Black Vetiver

As a vetiver lover, I find that Black Vetiver holds up to it's name. At first spray I smell pure vetiver, then gently mixes with the citrus and pepper. I can actually smell the vetiver throughout the day. I have worn it in the hot South Florida days, and it balances out very well. Longevity is very good.

From a sample spray I have been using. This opens like a mens cologne – very much like Dana English Leather in fact, although quite quickly a lemon note comes through. This sweetens and softens the rough opening, and lemon sweetness takes over for a while. I am very surprised as I expected with the name “black vetiver” and the packaging etc for this to be dark and smoky when in fact this reminds me of summertime! It again has a “summer skin” type feel wearing over these last few warm days, but this is bright and light not dark or black. The name and packaging don't match the scent for me! Anyway I quite like this. It did turn a little strange, almost like a swimming pool for a while in the middle (!) which I am unsure about. In fact the image that comes to mind in the heart and in the drydown, smells like you have been sunbathing at the poolside somewhere hot and sunny, sun lotion in place and decided to go for a dip to cool off. So you go swimming in the cool waters of the outdoor chlorinated pool, then sit in the sun to dry, sipping a lemon tea. This is a little weird but kind of nice. I have been using in quite warm weather (well, British warm!) and it has suited quite well. A little strident in the opening but mellows well, lasts over 12 hours, and moderate to big sillage. Weird but nice!

Phaedon Black Vetiver isn't quite as dark as it sounds---a pleasant, agreeable mix of vetiver, black pepper, and lemon. It's roughly about as dirty as I like vetiver to be (Chanel Sycomore pushes the threshold slightly). It's slightly more cold weather-friendly but it probably wouldn't be problematic to wear, as in too cloying, in the summer as well, given that the lemon brightens it up and the veitver is about midway between fresh and dirty, with the pepper not being applied too heavily, either. In a similar sense, it's slightly masculine but overall a unisex fragrance. A nice option but for the standard Phaedon EDP pricing of $160 for 100ml, a bit of a stretch, unfortunately, but maybe I'd consider it at discounted pricing. 7 out of 10

I mean the notes are spot on. All I smell is black pepper, wood, and a bit of charred lemon, similar to if you blew out the wick on a lemon-scented candle. It's beautiful in it's simplicity, though. It's got that quiet, serene sort of sexiness to it that I find magnetic. Not something I would wear myself, but I may gift a bottle to my boyfriend if they ever come out with 50 mLs.

Black Vetiver is true to its name... for about 30 minutes. BV opens with a strong pepper and vetiver on my skin. About 30 mins in the lemon emerges and lightens the scent up a bit. 6 hours in. I am still getting a light, soft and smooth vetiver. Lemon and pepper have receded into the background. 12 hours in, still a soft vetiver that is very close to the skin. I agree with Mary-Jayne bellow, based on the name and bottle, I expected this scent to be darker and smoky. But instead it is more clean and fresh. Overall, not a bad scent, but there are so many others out there that have this vibe, so I will not be adding a bottle of this to my collection in the near future. One day I may revisit it though. Bottom line: If you are a Vetiver fan you should try a sample to see how it works on your skin.