Vetiver Insolent

A very nice spicy opening. It almost smells like a strong hit of mysore sandalwood and pepper for the first minute or two. The cardamon and black pepper really hit. Within a couple minutes, you get the vetiver, dry and slightly smoky. The Iris lends a powdery element but it is very light. Iris for me, can be overwhelmingly powdery but Miller Harris put just the perfect amount in this. It adds such a beautiful accord to the dry smoky vetiver. Really smooth and velvety composition in the initial drydown. The later drydown is resinous warm really helps the dry smoky vetiver from being too austere ot dark. I can smell vetiver, lavendar and tonka hours after spraying. This is one of the most well rounded, most balanced perfumes I have had the pleasure to sample. Its broody but not dark, it has an airiness that doesnt make it bright. Its just elegant. I love vetiver. Its my favorite note besides tobacco. I love Guerlain for its classic smooth soapy greenness. I love the dark incense leaning incident Diplomatique, and the dark earthy mossyness of Encre Noire, and I love the Vetiver explosion that is Sultan Vetiver. Vetiver Insolent is definitely tied for my #1 vetiver scent. Its phenomenal and so rich. Its not soapy or overtly green (Guerlain), nor is it sultry/smoky (Sycomore, Incident Diplomatique), and the vetiver isn't intense(Sultan Vetiver), and intense is not a bad thing for a vetiver lover. Vetiver Insolent is in my opinion, so perfectly balanced. When I think of velvet as a smell, it would be this. The sillage is good and inviting and the longevity is great. This is the epitome of unisex. Miller Harris is my favourite house alongside Mancera. They never disappoint.

Wow! What a surprise! Disclaimer: amazingly successful blind-buy here! It opens with a a strong vanillic elemi supported by cardamom and some lavender in the background. At that point, I wondered if I received an old bottle. Then, slowly, the cardamom fades out, the elemi looses a bit of its sweetness, and an earthy vetiver appears, perfectly balancing the juice. In the drydown, the vetiver takes the lead to express its nutty side and give a smoky twist to the elemi, without ever being pungent, reminiding me of ELdO Fat Electrician at that stage (but avoids its cloying sweetness). The moss will give a hint of bitterness, but the elemi will counterbalance that until the end, creating a perfect equilibirum. Performance is overall average (that is: more than other MH frags). From sweet to smoky to dry/nutty: there is a clear progression, and for me, it's a real work of art. To my nose, Vetiver Insolent top/heart notes share strong similarities with Dior Eau Sauvage Parfum (2017) heart/base notes. Indeed, they both have in common the elemi-vetiver-lavender trio: ESP'17 is more linear than VI: it has an added strong citrus opening, but once the sweet elemi pops in, it will keep its sweetness until the drydown and that unfortunately will mute the vetiver, unlike MHVI, which is an ode to vetiver. MHVI is a step higher in terms of creativity and balance of the juice imo, and where DESP stands in the higher-end designer category, here, MHVI definitely stands in the niche league. Highly recommended!! Unisex, 25+, Fall and Spring evenings (possibly mild Winter days also).

Vetiver Insolent... well, if it is insolence you might be craving, it is the 18th century notion that slaps you in the face with a riding glove and then demands an apology or satisfaction at twenty paces. I find this sort of offering from MH "generic niche," which is not an aspersion. VI is not, as the name might imply, a challenging scent. It has a somewhat common blending of contemporary notes combining to create a lovely vetiver fragrance with an aromatic backbone. The cardamom, pepper, and iris atop the moss, lavender, and vetiver render it modern enough while rooting it firmly in traditional masculine perfumery. However, there is just enough of that "unisex niche" accord (I don't know what accounts for it), which exists in so many of these kind of fragrances, to barely justify the label. It might be absence of something heavy or ruggedly woody..? Still, I personally enjoy this fragrance very much and find it classy, modern, and well-composed. It isn't a loud scent, though longevity is quite good for me. Perfect for indoor settings when dressed well. Great job from Miller Harris on this one!

If anyone thinks Vetiver Insolent smells like Black Afgano, then I question their olfactory senses. Vetiver Insolent is NOT hay-like, peppery, or extremely smoky like your traditional vetiver fragrances. This is more of a powdery, clean, smooth vetiver scent with a FAINT pepperiness. But, I like this scent. I would say Vetiver Insolent is a unisex fragrance, but I would also say it leans slightly feminine because the iris in this scent is indeed powdery, which works well with the clean lavender and vetiver notes, but I can see dudes enjoying the scent. I did. Like I say in all my reviews, this is all just my opinion. Take opinions and reviews with a grain of salt. Everyone has an opinion regarding smells. Some people love a specific fragrance. Some people hate it. Some people lie regarding reviews and opinions. Some state the truth. My advice is for you to GET A SAMPLE OF ANY FRAGRANCE BEFORE YOU COMMIT TO BUYING IT. That way, you can assess it for yourself and have your own thoughts rather than strictly going off someone else's thoughts and opinions.

This is my 3rd blind buy from the house of Miller Harris and I have to admit that I have been highly impressed with this house! I can sum up the opening with one word... Delicious! VI opens as a soft, warm, sexy, spicy and slightly sweet bundle of deliciousness. After a few hours it changes slightly and moves into a candied vetiver vibe. A few more hours in VI morphs into s dry peppery vetiver. All phases of this fragrances are beautiful. VI is hands down one of the best unisex vetiver fragrances on the market today and is in the running for my favorite vetiver. I get good longevity, but moderate projection. VI stays fairly close to the skin, which is a bit unfortunate. I will have to try this one again in warmer weather to see if that changes. VI works in either formal or casual attire. Bottom line: If you are, even remotely, a vetiver fan you should try a sample of this one. If you are not a vetiver fan, you should still try a sample of this.