Here's the thing about really versatile fragrance notes: they should never be static. For example, I want a rose to smell different depending on what type of fragrance it's used in—in some scents, it should smell sharp and young, while in others, it should smell sweet and warm. No matter what, however, a rose scent should always be unmistakably rosey.
This is the case for any universally blendable fragrance notes, but it's particularly true for vetiver, a note you've likely seen crop up in many different fragrances. Vetiver is a grass native to India and Southeast Asia. Depending on what region of the world it comes from, the way it smells can vary quite a bit—some can be clean and fresh, while others can be smoky and deep. It always adds a crisp, earthy greenness to scents, and it's a calling card for cool people everywhere.
The best vetiver perfumes:
1. Frédéric Malle Vetiver Extraordinaire Parfum Spray
Key Notes: Bergamot, pink pepper, Haitian vetiver, cedar sandalwood, oakmoss, myrrh, musk
This green perfume is spiked with 25% vetiver, which is about three times the normal concentration. Don't worry, you won't end up smelling like a lawnmower (though who doesn't love the scent of freshly cut grass?). It's made with a rare vetiver oil that nixes vetiver's bitter tendencies for a crisp take on the scent that's balanced with a woody blend.
You might also like:
Key Notes: Rose, red fruits, cinnamon, benzoin, incense, patchouli, sandalwood, castoreum.
2. Prada Infusion de Vetiver
Key Notes: Italian bergamot, Italian mandarin, lime, cardamome, Tunisian neroli, rose, taragon, ginger, vetiver
This fragrance will instantly transport your senses to an idyllic meadow in the woods. It's spicy, woody, and grassy, but it's still soft around the edges, making it an ultra-wearable scent.
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Key Notes: Iris pallida, mandarin, neroli, cedar, vetiver, galbanum, incense, benzoin
3. Diptyque Vetyverio
Key Notes: Italian mandarin, Floridian grapefruit, Indonesian nutmeg, Egyptian geranium, Madagascan ylang-ylang, Turkish rose, French carrot seed, vetiver from Haiti and Java, Virginia cedar, white musk
There's nothing I like more than a gender-neutral perfume. This fragrance gives you the best of both traditionally masculine and feminine scents by mixing grassy notes with florals.
You might also like:
Key Notes: Tonka beans, cedar, juniper berries
4. Jo Loves Pink Vetiver
Key Notes: Pink peppercorn, cardamom, juniper berries, cumin, ginger, nutmeg, angelica, vetiver, amber
Vetiver is combined with spicy pink pepper, cardamom, juniper berries, cumin, ginger, and nutmeg. These notes give the perfume a complex heart and opening, while a base of vetiver and amber evens everything out.
You might also like:
Key Notes: Amber, cedarwood, suede, patchouli, bergamot, mandarin
8. Jo Malone Vetiver & Golden Vanilla
Key Notes: Cardamom, vetiver, vanilla
Vetiver and vanilla may not seem like natural partners, but in this scent, they meld together beautifully. The blend of cardamom, vetiver, and vanilla creates a juxtaposition of fragrances that are warm and enticing.
You might also like:
Key Notes: Ambrette seeds, sea salt, sage
9. Tom Ford Soleil Brülant
Key Notes: Mandarin, bergamot, pink peppercorn, orange flower absolute, black honey, amber, vetiver, leather
If you could bottle the feeling of sunbathing in the sand on a warm day, you would be left with this perfume. One whiff of this immediately makes you feel like you're summering on the Italian coast.
You might also like:
Key Notes: Coco de mer, ylang-ylang, cardamom
10. Byredo Bal d'Afrique
Key Notes: African marigold, bergamot, buchu, cyclamen, violet, Moroccan cedar, vetiver
If there's anything that Byredo does exceptionally well, it's capturing a moment in time through scent. Use this fragrance to transport yourself to Paris in the 1920s.
You might also like:
Key Notes: Clary sage, Mirabelle, orris, ciste oil, musks, ambroxan, palo santo
11. Malin + Goetz Vetiver
Key Notes: Smoke, citrus, cardamom, grapefruit, bergamot, celery, iris, amber, vetiver
Citrus and vetiver are a match made in heaven. THis blend offers just the right amount of citrus without being too sweet or sharp, while cardamom complements it perfectly by adding a sweet, soft element.
You might also like:
Key Notes: Lotus, clove, pepper, violet, orchid, leather, sandalwood, cedarwood
12. Le Labo Vetiver 46
Key Notes: Sandalwood, vetiver, clove, black pepper, amber, incense
This masculine-leaning scent is a match made in heaven for anyone who wants to leave a lasting impression. Frankincense and incense give this fragrance an ethereal edge.
You might also like:
Key Notes: Violet accord, cardamom, iris, ambrox, cedarwood, leather, sandalwood
13. D.S. & Durga St. Vetyver
Key Notes: Sour orange, pink pepper, sea grass, cane, clove leaf, toquilla straw, vetiver, breadnut, rhum agricole
Set your clock to island time. This tropical scent will make you feel like you're on vacation, no matter where you actually are.
You might also like:
Key Notes: Lime flower water, coriander seed, pear, mandarin, bell pepper, pea flower, basil, nutmeg, moss water
This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
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