Guerlain Vetiver is an iconic, classic men’s fragrance. Some say it was launched in 1959, others say it was 1961. Either way, it has lasted nearly 70 years!

It was originally made for the South American market, but did so well there that it was later released within the US.

The stories go that Jean-Paul Guerlain was inspired by the smell of damp earth, as well as a gardener smoking Tobacco in the sun.

Vetiver is a grass, and perfectly captures the dirt-like and aromatic essence of the earth. 

One of the taglines for Guerlain Vetiver were “The perfume of the Earth”, and one of the descriptions was that it “recalls the exhalation of the earth in the pale dawn light”.

So you’re expecting something dirty and smoky, right? Maybe a little, but it’s such an incredible scent with so many facets. It has to be experienced, not judged.

It is fresh and earthy with a hint of a smokiness, and is both casual and refined.

Notes of Orange, Bergamot and Lemon open the scent with an invigorating brightness that is almost tangy. This lasts throughout the lifespan of the scent, keeping things bright all the way to the end. Tobacco adds its familiar essence, almost in a sultry way. The citruses, and a subtly sweet note of Nutmeg, keep the Tobacco from becoming too much. It’s almost like a whisper of Tobacco, but that whisper lingers nicely. Vetiver is felt through every layer of this scent, adding a grassy earthiness that is dirt-like in a very good way. 

It intrigues the senses, having both that dirty, smoky vibe, but also leans slightly barbershop-y. It maintains a clean quality while still being earthy.

It works in all seasons, for all occasions, and all moods. It does have a slight mature quality about it, but is very wearable and will work well for just about anyone.

In 2000, Guerlain Vetiver was reformulated to meet industry standards, but the consensus seems to be that it has pretty much stayed true to the original formulation.

In 2022 the Parfum was released, which is said to bit a bit different, but relatively equal with more depth and longevity.

The Eau de Toilette version seems to be the most popular, and most accessible, and is the version you will find at Parfumerie Nasreen.

You might think the Eau de Toilette won’t last, but it really does.

When retrying Guerlain Vetiver to write this blog, I sprayed it on myself in the evening, washed my hands multiple times, slept, showered the next morning, and I could STILL smell it!

If you love earthy scents, especially with Vetiver as a main note, this scent is a must-try fragrance. 

It has a mass appealing energy to it, but still has that classic ‘men’s cologne style’ to it. 

You can find the Eau de Toilette, and occasionally the Parfum, at Parfumerie Nasreen in store and online. 

Let us know what you think about this scent if you’ve tried it:)