Route du Vetiver

Vetiver is such a fascinating material, and like many others is changable due to many factors not least of which being the interactions within a perfume composition, pushing the stuff hither and thither into differing directions. I can safely say that lovers of an authentic, 'heavy' artisanal, vetiver will love this one. I did. does have some lush notes right the top but soon descends to it's main intention...a woody affair and in my limited knowledge of vetiver materials feels a bit more Java than Haiti. It feels 'aged' in the way that amber accords give that musty, dustiness, but this has a certain edible, 'nutty' quality to it I think there's sandalwood in this, it's such a thick composition but it's never too dense, it definitely has an air to it and wears beautifully on the skin. I wouldn't however recommend this in the normal sense a vetiver perfume can be worn, ie: in any situation, and perhaps as a functional/dumb reach when you can really pick a mood/temperature or whatever, which tends to be when I'd reach for one. It has quite a dark aura about it and it's not exactly witchy but it's no mood elevator either, perfect time and place are required for wearing it, and as much as I loved it, I can't see myself reaching for it too often, which is a shame for the person who kindly supplied my vintage sample, because as soon as I said I liked it he proceeded to try to sell me his bottle! There's many perfumes like this, brilliant and highly recomended by me, but I'll never own them myself. This is a veteiver for fans of vetiver oils lovingly converted into faithful perfumes.

I blind bought a full bottle of this as being a vetiver lover and one who was intrigued by the reviews for this scent, I couldn't resist. And I can assure you I was not in the least bit disappointed at all! This is an outright masterpiece. Whilst I had been expecting something of a beast, with an opening that would require me to quarantine myself for an hour or so, this is far from the case. The opening is actually one of the most breathtaking I've ever experienced! On my skin it's a blast of moist, rooty vetiver, one of the best iterations on the planet, combined with some luscious black current and a hint of jasmine. The drydown is nothing short of genius, with a beautiful sandalwood joining the rapture and the jasmine becoming more forthright. But make no mistake, the vetiver is the star of the show here right throughout the journey, and oh how divine it is! Silage is perfect, out to a meter or so for the first hour or two before it draws closer to you and longevity is excellent. I can still easily detect the dry down after 8hrs and longer. Route Du Vetiver is in my opinion, right at the top of the vetiver pantheon, and deservedly so. Earthy, masculine & woody (and omg the black currant is amazing), it demands attention and will turn heads everywhere you go. I can't recommend this to vetiver lovers enough. Simply stunning. PS: This review is for the re formulation. I can only imagine what the vintage version is like. A complete jaw dropper I would suggest!

Wow what a fragrance! I am sniffing as many Vetiver fragrances as I can get my hands on this week. I was not expecting anything like this! Ç'est Magnifique! It is amazing to me when someone is able to combine notes in such a way - a majestic balance takes place with such equilibrium they have no choice but to guide each other to a singular unique note experience. You don't need much to accomplish this - aside from a few beautiful ingredients and years and years of laborious exercise. The boozy slightly tart jellied black current and damp sweet lightly indolic Jasmine envelope the dry natural rooty Vetiver so totally and beautifully I feel like I am being pulled from three directions into one magical point. The touch of aldyhydic buzzing - like pollen on the hind legs of a honey bee vibrates ever so lightly below that point and adds a wonderful heartbeat to the fragrance. The notes are so exquisitely combined and their balance so finely tuned - I feel like Jean Carles had come back from beyond in order to verify the true equilibrium obtained himself! It has that old school uber balance and intimacy of material. This take on Vetiver is a Pure and Natural DELIGHT. WONDER-WONDER-WONDERFUL!!! My new Signature fragrance!

All but the most hardcore vetiver lovers need not apply. Route du Vétiver is a daring, feral vetiver: one where the earth's pungency and penetrating dark soil element is not gussied up with citruses and is laid bare from the beginning. There are dirty roots and nutty herbs, sharp blackcurrant buds, chokecherry, wildflower must and nettle. Then it dawns on me that this is now smelling as close to the raw vetiver roots as anything I've ever smelled in perfumery. These facets are the facets I encounter with these very roots. It may seem to sear some's senses but the right noses will be delighted with such coarseness. The addition of olibanum and patchouli in its base only adds to its ancient cellar bouquet. It also recalls the smell of the running brooks that I encounter when visiting the sanctuaries in my area: water pushing earth and loam, carrying twigs, fruiting bodies, and vegetation at varying levels of decay and fermentation. Jean Laporte proved to be an iconoclast with this brilliant work with his bold approach to vetiver, exalting it to a level theretofore unseen. It's marvelous in summer heat.

Forget about "cat" piss word...nahh its not so acid It is magnificent vetiver base fragrance.Woody,pungent,cold,inky,dirty and hell yeah sexy as well. I have no doubt it is different. Weird and enigmatic could be better words.So you think,is it a compliment or complain?I don't think it minds,I mean, we just know about a thing if we go trough. For me RDV is my beast, well tamed when using in appropriate dose, however first impression wasn't so pleasant I just figured out it was too much spray. People are looking for "beautiful" vetiver perfumes like Sycomore,Roja Dove,Sel de Vetiver,and they are completely right, the latter is amazing and very easy to become a wardrobe masterpiece, but how about go little bit inner and try something more signature, your signature? Roll the dice it is hit or miss,afterall if you hit means you have found your sexy beast otherwise just scrub your wrist off... PS: drydown,"after 3-4 hour" is way suitable,creamy sandalwood in a solid vetiver base is reliable for any occasion.