Vetiver in Bloom

An interesting shapeshifter! There are two sides to this perfume - a clean, feminine floral musk on the one hand, a classic masculine aromatic vetiver on the other. The tension between these two sides is not totally original — niche houses have been releasing these kinds of masculine meets feminine fragrances for years and you can trace the genre through 80s powerhouses back to the scents of the women’s lib movement. However, there is a clean yet intimate vibe to this one that is new to me. This is no jasmine-leather cliché. As a lover of lilac and classic cheapie musks like Bonne Bell Skin Musk and Avon Odyssey, I love the approach here of buttoning up the cloudy floral musk in somewhat serious Vetiver. The result is tailored, unisex, buttoned up yet still relaxed and hospitable. Sometimes I get a bit mote vetiver punch and sometimes this reads as a pure floral musky cloud! I’m happy either way.

My husband treated me to a Valentine's Day date night visit to Scent Bar in Hollywood. I dutifully walked in with a list of must-tries (that place is far too overwhelming for me if I don't plan ahead). I knew I wanted to walk out with something in either the osmanthus, green almond, anise, or lilac family. Vetiver in Bloom was not on my radar, but when Lilac Dream by Marissa Zappas was too anemic for my liking, I was told I had to try it. I sprayed some on a card. Walked around. Sniffed a lot of things. Kept returning to that card. Tried some on my skin. Walked around some more. Kept returning to my wrist. The rest, as they say, is history. Vetiver in Bloom is gorgeous. I mean, really, really pretty. But also unique. Also interesting. The box it came in had some presence to it, a nice heft. I spent a bit more than I wanted to on this, but it's a welcome addition to my shelf.

I think this is beautiful. I can’t get enough of it. It’s light but has depth and like the name I feel like it blooms on the skin and just encompasses everything unique, yet fresh, yet lightly floral and idk if this is odd....but it’s comforting, like familiar? I’ve never smelled anything like it though which makes it different and stands out to me. I’ve realized that the notes I smell on my skin the most are lilac and jasmine and sometimes in the heat the jasmine pulls stronger. I honestly don’t know if I can detect the Vetiver but I must in some form with the dry down because it brings me a sense of calmness that Vetiver scented things tend to do for me lol. I think this is a masterpiece honestly. I can’t wait to get a full bottle.

This might be my favorite perfume of all time. I've never smelled anything that is simultaneously so unique and easy-to-wear. The two are mutually exclusive a lot of the time. Normally, I avoid patchouli, juniper, and vetiver as prominent notes, but the way they play with the lilac, magnolia, and jasmine is so harmonious that each note just rounds out the next. The lilac is most prominent to me, but it isn't a powdery lilac. It's got an almost herbal quality. It smells expensive, classy, and interesting, but still very pretty and comforting. It would be sexy enough for a date and appropriate enough for an office. Truly a masterpiece. It lasts on skin for 12hr and clothing for days.

Have you ever stumbled upon a lilac bush in full summer bloom and sunk your nose into its beautiful purple flowers? That first deep breath of pure delight! This fragrance somehow captures that exact smell and feeling. I find myself missing vetiver in bloom sometimes when I'm not wearing it. This is such a sweet, cozy fragrance. One of my very favorite florals.