Vetiver Pamplemousse

Definitely the best of the bunch from this collection without question. Blind bought and certainly not disappointed, especially at the cost. As I’m a huge citrus fan, I’m absolutely loving the grapefruit in this; sharp, sparkling and bright, although as has been previously mentioned, the vetiver is very muted & I personally would have liked It to have come through in the background more. That being said though, the grapefruit in here is incredibly naturalistic and not at all synthetic, which, if I’m perfectly honest, surprised me at this price-point. Jo Malone has done a really decent job for Zara here and that’s to be applauded for the cost. It’s perfectly fine for pretty much any occasion, certainly won’t offend anyone and also surprisingly has fairly decent longevity for a citrus fragrance, around 4-5 hours on me but it doesn’t really project much and sillage is weak to barely moderate. It’s crisp & clean and pretty much a no-brainer for the money. Calling it an Eau de Parfum is risible though; it’s an EdT at best and a cologne by most standards but the misnomer aside, don’t let it put you off by any means. It’s fantastic straight out of the shower or if you are just looking to freshen yourself up and if you haven’t had a chance to try it, I suggest you do!

Citrus perfumes aren’t exactly known for their longevity. Jo Malone’s usually vanish quite quickly, and Zara’s in a blink, so this perfume won’t last an hour. But honestly, I couldn’t care less with this one. Vetiver Pamplemousse might not last hours, but the few moments it does are an absolute delight. The mandarin and grapefruit are bang on the sweet and tart line, bright, juicy, and ridiculously realistic, like slicing into a fresh fruit in the sun. The vetiver stays in the background, giving it just enough depth to keep things interesting without stealing the show. It’s completely gender neutral; maybe the citrus zest leans ever so slightly masculine, but the sweetness of the grapefruit brings it right back to the middle. I’d go as far as saying it’s one of the best Zara’s ever made. It’s been a permanent in my collection since it launched. The new bottle and spray are honestly brilliant too, sleek, chic, and way better than Zara’s older designs. I layer it over other scents to bring some daytime sparkle, or just spray it at home whenever I need a hit of citrusy joy. Oh, and if you’re tempted by the “elixir” version in the amber bottle, please don’t be. It starts off quite as yummy, but turns heavy and weird real fast. Hard pass.

Elegantly simplistic, a Joe Malone for $15!?!, this freshie is unisex, great for the gym or a day at the beach, and is a real crowd pleaser that is unlikely to offend in the office. Compliments galore, a happy uplifting moment, and an instant feeling and projection of cleanliness. I stopped by the Perfume Guy's office (I live in SF too), and he recommended this when I mentioned my love for Bulgari's Tygar (which is 300!?! a bottle). The Perfume Guy's a true expert with a million followers who has smelled literally every fragrance on this site, and his high praise is now shared by mine. The grapefruit is realistic but not sharp, the mandarin adds a gorgeous touch of sweetness, and the vetiver is exceptionally well- blended. Is this a long-lasting beast? No. The criticisms below about longevity are fair - it's got moderate projection, and will last 4-6 hours. But that's the same (or better) for light blue intense/guerlain pamplemousse/most citruses. And for $15, you can respray all day if you want and then buy another and still be way ahead of the game. This one's a no-brainer for the price.

I think this is the one of the top 3 in Zara, both Men and Women's collection. It's extremely well blended and there is certainly very good quality of the notes used, which is really important for perfumes, especially where vetiver is concerned. It certainly beats out lots of highly hyped Middle-Eastern fragrances that had vetiver as a note (these vetiver are usually of really inferior quality). It even beats my Narcisco Rodriguez Him Bleu Noir EDP hands down... But it also dramatically improves it after layering with VP. Its perfect to layer on those fragrences that I have kept away from failed blind buys. It really gives those disappointing scent a new lease of life. I think the high quality of vetiver and grapefruit used here, plus the subtle mandarin orange really nailed it for me. 👍👍Strong Buy, easily more valuable than many other Zara fragrences with its high quality and versatility, IMO can easily pass off as a Jo Malone London collection.

I read something about this perfume in a comment section of an article (can’t remember which article) but it prompted me to make a blind purchase. My 40 ml cost $20, a little more than a sample would’ve...so I took a chance. I’m glad I did. Vetiver Pamplemousse behaves like many other Jo Malone compositions I’ve tried: gone in 30 minutes, and no trace of the scent at the hour mark. The difference for me: Zara has this olfactory experience priced correctly. I love the scent. Fresh grapefruit so realistic it makes your mouth pucker. The vetiver comes across very green on my skin, like it was harvested just moments ago. If I find any fault with Vetiver Pamplemousse, it’s with performance. And that’s only because I love it and want more time, not because I feel like the bottle is not worth the price paid. We are experiencing some above average hot weather in the Pacific Northwest, and I find this perfume is perfect for it.

My goodness. I got 2 small size 1.3oz) of this refreshing fragrance. It reminds me of Allure Homme Sport Cologne or Dior Homme Cologne, but less sweat. It has good projection for the first 1hr, then pulls back to a close scent bubble around you for another 2 hours. It shines in the heat. It’s gone in the 5th-6th hour. I haven’t tested in AC environment yet but I guess it will not last long. The 2 Jo Malone I got from Zara (Ebony Woods and Vetiver Pamplomousse) are fantastic. 8-10 sprays are good for a night out, getting together with friends/family in the summer. Great for cookouts, picnic, beach walk, summer travels. A white shirt fragrance. It’s a freshie so stop being obnoxious or trashing Zara for it for longevity. Millesime Imperial by Creed lasts 30 minutes, and people complain about and still buys it.

Hands down one of the best Zara perfumes. I don't smell vetiver at all and it's more feminine for me, like a freshly peeled grapefruit sprinkled with sugar or a grapefruit flavored soda. I'm definitely not a fan of citrus fragrances, most of the very citrusy ones smell like a cleaning detergent for me, but this one is not chemical at all, also doesn't smell like sweat after some time, which is the case with some other pamplemousse fragrances. It's very comfortable to wear to the office since the sillage is quite weak, but also kind of a compliment getter. Considering the price of this one, it's definitely worth it and also a safe blind buy for grapefruit enjoyers.

Color me surprised to find out Jo Malone was responsible for this and Ebony Wood. I was never a fan of her signature line of frags. But testing out perfumes today at Zara (looking for an xmas gift for the gf) I took to this, Ebony Wood and Nude Bouquet. Update: I sprayed this and Ebony Wood on my arm and waking up the next day I can still pickup both. That's at least 12 hrs and makes both eternal. The Vetiver in this is not strong and grassy. You can barely detect it if at all. I'm guessing it's just there to give the citruses some body. There's no greenness to this though.

I blind bought this based on reviews here. I adore how Jo Malone does crisp citrusy fruity summer (Lime Basil Mandarin being my forever favourite) fragrances without a hint of sweetness, and this one has her scent dna. The fresh opening of grapefruit is wonderful, which settles into a drier vetiver with an element of mandarin. It gives sunny, warm summer afternoons and makes you happy. You have to pack it on your clothes for impact, but Mediterranean summers are very hot where I live and I can only stand such light, uplifting, airy scents. Very impressive stuff from Zara.

OMG OMG...!!! It’s back, thank goodness. It was discontinued for over a year and now it’s back in a new bottle!! Thank you Zara X Jo Malone CBE My past review: It’s just so good I lost count of how many bottles I restocked... I even use it for layering with other fragrances. This was the first fragrance from the Zara & Jo Malone collaboration I got back in 2020 and I’m still trying to get em all! All the collab scents are amazing but this is still my favourite from this ‘Emotions’ series. *Finally in mid 2023 I got my hands on ‘Fleur d'Oranger’ to complete my set!!

i go the whole set as a perfume collector and a fan of j.malone. best price to get a set from the valued designer. this is the 2nd best smell i reall adore in the emotion collection apart from the my fav one-- no.2/ waterlily set. This one smells like a yummy grapefruit freshly cut in front of your face and brighten up my day right after wakeup . this is best for sunshine day while you were planning an outing in the city walk. smells so good and yummy that my florists reserved a new bloom for me. love love love.

It is funny how everyone says that there's barely any vetiver in it but when I spray it, to my nose in the first 10 min is mostly vetiver with some citrus in the background. When it settles on my skin, it acquires a slight touch of clean and fresh sweetness that smells expensive and classy. This is one my favourites of this line. I have never purchased any zara fragrances but I couldn't resist to own this and Ebony Wood. They are just where my fragrance taste is at the moment. Well done Zara and Jo Malone!

I blind bought it as I couldn’t wait any more and I have zero regrets. I am elated. It’s a simple, natural, straightforward fragrance which instantly uplifts my mood. It’s like an olfactory sip of fresh champagne. I was prepared for poor longevity, but I am actually able to feel it on my clothes throughout the day. I am very averse to synthetic smells and this one is far from it. The only downside I can come up with is that the new redesigned bottle is not practical to carry in your bag for reapplication.

So impressed with this and so happy that I picked it up. It was a complete blind buy and I really only purchased because it was a jo malone collaboration. A perfectly zesty and fresh grapefruit. However, it is not too bitter because the sweetness from the mandarin orange. Pretty straightforward and linear scent but the citrusy sweetness lasts for along time and doesn't just fade like standard cheapies. This really sticks around for a few hours, 4-5 hours and last even all day when sprayed on clothes.

I smell more of pomelo in the opening rather than grapefruit or mandarin/lemon mix. It does have very slight bitterness which does add to the 'realism' facet of the scent. Dried down to slightly warm, dried vetiver, leaning slightly masculine. This fragrance is totally unisex and definitely true to its name. p.s. I tried this on my arm along with Zara Vibrant Leather Summer (Their 2020 rendition of Dior Homme Cologne clone) in store. It's pretty hard to remember which is which in the first hour.

This is lovely! I've been looking for so long for such an airy, light citrus smell! I've tried so many niche ones, but have never encountered something so simple and effective. I'm very sensitive to perfume and they always have that ONE nauseating animalic ingredient or some headache inducing white flower. And this one is magic! I will try layering it with Escentric Molecules - MOLECULE 04 to give it some sandalwood depth that I so much enjoy! LOVELY! Something I could drench myself in.

In the top 5 of Zara perfumes. Fragrance on beast mode. Opening is extremely strong and vetiver comes first, after 30 minutes it leaves and makes room for lemon and grapefruit. You will smell this until you scrub it off. It leaves a beautiful scent trail, especially in the windy days whenever a breeze comes the fragrance fills the area. Could be a bad choice for office because it has an extremely strong, enormous sillage. Good for layering. Very basic but beautifully done perfume.

I just received the EdP but on a different bottle (the same as the Elixir but transparent). I simply love the fact that the small amount of advertised notes are right there. No surprises. You get Grapefruit with a bit of mandarin to uplift even more the citrus notes and vetiver. This is the type of Vetiver that I personally enjoy. It’s closer to a white wood than to a classical vetiver. An uplifting, proper, attractive and casual fragrance.

I tested it briefly in the store and I didn't like it, I remember it smelling completely different. Then I ordered a 10ml roll-on cause I wanted to try it again and I fell in love. Very unisex, a yummy realistic grapefruit, nice and fresh for the summer. The roll-on version is very easy to carry around in your bag as it doesn't have a very good longevity, but for the price you can always put on more. I will probably buy a bigger one soon.

My kind of citrus fragrance. Tart and vibrant, as some reviewers have said before me. Great unisex scent for warm weather or after your shower post-workout. I love how it smells, even if the scent doesn't change from when you spray it on til it fades a few hours later. I won't get tired to smelling this. Doesn't stay long, four hours max on my skin. But I don't mind spraying again once I have to, given the price point.

It’s just so good I lost count of how many bottles I restocked... I even use it for layering with other fragrances. This was the first fragrance from the Zara & Jo Malone collaboration I got back in 2020 and I’m still trying to get em all! All the collab scents are amazing but this is still my favourite from this ‘Emotions’ series. *Finally in mid 2023 I got my hands on ‘Fleur d'Oranger’ to complete my set!!

I like this scent so so much It is not special at all, sort of basic but, just perfectly executed It gives you a boost of energy and freshness I'm going through a phase where most of my beloved perfumes became annoying, but this one with its poor longevity and citric boost gives me exactly what I want Also if you bought it and find it way too basic or linear, know that it great for layering

the most natural photo realistic grapefruit ive ever come across. unbelievable at this level. there is a however... its extremely simple. i can only imagine how much better this would be as a perfume had it been infused with a light touch of iris and an actual proper dose of vetiver despite the name its undetectable in this. still, a ridiculously good release

An intoxicating, persistent, yet perfect impression of freshly juiced grapefruit, with only the slightest hint of vetiver. Probably my favorite from the Zara Emotions line by Jo Malone. The entire line was designed to be worn alone or layered, so I plan on playing around with layering the various fragrances I purchased.

This is my favorite from the Zara Emotions line. It starts with a fresh, cooling zip of citrus and dries down to a smooth vetiver. I think it is inoffensive and suits every mood and occasion. I quite like the weak sillage because it forces you to be really close in order to smell the vetiver and I think that’s sexy.

To my nose smells almost identical with Vibrant Leather summer/cologne...only a little bit sweeter. It is the only one from the collection that is really unisex, the other ones tend to be on the feminine side. The longevity really sucks...1 hour, and puffff.....it is gone! Too bad, only a 6/10 from me!

It's a very fresh and bright! Love it so much! But I wish it stays more longer. Projection is very weak. Gone after an hour. :( On clothe stays longer. I like that this perfume is citrusy and the same time don't smell like air freshener - it's a problem for lot of citrus fragrances.

Very sharp yet uplifting at first, the grapefruit is very realistic and strong. Soon, it smoothes and the fragrance starts to settle. Extraordinary for summer or for spring sunny days, perfect for white T-shirt or crisp white shirts, lovely 100% unisex fragrance. Love it

I don’t usually like vetiver but it works really well in this fragrance. This scent is sharp, green and citrusy, totally unisex. Longevity isn’t the best on this one but i’m sure it will perform better on hot days. It’s an elegant freshie for sure!

Another no brainer scent from Zara. Works really well in the warmer months : realistic tart grapefruit, sweet mandarin with a vetiver woody undertone - I really love it. Performance could be better but I wont complain for the price you can get it.

I bought this blindly in the collector's set and I was not disappointed. Grapefruit is natural and sharp. Vetiver is muted but good for any occasion with a reasonable persistence. For the price, it's a no-brainer and great for refreshing. Try it!

First of all I think it has fantastic quality for the price, it doesn't smell synthetic or sickly sweet. The name is Vetiver Pamplemousse and this is exactly what you get ! more grapefruit that vetiver, but still very nice, fresh, unisex scent.

Beautiful fresh grapefruit that last a few hours and is excellent value for money. I have compared it to Aerin Lauder's Mediterranean Honeysuckle and it beats that one hands down on smell, longevity, sillage, presentation and price. A winner.

Bought one for me, the whole family loved and now there's two shared bottles around the house. It smells like a summer day at the beach, something about it smells a little like expensive sunscreen. Makes for a nice (and easy to please) gift.

love it and i really don't get why did zara kill all the good fresh ones: this, vibrant leather cologne, eclat de bergamote, all the sport versions... we were left with amalfi coast and tender amber, which are still too sweet for my tastes.

True grapefruit, simple, summery and juicy. After an hour, the herbaceousness of the vetiver and some more depth appears. 26 € for 90 ml is a nice price for this one, as it doesn't last that short. A man could definitely wear this too.

I love this when it's hot out. It's one of the fragrances that I can tolerate in heat. It doesn't last too long on me, about 3 to 4 hours, but that's okay. Photorealistic grapefruit, very fresh, happiness in a bottle.

smells like the san pellegrino sodas. fizzy, warm grapefruit / vetiver. pretty straightforward but i love it. longevity is impressive considering it’s an inexpensive citrus fragrance.

The 2024 Elixir version is indeed longer lasting, but also more floral, which makes it more feminine in my opinion. Not exactly for me then but I'd love a woman smelling like this

I can't really smell the vetiver but I don't mind, grapefruit is one of my favourite smells and this is so natural and perfect. Definitely a must-buy if you're a fan of that note.

people can downvote the "reminds me of d&g lb forever", but the fact is, the italian is really damn close to this one from zara. (he just projects and lasts a bit more.) 7/10

Surprisingly i like this. I sprayed it on my wrist last time when i was in Zara Store and after three hours, it still lingers on my skin. Smells like baby shampoo :>

New update: I'm wearing Diptyque Vetyverio edt right now and I think Zara one is the fresher take with brighter, juicier pomelo and less smoky than Diptyque.

Low projection and longevity but insane quality considering it's a Zara fragrance. Citrus accords feel so real.

Beautiful and uplifting grapefruit opening. This a citrus based fragrance, so the performance is just ok.

deliciously real grapefruit - perfect for the gym or an easy grab on a hot summer day!

Lasts forever on me and makes my other fragrances so sparkly and intoxicating :)

This is the best from this line - grapefruit is there for sure.

How many scents do you know that rely on or revolve around the herbaceous notes of vetiver? Nobody, someone, or a myriad? I know many of them. Vetiver is a note that I have always appreciated. I love it in all its expressions, green, citrusy, herbaceous, earthy, creamy, dry, woody, leathery, and smoky. It is a special note of its kind, has no equal, unmistakable. It is instantly recognizable when used in a fragrance—everything except vetiver. Vetiver Pamplemousse is the first of eight pieces belonging to Zara's Emotions collection, signed by Jo Loves (Jo Malone). It's a potent citrus blend, which takes ripe summer grapefruits and reduces them to bitter, spicy nectar paired with apathetic vetiver that's sure to do the trick. They should have called the fragrance "Pamplemousse Vetiver," the grapefruit note is more pronounced than vetiver, or better still, "Velvet Pamplemousse" as the vetiver softens and smoothes a domineering and bitter grapefruit. The scent is deceptive but fatally attractive. It offers us a surprising blend of bitter citrus and grassy, but not too earthy, accords. On me, it opens with an explosion of a citrus mix. I get the sweet citrus zest with a touch of pure mandarin and lots of bitter grapefruit. And I wouldn't rule out a bit of lemon or even lime. What I perceive is a grapefruit, perhaps pink, ripe, juicy, and very fragrant. The overall scent makes me think of the white sponge just below the rind. Together with the grapefruit, the mandarin peeps out; both fruits seem authentic and not very synthetic. The bitterness fades a little after a few minutes. However, it doesn't disappear entirely but stays in the background until the very end. Wow, the bittersweet citrus fruits are real, I can smell both the outside yellow, smooth peel, and the inside white, spongy portion. Bitter grapefruit has a protagonist role in the opening compared to harsh sweet mandarin orange. Although I smell the two of them clearly, the former is more prominent. A sweet peppery note exudes in the heart, blends with rosy, green, and metallic hues as if there were undeclared geranium leaves. I do not catch too many changes between the initial and final stages. This citrus scent sticks on its own for a while before its partner in crime, vetiver, joins. It's a gradual process, almost as if the citrus note stays wet, and the vetiver only enters when it dries and fades away a bit. The vetiver appears to be tasked with taming the sharp grapefruit flavor, but it's not very good at it, which is welcome news for grapefruit lovers. Drying has a crisp, transparent, yet fragile vetiver, perceptible but not dominant as in other vetiver-based fragrances, Uomo Vetyver EAU DE TOILETTE to name one. Paradoxically, citrus fruit leftovers from the opening are more penetrating than the herbaceous root; there is green but without earthiness. Sometimes bursts of smoke come to me. Instead, I get a clean moss if I bring my nose close to the skin. Hence, the last stage is more musky than earthy. To some extent, it smells like watered-down Terre d'Hermès Eau Très Fraîche, with grapefruit replacing the bitter orange, and simple vetiver feels and a touch of soapy. Vetiver Pamplemousse is fleeting, but grapefruit at first is the most accurate and realistic grapefruit I've ever experienced in a perfume. Many other scents that claim to have that note never seem to make it so real or confuse it with too many additional citrus notes to appreciate it. The sour and sweet aspects are pleasant and balanced. The fragrance evolves little during the day. However, it's an agreeable smell, so I didn't tire of it. The projection is relatively minimal and is a skin scent after half an hour. I would say it is suitable for spring and summer days and evenings, not a nocturnal scent, undoubtedly. If you prefer your fragrance to last all day, it requires maintenance and reapplication. I based the review on a 100ml bottle that I have owned since June 2020.

On my skin this a pleasant skin scent and pretty long-lasting in the heat (10+ hours!). Compared to one of my favourite perfumes - Guerlain Pamplelune - I can see how others sense a resemblance. They are both intensely grapeftuity indeed, although the Zara version is more like pulp & juice with a touch of... herbal medicine but in a good way, I guess it's the vetiver taking a turn on my skin. Pamplelune by comparison is encompassing the whole fruit for/on me (including the peel/skin oils, the stalk, the leaves...), with a strong opening before slowly settling into an arm distance scent. I prefer the Guerlain on me for this very reason - the total grapefruit experience, just gives me an energy kick in the heat like no other fragrance. LOVE - but Zara's VP longevity at 10 hours is even superior (Pamplelune lasts around 5-6 hours which is still plenty on me especially considering its concentration and preferred season of use ) and Zara prices a bargain. I'm just not 100% sold on the vetiver note here but otherwise a solid like. In short, give it a chance both if you like Pamplelune but wished for a cheaper alternative and if Pamplelune didn't agree with your skin ( a lot of reviews for it mention the cat pee turn. The delights and woes of individual body chemistry indeed) because while similar they're not quite the same and those little differences x skin variance might do the trick ;D. Good luck and may the citrus deities bless you! P.S. also for what it's worth this is the one Jo Malone for Zara I sampled that a) didn't disappear quickly or b) didn't take an - alas!- bug spray turn after a few minutes...