Vetiver 46

I'd thought I'd commented on this fragrance already, so I was surprised I'd not. I first smelled this some time ago, and it left me very awestruck. This is vetiver?!? This is absolutely not a typical vetiver fragrance. While it’s there, it’s also augmented by incenses, Guiac, cedar, pepper, and labdanum. It defies that traditional ‘green’ association, instead replacing it with a much different vision of what can be done around the Tahitian Vetiver chosen. The experience is not so “meadowy’ as it is a view of what might be done with various woods, incenses, spices, and other elements to create a much warmer focus. Where another vetiver would come across as very fresh, albeit somewhat non-descript from other formulations, Vetiver 46 seems counter-intuitive. The result is a much deeper interpretation, unique, very natural and exceptionally captivating. Intriguing! V46 has a varied yet linear focus throughout, drawing gradually toward deeper notes as it reaches toward the base. Projection is moderate, longevity is excellent, and the concentration manages to avoid being a suffocating experience despite the longevity and sillage. It's stronger, it's warmer, it's not everyone else's uninspired take on vetiver. Thank God! I would very highly recommend this, especially if you want to turn your perception of this normally "green" note on its head.

Incense, though not especially churchy; vetiver, though not incredibly earthy; smoke, though not objectionably acrid. I can see how this might feel boring to some; indeed, it’s not spiky, or self-consciously ‘niche’. It is, however, superbly well-constructed and a marvellous perfume; a deeper, longer-lasting form of the better-formed woody perfumes that many of us grew up associating with our fathers in the 1980s. There is a passing resemblance to the late, lamented GpH, insofar as both perfumes have a cedar element, but the stronger spiritual connection is to the likes of Pierre Cardin Pour Monsieur. Like those earlier wonders, this isn’t loud perfumery, and is therefore supremely adaptable; you can wear it to a police interview, your wedding, or to the papal conclave without a second thought. There is no need to accept the mediocrity of self-declared ‘grey vetiver’ perfumes for such situations when a better option - admittedly, one that doesn’t really smell of vetiver - is so readily available. My shelves are full of bottles containing perfumes which Fragrantica’s panel of experts informs me ‘smell like ass’; I get through 100ml of this at least once a year to cover situations in which I need to be absolutely sure that I do not.

I slept on this one for many years, having sniffed it, knowing it was out there, but mostly dismissing it as too similar to Comme des Garçons 2 Man (also by Mark Buxton). And the truth is, especially at the start, they certainly ARE similar. But while the CdG relies on a weird-fun synthetic and waxy quality, Vetiver 46 quickly moves from that initial candle-smoke effect into a rich, natural-smelling vetiver-frankincense-clove heart that has me swooning. I've fallen for this stuff hard, and can't get enough. Whereas the CdG 2 Man sits on a more overtly synthetic woodsy-leather base, here a natural-smelling woods and vanilla provide a sense of contemplation and comfort, and the whole thing wears with enough refinement that you won't be overstating your suave choice of scent. The CdG remains at a higher pitch, perhaps "fresher" and lemony-waxy, which I find tiring after a while, while the Le Labo spends most of its time in a more rustic, overgrown cabin in nature, sort of vibe. After much more time with the Le Labo, not only do I think it stands very much on its own with less similarity to 2 Man than I assumed, but it's also a top choice for me now. I'm so glad I finally gave it a real chance. Beautiful.

Comparisons to Comme des Garcon 2 Man are valid but I think Vetiver 46 has a likeness close to Encre noire also. It's less subtle than encre noire and more spiced like 2 Man, I loved the peppery, smokey, woody frankincense opening. The vetiver is present and earthy, clean and enjoyable but I found the smoke a little more intrusive for the first hour or so than the more elegant Encre Noire. When it's dried down it takes on a character of it's own and is less like anything else but just a pleasant woody scent. Again I have to say Le Labo are building accords around certain notes trying to create interesting perfume and largely failing for me, the likes of Comme des garcon as an example do a better job. I need to reserve judgement on the house until I've tried more but that's 5 now and not one standout fragrance amongst them. Don't get me wrong this is right up my street and smells good but I prefer the two I've likened Vetiver 46 to and if I'm feeling in a melancholic, cloudy mood I will rock them instead. I don't want it however, I'd never discourage anyone from getting this fragrance... its good.

As interesting as this stuff is, I didn't really find it to be very vetiver-prominent. It opens with a really intriguing mixture of spices: sweet and very sharp, reminiscent of incense. The sharpness slowly beomes muted, leaving what to me is a just slightly "greened-up" version of a standard incense...basically Avignon, which unfortunately has a bit of a cloying edge to me. This edge fades away somewhat into the base, though, leaving some sweet exotic woods behind, of which vetiver is a part, but certainly not any more than you'd find in the base of any other woody scent. Frankincense also reveals itself rather late into the base notes, giving a creaminess to the wood. Personally, since I expected vetiver, and since I already have sample vials of CdG 2 Man, Sequoia, and their whole incence series, I nearly dismissed LLV46 as a waste of time, but it does smell good. I doubt that I'll ever prefer sharp, incensey wood over regular old sweet, creamy wood, but this frag succeeds somewhat in splitting the difference.

I have 15+ vetiver fragrances in my collection, and this week I happened to smell 2 of the best vetiver I ever smelt (and that I need full bottles): Serge Lutens Vetiver Oriental and this one. I like to describe my vetivers with colors, and this one is a reference. You have Guerlain Vetiver which is dark green, Zegna Haitian Vetiver is light green, Creed Original Vetiver is bright sunny green, Lalique Encre Noire is black, Etro Vetiver is grey and Le Labo Vetiver is brown/yellow. Yes, yellow, because its light smokiness made me think of a dry vetiver plant, nearly like hay. Peppery, smoky, with a strong support of guaiac wood. A top vetiver, that unfortunately I will not get because of its ridiculously high price tag. Perfume collection is an expensive hobby, but no perfume is worth $350. A hard pass for me. Spring/Fall days, 25+ Edit: got a large decant of that one for a decent price. Couldn't resist :)

She’s beautiful... a masterpiece. After testing all Le Labo’s masculine scents as a gift for my husband, I settled on this... and boy, am I glad I did! This smells like sex on legs. I want to rip his clothes off every time he wears it. This is the fragrance that gets attention no matter where you are. People always ask him what he’s wearing, whether it’s on a date night, bbq or work. It’s the attention grabber you didn’t know you needed. Vetiver smells nothing like anything before it, so I don’t think it’s fair to compare it with anything... but there is definitely no cheap or old man vibes. Projection is about 6 feet. It lasts FOREVER on clothes (24+ hours) and a good 12 hours on the skin. You may not be able to smell it that long, but everyone else will! Vetiver reeks of a man that has his s*** together, that walks with confidence and is a respectful freak in the sheets... Done.

WOW!! pow This is like entering an early nineteen hundreds game room with the smartest most interesting men discussing the railroad and how to make the future a more dynamic place. Or maybe its more of the sanctuary. The place where the people go when they need to feel safe and alive. This scent is much less masculine that when i first smelled it. In fact it softens to a very light ambiguous scent. maybe buttery floral still a great unisex fragrance I LOVE THIS!! totally unexpectedly I remember going into le labo when it first opened on elizabeth street years ago and not really liking the smells pushing them off as strong and offensive. But i was much younger then and so were they. I have not gone back int until now and am so glad and blown away but the incredible complex smells that dont give me a headache!

When I think Vertier, Gurielain's frosted horizontal carved out bottle is what comes to mind. If my memory serves me correctly, it has Haitians Vertier with a spicy/smokey blend gives that classic aroma. In my opinion, Le Labo has given Vertier a brushing off and added a twist to a classic. It's far more sweeter than any other that I know..almost a good doze of vanilla base. After a good 20 minutes, I pickup a mild Vertier with a hint of spice without throwing off the sweet notes. The quality of Olibanum is what keeps the spicy/greens together. Longevity and Sillage is mid-range considering the price..perfect during the spring-summer season. This is far modern version, I actually enjoy the quality. Some Vertier's come off with a bitter sour blend. This is the opposite..smooth/sweet Vertier. 8/10

Now that I own Vetyver 46, I realized that it seems so incredibly familiar. It reminds me of my childhood of going to church and smelling that awful, bitter incense that the priest uses. BUT Vetyver 46 totally lacks any hint of bitterness. No wonder I feel so pensive any time I wear it. As it dries down, a vanilla-like scent creeps in, but the perfume remains completely unisex. I also detect just a touch of fragrant campfire smoke. It seems like the perfect winter perfume, as it smells like the woody smoke from the fireplace. Deep down into the drydown is when I can smell clove. This stage reminds me of the times I've worn Opium and woke up the next morning with the scent lingering on my skin. I would not describe Vetyver 46 as linear, for each time I wear it, I detect something new.

Wonderful, grey, wet, cloudy day in a bottle. This is smooth, classy vetiver like it should be done. Just a hint of wood, a touch of palo santo (guaiac) and a healthy shot of vetiver. What else is in there? I really can't tell - or maybe I don't care. It's just fantastic. I'm glad it's so expensive - I won't have to share with so many others. This is what Tom Ford Grey Vetiver should have been, what I wanted it to be, what everyone wished it could have been. This needs a well-dressed man to pull it off - no kids here, no weekend casual fragrance for jeans and a band-tee and adidas. This is for men and women who have some class and style. ...and, BTW, smells very little like CDG2MAN. Don't compare to your memory of a scent. Do a side-by-side if you want to compare fragrances.

Wow! I’ve just got a brand new sample of this and it’s beautiful. It’s a HUGE powder bomb on skin. That is so different to everyone else’s take. This open with a blast of sweet powered sharpness which sounds contradictory. There’s a tiny element of sweat which soon disappears thank goodness but it has an old fashioned Parfum De Nicholai touch to it, like New York in her range. I like it.....it’s very different and I do admire Le Labo. I don’t get any smoke or bitterness it’s just a powder haze...,.,an element of Iris maybe. I’ve sampled this for a day and it does tend to flatten out a bit and disappear but that first hour is pure Magic! Edit..I totally fell in love with this after using up a full sample and ordered a 50 ml bottle. It’s stunning!

yes Le Labo this is a good one! Very bright and vivid fragrance. The opening is exotic, spicy, woody, slightly sweet, and oriental - a great depiction of a busy temple in day time. It can be quite offensive and uninviting to some people. There’s a slight smoke accord gradually revealing itself somewhere in the middle, leading to the most exciting part which is the dry down. It works extremely well with the chemistry of my skin. Once it’s all settled, Vetiver 46 becomes less personal and obscure - it’s no longer temple-like or uninviting but rather a borderline niche panty dropper... It projects like a charm on warm skin, suggesting a very indescribable aura positioned somewhere in between a fboy and an old wise man. 9/10

Many reviews are contrasting here, but the reason most likely lies in varying skin chemistry. On my skin, the vetiver is very loud, because the vetiver used in here is probably Javanese vetiver or some other type of vetiver that is more smoky than green. And my skin chem amps up smoky/earthy notes like vetiver, so the vetiver in here becomes the dominant note. Another thing that I noticed is that the amber accord in here is a very western take on amber. It smells less sweet and resinous, but more dry, harsh, and balsamic. I also love how heavily the peppers are used in this fragrance. The fresh, dry black pepper and warm, smoky cloves combine with the dusty, hay-like vetiver is just pure class and I love it.

Dry, spicy and powerful Opens with a blast of pepper and dry spice. Then, it's the driest vetiver you can imagine -- parched, nearly falling to dust -- combined with a medium-tone incense (not cold) on a bed of dry amber, Yes, the incense is the type used in catholic churches, but to me it does not lend a liturgical air due to the rest of the composition. It is indeed very similar to Buxton's CdG 2 Man and, on paper, I should like that one more. However, the performance on the CdG is pretty lackluster (at least my decant). Or perhaps all the extra notes detract. The Le Labo is indeed a minimalist composition, and those are notoriously difficult to get right. Vetiver 46 gets it right.

I had to limit the amount I used as my daily smellies often require a good blasting - doing so with this led me to it feeling somewhat nauseated after 30-60mins. I persevered, and by spraying into my hands before rubbing into my face and neck, I found a very pleasing solution. It's dryer and cleaner than Gucci Pour Homme (my first ever fragrance purchased), and more sophisticated. It has a very woody/leathery note that reminds me of some classic perfumes, but it's fresher and more subtle. I have slowly begun to really love it; 6hrs on and floral notes along with the vetiver are still present. I need to try some other vetivers (cheaper ones) but so far I'm in to this in a big way.

If I smelled this on a man I would absolutely pounce! The vetiver is lovely, not over-powering, beautifully smokey. Quite campfire-esque but not too much. Super authentic incense is very seductive. Lots of black pepper and some bergamot add some liveliness. A delicious dark, sticky sweetness underneath, vanilla, resins, amber, cloves. Sweet but not sickly. Fresh and natural but also dark and brooding. Wonderfully blended, intricately balanced, smooth and sexy. This is quite likely my favourite from Le Labo. I really appreciate that they haven't ruined this one with some bizarre, gross note as they often do. VERDICT: I would buy a full bottle of this, if I could afford to.

I was shocked by the beauty of Vetyver 46. It started out awfully bitter and peppery. I should know by now never to judge a perfume by the first spritz, but I was certain this would not grow on me. Imagine my surprise when I sniffed my wrist 10 minutes later and began to smell incense! It was mesmerizing, possibly even transcendental. It took me to a Tibetan mountaintop where I watched the sun rise behind a temple as the smoke of burning incense drifted into the open air. Ten more beautiful minutes passed, and I began to detect vanilla and a gorgeous, rich, labdanum note. For lovers of smoky, woody, resinous incense, this is your perfume!!!

Vetiver and frankincense. Calming, comforting and meditative. Woody, dry and quietly strong, and more on the masculine side of the unisex scale. I love the smoky, tarry aspect of guaiac which brings richness to the woods while cedar lends dry air. Bergamot and very subtle spice help this wood radiate with soft tenacity. Labdanum and amber add mystery and warmth. Seemingly simple yet beautifully balanced and comforting, Vetyver 46 brings me to a place of solace and strength. This versatile boyfriend's chunky cable-knit sweater-like fragrance goes straight to the top of my want list.

This could be described as "variations on Vetiver", as Vetiver 46 is not your usual vetiver. Do not expect something like Guerlain's Vetiver. However, despite the variation from the usual expectations from a vetiver fragrance, I really really like it. Olibanum is the dominant note, accompanied by vanilla, cedar, clove, labdanum, and guaiac, with vetiver in the background. The fragrance is pleasant, slightly sweet, spicy, and unisex (tending to masculine). The longevity is very good on my skin, lingering for about 7 hours, with a moderate sillage for the first 2 h.