Vetiver Veritas

This is the real vetiver extraordinaire or the vetiver veritas as it has been aptly named by James Heeley. I own different vetiver essential oils and the quality of this vetiver is as good or even better than most of them. Compared to some of the other vetiver fragrances I own the quality of the vetiver in this fragrance easily beats them all. Longevity is outstanding and leads us the whole day through all the wonderful facets of vetiver nutty, wet, earthy to dry down after a long day to some smoky dark skin scent. As a fragrance I am a little bit less enthusiastic about it. I find that the opening is a little bit spoiled by some minty notes, probably coming from the lavender. Between half a hour and a hour later some grapefruit shows up which is funny because usually the hesperidic notes tend to open the show. That grapefruit is a better match for the vetiver than those minty notes. As a conclusion I think every one who is into vetiver or thinks he is should have smelled this just to have a reference for real natural Haitian vetiver without iso e, as a vetiver centered fragrance I think there are probably better choices, but not a lot. When my bottle is finished I surely will buy another because it is so unique in qualty vetiver. So a fragrance for true vetiver lovers from whom there are not too many when I read the reviews. Edit: those minty notes stayed in my mind so I went to check James Heeley's website and the notes he gives are: Top: Lavender . Mint Heart: Haitian Vetiver Base: Grapefruit Maybe the notes listed here should be corrected. So I was right in smelling the mint and wrong by assuming it was the lavender, which honestly I didn't smell.

Reference earthy vetiver fragrance, with just a hint of citrus to fine tune it. Vetiver is written on the bottle, and that's what you will get... yes, vetiver.... but made to perfection. Despite it's listed in the top notes, I get a hint of mate in the base, but the main player is and will remain vetiver until the end. All the other notes are just here to bring it forward. Projection is just moderate, but longevity on my skin is stellar. Should one hesitate between Malle Vetiver Extraordinaire and this one, stop hesitating: run to get the Heeley's, because it's really a vetiver-centric fragrance (unlike Malle's which is mostly cedar) and because it's really a step up in quality. Also, not sure why no one compared this one to MPG Route du Vetiver, since they are carbon copies one from the other (except maybe for the light currant note in RdV's opening, but that's the only difference). Looking forward to have this appear at discounters! Spring/fall days, 25+

Wow! This is a superb vetiver, dark, harsh, slightly smokey, a hay like dryness and green grassy wetness it's brilliant...everything it should be. Very good (If not the best Vetiver) in terms of a natural, accurate perfume but not necessarily my favourite vetiver compositionally. The opening has a citrus twang, also tinged with menthol which is uplifting as well as slightly strange. Despite all this praise... I don't think I want to wear it especially. Vetiver veritas is of high quality and the Eau de Parfum concentration lasts fairly well and projects gently. If you're a vetiver fan this should definitely be on your radar.

Raw power. Intensely green and earthy. Like a muddy, slow-moving river marching inexorably forward through a thicket of reeds and clay. Fresh notes appear at the top (I get mint), but it is otherwise a monolithic vetiver. As primeval and mysterious as it is, Vetiver Veritas is also quite sophisticated and subtle. It morphs endlessly as it wears, revealing facets that are alternately fresh, peaty, vegetal, licorice, citrusy, and powdery. Completely, honestly unisex. All seasons. Projection is minimal but longevity is eternal. Incredible. 5/5

Full on raw vetiver that comes across bitter and herbal. It has green-vegetal nuances with citrus notes sitting shy and faint in the background. Later, this peppermint note brightens up the rather dry and dark opening. Add a bit of incense smokiness and there you have it. A very good, although not unique, very focused vetiver without any sweetness. Unfortunately, it wears close to the skin with a modest longevity. But smell wise, one of the top vetivers out there. Scent: 9/10 Longevity: 7/10 Projection: 3/10

THE reference vetiver, with 100% natural ingredients, something I wish more brands did. A simpleton would say “sure, but this isn’t much more than quality vetiver oil and perfumer’s alcohol” and they might not be so wrong. Because the ingredients are natural, it’s difficult to blend anything that will “stick” to the vetiver past the top notes without overpowering it. Despite this, it’s just so damn good. A safer, more refreshing, albeit more expensive alternative to wearing essential vetiver oil.

It's an excellent smoky vetiver, dark, earthy, rooty, soily. I love the smell, but I get pure vetiver oil which I have and it costed me 10 Euro. I have diluted the oil in ethanol and it smells almost identical; I can wear it instead without any problem when I need a pure vetiver. Vetiver Veritas is too true to the vetiver oil to be sold at this price and I don't get other notes which might steer it in a more perfume territory or make it more interesting than the pure oil. 8/10

There are many variations of vetiver (the grass, itself) and they vary in fragrance, but Vetiver Veritas is one of the closest I’ve seen to what I imagine is the all-encompassing vetiver. It’s a strong, bitter, dry grass aroma with subtle sweet green notes floating through that are somewhat synthetic and hint of gasoline or benzene. Like all vetiver frags, in my experience, the scent is fleeting and sadly never lasts as long as I would like.

oh my, this vetiver gem is hard to find but it's worth every single penny. it's incredibly sophisticated and woody/earthy scent just with a tinge of delicious mate on top. longevity is through the roof. I want to move to Haiti just to live at those vetiver fields :) Classy and refined for gents. Heeley had surprised me with this one. S T U N N I N G

Wow. This brings the funk. I like it. Want it for my growing Vetiver collection. Very unique. Spicy. Sour. Bitter. Pungent. I hate to say for real Vetiver lovers only, but... yeah. This is the Kopi Luwak of Vetiver. Great performance of 8+ hours. It does mellow a bit after strong opening hour. Not as well appreciated by others near me.

This is an incredible vetiver. Mentholated opening, dries down to basically pure vetiver, not dirty like something like encre can come across. Much more depth. It's like a 3D alternative with more oomph. Develops the addictive citric nuances I love from certain vetiver as it gets further into drydown. Quite strong on my skin.

This smells so interesting. Maybe the most interesting vetiver i’ve ever smelled. However, I’m cautious to think that I would actually wear this. It’s fantastic, and of superior quality, but I don’t know if I’d like to smell like this.

Felt like lying in a bog being pounded into the mud. Sexy. The grapefruit at the end is bizarre. As if grapefruit weren't a fruit at all, but rather the sourness of something rotting in the reeds nearby.

Best vetiver fragrance I've tested. Very dry, earthy and classy. Longevity is decent, sillage is not so good considering the price and being Extrait. 9/10

I am very surprised by the strange reception of this fragrance judging from the review below. People are asserting it as an 'x' vetiver or a 'y' vetiver fragrance. I find that approach in this case absurd because we are actually talking about a raw material here rather than an accord or note (for those who didn't read up on this fragrance, the composition is 90% Haitian vetiver oil). When you spray this on it is immediately apparent that you are receiving a material here that is normally 'micro-dosed' in many other vetiver fragrances (for example in something like Diptyque Vetiverio EPD). As the name implies the true face of Haitian vetiver, dark, woody, earthy, green, dense, somewhat bitter, with a touch of a rooty licorice-like element to it. The question this raises is if it is worth owning this over pure Haitian vetiver oil. The answer is yes without a doubt. The remaining 10% (although also of natural origin) is definitely adding to the mix. Natural derived musk compounds in the base (as far as I can recognize) are smoothing the more unpalatable dense aspects of vetiver out, a bit of citrus in the top and minty herbal notes add complexity to the top and heart, making this essentially the truest exemplar of vetiver in niche perfumery, but set in a polite complementary context making it relatively wearable. The price is also close enough to the raw material to consider the fantastic atomizer and general ease of use of having it diluted, safety tested and fine tuned worth the extra cost. That being said, this is obviously only intended for people that are familiar with vetiver and truly enjoy vetiver enough to wear an almost pure version of it. I am not in that camp, I prefer vetiver as a complementary note. Definitely sample first.

Applies unbearably spicy menthol with vetiver far in the background. Dense, dry grass vetiver builds as bracing menthol mellows. Earthy, but not as much damp soil as other vetivers. Wasn't getting additional elements, but vetiver is complex enough it doesn't need it. After a bit, woody cedar adds to mid/base. The diminishing menthol remains stronger. Dry, but spice is cozy. I don't get grapefruit, but would believe there's zest. Not generic and interesting to try, but there's so many superior vetivers, this is only worth it for purists or those obsessed with vetiver. 2ND REVIEW: Opens bracing menthol peppermint then quickly becomes especially bright vetiver. Mildly dense with expected woody/grassy spice. Emphasizes energizing top note, leaning fresh. Similar to clove and grapefruit - but hay. It’s fine. Maybe even good. Bright spice has some punch and vetiver is clean/pure, if a bit light and unexciting. Some good nuance and appreciate it not being sweet or soapy/powdery. Dry down becomes deeper incense pine bark. Too many better options for vetiver. 1ST TRY: Spicy dry grass with a punch of sun-soaked warmth. Effervescent like peppermint, but woodsy (fresh shaved birch). Intoxicatingly gentle sweetness amplifies notes like salt does food. Musty class. Bitter lavender and grapefruit add mature complexity that's balanced a little by energetic spices. Dissipates after an hour. Depth gives a ghostly finish...both strongly there and not. Enjoyed trying even though not perfect. Complex, deep, and different.

Vetiver veritas is one of those fragrances that has cost me a lot qualify (I take time testing it and giving a lot of laps in order to offer a fair review). Say first that this fragrance is 100% organic, ie, all components are natural and no synthetic substance in its composition also gives us what it says his name: vetiver and not substitutes which we usually tend to deceive ( plus point). Vetiver veritas, is an almost raw, very realistic fragrance vetiver essential oil distilled from every pore. The feeling that offers first smell is showing us a green landscape, wild, even cruel, grapefruit and yerba mate produces a golden effect on the ripened grass in the sun with shades atabacados. Imagine the earth, the smell of damp and almost moldy that combination of the initial more earthy effect produces the aroma of this vetiver (point against if you are not used or do not like these scents that smell as natural herbs, to me He liked). During drying the fragrance becomes more woodsy, slightly darker and more curiously friendly and nice that the game, with shades of pale leather (my favorite part) that mattifies, enriches and gives nice glow to drying. It takes place in two phases, duration and projection are pretty good considering it is an organic fragrance. For me, an exercise in style portrait of a hyper-realistic three-dimensional landscape. Rating: 7

Extremely bitter, in your face, pure vetiver. I'm a fan of vetiver, so I dig this, but it's not for everyone. Also, a bit sour and pungent. Absolutely no sweetness here. I don't even get any other notes, at least in the opening. Then you get a tiny bit of grapefruit, which adds to the biterness, but also adds a lil zest to it, makes it more lively. I can't really see this on a heterosexual woman, it screams manliness. All in all, I like it, but I think it's missing something to make it a buy for me (maybe some spiciness?). Reminds me a bit of Etro's Vetiver, it's as unapologetic as that one. Good and extremely natural, but I prefer Encre Noire or Sycomore. LE: smells almost exactly like Etro Vetiver, minus the spices.

IT. Vetiver Véritas James Heeley è un profumo fresco-amaro, come l'erba appena tagliata con un pizzico di dolcezza miracolosa. Questo profumo nella cima della sua apertura olfattiva ricorda molto le note iniziali di Vetiver di Guerlain (proprio quelli più attraenti), che nel profumo di Guerlain vengono persi, ma rimangono per ore con Vetiver Véritas. EN. Vetiver Véritas James Heeley is a fresh-bitter perfume. Try to imagine freshly cut grass with a hint of miraculous sweetness. This perfume in the top of its olfactory final notes fills like the opening notes of Vetiver by Guerlain (those the most attractive notes of V.G.), which are going lost in the Guerlain, but remain for hours with Vetiver Véritas.

My first foray into Vetiver ... and what an uncompromising, wholehearted, generous serving of Vetiver it is! Thank you James Heeley for introducing this novice to a fragrance that is so definitive, a benchmark to carry into further explorations. There is an initial whiff of chocolate mint before a total immersion in dry, bitter grass. This is the complete antidote to all the sickly, sweet fragrances that tend to repel me. This one invites me to linger, to shelter in a great barn piled high with warm hay while a storm beats down on the shorn earth outside. I wouldn't wear this to a public/social event. I'll reach for it on days when I want that sensation of feeling sequestered and safe.

The most realistic vetiver I've come across. Deep, dark, rooty and tinged with those slightly gourmand hazelnut aspects which you never smell in most synthetic recreations of the scent. Unfortunately that's pretty much all there is to it; which is not so bad if you LOVE vetiver, but I tend to like perfumes to be a bit more elaborate. For that reason, I'd recommend Frederic Malle's "Vetiver Extraordinaire" over this.

A dark harsh natural vetiver. The opening is a little weird with strong mint note. After it's all dark earthy vetiver in the spirit of Encre Noire. If you like EN you can go for this one. The projection is a little less strong.

mood perfume, difficult to wear. I can detect grapefruit, but no mint. maybe essential oil is a substitute for this price

Challenging. Before looking at the notes I thought what I was smelling alongside the vetiver was an olive leaf accord, or something like that. In Northern Africa, the Berbers age some of their olive oil for years and use it as a medicine; there is a bit of that smell in here, but it must be the mate note. The grapefruit vanished quickly, then I was left with vetiver and mate, that's all I get. It's woody, earthy and dry. There's zero sweetness here, it has the same bone dry quality of Jovoy's Private Label. It does smell natural, indeed, and it's rather long lasting. Sample first. Just need to add; if you like this one, you should try 'C' by The Perfumer's Story By Azzi; I find them very similar, with the latter being less challenging and more wearable.

Very green, medicinal, grassy opening. Not sweet, it says 100% natural on the label and I can believe that. Earthy, radish like feeling. Bitters, like angostura bitters. I see people comparing this to Cowboy Grass, but CG is more sweet and dense in a synthetic king of way. This is similar to Lunar Vetiver. This is not a Vetiver fragrance like a perfumy cologne you wear, this is more like a balm or an essential oil of Vetiver so keep that in mind.

This is a light, dry, tangy vetiver. The grapefruit is apparent. It gets quite dusty & maybe cedary as it dries, with a little bit of smokiness. Vetiver Veritas reminds me of Smuggler’s Soul; light, casual, greenish vetiver, a bit ascetic for my tastes but nicely balanced and goes down smooth.

Exactly the same as Lalique Encre Noir, but 10X the price. I don't know if the natural ingredients are worth the premium.

Macho vetiver. Acre, smoky, alcoholic, hard and raw, dirty, earthy, tart grapefruit. In one word: angry

I, for one, enjoy the boldness of the totemic vetiver note at the centre of this perfume, but, like some others here I find the peppermint note rather disconcerting, especially disconcerting that it seems to outlive the vetiver itself. The lavender is almost entirely eclipsed by the mint and seemingly affects a sort of subtle revenge by dragging the mint note in an unfortunate direction.

I like vetiver. This fragrance is made from mostly natural sources and it smells natural. The focus is on the rooty smell of Haitian vetiver, and it smells a bit like soil and vegetables. It is not bad, but I'd rather smell of something 'perfumery' than smelling like a vegetable market...this is my problem. Too natural...and not enough 'perfumery'. Does it make sense?

I don't like it. It starts with a heavy smoke smell that is quite annoying for my nose.

I have the same experience with the smoky vetivers of Heeley Vetiver and Electimuss Capua: they make me feel like I'm tasting bile. I like vetiver, I like smoky frags, but something with the combination is really Not For Me. It makes me a little sad honestly, but that's how it goes sometimes.

Opening is an intensely nutty, oily vetiver. The aroma profile is so simple that it doesn't need much explanation, and it opens itself to single-object associations quite easily. In this case I get "aromatic pad thai" (with something like cilantro or some other ambiguous green herb thrown on top), but I'm sure others will associate it with something different. Usually I hate these kinds of reviews but the creamy peanut character is so overwhelming that I find it odd how Heeley chose this to be the first single, exquisite ingredient to highlight in their 100% natural line. The nutty character dies down a bit over time as a subtle camphor and bitterness show themselves, but the original structure remains largely intact. I love vetiver so it's hard for me to hate this, but it's weird and borderline savory.

It's the second James Heeley perfume that I review today and also the second negative thought. Maybe I'm not so trained in the niche world. I smell dirty medicinal vetiver that I'm not used to it. As I said for the Cardinal I can't imagine myself wearing it. These days are really hot but I tested it out in a climate environment. It's miles away from Encre Noire even the Extreme version (I own them both). 0% safe blind buy for sure. No grapefruit for me, no woods. Just mate, lavender, vetiver. It reminds me Betantine, iodine or something like that.

this is a hardcore vetiver! smoky, earthy, for the lovers of pure haitian vetiver in it's rawest form. I actually dont like the openin, its way too bitter for me, maybe because of the mate herbal dry quality. But after one hour the grapefruit oil comes in and its lovely really! supernatural fragance from super natural ingredients. But has absolutely nothing to do with Cowboy Grass, thats buttery sandalwood, vetiver and sage. theres nothing citrusy in it! I am very surprised it has this high comparison rate

As a massive fan of both Heeley's work and vetiver-centered fragrances in general, I've to say that Vetiver Veritas leaves me completely unmoved. Yes, it smells very nice and all but it adds absolutely nothing to Heeley's work and to the plethora of similar offerings available on the market. So, in the end, it simply smells like grassy vetiver with a dollop of citrus and that's it. Nice and unnecessary. Rating: 5/10

Often when I see vetiver described as ‘smoky’ in a perfume, I don’t get the smokiness. This, however, is a smoky vetiver. It has a licorice-like top note that is off putting to me. It’s not something I enjoy wearing, although I do appreciate how uncompromising it is.

It's a fresh citrus vetiver. The fragrance is very minimal with no complexity. Mint is very dominant here. I personally expected a more interesting vetiver fragrance from Heeley. It's a wearable and pleasant scent. 6.5/10

This is the vetiver 100% accurate, smells amazing. It is how I imagine black color smells. Nice, minimalistic, natural.

grassy, soily, musty, decaying wood i like it but i wish there was a citrus counterpart to brighten it up

sounds very interesting! mate and vetiver must be really masculine and smoky in combination...

actually masculine...raw vetiver, woody and smoky ..good sillage and original...

I just bought this a week ago and it's so good 👍