Vetyver

A sparkling grapefruit and ginger opening, that will be followed by a superb nutmeg-ish/green labdanum note. Shortly after, the orchestra tones down for the entrance of King Vetiver, without ever stopping to play. The citrus/ginger top will counterbalance the nutty-ness of the vetiver to give brightness to this fragrance, the nutmeg/labdanum will give a very elegant body (rare in vetiver frags), and the ginger note will dance with the vetiver to give a high definition to the vetiver all along, giving a vague impression of tobacco flower when combined to the musk, and a "3-D" sensation to this fragrance, without ever becoming sharp. There is a subtle herbal powderiness in the base, probably provided by the clary sage and the patchouli, but these 2 notes will never be individually noticeable. Also possibly a hint of frankincense and some violet (a vibe of Robert Piguet Bois Bleu). That said, overall, here the fresh ginger is a co-star with the vetiver, if not the main player. At all times, this fragrance stays very well tailored, without becoming loud and blurry, but never thin either. Projection on my skin is moderate (at best), but longevity as a skin scent is stellar (24hrs). Recommended? My nose (well trained for vetiver) can tell that it's one of the greatest vetiver fragrances around for sure, and a reference in the citrus-y vetiver department. That said, when tested side-by-side, it appears shockingly similar to Etro Vetyver, especially in the drydown. Sure, MdO's quality is (a tiny bit) better than Etro's, a (tiny) bit more sophisticated and (very slightly) brighter/fizzier, and the bottle and presentation are not comparable with Etro's, but still... If I could quantify, I would say that these two are 90-95% similar (MdO's being a bit brighter, with ginger and citruses more forward), and since I only care about the juice, that makes MdO Vetyver's retail price tag not fully justified in my book, despite my demonstrated addiction for the vetiver note. That said, if money is no issue or, if like me, you should manage to get the Mona's for under $100, that's a no-brainer! Bottom line: superb and full bottle worthy, but not at full retail! Mild to warm days, 30+

Mona di Orio's Vetyver is inarguably beautiful! Exquisite! Where to begin with this review? Let's start with the overall "Big Picture". It smells a lot like if you were to take a very pure, natural, soothing vetiver note and add a bit of Bois des Iles to it. On the whole, it's woody, but it's also a little powdery and does have a soapy vibe to it. I'm certainly not saying that men can't wear it, but I see it as a distinctive, elegant, classy, femmed-up vetiver. It's a vetiver made with a woman in mind. The vetiver itself smells really pure. It’s the one note that really comes through and shines in this perfume. The vetiver isn't sour. It smells clean and smooth, and then it's flanked by these other Chanel-like elegant notes, like iris paired with just a touch of musk. Sillage isn't great on me and neither is longevity. I always want to spray again after a mere 3 hours. But this perfume is such a stunner that while frequent spraying typically annoys me, I look forward to spraying this again to enjoy it all over again. Every second of it is rapturous! There's not much citrus, maybe just the first few seconds. I notice very minimal spice (doesn't smell like nutmeg specifically) bitter, camphorous dried sage, and these notes are so cohesive. Seamless blending adds up to something that smells like a modern classic. This perfume just makes me throw out superlatives. It's stunning! Smashing! Glorious! Beguiling! Extraordinary! Unimitable! My favorite by Mona di Orio, God rest her soul. She is still making beautiful impressions on us and has left such a remarkable legacy. Out of all the perfumes of hers I tried, this one is so stunning that I wondered if it was somehow personal to her because I almost feel as if I know her through this fragrance. I know that sounds weird, but this one really moves me. I read somewhere that vetiver was her favorite note to work with. It absolutely shows, if that's true.

Mona Di Orio fragrances do not scream, but rather they just whisper 'quality' and 'class'. Perfumes that have a richness and depth and body and are somehow 'substantial' without being heavy. This one is all about VETIVER...but subtly melded with a lovely ginger/lemon/cedar accord, perhaps the sage note helps give a little herbal note to the top, and the nutmeg some subtle spiciness, but I could not disentangle that from the notes that form the the lovely top note accord..earthy but somehow nevertheless still bright on the top. The base is rich and lovely...what I guess is that labdanum/patchouli/tonka accord, yet to my nose without this time the subtly 'animalic' musky note that is in the base of Eau Absolut. This has good projection and sillage, without being 'in your face' and it has on my skin good longevity. It is tuly unisex. To me, it is a bit more suited to a man, but a confident woman could easily wear it. No one who smelt it disliked it, but as with many vetiver fragrances, opinions were mixed about just how much folk liked it. It is clean and bright but yet rich and complex. I have yet to try Sycamore by Chanel, but so far of all the many vetiver fragrances I have tried, this is my favourite. It could be worn during any season, day or night and is something that could be someone's signature scent. It is just 'classy' and has a richness without being loud. UPDATE - it is potent juice and the base is quite heavy and can become cloying. So for me, 'less is more' and it is best with fewer sprays

I've sampled this a few times over the past three or four years. The first time I tried it, I was still very new to fragrances. I liked it but thought it was a bit too "stuffy" for me--maybe better suited to someone older and more sharply dressed. But each time I wore it over the years, I liked it more and more. What my inexperienced nose had interpreted as overly formal were really just its dry and intellectual aspects. I wore it again today after ordering yet another sample, and I really like it. I'd describe it as a spicy, mostly clean vetiver with a very natural feel and a fascinating, non-linear evolution. The ginger is probably the most prominent note on me for the life of the fragrance, and what a ginger it is. Spicy, exotic, evocative. Really nice stuff. Whenever anyone asks for a ginger-prominent fragrance, this is my number one recommendation. I also, of course, get the vetiver, which underlies everything with its shapeshifting translucence: glimmers of nut, root, smoke and soapiness. But not too soapy. In fact, as was mentioned below, there's the faintest hint of something animalic every now and then. To me it reads as a ghost of civet, and I'm guessing it's a combination of the musk, grapefruit, and spice. But don't let that scare you away: it's definitely not an animalic perfume per se. Above all, this just smells really good. If you want something that does well in warm weather and is generally "fresh" without all the negative tropes that usually implies, this is a great choice.

EDIT: My experience is from the release with the black wire wrapped around the cap, like the cork of a champagne bottle. This is a wonderfully inviting vetiver based fragrance. Vetiver is a curious note, in that it can be exposed in a raw and challenging form, or dressed up to be soft and easy going. Plus numerous variations in between. Mona's Vetyver creation is rather unusual. It starts off a bit strong with the vetiver note, somewhat salty/marine like smelling similar to Etro Vetiver. But as it develops the character notably changes. The vetiver and ginger starts to tone down and the accompanying notes envelop it. The labdanum, nutmeg, clary sage, and grapefruit notes are discernible, and together they really soften up the vetiver. There's something about this accord that gives a subtle hint of being animalic, and yet it's not. Almost "fresh breath" without the mint. I can see this working well for both men and women. In time the labdanum, clary sage and grapefruit notes fade, leading this fragrance into a slightly drier woodier phase as it recedes to becoming more of a skin scent. Longevity is about average. No, this isn't a bold vetiver, but it doesn't need to be. This is a beautifully constructed fragrance, something I'm glad to have finally experienced. Mona, you created something wonderful here and I'm so very sorry you aren't around to enjoy your creations! Overall: 8.5/10.