Lush Vetiver

The Earthy Smell At The Crack Of Dawn Lush Vetiver is the second perfume Gael Montero created for Zara in this recent Fragrance Series N°3 collection, together with Tender Amber. Very different from the latter, the dominant accords are citrus, herbaceous, and spicy, with slight hints of leather and musk. It is an airy, modern, clean, and gentle interpretation of vetiver. It has little to do with the cheeky and dirty vetiver of my beloved Encre Noire EAU DE TOILETTE or the more aromatic one of Cacharel pour L'Homme EAU DE TOILETTE . Suppose you are wondering about the previous vetiver-based ZARA editions. In that case, I can tell you that it is nothing like any of the predecessors, including Zara Emotions N°01 - Vetiver Pamplemousse EAU DE PARFUM, Raw Vetiver, and Vetiver Unexpected. Stoney citrus peel oils are the aromas that explode when I spray Vetiver Lush. A small piece of bergamot tries to filter between a semi-bitter and mineral leading player, grapefruit, and a good dose of peppercorns that add depth. For a while, the other notes are still quiet and dormant. One might think of a new cologne if one gives up at this point. Instead, upon wearing it, its intricate blend of notes immediately captivated me. The semi-tart opening offers a refreshing burst reminiscent of a crisp morning breeze after a downpour. On my skin, I get an added soapy lemon undertone reminiscent of Marseille soap; in case you missed it, it’s a type of soap made from olive oil and has a unique smell often described as similar to a freshly cut lemon. As the tartness subsides, the spiciness of the pepper grows and grows, making the opening more fizzy while still keeping it fresh. I would say a citrus and spicy start. When it enters the central phase, in the heart, I get the slightly leathery undertones of saffron in the background but very subdued, standing to the side. It does not paw, far from being a dominant, raw, or rude saffron. Compared to the other pieces of the same collection, i.e. Tobacco Sublime and Spell Caramel, the tobacco note here is practically invisible, ephemeral, drowned in the concoction, and dominated by other more powerful notes. There is no trace of talcum powder, neither here nor in the different phases—a velvety heart-like chamois, tart, with hints of freshly cut hay. You feel the entrance towards the drying phase when the greenish and herbaceous vetiver emerges, more similar to fresh lanceolate leaves than dried earthy roots. At this point, the combination of bright citrus with moist earth and metallic undertones is nothing short of magical. Now that the vetiver is at its peak, a robust dose of vegetal green musk, patchouli cleaned fresh and devoid of chocolaty nuances, and dried oak wood are the contours, soiling the herbaceous note with hints that take on a masculine impetus. The use of oak wood avoids that hint of sawdust typical of cedar wood or the Iso E Super molecule. I seldom get the real leathery note, at least not as clearly as in perfumes like Ombré Leather (2018) EAU DE PARFUM. I get primarily in Vetiver Lush the citrus, earthy, and woody accords of grapefruit, vetiver, and oak wood, respectively. However, I noticed that the fragrance becomes more intimate over time, expressing itself less outwardly but maintaining its essence on the skin. Being of recent production, the perfume needs to mature through a maceration period; it may be more powerful and decadent in a few months. I’m struck by how strong the projection I get from the blotter is still. As I finish writing this review, pleasant whiffs of the fragrance caress my nostrils, more potent than any I applied to my skin yesterday. Lush Vetiver is a well-worn perfume during the hottest days of spring, summer, and autumn. As already mentioned to me, it has a moderate projection and duration. I changed my mind, and after my initial hesitation and doubts, I must admit that it is an excellent creation, so much so that it deserves a plain love. I'm basing my review on a bottle I've owned since August 2023.

I picked up this fragrance last August but didn’t get around to properly trying it out. I always give Zara perfumes a few months to settle because they're sold so soon after being made. So, it was really ready to use in winter, meaning I had to wait a bit longer. Now, 10 months after buying it, I'm totally blown away – it’s probably in my top three most uplifting scents. The vetiver is lovely, clean, cold and dry – the opposite of what you get in Guerlain Vetiver. I’m wearing it now in 30-degree heat, and it smells like fresh white shirts washed in vetiver-scented detergent, hung out in a citrus garden with a light, cooling breeze. The fragrance feels much richer than when I first bought it. It lasts a good 6 hours, which is great for this type of scent, and leaves a lovely trail behind. You can still smell it in the room after you’ve left. It definitely has similarities to Roja Elysium but is much lighter – perfect for hot weather and excellent quality, especially for the price! It's a shame Zara is discontinuing these scents – they usually get appreciated later on but have poor sales initially due to bad reviews. You shouldn’t judge Zara perfumes right after buying them; give them time – and definitely don’t judge them by trying them in the shop, that’s just unfair. Highly recommend!

One of the best creations from Zara, and probably that's why it was discontinued. I wish Zara kept this one instead of creating 10 versions of Vibrant Leather, and none of them really interesting. From this line, LV and Sunset at Red Sand Dunes really stood out for me, kind of like a pair of perfumes for day and evening, office-date, spring to summer vs autumn-winter. Gorgeous, well-balanced, clean and fresh vetiver, with the most pleasant blend of grapefruit and bergamot, probably offset with saffron, as there was none of the zest in there. I would get constant compliments and a spray or two throughout a warm day would lift my spirits and mood, like a sea breeze at a suffocating heat. Manly, elegant, but not screaming MAN. Approachable, but not too strong - lingering more like an echo than truly projecting off the skin. I wouldn't be surprised if the inspiration for this one was MSLF.

really good vetiver, the saffron note is not as pickup-able by the nose as in zara vetiverich (making it less sweet). it’s my favorite fresh fragrance (i love vetiver) and it is suitable for every kind of situation, especially work settings. it’s even usable in colder days, not in winter though. 9/10 for the scent and 10/10 for the price, fairly intimate

This one puts me in a really good mood 🧡 I love citrusy fragrances but there is something more with this one. I wish it last longer and I hope that here it will be the same case as with series 1 and 2 fragrances like Sunrise on the Red Sand Dunes - all of them improved over time in a quite significant way. 👌