The best vetiver fragrances for men that deliver a smoky, masculine scent
We break down where it comes from, what it smells like and which scents showcase it best.
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Used as an ingredient in about a fifth of men's fragrances, vetiver is one of the perfume world's most popular scents, both among perfumers and those who wear fragrance. Traditionally considered a masculine scent due to its natural smokiness, it's often compared to cigars and incense, though it also exudes an earthy and woody smell owing to its origin in tropical grass.
In eau de parfum, eau de toilette, cologne and fougère, it's variously used as shorthand for masculinity, power and calm, depending on the way it's been distilled and the other ingredients it's paired with.
What is vetiver?
Vetiver is a tropical grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides) that is native to India – its common name is derived from Tamil. Today, however, 80 per cent of the vetiver oil used commercially comes from Haiti. The oil is extracted from the roots while the upper part of the plant is a useful animal feed – in India it is also used to make blinds.
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Shop GQ's edit of the best vetiver fragrances for men…
1/13Prada Luna Rossa Ocean
Blended by master perfumers Anne Flipo and Carlos Benaim, this co-created fragrance is a fusion of boundary-pushing perfumery and state-of-the-art science. In step with Prada’s constant quest for experimentation and functional innovation, the most refined natural ingredients in the scent underwent a traditional distillation, before a breakdown of the formula through molecular distillation, allowing for the selection of the finest molecules. The process applied to the vetiver for example, results in a cleaner, woodier vetiver, without the note’s characteristically earthy, sometimes overpowering facets. A neo-fresh scent that helps to reinvent the fougere family. £67 for 50ml. At lookfantastic.com & selfridges.com
2/13Jo Malone London Vetiver & Golden Vanilla
A mysterious and noble powerhouse that sits under the oriental/woody olfactive umbrella, Vetiver & Golden Vanilla heads to the Madagascan coastline for its influence and inspiration. Cardamom and the freshness of grapefruit tea form its top layer, followed by the earthy vetiver, which forms a backbone to the scent, as well as precious vanilla bourbon. As with all of Jo Malone London’s creations, it is non-gender-specific, but, unlike some of the other highly concentrated Cologne Intense formulations (and partially due to its heart of elegant vetiver) it's as appropriate to be worn during the day as it is for evening. £150 for 100ml. At jomalone.co.uk
3/13Lilanur Vettiver Mousson
The first luxury fragrance house to be born out of India, LilaNur celebrates the flora and abundant olfactory riches indigenous to its birthplace: a mix of authentic scenting rituals and French master perfumery. Each fragrance spotlights an individual ingredient as its muse, and Vettiver Mousson conjures the ephemeral scent of the Indian monsoon. A sophisticated and nuanced fragrance with a profound tranquility, vetiver is supported by jasmine sambac, ylang ylang and guaiac wood in order to envisage the fleeting moment when summer ends and the downpours begin. A breath of fresh air with earthy undertones. £225 for 100ml. At harrods.com
4/13Diptyque Vetyverio
Most fragrances that use vetiver in a leading role are by default more masculine due to the ingredient’s intensely woody flavour. That's not the case here. As Diptyque is characteristically known for its genderless appeal, perfumer Olivier Pescheux has cleverly combined a high concentration of (certified organic) Haitian vetiver with the bitterness of grapefruit, the smoky qualities of patchouli and floral notes of Turkish rose. The end result isn’t more feminine: just more day-to-day and addictively wearable. £153 for 75ml. At spacenk.com
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5/13Chanel Les Exclusifs De Chanel Sycomore
Sycomore, created by perfumer Jacques Polge in 2008, references Coco Chanel's down-to-earth tenacity by championing elegance and sophistication underpinned by practicality and functionality. While its name evokes towering trees, it's actually an ode to the root of Haitian vetiver. Leading with juniper, aldehydes and pink pepper, the woody chypre follows up with a noble and powerful heart of cypress, violet and the all-important vetiver. Sandalwood and balsamic notes (spice and tobacco) leave a warm breeze in its wake, while a plume of frankincense lends a sacred dimension. One of the most favoured fragrances from the (genderless) Les Exclusifs portfolio, Sycomore is timeless and aristocratic. £175 for 75ml. At chanel.com
6/13D.S. & Durga St. Vetyver
The niche perfumes and inspirations explored by this Brooklyn-based fragrance house give it an edge over the traditional perfumery landscape. St. Vetyver, one of our favourites, throws the spotlight on a high-grade vetiver set amongst Caribbean plants: a refreshing cocktail of tropical citrus and soft island grass. A woody/marine scent, it's a robust cologne that pays homage to the famous Caribbean scents worn by sailors and lovers of the sea. Opening with notes of sunbaked sour orange, pink pepper and seagrass, it mellows into a dry down of clove leaf and toquilla straw. Pure, aged-distillate of Haitian vetiver is complemented with sweet notes of cane plant and spiced rum in its lingering base notes. £155 for 50ml. At cultbeauty.co.uk
7/13Ralph Lauren Ralph’s Club
Ralph’s Club marks a new era in fragrance for the king of preppy style: the elegant, woody and sensual elixir has been designed to embody the “best night of your life” and fills you with self-confidence. Composed by master perfumer Dominique Ropion, its ingredients have been distilled to their highest levels of quality, with fresh notes of lavandin, apple and grapefruit giving sparkle up-top. An aromatic bouquet of clary sage, geranium and orange blossom give the scent gravitas, balanced with the warm richness of patchouli and Virginia cedarwood. Luxurious vetiver (harvested under fair and safe working conditions) in its powerful and lingering base makes for the quintessential masculine crowdpleaser. £97 for 100ml. At lookfantastic.com
8/13Miller Harris Vetiver Insolent
Fresh yet smoky, this rebellious take on a vetiver classic has a very sensual, energetic and modern spirit. An intriguing combo of earthy vetiver roots, aromatic herbs, cool spice and resins, it's vegan-friendly and free from artificial colorants, parabens and formaldehydes. Created in 2016 by renowned perfumer Mathieu Nardin, whose brief was to formulate a fragrance that took its direction from the forest floor, Insolent contains vetiver from Haiti, Italian bergamot, black pepper, elemi and cardamom. Iris, lavandin abs, amber and moss have been added to the mix to create ambience. £125 for 100ml. At millerharris.com
9/13Perfumer H Vetiver
Lyn Harris, founder of Perfumer H, has carved a niche in the world of artisanal luxury fragrance by creating olfactory landscapes with her complex but clean scented formulations. Her perfume Vetiver is a very ethereal, otherworldly scent that transports you to a calming field of vetiver grass caught in a warm summer breeze. Part of Perfumer H’s Fern family of fragrances, it opens with uplifting notes of Italian bergamot, bitter orange and grapefruit before drying down to a heart of French lavender, nutmeg, and two forms of woody, slightly smoky vetiver. Hints of Venezuelan tonka bean and isobutyl quinoline give a long-lasting hold on a bed of Indonesian patchouli, musks and cedar moss. £590 for 100ml. At perfumerh.com
10/13Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Nerolia Vetiver
Composed by in-house perfumers Thierry Wasser and Delphine Jelk, Guerlain's Nerolia Vetiver is a luminous, fruity-woody floral. Inspired by the Island of Ischia in the bay of Naples, it sets a Mediterranean backdrop using a radiant and exceptional neroli from Calabria which is contrasted with smoky, woody vetiver. Formulated with more than 95 per cent natural-origin ingredients and alcohol from organic farming, it also features a zesty petitgrain distilled from the leaves of the orange tree in its top and the aromatic, aniseed-like freshness of crushed basil and fig accord in its dry down. £89 for 75ml. At sephora.co.uk & selfridges.com
11/13Bon Parfumeur 601
601 is a fresh take on vetiver: a woody EDP with an uncharacteristically stripped-back edge. Created by perfumer Nathalie Koobus, it leaves a strong and memorable impression, is masculine, contemporary and has a distinguished, almost regal air about it. Made using 91 per cent naturally derived ingredients, the fragrance opens with the zest of bergamot, accompanied by pink pepper and bitter grapefruit. Violet leaf, with yet more pepper and cypriol, adds a floral dimension to the heart and opens up its understated elegance. It is, however, the trio of woods – cedar, sandalwood and vetiver – in its base that separate it from the pack and give the fragrance staying power. £45 for 30ml. At lookfantastic.com
12/13Jo Loves Pink Vetiver
One of the most unique and desirable interpretations of the vetiver ingredient, Jo Loves' Pink Vetiver taps into a diverse range of cherished memories for inspiration: a spice market founder Jo Malone would regularly visit in Grasse, a favourite hotel tucked away in Florence and her father’s crisp white shirts. Opening with a rush of effervescent crushed pink peppercorn, cardamom and juniper berries, the vetiver combines with amber in a solid and woody base. Sandwiched between the two, and adding heat, depth and intensity to the scent, is a spicy cocktail of nutmeg, angelica, cumin and ginger. Great for day, but even better after dark. £78 for 50ml. At cultbeauty.co.uk & spacenk.com
13/13Guerlain Vetiver
This scent put vetiver on the map in terms of men’s fragrances and is considered by perfume geeks, and the industry at large, as the definitive vetiver elixir. Created in 1959 by Jean Paul Guerlain, it opens with a burst of zesty citrus headnotes, giving an uplifting boost to the dry and almost smoky signature of the vetiver root. A green and woody heart, meanwhile, is accented with spices such as pepper and a hint of tobacco. Old school (in a good way), traditional, but with a twist and unequivocally masculine – if you’ve never worn a vetiver fragrance before this is a worthy introduction. £99 for 100ml. At selfridges.com
