Royall Vetiver

Royall Muske captured my heart not too long ago, so it was only fitting to try this other offering from Royall Lyme Bermuda. Another slam dunk, as far as I'm concerned. Keep in mind that it's an EDC, so longevity and projection aren't beastly. It still beats out TF's grey vetiver which I got rid of due to its joke of a performance. The fragrance is top notch with its bright citrus opening that cools and comforts the skin, and then to its classic earthy/woody drydown that's typical of vetiver essential oil. The value is great for such a generous 8 oz bottle. I've been splashing liberally along with a scent-free moisturizer post-shave. It lasts a couple hours on its own, or makes a perfect layer base for other fragrances like encre noir sport. Overall, it's a great-smelling, inoffensive fragrance made with quality ingredients at a very fair price. Not much more I could ask for. Grade: A

classica colonia agrumata e lievemente speziata con assestamento su vetiver. preferisco il vetiver aspro di guerlain o quello terroso di eau du gouverneur, ma per la stagione calda questo è perfetto.

I've always wanted to try something from the Royall Fragrances line, but it was never imported in Greece and Bermuda lies so far away. So, I was more than excited to receive some Royall Vetiver, due to a noble lady's kindness and generosity. Now, I understand there's a myriad of "vetiver this" and "vetiver that" fragrances out there, but I've always being wondering about how many people actually know how vetiver essential oil smells like. Since I fancy myself as a Nicolas Mamounas or at least a Roger Pellegrino in the making (yeah, right...), I have a good deal of pure essential oils around, and vetiver is one of my staples. So here's the case. For the first ten minutes or so, Royall Vetiver smells like the closest fragrance to vetiver essential oil that I have ever smelled. But after that, it smells like nutmeg and coriander and nothing else! Just in case of being somewhat hallucinating, I even compared it with the vases of nutmeg and coriander in my spice rack, and yes, it's definitely nutmeg and coriander all the way! Minus the first minutes that is. Now, the problem is that despite the fact that I really love nutmeg and mostly coriander, I can't understand why a fragrance consisting of three notes, and with the first two occupying 95% 0f its life, should be named after the third. I guess it's because vetiver is one of the brightest stars in the perfume sky, while nutmeg and coriander are mainly kitchen dwellers above all. Thus "Royall Nutmeg and Coriander" probably wouldn't stand a chance. But in any case, a fragrance so much alike Cacharel pour Homme, which is one of my eternal loves, couldn't score anything less than exquisite in my book, along with making me think that a trip to Bermuda anytime soon wouldn't be a bad idea, since suddenly, it doesnt look that far anymore....

Disclaimer: I use this solely as an aftershave, and am reviewing it as such Unlike the other Royall fragrances, Vetiver is unique in that it's not a linear fragrance (i.e., there are distinct top, middle and base notes). The open is a bracing citrus, which is quickly followed by a spicy note that combines with the vetiver and sustains through the drydown. While more complex than other Royall fragrances, it still retains it's simplicity - this is a vetiver fragrance, through and through. The bottle indicates that it's mixed with "oils from the finest rootlets of the Vetiver grass", and I don't doubt that. This is a quality fragrance at a very affordable price point. The only downside, like other Royall fragrances, is the longevity. I get just around 2 hours out of this one (not bad as an aftershave, though). However, sillage is a bit better on this one.

OK, so the BOTTLE indicates that this is for men, but I found it perfectly fine on my skin. Better than fine! I really enjoyed the spicy citrus, which winds up smelling like a dark bar at closing time - full of wood, liquor and bad decisions. The fragrance is for sale at Whole Foods, for all you Americans! Inexpensive and easy to find.