reason than its presentation. Not overthought, overwrought, over-blended, notey as hell or just weird and uptight. (In my opinion found in the produce section: Only the Big Boys and Big Girls can do the notey right and we mostly know who is who.) Approach to Fashion and Approach to Fragrance: There is Yves Saint Laurent which I love, but also Bill Blass and Ralph Lauren founded in the practicality of 'ready to wear'. Oh boy, here we go. Did anyone get that parallel? Uh, what? This is top-class juice with a real fun mainstream feel to it. This is EDT so it can be enjoyed as well as cleansed away. Spraying some on your shirt is a nice way to enjoy it for longer. Otherwise the Mint comes and goes real fast leaving a delightful crisp, fresh, dew-like moment.. . .like the softest of kisses. Ultimate drydown is a soft Vetiver with some ghostly Vetiver hovering in a cloud of some kind of Vanilla but no such note. This fragrance is romantic and also perky. This is upbeat, crisp and hot. The handling of the Vetiver is better than most, in my opinion. The Mint and Licorice complement a Vetiver that is fresh, simple and has no dirt/root to it. Still, this Vetiver is not the usual Citrus mix. There is more to this. Lots of mixing Vetiver with Amber, Citrus and all kinds of stuff. Poor Vetiver is like scuffed-up baggage in a circus of scent foolery. Cartier stepped out of the mold. Where Vetiver normally is dirt/root, citrusy, or just plain overly licorice, or maybe resinous /butt-like, the Cartier Vetiver is really such a fun and classy mix. Aside on my Fav Lolita Lempicka: I love Lolita Lempicka Au Masculine with the anise that is kind of like Licorice. It also has a really unusual 'bitey' spike of Ivy. So frickin' hot! Cartier Packaging: I bought the 100ML instead of 200ML. The bottle is so cute and compact. A clear disc on top hovers over the soft blue of the juice like a UFO. Rotate the disc to the marked detent positions; 'on' or 'off' and it is just as you like. Atomizer is a plump fan of a spray and is superb. Bottle has some heft and feels great in the hand. Aside on Atomizers: Check out Cartier Declaration with the armature that swings out of the way on a pair of hinges. Now. . . you can spray it. Swing the armature back up and the 'safety' is 'on'. Fun time. If the Devil is in the Details, Cartier is more than a fallen Angel. As a former absolute hater of Vetiver(thank you supernova Roja Dove, and You Tuber Star Max Forti for saving me.), I now adore this Vetiver. Hit it hard. Hit it often. Soft, Romantic and Perky all at once. Alot of folks complain about various Mints as being like a 'dental rinse' or 'toothpaste'. I like the mint in Mr. Burberry Indigo. Still, I think Mint has an attitude all of its own and is not really the most Earthly, natural scent in its very essence. Picture a platinum blonde with strawberry lip-gloss and maybe some delightfully synthetic fragrance . That is how mint is, to me personally. Mint is unreal, beautiful, and not measured by how natural. Of course, I am a synthetic lover anyway.

It's a refreshing take on vetiver; one which I haven't seen yet. Unlike so many other vetiver fragrances, there are no pronounced citruses in this one. That alone is not so original, but still, I personally prefer dry vetiver (as in Heeley Vetiver Veritas) to a sour / green expression (as in Guerlain Vetiver, Tom Ford Grey Vetiver, Creed Original Vetiver, etc.). The dryness of vetiver is complimented by cool mint, which again isn't something I haven't seen yet, but works well. What is really original about this fragrance, as far as my experience goes, is the combination of vetiver and mint with the creamy sweet Cartier base. Such a beautiful harmony of the contrasting notes: harsh, cold vetiver and mint, and smooth, warm liquorice and tonka with a waxy / creamy texture. Very nicely blended together. Coherent, but definitely not to the point of being a homogeneous mess. I have to say, this perfume has much surpassed my expectations. However, sillage is rather weak (which I do not mind at all) and longevity is quite poor as well (~3hrs on skin). BTW, vetiver is the only similarity between this and Encre Noire – this is sweet, warm and smooth; EN is sharp, harsh and cold.

On its own this fragrance is light, airy, and elegant; therefore, one can expect to wear it anywhere clean hygienic toilette is admired and appreciated — the office and church come close to mind. Perhaps I biased though, I’m in love with Vetiver as it’s like pure catnip to me. However I recently discovered that applying this Cartier gem in conjunction with bath oil “724” by Maison Francis Kurkdjian Paris creates a fragrance experience that is ethereally aromatic and singularly compelling! Give it a try and let the games begin. It’s all so romantic.

I’m not sure if I’ve contributed a review of this fragrance, but here goes. I originally purchased because I am a fiendish fanatic for Vetiver; and guess what? I did do previous review and I remain convinced. It is Cartier elegance and authoritative. Basically one must love the prestige of the house because this fragrance keeps a discreet presence close to the skin, so make sure you bathe first. Great for office wear!

Cool mint and dry vetiver wonderfully combined to make your hot summer days. If you're interested in Guerlain vetiver and think it is a little bit dated and too complicated, you may enjoy this modern vetiver-base scent. An outstanding work from Cartier although "concentree" is still my absoult favorite flanker from the line.