Top 12 Best Vetiver Colognes for Men
The Note That Separates the Men from the Boys
If you buy using links on our site, as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
If you want to know what are the best vetiver fragrances for men, then read on…
Because over the last several weeks, we did a ton of research and extensive nose-on testing of 47 different vetiver scented colognes (both designer and niche).
And then finally, we whittled them down to just 12 of the very best — plus 1 special extra pick for you connoisseurs. 🙂
Because we know, when it comes to vetiver: one size does not fit all.
Some of you like it fresh and green. Some of you prefer it dark, earthy, and smoky. Or dry and woody. Or even a combination of them all.
So no matter what your preference or price point, we have multiple recommendations listed below.
Let’s jump right in… 💚
In a hurry?
Our Top 3 Picks:
Jump Links
- 12. Karl Lagerfeld Bois De Vetiver
- 11. Etat Libre d’Orange – Fat Electrician
- 10. Atelier Cologne Vetiver Fatal
- 9. Mancera Vetiver Sensuel
- 8. Bentley Wild Vetiver
- 7. Hermes Terre d’Hermes Eau Intense Vetiver
- 6. Frederic Malle Vetiver Extraordinaire
- 5. Creed Original Vetiver
- 4. Roja Parfums Vetiver
- 3. Lalique Encre Noire Sport
- 2. Guerlain Vetiver
- 1. Tom Ford Grey Vetiver
- Ultimate Pick: Nishane Sultan Vetiver
#12 Karl Lagerfeld Bois De Vetiver
Super Affordable Hidden Gem
This one’s a GREAT bang-for-your-buck!
Now, this scent is a lighter, clean, greenish take on vetiver — perfect for a beginner. Or anyone, for that matter. 🙂
Let’s take a look…
This opens up bright and fresh… with a burst of slightly sweet juicy blood orange and grapefruit citrus — mixed with a hint of crushed mint.
Refreshing!
As it dries down, the citruses take a step back. And the vetiver creeps in, joined with a hint of floral notes (rose & geranium) buried underneath.
And finally, they are followed with a sweet woody musky base.
Bright, Fresh & Clean
It’s bright, fresh, clean and uplifting. Smells very classy and inoffensive.
Now, I should point something out:
This is not a super-masculine man’s man type of cologne. In my opinion, this is more suited for the modern sophisticated 20-up crowd — and can be worn in all seasons, for just about ANY occasion. Handy stuff.
After all, it’s never a bad time to smell fresh & clean, right? 🙂
That said, this performs its best in the spring/summer and early fall. It also makes a great daily go-to scent, and is perfect for the office/work (more on that shortly).
Now, to be perfectly clear…
Subtle
This is a soft subtle scent, which doesn’t scream out for attention. So… if you’re looking for something that pushes out — this is NOT it.
Karl Lagerfeld’s BDV is an EDT and projects softly (within arm’s length) for up to the first hour. The scent then sits close to the skin — making it GREAT for the office/work. Lasts around 4–8 plus hours.
The best part?
This can be discovered online for a bargain… But here’s the thing: it smells a LOT more expensive than what you actually pay for it. Even the bottle looks classy.
Can you say jackpot? 🙂
#11 Etat Libre d’Orange – Fat Electrician
A Unique Creamy Nutty Twist
Do me a favor…
Please don’t dismiss this judged by its name. Because don’t worry, this doesn’t smell anything like how you’d imagine a fat electrician would smell like. At least to my nose. 🙂
In fact, as it turns out, the actual juice inside the bottle smells GREAT. In other words:
Don’t judge a book by its cover.
Artistic
Now, if you’re not familiar with Etat Libre d’Orange (ELdO), it’s a French niche brand. The brand are known for their artistic fragrances and quirky names. Case in point: Fat Electrician.
Crazy, right?
(Side note: Etat Libre d’Orange translates to Orange Free State, which is a South African sovereign republic, which declared independence from British rule. And so, the brand adopted the name to symbolize their own declaration of independence. But an independence from mainstream perfumery.)
Anyway…
It’s what’s inside the bottle that counts, right?
And moreover, this was created by Antoine Maisondieu, who has made notable creations for Tom Ford, Armani, Versace, Gucci, the list goes on and on…
Let’s take a sniff:
Right out the gate, you get some slightly earthy, slightly smoky, dry vetiver. And this is softened up with a dose of nutty vanillic sweetness.
Creamy Nutty Sweetness
Furthermore, in the background, I detect a faint rubbery/resinous quality (but in a good way).
And as it dries-down, the vanilla amps up, and is joined with a whipped cream and warm sweet chestnutty accord. And then they all slowly fuse together.
The end result?
A dark, dry, smoky, woody vetiver… that’s smoothed out beautifully with a warm creamy nutty sweetness (but not overly sweet).
And, just like the name, this is hugely unique. Yet wearable.
Mild Mannered
ELdO’s Fat Electrician is unisex, but leans masculine. And for age group, I suggest 25 and up. When to wear this?
Everyday use, work, office, casual etc. And works all year; that is, except on super-hot summer days. Trust me 🙂
Now, let me be clear about something:
If you’re looking for a heavy-hitter, this is not it. You see, our Fat Electrician friend is actually quite mild mannered.
This is an EDP, and for the first few hours, it projects within arm’s length. And then remains close to the skin.
Nevertheless, lasting power is around 5-8 plus hours.
Bottom line:
If you’re looking for something with a unique twist, try this.
#10 Atelier Cologne Vetiver Fatal
Fruity, Woody & Citrusy
This one is pretty straightforward…
Light woody earthy-green freshness, which is backed up with a gorgeous natural fruity sweetness (but not overly sweet).
By the way, Atelier Cologne are a niche house, known for their French made high-quality, authentic smelling scents. Let’s take a closer look at this release…
Crisp, Clean & Refreshing
This opens with a punch of the brand’s signature overdose of citruses, mixed with violet leaf.
It smells crisp, clean and refreshing… and it also has a nice hint of natural fruity sweetness. And…
As soon as the citrus recedes, the green grassy vetiver shows itself. And is joined with a dark, sweet, juicy plum accord. Which smells awesome.
As time goes by… it smooths out, becoming a little sweeter, and more woody. And the good news:
This has a ton of versatility.
Anytime, Anywhere
You see, it’s great for just about ANY occasion. Work, office, casual, formal, outdoors, nights out, you name it…
And furthermore, it works all year round. (Just spray more in the winter.)
This is unisex, but leans towards the masculine side, however. And as far as ages, I would suggest 25-up.
Now to be clear:
Despite the brands name, Atelier Cologne, their scents are not actually Eau de Cologne concentration.
In fact, the oil concentration averages 18%, so therefore they could be classed as Eau de Parfum concentration (meaning they last longer). However, the brand has named them Cologne Absolutes.
Now, I’ll be straight with you…
This is not a loud attention-grabber. Far from it.
Polite
After first spray, it projects softly for the first few hours (within arm’s length). It then settles down, very close to the skin — giving off gentle wafts.
How long does it last?
Well, as for longevity, depending on the temperature, it lasts ballpark 4-8 plus hours.
But to be honest, as this is citrus heavy and contains a LOT of naturals, I wasn’t expecting anything heavy. And anyway…
We don’t always want our scents to scream out for attention. Amirite?
Maybe. Maybe not. 🙂
#9 Mancera Vetiver Sensuel
A Clean Fresh Citrusy Option
Now, first off…
Just a quick heads up: if you prefer your vetivers raw, smoky and rooty — this is NOT it.
Therefore, I’d suggest you rather check some of the other options below (especially Nishane’s SV). Because…
This one falls into the clean, slightly earthy-green, woody category. So if that’s your thing, read on…
Now, in case you don’t know, Mancera are a French luxury brand, known for their attention-grabbing scents. And on that note, let’s see how this one smells…
Zingy
On first spray, you’re met with a burst of refreshing zingy citruses (mainly lemon & lime), mixed with whispers of pepper. This gives off a nice juicy semi-sweetness.
After a short while, a kiss of green mintiness joins the citruses, to add to the freshness. This is also joined with a light floral note. Then…
As it starts to dry-down, the citrus freshness recedes into the background… and the vetiver creeps in — it’s of the clean, slightly-green variety.
And finally, as the scent develops, it becomes richer, deeper and woodier.
Versatile
Mancera’s VS is unisex (leaning masculine), and more geared towards the mature 25+ crowd.
And because this is fresh, clean, and inoffensive, it makes this a pleasure to wear anytime, anyplace. Excels in spring and summer.
Now I should point something out:
Those of you familiar with Mancera, will know they have a reputation for potent beast-mode (room-filling) scents. However — this is quite the opposite.
Clean & Inoffensive
This is an EDP, and projects around arm’s length (for up to 3 hours), then sits lightly above the skin. And, depending on the season, total lasting power is around 5-8 plus hours. ‘Aint complaining. 🙂
However, if you’re looking for a powerhouse, you will be disappointed.
Oh — one more thing…
The bottle is nice looking and is fitted with a high-quality atomizer, which is protected with a handy magnetic cap.
What’s more, Mancera even give you a little travel bag for your bottle.
Thumbs up.
#8 Bentley Wild Vetiver
The Ultimate Luxury?
Bentley? The luxury car maker?
Yes, you read that right. After an exclusive launch at Harrods in London, the brand rolled out a fragrance line.
And this release is from their new high-end line, called The Bentley Beyond Collection. So…
Gentleman… start your engines. Let’s take it for a test drive: 🙂
This opens up with a light burst of bergamot citrus, mixed with some lemon verbena. This is backed up with dry vetiver. And…
As soon as the citrus fades, the vetiver takes the front seat, with the lemon verbena supporting it.
Woody & Green
Also some birch wood creeps in, to add a subtle hint of clean smokiness and a pinch of sweet woodiness.
It smells fresh and citrusy clean… With a dry, slightly smoky, natural woody greenness.
Does it smell expensive?
I’d say so. Yeah…
Just like their cars, the quality is top notch. No surprise there.
High-Class
This is a refined masculine scent, more suited for the classy 25-up crowd. If you’re rolling in a Bentley, then this is a no-brainer. And best of all…
This is hugely versatile. You can wear this all year (just adjust your sprays), for just about any occasion — days or nights. Perfect for those professional/business situations.
Or even just for your “daily driver.” 🙂
Well-bred
Bentley’s WV is an EDP, and is well-bred. For the first few hours, it projects courteously (around an arm’s length).
And then it settles in, creating a gorgeous personal scent bubble around you. After all…
A true gentleman doesn’t want his fragrance to announce his presence before he enters the room, right?
And finally, lasting strength is a respectful 6-8 plus hours.
Hold on! We’re not done just yet…
Hand-stitched Leather
This comes in a gorgeous heavy thick glass bottle, adorned with the legendary Flying B Logo.
In fact, the bottle was designed by the team of Bentley Motors. But here’s the cool part…
The cuts in the glass bottle mimic the cut-crystal glass car headlights of the new Bentley Continental GT.
Very cool.
What’s more, the hand-stitched leather wrap on the cap, represents the interior of the car.
And finally, all this comes beautifully presented in a box with a soft-touch leather-like coating.
Hats off to Bentley 🙂
#7 Hermes Terre d’Hermes Eau Intense Vetiver
Fresh & Peppery
Here’s the skinny:
This is a newer, fresher version of the original award winning Terre d’Hermes. And the beautiful part: In this new release, the vetiver has been amped up. Let’s take a look…
Masculine, Modern & Sophisticated
This one opens up with a blast of fresh peppery citruses… with green earthy vetiver sitting in the background.
And, as it dries down, the citruses recede and the vetiver steps up — it’s slightly smoky, with a dry woody peppery edge… But it still manages to stay fresh and clean from the underlying citruses.
It’s masculine, it’s modern and it’s sophisticated.
Perfect With a Suit
Appropriate for all seasons (except the high-summer heat). And is more suited for the classy mature 30-up crowd, for dressed-up formal occasions.
In fact, this goes perfectly with a suit …and makes a GREAT scent for the professional office environment.
Side note: the bottle also looks classy, and has a handy twist down cap sprayer. Nice touch.
Now, Terre d’Hermes IV is an EDP concentration, and projects about an arm’s length for up to 2 hours… it then sits politely close to the skin.
Lasting power is about 6–10 plus hours. Simply put…
It gets the job done. 🙂
#6 Editions de Parfums: Frederic Malle – Vetiver Extraordinaire
Refined Elegance
Here’s what you need to know:
Editions de Parfums are a French luxury brand, created by fragrance expert Frédéric Malle — for those of you that don’t want to smell like the rest of the world. Because here’s the thing…
Unlike other fragrance companies: Editions de Parfums invest ALL their money into the scent itself.
In fact, they have:
- No famous brand ambassadors
- No fancy bottles
- No budgets or deadlines
- No massive launch events
You probably haven’t even heard of them. 🙂
Anyway, instead, the brand invest all their money to handpick the best perfumers in the world… and give them total freedom to express themselves — using the finest materials.
The final result?
Fragrances that are like pieces of art. But here’s the bad news… They also come with prices to match (understandable).
'With Frédéric Malle, the world’s greatest perfumers create their masterpiece.' — Editions de Parfums.Click To TweetSpeaking of…
Master Perfumer
For this release, Malle teamed-up with award winning master perfumer Dominique Ropion, (widely considered to be the best in the game). Their plan?
To modernize the classic scent of vetiver, using a vetiver essence, that has been treated by molecular distillation.
In plain English:
This treatment removes impurities and produces super high-quality, naturally smelling vetiver. Furthermore, it allows them to use a large dose of it in the fragrance.
Did they deliver the goods? Let’s find out…
Spicy Fresh
This opens up spicy fresh, with a blast of bergamot and bitter orange citrus, mixed with a dose of pink pepper.
Smooth earthy green vetiver sits in the background — surrounded with hints of minty clove.
And as it dries down, the dry grassy vetiver steps up, sitting on a woody base with a hint of smokiness.
And hats off to Editions de Parfums…
Smooth, Natural & High Quality
It smells super smooth, natural and high-quality. Very, very classy and gentlemanly.
The good news:
The scent works GREAT for all seasons… and for just about any occasion — dressed up or dressed down.
However, this is more suited for the sophisticated 25-up crowd.
Now, to be perfectly clear:
Reserved
This is an elegant, reserved scent that doesn’t shout out. So if you’re looking for a room-filler — you will be disappointed.
This is an EDP, and projects about an arm’s length for around an hour…
…then dials back and sits politely close to the skin — giving off subtle wafts here and there. Lasts about 5–8 plus hours.
Bottom line:
If you’re looking for a refined, high-quality scent… then I urge you to try this.
#5 Creed – Original Vetiver
Premium Fresh, Clean & Green
Ah, Creed… you’ve just gotta love them.
By the way, this one also cracked into our top 10 Creed colognes list — for good reason.
Now, in case you’re not familiar with Creed, they are a luxury fragrance brand based in Paris.
And not only do they use high-quality natural materials to create their scents… but they have been doing this stuff for 230 plus years! So let’s just say…
They know a thing or two. 🙂
Anyway…
Smooth Green Freshness
Typically, vetiver colognes get their scent from only the root of the vetiver plant.
However, Creed’s master perfumers have also blended in the leaves of the plant — to create their own unique modern spin. Let’s take a sniff…
When you first spray this, you’re greeted with an enormous burst of green freshness … coming from a blend of fizzy citruses (bergamot & mandarin orange) mixed with a light vetiver, and a pinch of fresh ginger.
Now:
After the citrus settles, the vetiver begins to poke its head through… And is joined with a touch of smooth sandalwood. The end result?
Beautifully Simple
A luxurious smelling soapy-clean green scent… with a nice, warm, slightly sweet, creamy woody undertone. Beautifully simple.
So, to be perfectly clear:
If you’re looking for something dark, earthy and smoky – this is NOT it. This is bright, grassy and clean.
Highly Versatile
Creed’s OV is a classy, mature scent, and therefore more suited for the well-put-together 25-up crowd.
And more suited for daytime casual/office/work use in the spring/summer.
That said, this works GREAT all year, for just about ANY occasion. After all, we should always be smelling super-fresh and clean, right? 🙂
Super Safe
This comes as an EDP (Eau de Parfum) concentration and doesn’t shout for attention. The scent projects politely off the skin (about an arm’s length) for up to 3 hours.
And then it becomes more discreet, giving off nice gentle wafts. Lasting power is ballpark 5-8 plus hours. Not too shabby.
Bottom line:
If you’re looking for a high-quality, fresh, clean, green interpretation of vetiver, it doesn’t get much better than this.
#4 Roja Parfums Vetiver (Parfum Cologne Version)
Green Elegance
What you see is what you get. Because the name and the color of the bottle, pretty much sum it up:
A premium classy green refined scent.
Now:
For those of you who don’t know, Roja Parfums are widely recognised as one of the World’s most luxurious fragrance houses.
Because each of their scents are created in England, using only the finest quality materials possible.
And on top of that, they come in premium presentation. However, they also come with prices to match (understandable).
Finest Quality Materials
Furthermore, the brand is headed by British world-renowned master perfumer Roja Dove.
Roja is also the appointed Creative Ambassador for the Great Britain Campaign (and also author of the wonderful book: The Essence of Perfume). You’re probably wondering…
How does it smell?
The short version:
This kicks-off bright and fresh… and then slowly morphs into a clean, green-earthy, slightly smoky, woody, sophisticated masculine scent.
(Side note: If you’re familiar with Tom Ford’s Grey Vetiver, this has a slightly similar scent profile. However, to be clear: Roja’s is more rich, more refined and more complex. And, understandably, more costly. That said, BOTH are awesome.)
The long version…
Refreshing
Right off the bat, you get a beautiful high-quality refreshing lemon/bergamot citrus. And this is backed-up with grassy earthy vetiver (but just a pinch earthy). It smells clean — but not soapy. And…
As it develops, the citrus freshness takes a step back… And the vetiver rises up to take center stage.
Then slowly, the scent gets deeper, richer and smoother… as it becomes more earthy, green, woody, and slightly smoky. Furthermore…
Upscale
…Whispers of spices give it some complexity and depth. Yet it still manages to retain a nice clean (but not soapy) citrusy undertone.
It’s highly crafted. And smells very, very elegant.
Oh, did I mention the bottle is stunning? Yeah…
The bottle is gorgeous. It’s hand-polished and comes in a lovely green gradient finish… topped off with a heavy gold-colored metal cap.
Pretty awesome, right?
What’s more… Roja Dove’s signature is engraved on the top and the side of the cap.
Nice attention to detail.
So it looks, feels, and (more importantly) smells premium. Top marks!
Well Groomed Professionals
Now, in my opinion, this is more suited for sophisticated mature 25+ well-groomed guys. And can be worn all year — and more suited for daytime use (this shines in the spring/summer).
It’s perfect for the office/business meetings/work etc. Because it has an upscale professional vibe… But can absolutely be pulled-off for casual use, just as well.
Now, I should point something out:
Parfum Cologne is a term used by Roja Dove to describe his new line of fragrances. In a nutshell…
Polished
It’s an EDP (Eau de Parfum) concentration, which has the brightness and freshness that you get from an EDC (Eau de Cologne) concentration…
But it still retains the depth, performance and lasting power, that you would expect from an EDP.
And the good news:
This is well-mannered. It projects just within arm’s length for the first few hours… and then sits respectfully close to the skin – giving off nice gentle wafts.
And depending on the temperature, lasts around 5-8 plus hours.
‘Aint complaining. 🙂
#3 Lalique Encre Noire Sport
The Best Bang for Your Buck
Before you read on…
Don’t let the name “Sport” throw you off. Because, in my opinion, the name sport is misleading. Why?
Well… typically, sport colognes are light, fresh, citrusy and bright (and they stay that way). Not this one.
However, to be clear, Encre Noire Sport does start off with some fresh uplifting qualities… But it quickly becomes dark, earthy and woody – with just a pinch of freshness.
So it’s not something I would associate with other sport fragrances on the market. Just a heads-up. 🙂
With that out the way:
Encre Noire vs Encre Noire Sport
Encre Noire Sport is a newer, lighter version of a fragrance called Encre Noire.
For those of you not familiar with the original Encre Noire, it is a deep, dark, mysterious, inky smelling rendition of vetiver.
And on the flip side, this so-called sport release, is a toned down, lighter, fresher, less inky, more wearable version.
And dare I say — better version. By the way…
In case you don’t know, Encre Noire is French, and translates to “Black Ink.” A fitting name. 🙂
So, if you want something more daring and complex, I urge you to check our review of the original version which is on our best cheap colognes post. However, if you prefer a lighter, more wearable version, read on…
Masterfully Blended
Now, Encre Noire Sport contains 2 types of vetivers (Bourbon & Haitian), that have been perfectly blended by master perfumer Nathalie Lorson.
Let me break it down for you:
On first spray, this has a nice green zesty freshness — coming from a cocktail of grapefruit and bergamot, mixed with a hint of clean lavender.
Earthy, grassy vetiver and cypress sit in the background.
Now, the freshness quickly fades, and the vetiver/cypress combo begin to bloom. And the scent gets darker, with a green earthy woody inky vibe.
Perfect Balance of Dark Woodiness & Freshness
However, the scent still maintains a hint of clean citrusy freshness.
It’s a perfect balance of sophisticated dark, inky, earthy woodiness… and watery freshness.
Imagine this:
Being in a dark green forest after a heavy rainfall — the smell of damp mossy logs. The pine trees. The damp soil. But, with some added watery grapefruit freshness. 🌲🍋
This is what it smells like. But in a good way. 🙂
Elegant & Versatile
This scent is more suitable for the mature 25-up and works all year. However, it performs best in the spring, summer and fall. GREAT for rainy days.
And you can wear this for formal/informal situations… it also makes for a safe office/work/casual scent.
Still, despite the name of the scent, it’s not something I would wear for sports, or the gym.
Now to be clear:
Subtle
Encre Noire Sport is not an attention seeker. The scent is an EDT and projects around arm’s length for the first few hours, then hovers close to the skin.
And, depending on the temperature and your skin chemistry, lasting power ranges about 4-8 plus hours.
In addition, the heavy glass cubed shape bottle is gorgeous. It’s suitably reminiscent of an inkwell. Nice touch.
And the beautiful part…
This can be discovered online (or in bargain bins) heavily discounted. But it smells a LOT more expensive than what you actually pay for it. Thus, making this is a GREAT, versatile, and affordable choice.
Top marks.
#2 Guerlain Vetiver
A Timeless Classic
Here’s the scoop:
This is widely considered as one of the most respected vetiver scented cologne on the market. And a benchmark all others are judged.
In fact, this timeless classic was created by master perfumer Jean-Paul Guerlain.
In case you don’t know… Guerlain are a French brand, that have been creating fragrances for more than 190 years. Seriously.
(They know their stuff! 🙂)
Now, to be perfectly clear:
This is not for the younger crowd; this is grown man’s stuff… For mature refined gentlemen.
In fact, this is reportedly a firm favorite of Arnold Schwarzenegger – as well as many other famous people.
Let’s break it down…
Zesty Clean Freshness
When you first spray this, you’re greeted with a burst of zesty lemon freshness, with a clean green soapy undertone.
As it dries down… the citruses fade, and the dry earthy green vetiver shines through and takes center stage.
And this is joined with a sprinkling of spicy tobacco and a pinch of ground nutmeg (that adds some body & depth).
(Hey, speaking of… discover our top tobacco scents.)
It’s masculine, elegant, smooth and complex.
And hats off to Guerlain:
It smells highly natural: it’s green, it’s grassy, it’s woody… and a little soapy, and a little earthy.
It smells like you’re in a fresh fragrant forest. 🌲🌲🌲🙂
'Luxury is something pretty and discreet. Luxury must not be something brash.' — Jean-Paul Guerlain.Click To TweetNow, as I said earlier…
Mature Refined Gentlemen
This is more suited for sophisticated mature men (suggest 30-up).
And can be worn in all seasons, for just about any occasion (days or nights). Shines in the spring and summer.
Dressed up, dressed down. And it also makes a great professional office, work scent.
This is an EDT and projects politely (within arm’s length) for up to 3 hours — then sits closer to the skin. Lasts around 5–8 plus hours. Great.
The beautiful part?
You can discover this online for an affordable price – so it’s a GREAT bang-for-your-buck!
Bottom line: A timeless classic, that every vetiver fan must try.
#1 Tom Ford Grey Vetiver EDP
A Modern Classic
Word on the street…
Hugh Jackman reportedly rocks this — for good reason!
By the way, this also cracked our top 10 Tom Ford colognes list.
Now, this is Tom Ford’s modern take on vetiver… for modern sharply-dressed men.
Did he deliver the goods?
The answer seems to be “YES!” 🙂 Let’s take a look…
Smooth, Clean & Elegant
On first spray, you’re greeted with a burst of juicy grapefruit, mixed with pops of spices… and slightly earthy, fresh green vetiver buried underneath.
And when it settles, the vetiver steps up and morphs beautifully with the grapefruit. This is joined with a pinch of nutmeg and woods — to give a nice, smooth, elegant blend.
It’s clean, masculine and sophisticated; makes you feel fresh and confident.
Sharply-Dressed Modern Man
This is more suited for mature (suggest 25-up), well-put-together men.
The best part?
This is SUPER versatile: all seasons… all occasions. Shines in the spring/summer – and is perfect for professional business/office work situations. And to be clear…
This is a reserved scent, that doesn’t shout out for attention.
It’s an EDP, and projects politely (about arm’s length) for up to 2 hours… then softens up and sits close to the skin. Lasts around 6-8 plus hours.
Good stuff! 💚
# Ultimate Pick: Nishane Sultan Vetiver
The King
Let’s just cut to the chase:
Sultan Vetiver is just like it sounds: The KING of niche vetiver fragrances. Period.
And, if you don’t agree with me… Then you’re wrong! (Kidding. Mostly.) 🙂
Seriously though, hands-down, this is the best vetiver smell I have got my nose on (so far). And it’s not just me.
Because this is also highly regarded in the fragrance community. Big-time warning, however:
Listen up, because this is important:
I’ll be super honest with you; this scent is NOT a good fit for everyone. Let me explain…
This is a complex, artistic fragrance, with a lot of moving parts. So if you’re a beginner, this will be dramatically different from anything you’ve ever smelled.
Therefore, I would NOT recommend you jump into this (just yet). My suggestion?
Beautifully Complex
If you’re just getting into fragrances, and/or just looking for something to wear casually as a daily-driver… Or maybe you’re just looking to dip-your-toes into vetiver…
Then I highly recommend you first try some of the other options above. Then, after your nose matures, come back and give this a try.
But do me a favor…
If you’ve already got a seasoned nose and familiar with the suggestions above, then — Do. Not. Sleep. On. This. 🙂
Okay… With that out the way, read on…
Highly Concentrated
Now, in case you’re wondering…
Nishane are a niche house from Istanbul, Turkey. The brand is known for their opulent, highly concentrated scents. But here’s what’s even cooler…
In this fragrance, they have used vetiver from 4 different regions (Haiti, Java, Réunion and Brazil). Note: each regional plant has its own distinctive scent profile.
Furthermore, they have all been blended beautifully with some freshness and a nice pinch of sweetness.
But what does this mean for you?
In a nutshell, you will get to enjoy a fragrance journey, in which you will experience a symphony of ALL the different regional facets of vetiver. All in ONE majestic scent. Awesome.
So…
- It’s a bit woody
- It’s a bit grassy
- It’s a bit sweet
- It’s a bit fresh
- It’s a bit earthy
- It’s a bit smoky
You get the idea. 🙂 So to clarify…
You really, really have to LOVE vetiver to appreciate this. Seriously. 💚
Let me walk you through it…
Majestic
On first spray, you’re greeted with a blast of spicy green (slightly earthy) vetiver. This is mixed with some fresh juicy bergamot citrus and neroli – which brightens the opening up.
What’s more, you get a nice licorice (anise) accord sitting in the background.
Now, as the scent develops, it becomes more dark, dry, grassy and slightly smoky. And is slowly joined with a lovely hint of honeyed sweetness. Nice. And…
Pinch of Honeyed Sweetness
…As it heads into the dry-down, a touch of leather creeps in. And then it finally becomes warm, earthy, green, spicy and woody.
And hats off to Nishane:
Quality is top-notch. It smells rich. It smells natural. And it smells super unique.
Gentlemanly
This is a masculine, sophisticated, gentlemanly scent; so in terms of age, I suggest the mature/confident 25-up.
And it’s more suited for dressed-up, classy occasions.
In fact, this pairs GREAT with a suit-and-tie, for the office (spray light), business meetings etc. And yet, it also works just as good for casual day-to-day wear.
Now, in terms of seasons:
Spring and fall are the sweet spot. However, you can wear this all year round — just adjust your sprays accordingly.
That said, this is quite bold, so I wouldn’t recommend rocking this on super-hot summer days.
Does it perform? Like a champ. 🙂
Attention Grabber
The good news… Nishane’s SV is an Extrait de Parfum concentration (it’s potent!). By the way, it is currently only available in 50ml bottle sizes.
Nevertheless, a little goes a LONG way! Yeah…
So 1-2 sprays gets the job done …And for the first few hours, it projects up to 6ft. Then it becomes more moderate, and lasts an impressive 8-12 plus hours.
Two thumbs up.
Now, it's your turn...
We would love to hear from you:
What is your favorite on the list? Did we miss any?
Or maybe you have a question.
Either way, please let me know by leaving a quick comment below right now.
Where to go from here?
Discover top 10 oud fragrances and favorite sandalwood dominant scents.
We hope you enjoyed our article and found this list useful. If you did, we would love it if you would share it to your favourite social networks!
Great list – what do you think of Encre Noire A’La Extreme?
Hi M
Thanks, glad you like it. 🙂
Encre Noire A’La Extreme is also great. It has a different scent profile from the original.. it’s deeper and more complex. The vetiver is softened up, and it smells resinous with a hint of warm spicy woody sweetness in the dry down.
However, I’m sure somebody told me it was going to be discontinued? Maybe I’m getting mixed up lol. 🙂