Vetiver EO
Origin: Haiti

• Details and product description

  Introduction:

  A graminaceous plant with long straight and very rigid leaves up to 2 meters in height. Spike inflorescences in pairs on 6 to 12 stems. Fine fragrant fibrous roots spreading up to 2 meters into the ground. The bunchgrass is also used to protect the soil since its deep intertwining roots help fight against excessive erosion during torrential tropical rain storms.          There are three main varieties of vetiver:   -      Bourbon vetiver, recognized as having the best quality, though its use is increasingly rare. -      Haitian vetiver (or Vetiver Haiti) that provides good balance between full-body and a smoky note. -      Javanese vetiver (or Vetiver Java) which is the smokiest of the three.

  History:

  Though vetiver root essential oil is fairly recent, the roots themselves have been used for perfumes since antiquity. This tall grass is found in tropical Asia, especially in India, Sri Lanka, Bengal and Myanmar. For a long time in these regions, the roots were used to make rugs, fans, decorative baskets (for temples) and screens to put in front of windows and doors, which, when wet and stirred by a breeze, give off a pleasant fragrance that imparts freshness. The word “vétiver” was used for the first time in French in 1827 in a very Parisian fashion magazine, Journal des Dames. Vettiver, a Tamil word (southern India), found its way into Malaysian. This plant was known earlier in England where it was used to perfume clothing and linen, a use that was later adopted in France, which explains this reference in Journal des Dames. Balzac, attracted by the word, humorously described working class Paris of this period in his novel César Birotteau: “A poet, who passes along the Rue des Lombards may, by smelling certain perfumes there, dream of Asia, admiring dancing girls in an Indian caravansary while breathing vetiver-laden air.” Vetiver in perfumery: Vetiver was incorporated in men’s perfumery at the end of the 1950s. Ms. Carven, a popular French fashion designer at the time, asked that a men’s fragrance be created that was not “pomade-like.” This resulted in Vétiver by Carven (1957). Hubert de Givenchy then followed the lead with Eau de Vétyver (1959), a remarkable concoction, which unfortunately has disappeared today. Intrigued by this essence that finally dethroned the untouchable lavender, Jean-Paul Guerlain was inspired by the smell of earth and tobacco that emanated from his gardener. Still made today with passion and refinement, Vétiver by Guerlain (1959) is a top reference in the field. During the past years, top fashion designers have employed this material to create a perfume. Azzaro, Lanvin and Etro have all introduced fragrances with a vetiver base. For many perfumers, this material has been used to produce masterpieces After the successful launching of Perles for women, Lalique is offering a new men’s fragrance based on this root. This perfume, unlike the others, does not include the word “vetiver” in its name. But with two vetiver essences as ingredients (vetiver Bourbon and vetiver Haiti), Encre Noire is definitely one of the most beautiful homages ever rendered to this scent.

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