Haitian Vetiver

I revisited Haitian Vetiver (2014) recently, and it reminded me why Zegna’s former Essenze collection deserved much more attention than it received. At first glance, this may appear to be another classic vetiver fragrance. However, the treatment here is more nuanced. Instead of presenting vetiver as a dry, austere, or overly green note, Haitian Vetiver builds the composition around a combination of vetiver, carrot seed, and subtle citrus facets. On skin, the dominant impression is undoubtedly vetiver and carrot seed. The carrot seed adds a soft, earthy sweetness and a slightly root-like texture. During the drydown, I even get a faint impression of mung bean cake (绿豆糕 or Bánh Đậu Xanh), mixed with a subtle rubbery facet reminiscent of sun-warmed rubber trees. It creates a very specific tropical image in my mind: a quiet afternoon somewhere in Southeast Asia, with the sweetness of traditional desserts blending into the warm scent of vegetation. Interestingly, the fragrance reveals another side when sprayed on fabric. The brighter bergamot and neroli citrus accord becomes much more apparent, adding a clean and elegant freshness underneath the deeper vetiver structure. For this reason, I personally find it performs better on clothes than on skin. What makes Haitian Vetiver special is its balance. It is neither a sharp business vetiver nor a rugged earthy interpretation. Instead, it feels polished, refined, and quietly luxurious, very much in line with Zegna’s image of understated Italian tailoring. It is unfortunate that Zegna’s fragrance line, once developed under a licensing arrangement with Estée Lauder , eventually disappeared. Some compositions from the collection, including Haitian Vetiver , truly deserved a second life. Years later, smelling Grey Vetiver Parfum (2023) by Tom Ford gave me a strange sense of déjà vu, as it shares a remarkable similarity with this forgotten Zegna creation. Whether intentional or simply a coincidence, the connection is fascinating. Rating: 8/10

A crystal-clear reference vetiver, blended to perfection by Marie Salamagne and Harry Fremont. I will echo previous reviews in stating that it indeed reminded me of Guerlain Vetiver, but more elegant: niche quality and well behaved. The carrot seed and neroli notes manage to give it a nice twist, but stay light in the background, leaving room to smell the subtle smokiness of the vetiver. On my skin, I do not get any iris. Guerlain V with jeans and shirt, Zegna HV with a suit. That said, I wish that it had a better projection, as strong as Jacques Cavallier's Indonesian Oud for example. Oh well... I own 25 vetivers fragrances (and probably tested around 50). In my opinion, it's definitely not worth the retail price ($220/125ml), and even the current eBay price ($130/125ml) seems a little too much for the juice. Guerlain Vetiver is currently sold for 4 times cheaper ($30/100ml), and for how much I love Zegna HV, I cannot recommend someone on a budget to blind buy Zegna at 4 times the price for just a subtle difference in quality. Furthermore, Guerlain Vetiver performs way better. For that price, and after reading the various reviews, I was expecting a little better and more unique. No bashing here, but reviews are supposed to help mostly blind buyers, and I want to be honest here. In summary: really great, but some other great vetivers are available way cheaper. Still a love for me. Spring and Fall days, 30+, office (very) safe. Note: discontinued, as well as Javanese Patchouli. The rest of the Essenze line to follow shortly, so if you made one of them your signature, stock up! Edit: I have been a little unfair in terms of performance. Indeed, despite it doesn't project strongly, I could get whiffs after a few hours. That said longevity is impressive: I can still smell it as a very subtle skin scent after 24 hours (!!) and a shower.

I thought I had found my holy grail vetiver with Lorenzo Villoresi's, but it turns out I was wrong. While the LV is very good, Haitian Vetiver is simply more wearable, and that gives it the edge. The first 90 minutes or so are the best 'green' vetiver I've ever smelled. Grassy, but with noticeable smoky facets, and also the hazelnutty aspect that many good vetivers possess. After that, the smell 'dries out' in an almost literal sense. What was wet and green becomes a drier, browner smell that reminds me of why people often describe vetiver as being a woody scent. Although the wet/green phase is the part I love best about HV, I'm glad it evolves in a pleasant, intuitive way that keeps it from being too linear. So yeah, it's everything I want in a vetiver: heady and complex but also very wearable and versatile. Also, it doesn't hurt that my girlfriend swooned when she smelled this on me.

I have now several vetiver-based scents in my collection even though I do not like vetiver. I really hoped to like vetiver when I purchased my first vetiver-based scent, which was Encre Noir from the house of Lalique. Unfortunately, it was too boring for me. Then I came in contact with Bel Ami Vetiver from the house of Hermes, which I really love. Last week I was really close to buy Grey vetiver from Tom Ford but for some reason I chose to buy this one and here are my thoughts on this. I have Encre Noir on my right arm and Haitian vetiver on my left arm. They smell very similar, except that there is something in Haitian vetiver that makes it smell a bit dirtier. It is definitely a high quality scent but it projects weakly and the longevity is not that good either. For the price, everyone should be able to get a better scent. Scent: 7/10 Longevity: 7.5/10 Projection: 5/10

If a vetiver fragrance was ever worthy this sort of price tag it's Haitian Vetiver. I say that purely because of it's faith to the note, it gives you herbal, green, clean, earthy, fresh, dry, spicy, slighly smokey...everything that vetiver represents in one fragrance which doesn't hide behind other notes just gives it you straight. Usually I've find that boring in a composition but vetiver scents are all too often about the interplay between citrus & vetiver. I find Haitian Vetiver unashamedly masculine. I get a citrus in the opening and a hint of carrot seed but it doesn't define or detract from the vetiver at the heart. This is truly one of the unsung hero's of vetiver fragrances...great stuff and lasts a long time. I think this is bolder than Guerlain's vetiver (albeit a nice scent) or Tom Ford's Grey Vetiver (again a great frag) so check it out people.

The least original of the Zegna Essenze range- to me it smells just like Guerlain's Vetiver - no more, no less. For the beauty that the scent is, I say save the money and just get Guerlain's vetiver. This is not FBW, especially at the high price... (19 March 2014) Edit- I just did a side-by-side of 5 vetivers: Guerlains Vetiber and Vetiver Extreme, Dior's Vetiver, Zegna's Haitian Vetiver and Malle's Vetiver Extraodinaire. Zegna's Haitian Vetiver is pronounce different from Guerlain's Vetiver in that it is much softer, more floral (from the iris) but still distinctly a Vetiver focused scent. I take my words back and think it stands shoulder to shoulder proudly with the rest in this side-by-side test, perhaps even surpassing Guerlain's Vetiver and Vetiver Extreme. (30 Nov 2015)

Some say a good fragrance has a unique scents,some say a good fragrance has a beastly performance , some say a good fragrance has a powerful projection,some say a good fragrance has ability to attract women and girls,some say a good fragrance has ability to use in all situations, some say a good fragrance has a nostalgic scents and at the same time shows the new scents... .THEY ARE ALL RIGHT . BUT HOLD ON FOR A SECOND WHAT IS A SUPERB FRAGRANCE ?????????????? A superb fragrance is about a true motivation and by that it carries all expectations on its DNA. AND THAT IS THE EXACT DESCRIPTION FOR THIS CREATION Haitian Vetiver Ermenegildo Zegna LONGEVITY:9.5/10 PROJECTION:8/10 UNIQUENESS:8/10 SEXY:6/10 SCENT:9/10 PRICE:8/10 VERSATILITY:7/10 OVERALL:8/100

My favorite vetiver fragrance is finally in the collection. So smooth and almost ethereal. Up top its a blast of bergamot, neroli and carrot seed as unusual as that sounds it works. Then its this slightly green, floral combination between the earthy vetiver, bright neroli and powdery iris. It's a little nutty, green, creamy floral, a little dirty but yet airy and clean. Very sensual in the dry down I also get musk even though it isn't listed. The way its composed is quite unique imo. One of the most long lasting EDT formulated fragrances I've come across. Its screams Autumn but its just as perfect for transitional seasons (summer to fall, winter to spring)

To me, this is the classiest Vetiver there is, which sits somewhere in between Original Vetiver and Givenchy Vetiver but richer, darker and drier. Very natural and refined, much more elegant, with a touch of smoke that comes off as frankincense. It’s sanded down and blended so well to the point, it makes Vetiver as a standalone note very enjoyable. Most Vetivers are either too harsh, too pungent, too astringent or often too soapy. This is one gets its right. The dry down is to die for, and indeed reminds me of French Lover due that touch of iris and incense. The more I smell it, the more the Guerlain smells nothing like it. They're dimensions apart.

Zegna's take on vetiver is fresh, sultry and earthy, thanks to the carrot seed note which isn't used all too often. The opening certainly has a burst of citrus but it's not as bright as Guerlain's Vetiver, which is legendary but too light for my tastes. The neroli floats over the top of the composition giving the juice a soapy, barbershop quality, but this fades to leave a wonderfully warm vetiver heart. The carrot seeds dig their roots into ground, providing a warm, round and comforting base. Just a couple of sprays is enough to last for almost half a day, and it radiates too. A new favourite for me!

oh my god, what can I say about this miracle? I am in the fragrance community for almost 4 years and it was my signature scent for 3 years. I have more than 120 fragrances from different brands none of them is like this fragrance. It remains on my skin for more than 16 hours and projects amazing.80% of people love it,10% like it and 10% dislike it. It has class. It reminds me of Ben Affleck (Batman vs Superman) it is rich, intelligent, strong, sexy and charismatic.

Bad news, guys! Zegna is discontinuing Haitian Vetiver and Peruvian Ambrette. I went to Zegna boutique and asked them if they had Haitian Vetiver and the sale associate told me that they will discontinue these 2 scents due to low sales. Try to get them while you can. Zegna colognes are very amazing and unique. I hope they won't discontinue Indonesian Oud and Florentine Iris because these 2 are my signature scents right now :(

Absolutely fantastic. A synthesis of eveything I like in vetiver with a modern supplement. I've managed to find it online for an affordable price and I will use it very sparingly. A dreamlike vetiver, I prefer it to all the others I have, although they are also very interesting (Encre Noire, Grey Vetiver, Carven and Guerlain Vetiver extreme). The Zegna is really amazing.

Imagine a stream in the middle of the land with the cleanest water. Now you take Vetiver grass root and slowly submerge it in this stream. That’s what this perfume is— A very versatile dirty almost powdery take on classic Vetiver perfumes. There is a watery/airy facet to this perfume which keeps drawing the wearer in. The longevity is superb for a scent of this type

Zegna's Haitian Vetiver is one of the better vetiver scents I've smelled, based briefly off sampling this in store. The sample lasted forever, and actually projected quite well too. If that justifies it's high price is another story though.

This is so beautiful. I had it. I am looking for a good dupe since this is discontinued. Any recos?

This is an exceptional Vetiver, in the who's who of Vetiver fragrances out there ,Zegna stands tall. Crisp and bold as I have smelled with vetiver being the focus. I cannot help but draw comparisons to the original Guerlain's vetiver which I still have. This has a very similar opening , I instantly thought of Guerlain. In comparison I would give the edge to this on the performance side but when I do compare the scent I find that there are more similarities than differences and for the price difference. A definite worthy thumbs up and I will admit it is not the same as Guerlain but the differences to me are slight.. As in all purchases I recommend testing this along with some other notable Vetivers. Frederic Malle's Vetiver along with TFGV are two great ones to compare. Chanel's Sycomore to me is a fantastic Vetiver fragrance. For this kind of coin it is always worthwhile to take check out others. This would Certainly be a fine choice for a vetiver lover.

I get the reference to Guerlain Vetiver, but Zegna's vetiver impression is different enough by its own right. As an owner of both perfumes, it does not have the lemony citrus that Guerlain Vetiver so loudly projects. Haitian Vetiver has a wetter texture, like how I could almost taste freshly washed carrots. This is paired with hazelnut smoothness and a vetiver in its core that is more similar on Encre Noire, none of that inkiness but uplifted through vegetal freshness. Zegna = Green Nutty Vetiver. Jasmine undertone. Smooth. Guerlain = Floral Citrus Vetiver. Lemony. Sharp I appreciate that Haitian Vetiver is a subtly done and skillfully blended masterpiece from their house and am truly loving its therapeutic qualities. The bottle design is really classy too with a magnetic cap, with a chicness that reminds me of Encre Noire a l'extreme.

this has to be one of my favorite Vetivers along side creed - original vetiver even tho longevity is poor and projection is average :( i still love this scent its woodsy earthy accords makes this scent a win its simple and straight to the point and not to soapy and over done like other houses takes on vetiver its smells clean and classy something a well put together gentlemen would be wearing while taking over the world lol but even tho i picture a well groomed gentlemen wearing this i can also see a women wearing this as its smooth and soft and doesn't have any rough edges to it buy this if you love vetiver or at least sample it on to the next ps the price is really high for a edt so consider that when making up your mind

This perfume remind me Dior Eau Sauvage EDP. They are not exactly similar but they close to each other. Both are being composed with similar note; vetiver and bergamot. The special scent that i can sense in this perfume is iris while Dior Eau Sauvage doesn't have. Bergamot in the opening was light and fresh. Then iris note is coming accros the scent make it light powdery. Ending note was vetiver. It is loaded with heavy vetiver. I can smell a lot of vetiver but is not dirty. What i can sense a lot was creamy and wet vetiver while Encre Noire doesn't have. Encre Noire was very dry vetivery. Longevity and sillage was good. I can get 8-9 hours (out door) and 6-7 hours (indoor room with air conditioner)