What fragrance are you wearing today?

Vetiver (Etro) sage & vetiver

This opens brilliantly with a flourish of dirty sage that gives the vetiver some roots. But when it’s gone, after about fifteen minutes, the fragrance dries down to the same linear vetiver that can be had in fragrances half the price. Like most vetivers, this is a quiet, private scent.

Royall Mandarin

Vetiver (Guerlain) vintage

It’s the medley of lemon, coriander, nutmeg, and tarragon that makes this vintage Vetiver smell like a close cousin of some grand old fougère. That dry herbal aroma hasn’t been translated to the latest version of Vetiver, certainly not with any potency. The old juice was made by a man who knew his way around the kitchen. Modern Vetiver has been drafted by someone who prefers the thin, sour hum of a hot modem.

Christian Dior Eau Sauvage Eau de Toilette

Knize Ten (Knize) citrus, carnation, leather, amber

This is a wonderfully protean scent, shifting shape and primary note throughout the day. It opens with some soft citrus, which gets herby for a few minutes before sliding into a peppery carnation. This lasts for a few hours until smoky leather and musk become most prominent. After some eight hours it finally dries down into a mix of powdery amber and castoreum. It’s luxuriant, long lasting, and a pleasure to smell all day. A very good scent for autumn.

Mont Blanc Individuel

Vetiver (Guerlain) 2017

Thin and sour, a little heavy on the citrus side of the scale, but still one of the great vetivers, and remarkably cheap.