Received some L'OCCITANE Vetyver for Christmas - what is it?

[retiredguns]

The title is a draw to solicit some opinions of those that have tried this frag. It's the first vetiver out of 3-4 that I have tried that is missing the "smoke". Am I smelling vetiver or something different? Lalique, Tom Ford are the other 2 I have right now and the incense/smoke is very dominant. I do like the vetyver quite a bit but thought maybe they left out the burning log.

[jpipes3]

I like it, but to my nose it's more like 65% cedar / 35% vetiver.

[Quintar]

most vetivers don't have a smokey/incense note, especially those two you mentioned. tom ford grey vetiver is very light spicy vetiver and encre noir is pretty much just straight vetiver and iso E super.
Most people say vetiver has an earthy grassy scent, but some oils might have a bit of a smokey character though in the three scents you listed I don't get any smokiness. Perhaps you're smelling earthiness?

here's a good summary of vetiver:

http://perfumeshrine.blogspot.com/20...scinating.html

[tehtimmeh]

It just doesn't have much vetiver. It's much more of a woodsy scent than a vetiver scent IMO. I struggle to detect the vetiver in this one and I'm one of the few dissenters. There is a lot of love for this one out there though to be sure.

[merkur59]

... I do like the vetyver quite a bit but thought maybe they left out the burning log.

spray, then quick sniff the vetiver. it won't last more than a minute ;)

that said, it is one of my fav wood frag.

[xillion]

These are the notes listed on their site.

Top Note: Bergamot, Lemon

Middle Note: Nutmeg, Gaiac wood

Base Note: Vetyver, Cedar wood, leather.

[rearviewmirror]

Like Tim said, there isn't a whole lot of Vetiver in it. It still smells good, but its more woody with some spice than it is vetivery. Yes, vetivery. New word!

[musicman1951]

It may not have much smoke, but it's a nice fragrance. Enjoy.

[Lamb Root]

Nutmeg, yes, that's my first association with this scent, but I think l'Occitanne's Vetiver is a great scent. Price is just a bonus. I was told by a SA that the Buckingham Palace smells like Vetiver.
Well, even if it weren't true...

[Prince]

I love this scent. To me it smells like a pile of dry leaves. No smoke at all, just dry and woody.


I got the L'occitan etd for Christmas. Is it a very nice scent as well.

[retiredguns]

It's growing on me and after a couple hours it does smell more like others I have tried. Can't judge it by a wet sniff for sure. I do smell the vetiver. Since I got a big 'ol honking bottle for Christmas it will be around for a while.

[Kevan]

I like it BECAUSE it doesn't smell like smoke. After the spices, it turns grassy and woody. Love it...and no ashtray vibe! The only L'Occitan scent I'm not fond of is Badian (and that's mostly because it isn't my cup of tea). The rest of them are fantastic.

[Ron991]

Not to worry, as you are smelling Vetyver. All perfumers have their take, and their perception of in what direction they want to take their creation. I would venture to say that over the years I have probably sampled, and purchased perhaps 50, or so Vetyver fragrances. All I have found have different characteristics, and thus are blended with accompanying notes that a perfumer thought were necessary in the completion of there finished creation. Here is the perfect example, your L'Occitane I would assume is the current formulation in the brown bottle? The difference between this fragrance, and the vintage which was found in the clear bottle, I find so minute that one could almost be interchanged with one, and the other. Not all vetyvers are blended with smoky notes, while some are. The vintage had I thought a bit more Vetyver, and a tad less of a woody accord, and did have a hint of a smoly accord. The current formula to my nose has a bit more of a Woody component to it, and a bit less Vetyver. Ever so slight, but enough to be noticed, and I mean only by a tad. IMHO