Vetiver by Jean-Paul Guerlain for Guerlain 1961/2000

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Hey All,

This is one of the crazy bargains I found while on our tour of Europe. The bottle below is the one and it was hidden away in a tiny little Budapest corner parfumerie for a song. It was my first European purchase of fragrance with Dune Esprit de Parfum, which I will introduce you to soon.

Vetiver by Guerlain 1961/2000 (dates vary)

VetiverGuerlain FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Bergamot, coriander, lemon, mandarin, and neroli
Heart: Vetiver and cedar wood
Base: Tobacco, walnuts, pepper, and Tonka bean

I love the citrus opening with the coriander giving a soft herbaceousness that stops Vetiver being a citrus parody. This burst of freshness is so compelling and lasts well into the heart of the fragrance playing a sheer overlay as the earthy, grassy, wood-ish heart filters through. I had no rural connection with Vetiver until I read the Guerlain spiel below. Till then I had always associated the freshness with the sea and could detect a slightly salty twang throughout. It’s funny how suggestion works because now I smell wet grasses and earth. Morning, Vetiver by Guerlain smells like morning. A crisp sunny morning that offers some great incentive to get out from under the covers.

Not particularly long lived, I get 4 hours of being able to smell it but Jin says there is a remnant for much longer. I think a perfectly unisex fragrance that bridges the earthy, fresh and clean divide without being that modern ubiquitous sport fresh or laundry fresh. You will smell distinctively alive.

4a39e04f1ea9b,Green-FieldsPhoto Stolen SpiceWallpaper

Here is the Guerlain copy (which I think is a little overblown):

Under the veranda, he looks at a sky daubed with clouds.  The storm breaks. From the earth emanate contradictory scents. The smell of wood, intensified by summer’s humid warmth is shot through with sparkling, heady notes. He loves the feel of cool linen on his skin. He loves to be here.  He loves VETIVER and he knows why: For the authentic strength of vetiver, which reveals the soul in a single breath.

Further reading WhatMenShouldSmellLike and NowSmellThis

FragranceNet starts at 50ml/$34 before any discounts
MyPerfumeSamples has 1ml/$2 to 5ml/$7

GreenFieldsBYPharaun333 SpiceWallpaperPhoto Stolen SpiceWallpaper

Do you have a favourite Vetiver fragrance? Have you tried Guerlain’s version?

Till tomorrow,
Don’t forget to take a moment to do something you really love.
Portia xx

21 thoughts on “Vetiver by Jean-Paul Guerlain for Guerlain 1961/2000”

  2. Vetiver is a hard-sell for me. I’m trying to learn to love it. I love Atelier Cologne Vetiver Fatal on my husband. I have really wanted to try the Guerlain Vetivers for both men and women…

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  4. I have tried Vetiver by Guerlain and it is indeed very lovely. But I am torn between two others that I think are better. One is Dior La Collection Couturier Parfumeur Vetiver and the other is Chanel Sycomore from the Exclusifs line.
    I really did enjoy your take on the Guerlain and boy was that a coup to get it for a song.
    xo
    L

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    • Hey Lanier,
      Jin has recently bought the L’Artisan Vetiver, which was discontinued in Galleries Lafayette and 35 euros for 100ml. It is an even more interesting, smoky and rich vetiver. Have you tried it?
      Portia x

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      • No I haven’t !! Damn it! And at 35 euros for 100 ml. What are they having in Europe a fire sale? I gotta get over there. LOL. I do love my L’artisan so next time I am with my L’artisan lady Hillary I will get a sample..Thanks for the tip!

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  5. Dear Portia
    I adore Guerlain’s vetiver and the note in general.
    With regards Guerlain I think the female version slightly has the edge, but my favourite is in their l’Eau Boisee – those limes are heavenly.
    Elsewhere the newly revitalised Carven do a lovely and very citrus Le Vetiver, almost a cologne really. Whereas it’s in the background in a subtle yet beautiful fashion in Chanel’s Cristalle.
    For the pure grass though my fave has to be Canadian fair trade brand The 7 Virtues – the Haitian Vetiver is just superb.
    Oh and a last thing I got a steal on this when I bought it first at a pharmacists years ago – I think I paid £15 for 50ml.
    Maybe we were both destined to own it!

    Yours ever
    The Perfumed Dandy

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  6. Hi, I wandered over from Perfume Posse,

    I really love Serge Lutens Vetiver Oriental, that one’s my ultimate and works year-round in pretty much any setting. Light and clear enough for office/school/an elevator, interesting enough to keep me coming back. Like pale golden-green silk velvet, it is warm and smooth and cool and textured all at once.
    Should dig out my Guerlain sample, I remembered it as fresh and vetiver-y but not much else….
    Am really interested in trying the 7 Virtues and L’Artisan ones.

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  7. Many years ago,Guerlain’s Vetiver, Habit Rouge and Heritage were something like the Trinity for me. I still like them.
    I want to highlight Andy Tauer’s Vetiver Dance. It is strong, long lasting and powerful,perhaps too much for many people, but I really love it.

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