Vétiver d'Hiver (Vetiver Babylone)

Very good fresh fragrance. This contains perhaps the greenest, grassiest vetiver I have ever come across - lovers of dry or earthy vetiver may not even recognize it as such. When I first sprayed it on I could have sworn it contained fig leaf, such was the greenness of the vetiver. On the top are some stellar citruses, although I would expect as much for a high-end fragrance. They blend together beautifully, with no one of the bergamot, orange or lemon dominating. However, what I really love about this fragrance is that there is this coolness which runs through it, like a green iciness. While my sample was labelled Vetiver Babylone, I actually prefer Vetiver D'Hiver as a name for this reason. People often say that fresh fragrances are great for cooling you down on a summer's day, but VB really delivers in this regard. Performance is OK for this genre of fragrance. It projects nicely for a few hours before dying down. A fantastic, cooling summer scent which anyone can pull off - but maybe even leans a little masculine. A great option for men who don't like to smell too fruity. Also great to learn more about vetiver and its many styles and uses. I like it a lot, potentially bottle-worthy. (dislike/indifferent/like, but not BW/like a lot, potentially BW/love, definitely BW/masterpiece)

I really enjoyed this fragrance, and consider it in my top 10 favorites of all time. It balances citrus, spices and woods perfectly. Initially I get a very rich citrus and cedar accord, with a faint sweetness in the background. Perhaps the sweetness I'm noting in the hesperidic opening is due to the mandarin. The heart of dry spices (coriander, pink peppercorn, and cardamom) is simply perfection. Their collective notes mirror perfectly with the dry/arid and woody qualities of the vetiver. The dry down is all about the eponymous vetiver from Java. This is a vetiver not quite like any I've experienced before. It clearly takes on a woody tonality, evoking the smell of freshly split cedar wood for me. All the while there are faint traces of citrus and spices in the background. Never has the fragrance of vetiver been captured so beautifully. I would compare this to Chanel's "Sycamore" from their Les Exclusifs collection as well as "Vetiver Tonka" by Hermes Hermessence line as my most favorite vetiver based fragrances. (151)

Initially I get a very rich citrus and spicy accord, with a faint sweetness in the background. Perhaps the sweetness I'm noting in the hesperidic opening is due to the mandarin. The heart of dry spices (coriander, pink peppercorn, and cardamom) is simply perfection, mimicking the arid landscapes of the Babylonian desert. Their collective notes enhance perfectly the dry, smokey and woody tonalities of the vetiver. The dry down is all about the eponymous vetiver from Java. This is a vetiver not quite like any I've experienced before. It clearly takes on a woody quality, evoking the smell of freshly split cedar wood for me. All the while there are faint traces of citrus and spices in the background. Never has the fragrance of vetiver been captured so beautifully. I would compare this to Chanel's "Sycamore" from their Les Exclusifs collection as well as "Vetiver Tonka" by Hermes Hermessence line as my most favorite vetiver based fragrances. Read my more in depth review at my blog : (Re-review 151)

I was a bit surprised when I found out on this site that this is a men's fragrance. I've used it for over a year without knowing hehe. Not that it really matters what gender the scent is intended for, but I usually tend to gravitate more towards female fragrances. Personally I would maybe say this scent is unisex. As a lover of vetiver I fell for this one at first sniff. It is a fresh scent with some hints of spices. The different citrus notes are very prominent together with the vetiver and in the dry down I get a bit more of the peppery notes. Not too complicated, but still an interesting and beautiful vetiver scent. I would typically use this in summer. Preferably daytime, in really hot weather. Maybe after a day out on the sea with my boat tanning and having fun. Another scent I typically like at the same occations is Penhaligon's Juniper Sling. The scents are not that similar but they give me the same kind of vibe: Spicy citrusy hot weather fragrances.

Vétiver D’Hiver has one of the best citrus openings I’ve ever come across. Bergamot, lemon and mandarin combine beautifully with a breezy vetiver and pink pepper. It’s such a light and airy fragrance, perfect for the summer. I don’t get much coriander, cardamom or patchouli in the dry down - more of a very light and fluffy musk which I must admit is beautiful. This fragrance isn’t vetiver dominant to me which is misleading considering the name, however it’s one of the most beautifully soft citruses I own. The performance is also shockingly bad unfortunately but the scent itself is so stunning I can’t let go of it. The benefit of this being so soft is that you could never overspray it, if I was in 40 degree heat this would be my go to scent and still wouldn’t be overpowering. It leaves such a fantastic and addicting sillage, one of my favourites from Armani Prive’s freshie line.