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.

Vetiver Fragrance are my Favorites, and Phaedon delivers A wonderful addition to the many on the market today. Very well done, its A Very Fresh take on Vetiver not to heavy just right. It's A great choice if you are looking for that great vetiver smell without overpowering everyone around you. I guess my only issue with purchasing A full bottle would be the price. In my opinion Phaedon and Guerlin's vetiver are so close it really make no sense to pay an extra $100 plus dollars for the Pheadon. Longevity seems to be an issue as well, I have tested it X2 now and it does not hold up well. Guerlain and Tom Fords are much wiser Buys.

A nice alternative to Guerlain's Vetiver EDT for those who prefer a little bit less vetiver. It stays in lemony territory for longer (sugary lemon drops with antiseptic minty tones) while avoiding the more vegetal parts of vetiver in the dry-down. Even the grassy nuances of the vetiver have a more difficult time making their presence known by comparison. I'm sure someone's very happy this exists, but considering the availability and friendlier priced Guerlain Vetiver already exists, I don't really consider myself to be the target audience. A fragrance profile sweetened and modernised in an uninteresting way.

Being a vetiver freak I was excited to try this. This is high quality and a somewhat unusual take on vetiver. The lemon gives this an edge, and the black pepper is almost like gun powder. I love pepper when it's done in this way. It starts promsing but I have a problem with how this dries down. Like another reviewer writes on here, the dry down ruins this for me. It turns into a barbershop mature man type smell. The pepper almost saves this, but the lemon and vetiver combo make this smell like a drug store shave cream. Too bad, as I almost really liked this one. Can't win them all....

High quality Vetiver. Much like Grey Vetiver from Tom Ford, a bit less sweet. Also reminds me of Vetiver Extrait from Roja Dove, but again, less sweet. Not too distinctive, Black Vetiver doesn't really have an own face, but the top and mid notes are very well done. There is a HUGE downside to Black Vetiver which will prevent me from ever buying it. It's the late dry down. After 8+ hours, it is still really present but gives this dull, old man-smell. Try it out yourself: spray on a paper strip, wait a day, then smell. Too bad! Top/mid notes: 8,5/10 Overall: 5/10

Not as black as I would have liked (I was hoping for a dark, smoldering, smokey vetiver), but not bad non the less. Though it offers nothing new to vetiver, the scent is beautifully executed and very well balanced. Trust Pierre Guillaume ! Black Vetiver opens dark and peppery, but quickly blooms into a lemony, aquatic and refreshing vetiver fragrance. And I mean aquatic in the very best sense of the word: limpid, light and salty like sea water. Definitely a feel good fragrance... Sillage is very discreet and longevity is average. Perfect for a summer day!

I’m not sure what was going through the minds of the good folks over at Phaedon when they decided to market this scent as “Black Vetiver” as there’s certainly nothing black about it, and the vetiver here (smokey or not) is reduced to a minor supporting role. The bottle opens with a burst of citrus, but within an hour that dries down to a very aldehydic, flower-oily perfume. I’m sure there’s a segment of women who will appreciate this fragrance, but men should proceed with caution.

To my nose it smells most prominently of a ginger that is sweet and woody. It’s a dry, earthy, spice-sprinkled scent, very comforting and uplifting with a multi-seasonal quality. Like gingerbread in the winter, or lemon cheesecake on a ginger-nut base in the summer.