Vetiver Perfumes & Fragrances

The plant is Chrysopogon zizanioides, a tall tropical grass whose roots are harvested, washed, dried and steam-distilled. Haitian vetiver is considered the finest, with a clean, grapefruit-like top; Javanese vetiver is smokier and darker; Bourbon vetiver from Réunion sits between the two. Distillation can take twenty-four hours or more, and the resulting oil is one of the most complex natural materials in the industry.

Vetiver is a base note and a structural anchor. Perfumers use it in fougeres alongside lavender and coumarin, in chypres with oakmoss and bergamot, and in modern compositions as a clean, dry alternative to patchouli. It pairs particularly well with citrus, iris and leather.

Vetiver performs year-round, reading coolest in hot weather and most resinous in winter layered with wood and spice.