Vetiver

Information

It is impossible to imagine the world of perfumes without the ancient vetiver. It is undoubtedly one of the most important fragrances with a wide range of applications. There are many types of vetiver, including vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides), also known as khus, khas khas or vetiver. It is a tall perennial shrub in the Poaceae family. It reaches a height of up to 1.5 m. The leaves of vetiver are narrow and erect and rough on the edges. The flowers in the form of a 15-45 cm long panicle have numerous gray-purple spikelets, 4-6 mm long. The roots of vetiver are thick and long, reaching up to 2-4 meters in length.

Vetiver originates from the Indian peninsula and Ceylon, where it is still cultivated in large quantities, but also occurs in the wild. The largest areas of cultivation are also in Indonesia, China, Japan, Brazil, Haiti and the island of Reunion.

The vetiver most commonly used in perfumery is Vetiveria Zizanioides. The roots are dried and then steam distilled. The method of extraction with volatile solvents or CO2 is also less common. Unlike many other plants used in perfumery, vetiver is not one of those plants that requires a lot of labour and time to grow and process, which makes it a relatively cheap raw material.

What does vetiver smell like?

In general, vetiver smells fresh, slightly smoky, with hints of hazelnut, woody, earthy, slightly powdery (like iris) and spicy. Over time, the scent of vetiver changes on the skin and often gains strength. That's why vetiver is most often used as a base note in chypre perfumes, along with moss and patchouli and more. It also "works" well with incense, leather notes, cedarwood and sandalwood. Vetiver adds a woody character to fragrances and is most commonly found in men's perfumes. An example of the use of vetiver in perfumes clearly intended for women is Chanel N5.