Vetiver & Rum

I admire the beauty that this sapphire blue bottle offers and it’s beautiful. A myriad of lights pass through the glass and create an atmosphere of surreal peace. If I had to describe this perfume, without leaving out any detail, I don’t think I could convey the unique sensations it gives me. I would say that the first time was completely unexpected and singular, definitely a good meeting. I’ve been courting it for maybe over a decade, but I’ve never bought it and I don’t even know why. Still, I’ve tried the scented sachets for drawers, and their intoxicating aroma has always attracted me. Then fate wanted it to appear among Amazon’s proposals while I was looking for something else. In the meantime, I stay here a little longer, thinking about this pleasant and strange encounter, and especially about the fact that it hasn't changed in all this time. By sensation, observing the images and reading the captions, one could think of a marine cologne, or even something intoxicating because of the rum. Vetiver & Rum, the fragrance of the sea, turns out to be very different from these first impressions. The road forked into two paths: one that led to regular vetiver and another that led elsewhither. Gentle, powdery, soapy, clean, as fresh as just out of the shower. Let me share with you the riot of sensations that this strongly and unjustly underrated perfume offers me. It announces itself with a hint of lemon over a minty nuance. For a moment, it recalls a barbershop cologne. It has nothing to do with the famous Italian Amalfi lemon. Instead, a tropical and somewhat exotic feel lives in there. Imagine for a moment the Fa soap, famous in the 80s, with an exuberant refreshing Caribbean lime full of freshness and tartness. While the calm, not overtly sweet white orange blossoms sit in the background, a glorious green vetiver pops up next. We are far from earthy vetiver-focused masterpieces such as Vetiver EAU DE TOILETTE or Uomo Vetyver EAU DE TOILETTE; here the aromatic roots reveal almost amber, soapy, and powdery facets. But what makes the difference is the alcoholic accord, courtesy of the vapours of the Rum distillate, which is androgynous, not too alcoholic and full of ambition and tradition. The initial phase is all about citrus, soapy, and woody undertones. Even if it dims a little, this initial vibe doesn’t disappear but moves into the background, only to reappear from time to time. Now the scent enters the heart and reveals some spices softened by the flowery tones. Perhaps the soapy edge I get the most is because of the yellow mimosa, which blends with a green bourbon geranium, and together somehow shadows the lavender. The spiciness is well-balanced. A sweet nutmeg shines, while a pungent and sometimes medicinal clove subdues. The powdery aspect keeps on going, over and over, and even the pungent black pepper cannot stop it. I don’t know how much it could be feminine and if a woman would feel like wearing it. What I know is that the middle results are spicy and floral, giving the fragrance a strong masculine character and revealing an unmistakable aroma. I guess more than a smidgen of violet or iris is present because the dustiness is so vivid. But, unexpectedly, it is with the base notes that everything changes. New woody accords emerge, with touches so sophisticated that they reveal a tenacious and vigorous sensuality. Here peeps out a softened and cleaned patchouli, with a warm and persistent side. This dark leaf blends with the refined intensity of the opening vetiver, all supported by a soft oakmoss. The last phase is voluptuous, with a smooth, woody touch. The adult slaps of woody notes mingle with the childish caresses of powdery notes, with coumarin wisphers. Vetiver & Rum is like no other. I am not aware of any other perfume that smells like or is close to it. It blends well with the warm days and nights of the spring and summer seasons. No note is so sweet as to be cloying. Due to the reformulation, it doesn’t last forever like the original and the projection stays close to the arms. However, the aroma is indisputably the same as I smelled a long time ago. If you live in Italy or have the chance to visit it, don’t miss the chance to check in and buy it. It’s a real occasion if you love the earthy accords of vetiver slightly soiled by powdery puffs. I'm formulating my impression ona a bottle I've owned since July 2023.

The High-Performance Barbershop Stealth Helan Vetiver and Rum is a masterclass in value. While the market is flooded with flat clones, this Italian gem revives the jagged elegance of 1970s perfumery. It captures the essential DNA of Guerlain Vetiver but updates it with a sharper, soapier profile that punches far above its price point. The Experience The fragrance opens with a pungent blast of Ivory Coast Lemon and Bergamot. It is bright, fizzy, and unapologetically clean. As it develops, a heart of Black Pepper and Mimosa creates a dense, soapy texture that feels more substantial than your average Eau de Toilette. The Haitian Vetiver in the base is grassy and fresh, supported by a warm, golden Rum note that adds depth without being overly boozy. Performance Though labeled an EDT, it behaves like a modern EDP. It projects with significant energy for the first few hours and maintains a clean, mossy presence on the skin for nearly a full workday. The Verdict For anyone tired of mass-market sweetness, this is a sophisticated alternative. It is green, spicy, and remarkably fresh. It is proof that you do not need to spend triple digits to find a signature-worthy scent with real character.

Clean soapy and masculine beyond belief. Wow... What a little gem right here! Just received my bottle today and first impressions are very strong. It comes in this sexy blue sapphire bottle and the juice inside is as an uber barbershoppy, soap/foam type of accord with this radiant floral and aromatic smoothness with a strong does of spice right off the bat. The sillage has this lovely clean aura that I can only describe as classy and well-kept, men of all ages will love this. The opening smells a bit more classic spicy barbershop fougere, while the dry-down reveals this lovely creamy soap that's quite universally appealing in my opinion. The box it came in was quite cool too and it arrived with a small sachet of organic balm or ointment (presumably for after shaving).

Dear Fragrantica Friends, This is a recent favourite. Manly and old school. In a very genuine way. Affordable soapy vetiver with a kick. Lasts 8 hours and projects well for 5 hours. Just like the old days. It's dense but not boozy at all. It does have a VERY strong dry lemon note that lasts all through the life of the fragrance. I would call this Vetiver & Lemmon. I can't feel the similarity to neither Polo Green nor Proraso Green (but I admit this all very subjective...). A good fragrance for old school lovers. Men only.

Discovered the deodorant back in 1998, perfect for spring/summer days, and fell then in love with the full line. Recently I could find it again online and I wanted to give it a chance after all this years. It's fresh but at the same time dense and spicy. I don't get a strong and clear vetiver note like in Guerlain one for example, but in the dry down, after a couple of hours, it appears and together with the oak moss delivers a clean and sensual vibe. Really nice one and at a great price range.

Absolutely OK with Beavisbonce. A very fresh, almost soapy and soft one, perfect all the year, mainly in summer. I love this fragrance, far away from today's clones.

love it ✔️ nice, sweet, powdery tones. the beginning is citrusy then starts to dominate cloves really lovable one ♥️

gorgeous oldschool guerlainesque vetiver with rum. my fav bottle too

Vetyver & Rum is a thick, boozy, strong, mildly spicy lemon & vetiver fragrance. The vetiver note is earthy and dirty to the point of feeling somewhat rustic but the lemon and spices/lavender adorn it pretty well. The lemon is rather mellow and lacks a sharp zesty edge. I'm not completely sure I detect a strong rum note in this frag as its name suggests but the overall dense feel can be easily described as "boozy". While a little cloying and not as refined as the top league vetiver scents, it is pretty cool and even weirdly classy, closely reminding the composition of another Italian, the venerable Armani PH, especially its more lemony and less mossy reformulated edition; perhaps, the Armani can be described as a very refined cousin of this Mafioso strongman. And speaking of strength, it is a monster that's hard to surpass. A single puff will project like crazy and last for many hours, with the dominant vetiver note surviving the longest. This is not a mildly refreshing sunday cologne or an inoffensive generic designer scent, but a scent with somewhat tricky character and rare citrus fragrance that offers so much power. I miss some sophistication and subtlety in it.

Extremely soapy, at least to me. Very nice clean smell, unisex but definitely aimed at a more male target. I usually do not dig vetiver too much but I quite enjoy this scent: vetiver is so lemony and fresh (To me at least) that the dirty notes do not come through at all (which is kind of a pity). I would have much preferred the dirtier vetiver mentioned in previous review: I dunno if it has been reformulated or I just don’t get it. Also, the booze doesn’t appear. Overall a very good scent at a very good price. So nothing to complain.

When I first got this, I didn't like it as I thought it smelled of basic generic soap. It needed to settle however after shipping, and now I really love this. It smells mainly of very soapy fresh vetiver (very similar to Tom Ford's Grey Vetiver but 'white' in character rather than grey if that makes sense) and white rum (not bay rum) together. I also get a hint of mint, as it has a cooling effect when applied. I don't really smell anything else in this (no spices or citrus or orange blossom or pepper), and the whole thing ends up smelling like white soap. Overall that's a very pleasant and masculine scent. Sillage is beastmode (more than 1 spray on this is too much) while longevity is also strong at over 8 hours of strong projection. In fact it got annoying after a while smelling like soap for so long, but I'm sure this would be a good thing on a really hot day. It reminds me a lot of Tom Ford's Grey Vetiver. A better name for Helan's Vetiver & Rum would be 'White Vetiver' due to the white rum and white bar of soap scent. Overall this is a nice unique Italian soapy vetiver fragrance. 4/5

It’s a nostalgic scent. When I was a kid, I used to work summer jobs as a front desk assistant at one of the hotels on the coast. In the evenings, a gentleman dressed in a white shirt and white linen trousers would come down; he’d walk past the reception desk, leaving a lovely trail of fragrance in the air. He’d get into an old convertible and head out to enjoy the night. It captures the scent of those years—carefree, stress-free, and peaceful. I bought the fragrance blind, and only when I tried it did I realize I had stumbled upon those old memories. So, for me, it’s a 10 out of 10. Don’t think of it as an "old-fashioned" scent—it’s not. It’s a Mediterranean fragrance, distinct from the generic designer scents found today. I can guarantee that no one else will smell like you, wherever you go. If you want to stand out in a good way, don’t hesitate to get it. It’s also incredibly affordable for what it offers

Grey vetiver is more literal with some piercing citrus that dries down clean and fresh. This one is mugler cologne mixed with Nivea cream and dries to a musky soap, I love it and it gives a soft aura all day.

Absolutely one of my favorite, it is a cross between Proraso green preshave or shaving soap and Polo Ralph Lauren green. Stunning. Wear it from late February to early October.