Vetiver Royal Bourbon

If we except the skills of the one who uses it, the most important part of a sword is its blade. Its hilt and scabbard can be exquisite pieces of craftsmanship, often adorned with precious metals and gems, but it's always the least adorned part, its blade, that gets the work done. And if anyone is wandering about what is sword talk doing in a perfume review, Vetiver Royal Bourbon is like mounting a very old and battle proven blade on a new housing. A century old fragrance launched anew, with what seems to be lots of respect to its ancestry. And this is like something that does not happen every day in people's lives. Like something that is exceptional enough to be mentioned elaborately and in great detail. Something like being unlucky enough to fall from atop a juniper tree and hit every single branch on your way down. But also being lucky enough, to land on a thick layer of vetiver grass, and thus escape your fall unscathed. And there you'll doff your leather gloves and light up your pipe and think. Cause if there's something that this curio engenders more than anything else, it's thoughts. Thoughts like "How dare they?" Thoughts like "Are they nuts?" Thoughts like "Didn't they know it was 2014?" And all that stuff which come to mind upon encountering such an oddity during the second decade of the 21st century. But despite banging its own drum while walking a very lonely path, Vetiver Royal Bourbon has actually a lot of things to say. This little weirdo is a very-very interesting case. Very bitter, very earthy, very herbal and very unique. Oh, and very challenging to wear too. To my silly nose, it smells like hot stones. But not hot because of being under a scorching sun for too long, but hot because this castle was burned during a siege. I don't know whether it's the fact that I have not smelled it for many years, but I'm under the impression that Vetiver Royal Bourbon is very similar with vintage Daniel Hechter's Caractere. At first, this thought seemed like it had no grounds at all, since the two fragrances only share a couple of notes. But then came the epiphany. Most of Vetiver Royal Bourbon's notes are somewhat neighbouring the ones of this forgotten relic from the late '80s. -Artemisia instead of vetiver. -Fir instead of juniper. -Amber instead of styrax. -Sage instead of thyme. -Basil instead of mint. With the mystery solved, I relished the thought of how much I loved Caractere back in the day, cause it smelled nothing like anything else. So, the verdict here could not be any different. I love Vetiver Royal Bourbon too. I like bizzare scents, and this one is surely of the kind that will raise the "What the hell is that smell?" question. A lot. And if it wasn't so damn pricy, I could vision myself buying two or three bottles just in case it's discontinued. Finally, and despite that this may sound a bit out of the blue, I'll finish this review the way I started it. With swords. So, since I take it that Caractere doesn't ring a bell to at least 50% of the readers, I'll crown Vetiver Royal Bourbon as the Yatagan of our time. Not based that much on sheer similarity, but on being heavy, sharp and sexy to the nth degree...

Mint and vetiver work well together, particularly when the vetiver is the ultra-deluxe, Royal Bourbon variety used here. At the risk of being tiresome, I'll just point out that there are many different types of vetiver harvested around the globe, but some of the best come from Haiti. The vetiver generally considered the best grown on Haiti is the stuff that was once reserved for the use of the French royal house, the Bourbons. This vetiver is what Oriza L. Legrande uses in this fragrance. I love vetiver scents, own many, and this one is at the very top of the list for me. I loved it at my first sniff. There is a sweet mint, I think spearmint, in the opening that has some spice to it and some floral tinged thyme as well. But soon, the clean, herbal soapy Royal Bourbon vetiver emerges to waltz with the opening notes. This beginning of the heart of the fragrance is camphorous and uplifting, but it is saved from straying into sinus rub territory by a warm tobacco note that comes along just as things might have become difficult and smooths and tempers the menthol element. Joining the tobacco are some buttery floral notes, notably iris, that keep the heart from presenting an imitation of Newport cigarettes, thank goodness, and in doing so keep this scent on the beautiful side of the beauty/beast divide. In the base, there is more vetiver, this time a bit nutty and earthy along with a leather accord that is ever so slightly rough. Fortunately, there is also a delightful blend of oak moss, resins and sandalwood to keep things mellow. The scent is exceptionally well blended and ingredients seem incredibly high quality. Between the vetiver, leather and resins, this scent might seem somewhat masculine leaning, but in actual use, it is unisex. Longevity and projection are moderate. The presentation is strikingly elegant and seems intended to reference the venerable nature of the house. Vetiver lovers will adore this fragrance and can safely buy it blind if the price doesn't put them off. This is a fragrance where you get what you pay for in terms of quality and presentation. Those folks who don't love all vetiver scents will definitely want to sample RBV to see if it is within their comfort zone. Regardless of your feelings toward vetiver, this scent is so well compounded that it is really worth smelling if the opportunity arises. This fragrance is a vetiver masterpiece.

This is the epitome of underrated. Take Grey Vetiver EDP, add mint, and make it long lasting and complex, and this is what you end up with. It's clean and classyalm while having the personality of a chameleon. I can't think of a place where it wouldn't fit in. Maybe a club playing only top 40? This stuff does the gym, the grocery store, family outings, fancy eateries, and the office without cause a fuss. The bourbon vetiver shouldn't scare you ( this isn't parfum d empires take): it's balanced. There is decent smoke and green freshness there all at times, but it is neatly layered under everything else. It starts with a big hit of freezing, chilled citrus and mint that follows a slow volatility curve until there's nothing but musk and vetiver some 7 hrs later This scent makes me regret still having nearly 3/4s of a bottle left of Grey Vetiver. The mint isn't toothpaste at all, but adds a cold zing that probably could be habit forming in extreme heat. While I don't get many of the notes listed, it is very complex. I think this might be a decent representation of how scent must have been prior to the private equity and billion dollar marketing campaigns. The nuances come in ripples and folds, twisting and turning in the air and reveling new angles to the vetiver, citrus ( I get a juicy sweet orange /lemon combo) and mint. It's a much different and far more enjoyable experience than the typical "accord" structure of scents now, monolithic and relentless in their pursuit of creating an olfactory wall of sound. After buying a full bottle of St. Vetyver, I promised the wife no more vetiver. Shes already disapponted I am never in the mood for the dossier grabs she got me. She also has become convinced any more than 1/16 of a spray of Sauvage Elixir is offensive hahah. Regardless, she is vetiverd out. She personally like this one though, which makes it at least as good in my book as Grey Vetiver, St. Vetiver, and Encre Noire Sport. It's a shame I already promised no more until my birthday, but I was really tempted to get it anyway. 4 stars

It is a printing character vetiver, rough, masculine, elegant and classic. The opening is sharp and fresh, very green, starring mainly vetiver and mint. I must say that the combination of both ingredients is excellent. Thyme feel but in my skin begins to take center stage after 10 minutes, and I'm almost certain that there is some undeclared spice, because after 15 minutes approximately, comes forward a note of cumin and thyme (I may not be cumin, but I'm pretty sure it is). At this stage the fresh start will be diminishing and becoming more warm and spicy for spices and snuff. From the 2-hour wake it decreases to work very close to the skin, and spices are disappearing to make way for a drier vetiver, which gives a feeling of grass / boil cut a few days ago which was not collected and it dries in the sun. It is still green, but is no longer fresh as in the beginning, but now has a slightly smoky and dry character. The trail is very good the first time, the second time decreases enough, then settles on the skin. Longevity is about 8 hours on my skin. Note: 7.50 / 10

There is a lot of complexity to this one, with various elements weaving in and out against that lovely, slightly sweet, dewy vetiver. After the opening, the fist stage is dominated by spicy notes, to me it smells like clove, though not listed. Then, the spicy notes fade a dark, dirty, patchouli pops in and out, as does a gorgeous saddle soap type of leather. The labdanum slowly gains more prominence and the fragrance steers towards the wonderfully dry Oriza L. Legrand signature amber, but this time backed with a subtle sweetness. Personally, I'm a fan of vetiver, and really enjoy this one, though it's an early wearing from a sample, it seems like the type of scent that will keep it's mystery as you discover more each wearing. Edit: after a few more wearings, I'm getting the mint/thyme combo, which is creating that soft sweetness. I normally dislike sweet fragrances, as I find them cloying, but here it's just perfect.

Reminds me of a more masculine version of Chypre Mousse. I get strong mint at first, then of all things it starts to smell like rum, like I spilled my rum and Coke on my clothes. Eventually the perfume dries down into some interesting leather and herbs combination, underscored by a marvelous, smooth note of vetyver. I smell the sweet immortelle and gentle whiffs of non-smoky tobacco. This perfume smells rugged to me, yet you know the ingredients are fine, and that makes it rather classy. This is Rhett Butler in Gone With the Wind! Manly, classy, intelligent, polished, and mature. For nights with the gentlemen; smoking cigars and drinking brandy out of Baccarat crystal glasses, talking about stocks and sport. This is a wonderful perfume with all the complexity of their own Chypre Mousse, the crème de la crème of complexity.

What I like best about Oriza L. Legrand fragrances (besides the beautiful bottles and labels) is that they use extremely high quality ingredients and they just don't smell like other fragrances. There's nothing generic about them. Although people have compared this above to other vetiver scents this just doesn't remind me of anyone else's, in part because the vetiver they use here is so velvety. It opens with a spicy mint note which is a little bit (disagreeably) medicinal but which also pairs well with the vetiver, and the latter becomes richer and more luxurious in the beautiful drydown. The other notes give a kind of sumptuous heft to the whole thing.

I have two 50ml bottles from this house: Deja Le Printemps and Vetiver Royal Bourbon. I love both of them. They are so special, fresh classy but not old. This is one of my favorite Vetiver fragrances: other two are Fat Electrician Semi-modern Vetiver, and Sultan Vetiver. I hope I can wear Sultan Vetiver from NISHANE everytime I want but it might suit for some special occasions. This one and Fat Electrician can be more versatile.

This stuff is a Vetiver Masterpiece. I'll be picking this up as soon as I can. Totally blown away. Update: Just got it in the mail today. Still blown away. Need to test performance but if I get at least 4 hours I'll be happy. Any more than that is a plus. Smells expensive. I'd say 3 seasons except for summer heat.

Named to the Bourbons. Oil sense, slightly Vetiver bouquet. It is dry, but softer than Sycomore. Vetiver Royal Bourbon is a small bundle of hay, bitter and sweet, original features have not been carved, natural simplicity. If you want to buy a perfume Vetiver, this is an excellent choice!

Vetiver Royal Bourbon (Skin test) It’s just naturally smell good. Fresh green vetiver combine with metallic vetiver. Accentuate by lime and aromatic. On the alcoholic beverage-like base. This is good stuff. So good.

Hard pressed to find a clean scent that is somehow still aged and dirty while still smelling so fresh. I never thought I would............

This fragrance reminds me a bit to Beach Hut Man by Amouage Nice fragrance love the vetiver on this one. 7.5/10

Complex and rather beautiful... oozes class and quality... 💕

A great classic vetiver, on the spicier side.

Very rooty, this one never lets me down.

Oriza's creation opens with a blast of minty vetiver. Within minutes, the scent becomes very aromatic and herbal. There is some sort of a boozy accord that is paired with smoke as it develops. This will increase the perceived density and shift it's cool and green opening to a warm and deeper dry down. The vetiver, to my nose, is the Haitian type in the opening and in the heart and base it's different, more herbal and smokier, different from the majority of vetiver centered perfumes that I've tried; that is Bourbon vetiver, hence the name of the fragrance. There are a lot of things happening besides the vetiver/mint combo, that will not really transform its heart, but play a secondary role. The composition is very well blended. Not that is challenging, but I see it as a mood scent, classic, a vintage perfume that has been reinterpreted in a modern era. I think it's really masculine. Scent: 8.5/10 Longevity: 9/10 Projection: 7/10

A good, solid vetiver staple, with a fresh, zingy opening (supposedly mint, but seems like citrus) and the sort of dry down you experience after an early-morning visit to an old-fashioned, quality barbers in the Palais Royal. After a coffee overlooking the Tuilleries, you are saying to yourself: "Paris is at my feet ... let's walk around the Louvre, have a slap-up lunch in Le Marais and sail up and down the Seine all afternoon." And Vetiver Bourbon says "Let's do it ... but you will have to top me up as you go." Unfortunately this is an Oriza fragrance that fades too soon ... but always makes a welcome return.

Woah! thats cleared the sinusis. Who would imagine that piercing vetiver would marry so well with mint, thyme and a touch of tobacco. This is essentially an aromatic harmony with the juniper coming forth in time. I think its the mint and immortelle that add sweetness and stop this fragrance becoming too strident. There is leather in the base that becomes more evident with time. A gorgeous fresh aromatic fragrance for man or woman. I dont think there are many who would not like wearing this delicious combination of notes.

I like it but don't love it. It's a very long lasting scent with great sillage. Once the herbal opening fades away you are left with a typical vetiver scent with traces of leather. I would have liked the immortelle note to actually appear but it does not. The price is not bad at $125 for 100 ml but I have couple designer scents that get the job done at a fraction of the cost. It would be in my top 5 niche vetiver scents behind Umbra and Vetiver Fatal.

Fresh vegetal opening, not as minty as I imagined but super green and mouthwatering. The vetiver is prominent and it is very grassy and bright. Very subtle sweet fruit note in the base but this is a classic aromatic flavor through and through. Does smell a bit like the Guerlain, I’d like someone to do a side by side. Beautiful for spring. Very well made and has my full approval, this one is easy to like 8.4/10

A fresh woodsy bed of vetiver, thyme and oakmoss, accented by smokey peppermint tobacco. The finished product has a strong, alcohol-based undertone -- so much so that the fragrance comes off as aftershave. Really good and unique stuff. Must try for fans of vetiver frags and only fans would find this very wearable.

Getting huge dose of shalimar style bergamot(not listed?!) and yellow curry(imortelle) in the opening. With some mint. Then pretty boring vetiver, at least if you compare to my favorite sultan vetiver. Smells like high quality ingredients, but fails to make a lasting impression on me.

The different interpretation of vetiver. Soil+Mint+Vetiver and a little bit more Soil. I like and much respect this but not for use everytime or everywhere. If you r lookin a different vetiver should buy this stuff. Scent: 9/10 Sillage: 7/10 Long: 7,5/10

Sweet minty vetiver. The thyme in this, a note I love, reminds me of my old asthma inhaler. None of that is a bad thing, but this is for sweet-tooth vetiver lovers.

pure vetiver oil, without harsh, easy to wear green wood but weak sillage, just like a little brothers of creed bois de Portugal

some citrus in the top with vetiver and a smooth ambery note that probably is the labdanum and iris.

Prøve mai21. Denne er for menn😊

Perhaps this deserves an even higher rating. This is quite good. Basically it's a straight forward vetiver (like vetiver essential oil, the smell like... Sycomore / Encre Noire / etc., not the type of vetiver found in frags like Racine or Vetiverus), mixed with mint, and it has some sweetness. By the way, the newer packaging (I got my bottle this year maybe from Luckyscent) does indeed come with the sprayer installed - no splash option as far as I'm aware. So that's a plus for those of us who prefer a crimped spray style, :).

To my nose Vetiver Royal Bourbon is dominated by vetiver, tobacco, and immortelle. It evokes the essence of timeless gentleman’s grooming with a distinctly bourgeois character. A classic and elegant composition.

An odd one. Has an overwhelming chocolate-type scent on my skin which I wasn't expecting, and do not like. Lessens after about an hour but still there. I get none of the mint or woody scents.

I rarely write reviews but this perfume seems like a good candidate for one. The perfume smells exactly like you've just opened a fresh plastic trash bag.

At first I admired this, but it occurred to me that this smells very much like pesticide. So disappointed. It's really not bad aside from that aspect.

this smells like a tarter version of encre noire on my skin, it doesn't reek but i don't find it wearable. its got decent performance at least

if with the revamping of the packageings (boxes as well as stupefyingly smashing flacons) the perfumes were reformulated how the hell were the originals if these are already so above-standard memorable. well I should know bc I have "Marions Nous" which is an exemplary extraordinary performing perfume and then now, since yesterday, 'Secrèt Jol'y' [must spell it right and also since it isn't in Fragrantica] and unmistakenbly 'Vetiver Royal Bourbon' which, already out of the new outerworldly and (replicated) othertimely, "box of boxes", smelled so rich out of the unopened flacon, then now all three: package, flacon and scent, so alluringly heavenly transponding unto other times, higher senses, exclusivist richesses, if there is reformulation going on (and I think there isn't) it is only either for the guaranteeing the coveted quality that already was there or, an ameliorisation, unneccesary in the case of Oriza L. Legrand, I am sure. what a perfume this is: Vétiver Royal Bourbon'. 2 hours in and I am still clôched within this superior haute athmosphere/vaporisation emitting superb notes in my environment. I can detect mint, vetiver, immortelle, tabac, oakmoss, leather, labdanum, iris (big), thyme, juniper (I am from Schiedam the Netherlands, worldcapitol of "jenever" = gin), styrax and sandelwood. this perfume has a kaleidoscopic chameleontic structure, persistent in its doubled vetiver from Réunion and vetiver elsewise. the site summarises: "Fin, aromatique et fumé, Vétiver Royal Bourbon, originaire de La Réunion, transcende les vapeurs chaudes de la terre après une pluie d’été. " all the notes work in great concordance to caress the wearer (and environment) in a continuous emanation of finest notes and tones. so from any dilution or diminishment from an afore mentioned ingredient can not simply be the case. plus the ingredients are all "terrestrial", if floral (Immortelle, thyme, labdanum, Iris), woody (sandelwood, let us haul in in this category tobacco also where this nightshade develops woodifying stems in the process, oakmoss if a woody derivative, juniper and the stern roots of vetiver the rhizomatics of which are certainly woody and emit a woody scentsation) and then the edited and resinous notes as leather, styrax and in time the combinations of either of the ingredients. for me the whole concept of this perfume, coming from an era where this notion "concept" wasn't for aeons in the advertorial vocabulary, is smashing and packageing, flacon and escaping scent are such delight to the senses that the perfume alone leave all the modern fruitchoulies and marketinglogistic aquiline unsniffables way, way back in every hindsight. this is art, this is beauty, this is happiness.

[2nd] VETIVER ROYAL BOURBON IS ONE GENTS SCENT I, do not mind wearing while it easily fits in the 'woody' category. perhaps I miss a sultry flower here and there (the rose, always, the lily, jasmine, gardenia....). vetiver is a grass, heady aromatic grass, growing in the tropical regions. Oriza L.Legrand (since the 18th century) harvests this grass from the isle of 'Bourbon'. [wikipedia:] “Réunion (French: La Réunion; previously Île Bourbon) is an overseas department and region of France and an island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar and 175 km (109 mi) southwest of Mauritius. As of January 2019, it had a population of 866,506.” so I once bought a flacon of Perris Monaco. 'Ylang- lang Nosy Be' and wondered what the hell this could mean. that was also a tropical isle in the Indian Ocean. “Nosy Be (also Nossi-bé and Nosse Be) is an island off the northwest coast of Madagascar. Nosy Be is Madagascar's largest and busiest tourist resort. It has an area of 320.02 square kilometres (123.56 sq mi), and its population was officially estimated at 73,010 in 2013. [its capitol is called 'Hellville'].” these are 'quarters' with lush vegetation and at that, more rich and voluptuous. the Oriza L.Legrand perfume is unbelievably aromatic. with ladies' perfumes we had that in the 70s with Lauren (from Ralph), Fiji (Guy Laroche), Ivoire (Pierre Balmain), the galbanum in Chanel's No.19, the Givenchy's with Roman chiffres. they were women's perfumes because of the added lush flowers. yet this perfume (which I shall hand over to my brother tomorrow) has a kind of herbaceous indecisiveness, which makes it unbelievable sophisticated. well I do miss a rose (always), carnation, the ylang ylang, gardenia, jasmine, tuberose. it does have Immortelle, a kind of dry flower even when blooming with a hay aroma. it is just a brilliant perfume. for my taste it is impeccable but in the end it doesn't project 'femininity' for me, IN WHICH REALM I AM AT HOME. I love all the associations with those tropical isles with attitude (cf. the Mediterranean and Caraibian). for that, for instance, we had in the 80s Estée Lauders Knowing with the petite flower pittosporum, an unbelievable strong indolic scent and that out of the tiniest of flowers. Knowing I immediately loved. it is so chic. another men's perfume I love is Chanel's first: 'Pour Monsieur'. but not to wear. I want to feel like a hooker, a high-end callgirl, Park Ave fixture with acryl black nails. anyway for 2 days I sat in a wonderful deeply ethereal clôche of hothouse herbs, steaming.

this is a lovely vetiver perfume. I am fond of vetiver. I understood not everyone is. and that vetiver has many faces. it can be supportive, an ideal basenote, it can be either understated as well set in the spotlights. but in this perfume vetiver shows all of its faces (facets) and due to its 'natural properties' shows us a regal, civilized but also unabashedly unashamed image of itself: it is the root which ties the perfume together. yet 'Royal Vetiver Bourbon' gave me an image of from the ceiling hanging roots (and this shows when you see the botanical drawings of Vetiver-Grass, which make for 80% of the entire plant), and these roots are hanging quite straight from the ceiling and are painted in gold. so that is the Aula within which you enter the perfume. immediately this noble and round and vegetal smell of a soothing botanical element. also the Mint and Thyme make immediate audience. then it becomes a Chypre-Woody-Coumarinic perfume with just lovely classical and vehement connotations. OrizaL.Legrand never disappoint. from time to time I am in the mood for orchard, wood, meadow, heather, herbs, aromatic Chypre Perfumes. almost never les Hermessences. Jean-Claude Ellena never impresses me with his too little, too less, barely there esthetics. I have the feeling OrizaL.Legrand still is footed in the exuberance of the Roaring Twenties but also thát Fin de Siecle (1890-1910s) and even before that time. it has all the baroquerie of the heavy and heady perfumes that it brought out with Houbigant, Chanel, Guerlain, Coty, Caron, Molinard, Molyneux et cetera. so against that backdrop this perfume is easily to place on its own piede-á-stalle. this is truly a Veritable Royal not only Vétiver but also Chypre, Coumarinic, Jockey-Club and New-Mown-Hay kind of perfume and even Cuir de Russie and Peau d'Espagne. it is legendary but so are all perfumes from Oriza. (perfume originally from 1914 and re-issued 2014)

A Classical Vetiver An exquisite vetiver composition that opens with a bold, camphoraceous blast—intensely aromatic and brimming with herbs and spices. Mint, thyme, cloves, cinnamon leaf, camphor, eucalyptus, nutmeg, and juniper all converge in a heady, invigorating rush. A pronounced wintergreen note adds a mentholated, medicinal edge that feels almost bracing at first. But this vivid introduction quickly mellows, allowing the star ingredient—deep, smoky, rooty vetiver—to emerge in full glory. The vetiver oil here is unmistakably rich, earthy, and of exceptional quality. Woven through it is a leathery, curried tobacco nuance courtesy of immortelle, lending warmth and complexity. The base is anchored by what feels like authentic Mysore sandalwood oil: aged, resinous, and profoundly woody, its presence becomes more apparent as the fragrance dries down. Yet alongside vetiver, the other standout is styrax. Paired with labdanum, it nudges the composition toward a bourbon-like richness—resinous, slightly sweet, and warmly enveloping. If this fragrance truly dates back to 1914, it predates Jean-Paul Guerlain’s iconic Guerlain Vetiver by nearly 45 years. The connection is unmistakable—there’s a shared DNA here, though this vintage formulation feels just as compelling, if not more so. I own an older version, and it’s impressively potent and long-lasting. If vetiver speaks to you, this is one you absolutely must experience. 9.5/10

Vetiver Royal Bourbon (originally from 1914). The first word in the name gave me pause. This isn't going to be one of those vetivers, is it? ...Happy surprise, No! it is not. The vetiver here is nothing like 'vetiver', ...and the peppermint isn't much like mint either. Interesting how the note pyramid seems off, with relative votes seeming even more so. The opening is mostly like unlisted bergamot, herbed up with thyme, ...maybe lightly minty. Then the heart wells up, ...and it is mostly blowsy bucolic notes of tobacco and immortelle. There is some vetiver, leather, and other earthy bits too, ...but only down in the back. This is really some rather exceptional stuff; an original balance of the bold and the understated. Once again, annother elegant Oriza L. Legrand offering lends just credence to how the old might easily outshine the new. Edit: ...and if you are looking for that other kind of vetiver, Oriza L. Legrand has you covered there too, with Gentry Jockey Club.

Oh my, this has one of the greatest openings ever. Just intoxicating, and profound. This house is one of my favorites if not very favorite. For men, I don't know better. Vetiver scents tend toward the linear, its just the nature of vetiver I think. But this is very deep, and evokes all manner of autumnal adventure, its sensuous and really dream like. Its also masculine I think. Its the more complex brother of Gurelein's vetiver, which is a classic and which I adore. But this is, really, equally wearable....its just deeper. Its the labdanum I think, and there is that bed of oakmoss behind everything. The Iris plays a significant part, too. The dry down is austere and far less sensuous. Its the regretful monk on his way home from debauchery. This is one of my favorites. Performance is fine, the longevity is above fine, in fact. You will not find a better Vetiver scent IMHO.

This opens on my skin with a very boozy vetyver and has quite a strong medicinal element - some cloves and bandaid at first sniff too....but after about 30 mins it settles into a good vetyver which for me skews masculine and altho I like many men's fragrances I think this one is too much swinging that way. But absolutely gorgeous on the right man!! It has a deep and warm spicy/woody middle bit which is comforting and very sexy too! I can definatley smell the Immortelle and its lovely - the combination with vetyver is a good mix - but unfortunatley not for me:( The drydown is good and lasts quite a long time on my skin tho hugs close to it but its warm spicy and deep. Beautifully done as with all from this house but I'll save my pennies for the Reve d' Ossian which is a peach!

Sublime, earthy vetiver that reminds me of a package of dried vetiver that I purchased in a store in the French Quarter in New Orleans; dry but humid and still smelling of the earth. I have several vetiver scents and its as if VRB has facets of all of them. So complex and heady yet still overwhelmingly vetiver. Not an everyday vetiver like Guerlain, which I could wear every day for the rest of my life if I had to. But on a cooler day, or evening, or when something altogether richer and deeper is called for. I have this and their Horizon, and both smell completely out of time.

I haven’t been very impressed with the offerings from this necro house so far, and this one’s no different. It’s an old-school Italian apothecary affair—very ‘80s masculine. The vetiver is there, but it’s dominated by culinary herbs that are bracing, but smooth. There’s an intriguing iris facet, a nice minty touch up top, but the overall effect is really just a standard, placid herbal aromatic that winds down to a standard vetiver note. Perfectly pleasant, but nothing to get excited about. It’d go well with a huge mustache and polyester clothing.

Sweet herbal vetiver . I find vetiver often too strong and unbearable but here, maybe it’s the iris and immortelle that cuts down most of the sharpness. At first I smelled the peppermint note but shortly after it faded and other parts began to flourish. Something very familiar in here, maybe Hermes Equipage. I think this leans more to masculine than feminine scent. Elegant!

The adjective "royal" suits it so well. A sublime vetiver wrapped in a citrusy disguise. The warm/fresh contrast is striking and devilishly pleasant! Beware, on some skins it can develop that "mosquito repellent" vibe: my husband will pass on it, then. (On me, it feels like a fresh vetiver lotion infused with aromatic herbs that makes you want to rub it all over.)

Almost...almost like Pine Sol. Probably a fresher more minty version? Wait, maybe it's more natural than that. Like someone put menthol on a pine tree and then chopped it up and mixed it with aftershave? Tobacco and Immortelle make it earthy and slightly sickly-sweet. I'm terrible at describing masculine scents. "It's pungent!"

The notes listed are not entirely accurate. Here's a better listing: "Peppermint, thyme, absolute vetiver, cistus labdanum, iris, vetiver bourbon, sandalwood, essence cade, leather, styrax, immortelle, tobacco, and oak moss."

Very well lasting in intensity. This is super rare, lovely strong fresh vetiver with minty accords. I guess the styrax and leather give it that extra oomph and longevity.

Very intense vetiver. Some mint. I have mixed feelings but will for sure wear it next time I need a nasal decongestant.

Retro vetiver. What's wrong with that? Perfume is perfect for being nostalgic.—That's one of its strength.