SCENT NOTE SPOTLIGHT: Vetiver

Fragrance can be hard, because what even are some of those ingredients? Well, I adore fragrance, so let me help you out, so that you know what you're buying. 

Today's scent note is Vetiver. Who is she? Why is she so popular? 

Vetiver is actually a grass, like a giant grass. Chrysopogon Zizaniodes, specifically. It's a perennial grass found in India and Southeast Asia but can also be found in a number of place with more tropical climates as well. It is overwhelmingly woody and earthy with a whisper of citrus. Like lemongrass’s much-earthier cousin. Some even say it smells similar to patchouli, which I agree, sort of, but it definitely leans a little more medicinal & astringent.

It's pretty easy to harvest and pretty common, which is a lucky break considering its ever-

increasing demand worldwide. Outside of fragrance, this grass is used to for erosion prevention, is drought resistant, and helps with ground water retention. The real star of the show is the root of this tall grass. When harvested, the roots are cut, washed, and left to dry in the sun, adding to its powerful earthy aroma. Vetiver essential oil is created using steaming distillation on the roots, and it takes about 150kg of vetiver root to to make 1kg of oil. 

Vetiver is usually used as a base note and it provides a grounded, warm, and sensual base to a lot of perfumes and candles. It blends incredibly well with a variety of scents, so you probably have seen it everywhere, particularly in more masculine colognes. Vetiver is known for its longevity - if it's there, you'll smell it on you by the end of the day.

You can find vetiver is Yves Saint Laurent’s Black Opium and Salt & Stone’s Santal & Vetiver. If there are woody notes or cashmere wood notes, there’s a good chance that there’s Vetiver in it. If you like Vetiver, I will shamelessly plug some of my candles, like Half Giant’s Hovel and Archmage’s Study.