The 10 Best Vetiver Fragrances for Men
Vetiver is one of those fragrance notes you’ve probably smelled a million times, but you’ve never been able to identify. It’s an incredibly popular addition when it comes to fragrance for men, and found across a lot of different blends. But with so many options, it’s often hard to find the best vetiver fragrances for men, or know which ones to pick. So here’s a short guide with some of our top choices when it comes to the best vetiver fragrances for men.
What is vetiver anyway?
Vetiver is a fragrant oil with a distinctive scent. Sharp and earthy, it adds a lot of depth and nuance to men’s fragrances – which is why it’s such a popular ingredient. There are a lot of great vetiver fragrances for men available, both from renowned brands and smaller, artisanal brands. Trying to find the best vetiver fragrances for men might seem a little daunting, but we’ve rounded up some of our favorites.
A small and clumpy green grass originating from India, vetiver comes from the same family as lemongrass and citronella. Since there’s no way to replicate the vetiver smell, it’s actually a really expensive ingredient. It needs to be farmed in large batches, and it takes an immense amount of the plant to actually get a decent amount of vetiver essence
What does vetiver smell like?
Vetiver is one of those classic ingredients that you can always spot easily. It’s on the shaper side of scents, adding a distinctly masculine edge to fragrances with its smokiness. It adds an earthy, complex note to men’s fragrances. One of the easier smell comparisons? Fresh uncut grass. It tends to go particularly well with citrusy scents, so you’ll likely see that combination a lot in vetiver fragrance notes.
What are the best vetiver fragrances for men?
1. Guerlain Vetiver
Jean-Paul Guerlain is a legend in the perfume industry for a reason. One of his first original creations, Guerlain Vetiver is about blending that element of nature and countryside with some spices and tobacco. Described as the perfume of “country gentlemen,” it’s a fresh and woody scent that mixes earthy notes with some spiciness to create this warm and inviting fragrance.
Top notes: Orange, Bergamot, Lemon
Heart notes: Pepper, Nutmeg
Base notes: Vetiver, Tobacco, Tonka Bean
SHOP HERE: Guerlain Vetiver, $42
2. Roja Parfums Vetiver
“The Vetiver wearer doesn’t provoke envy but instead, adoration.” – Roja Dove
Roja Parfums’ Vetiver Pour Homme is all about sophistication and confidence. The vetiver helps bring in this earthy, smoky touch in this fragrance to create a distinct and versatile scent for men. Using vetiver as its main note, this is sultry and leathery, balanced with woody and warm touches such as cedarwood and oakmoss to add some more complexity and depth.
Top notes: Lemon, Bergamot, Litsea Cubeba
Heart notes: Rose, Jasmine, Cistus
Base notes: Galbanum, Celery Seed, Pink Pepper, Caraway, Nutmeg, Pepper, Oakmoss, Vetiver, Cedarwood, Cedar Needles, Guaiacwood, Amyris, Labdanum
SHOP HERE: Roja Parfums Vetiver, $225
3. Creed Original Vetiver
Original Vetiver is a transformative scent. Upending the notion of traditional vetiver in fragrance, Creed’s Original Vetiver is more of a redefinition. Instead of using a single part of the plant, the House of Creed uses all three – from root to leaves to the heart to blend this fragrance and add a touch of freshness. Reminiscent of long summer days, this is definitely an energizing kind of fragrance.
Top notes: Bergamot, Bitter Orange, Mandarin, Vetiver Leaves
Heart notes: White Pepper, Coriander, Pink Pepper
Base notes: Sandalwood, Vetiver, Ambergris, Tonkin Musk
SHOP HERE: Creed Original Vetiver, $280
4. Frederic Malle Vetiver Extraordinaire
Described as a scent of carefree elegance, Frederic Malle Vetiver Extraordinaire is a subtle masculine fragrance. The vetiver lies at the heart of the fragrance, surrounded by sandalwood and cedar to bring a woodsy element to it. And the citrus notes help add freshness to the scent, modernizing the traditional use of vetiver with something a little extra. Using molecular distillation, the bitter element of vetiver is erased. This allows the vetiver to be used in greater proportions, without being too overpowering.
Top notes: Bergamot, Bitter Orange
Heart notes: Vetiver, Pink Pepper, Cloves
Base notes: Sandalwood, Cedar, Musk
SHOP HERE: Frederic Malle Vetiver Extraordinaire, $340
5. Tom Ford Grey Vetiver
“Vetiver immediately evokes for me the classic man, someone who has a confident, refined, and slightly traditional sense of what it means to be a man—an elegance that is mirrored in Tom Ford clothing. It’s one of my favourite fragrance notes because it is timeless, grounded, and has an enormous amount of character.” – Tom Ford
Tom Ford’s Grey Vetiver is a classic, masculine scent that stays true to its roots. Described as the perfect fragrance for debonair and classy men, it’s easy to see why it’s so popular. It blends in the richness and earthiness of the vetiver with spices and citrus to create a warm, inviting scent with lasting freshness.
Top notes: Basil, Grapefruit, Lemon & Bergamot
Heart notes: Nutmeg, Orris root & Pimento
Base notes: Vetiver, Woody notes, Oakmoss & Amber
SHOP HERE: Tom Ford Grey Vetiver, $130
6. Hermes Terre d’Hermes Eau Intense Vetiver
A spicy and woodsy scent, Hermes Terre d’Hermes Eau Intense Vetiver balances an earthy layer with peppery notes to create this rich and complex vetiver fragrance. With leafy botanical elements combined with minerals, this fragrance is all about the relationship between materials and nature and its interactions.
Top notes: Bergamot, Grapefruit
Heart notes: Geranium, Vetiver, Sichuan Pepper
Base notes: Amberwood
SHOP HERE: Hermes Terre d’Hermes Eau Intense Vetiver, $85
7. Le Labo Vetiver 46
One of the most masculine scents available at Le Labo, this fragrance uses the “Rolls Royce of Vetivers,” which is grown in Haiti and then sent to France for distillation. Describe as dry, woody, and grassy, it’s a fresh scent with an edge. Each note is added to tie together different concepts of masculinity and bring strength and character to the fragrance. Olibanum, an incense, is an additional note for balance and delicateness to create a truly innovative scent.
Top notes: Bergamot, Black Pepper, Clove,
Heart notes: Cedar, Vetiver, Labdanum,
Base notes: Olibanum, Gaiac Wood, Amber, and Vanilla
SHOP HERE: Le Labo Vetiver 46, $280
8. Diptyque Vetyverio
An unusual vetiver fragrance, Diptyque Vetyverio is all about nuances. There are a lot of different notes, some that freshness, like the citrus, and some add the earthiness (vetiver, of course) but brought together in a really distinct way. Diptyque’s Vetyverio blends the essence of two different vetiver plants: An earthy aroma from Indonesia and a more delicate musk from Haiti blended with some spicier notes to balance it out. It’s surreal and natural all at the same time and creates a scent that’s masculine and relaxing.
Top notes: Mandarin, Grapefruit, Lemon, Bergamot, Ylang-ylang
Heart notes: Turkish Rose, Geranium, Vetiver, Carrot Seed, Nutmeg, Apricot
Base notes: Clove, Cedar, Musk
SHOP HERE: Diptyque Vetyverio, $180
9. Carven Vetiver
Carven Vetiver is supposed to be an exact reissue of the 1957 version of this fragrance. It’s been in and out of production since its conception, making it a difficult one to snag. But it’s recently been brought back by Carven, and it’s already seeing a lot of popularity. Compared to the other vetiver fragrances, this one is a bit more casual, homier, and relaxing. It’s a quiet and subtle scent that unfolds. It’s an elegant and simple fragrance, with a balance between freshness and softness.
Top notes: Bergamot, Grapefruit, Lemongrass,
Heart notes: Lavender, Geranium, Orange Blossom
Base notes: Cedar, Sandalwood, Benzoin, and Vetiver
SHOP HERE: Carven Vetiver, $65
10. Byredo Bal d’Afrique
Byredo Bal d’Afrique is more of a romantic fragrance, warm and inviting. Inspired by Paris in the late 1920s and the African culture that swept through that time, it’s definitely a unique vetiver scent. The addition of neroli, African marigold, and Moroccan cedarwood brings an interesting twist to the fragrance that makes it so distinctive.
Top notes: African Marigold, Bergamot, Bucchu, Lemon, Neroli
Heart notes: Cyclamen, Jasmine Petals, Violet
Base notes: Black Amber, Moroccan Cedarwood, Musk, Vetiver
SHOP HERE: Byredo Bal d’Afrique, $150
When it comes to finding the best vetiver fragrance for men, there are a lot of different options out there but these are some of our top choices. Got a favorite that wasn’t featured? Drop us a line and let us know, and be sure to chime in with your picks!
