What is Vetiver? Why is it used in cologne? What does it smell like?

Description

Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanoides) is a perennial grass of the Poaceae native to India."Vetiver" name is native to Tamil language. Old Tamil literature mentions the usage of vetiver for medical pusposes. Vetiver can grow up to 1.5 meters high and form clumps as wide. The stems are tall and the leaves are long, thin and rather rigid. The flowers are brownish purple. Unlike most grasses which form horizontally spreading mat-like root systems, vetiver's roots grow downward up to 2-4 meters in depth. Vetiver is closely related to other fragrant grasses such as Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon citratus), citronella (Cymbopogon nardus, C. winterianus) and Palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii). Though it originates in India, Vetiver is widely cultivated in the tropical regions of the world. Large producers include Haiti, India, Java, and Réunion.

Uses

Several aspects of vetiver make it an excellent erosion control plant in warmer climates. Unlike most grasses, vetiver does not form a horizontal mat of roots, rather the roots grow almost exclusively downward up to 2-4 meters. This makes vetiver an excellent stabilizing hedge for stream banks, terraces and rice paddies. The close growing culms also help to block the runoff of surface water. Because vetiver propagates itself by small offsets instead of underground stolons, it is non invasive and can easily be controlled by cultivation of the soil at the boundary of the hedge.

Aromatherapy and perfumery

Vetiver is mainly cultivated for the fragrant essential oil distilled from its roots. Worldwide production is estimated at about 250 tons per annum (Lavania). Due to is excellent fixative properties, vetiver is used widely in high end perfumes. It is contained in 36% of all western perfumes (Lavania). Major producers of the oil include Haiti, Java, China, India, Brazil and Japan. The United States, Europe, India and Japan are the main consumers.

Vetiver oil is a complex oil containing over 100 identified components. Typical make up is as follows:

benzoic acid

furfurol

vetivene

vetivenyl vetivenate

terpinen-4-ol

5-epiprezizane

Khusimene

α-muurolene

Khusimone

Calacorene

β-humulene

α-longipinene

γ-selinene

δ-selinene

δ-cadinene

valencene

Calarene,-gurjunene

α-amorphene

Epizizanal

3-epizizanol

Khusimol

Iso-khusimol

Valerenol

β-vetivone

α-vetivone

The oil is amber brown and rather thick. The odor of vetiver oil is described as deep, sweet, woody, smoky, earthy, amber, balsam. The best quality oil is otained from roots that are 18 to 24 months old. The roots are dug up and cleaned then dried. Before the distillation, the roots are chopped and soaked in water. The distillation process can take up to 18 to 24 hours. After the distillate separates into the essential oil and hydrosol, the oil is skimmed off and allowed to age for a few months to allow some undesireable notes which form during the distillation to dissipate. Like patchouli and sandalwood essential oils, the odor of vetiver develops and improves with aging. The characteristics of the oil can vary significantly depending on where the grass is grown and the climate and soil conditions. The oil distilled in Haiti and Réunion has a more floral quality to it and is considered of higher quality than the oil from Java which has a smokier scent. In the north of India, an oil is distilled from wild-growing vetiver. This oil is known as Khus or Khas and is considered superior to the oil obtained from the cultivated variety. It is rarely found outside of India as most of it is consumed within the country

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What is Vetiver? Why is it used in cologne? What does it smell like?

I notice in mens cologne that Vetiver is an scent ingredient

A little bit of everything under the sun! I like to switch things up on occasion! I usually buy fragrances at a department store like Macy's, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, Nieman Marcus, etc. but there are also websites where you can sometimes find scents on sale for much less. Hint: Don't go too cheap though. You don't want to end up smelling like white trash. A lot of the cheaper scents are just really strong and aren't the greatest things to be wafting up your nose all day. If you don't have much money it is best to just spend it on one really great designer fragrance rather than buying a bunch of really cheap ones.

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I'd suggest Jean Paul Gaultier's Le Male or Dior Homme. They smell awesome on me, I got a lot compliments from both guys & girls . 1. Jean Paul Gaultier Le Mâle contains mint, artemisia, bergamot, cardamom, lavender, orange blossom, cinnamon, cumin, sandalwood, vanilla, cedar, tonka bean and amber.After a temperate application of Le Mâle, I smell mint and artemesia, then bergamot. The bergamot is industrial-strength and a tad harsh. Next up is the great combo of lavender and orange blossom; these two ingredients are in such a tight embrace it’s hard to distinguish one from the other but I feel orange blossom is being squeezed the tightest. Cumin is listed in Le Mâle’s ingredients but it must be in miniscule amounts, for I smell cardamom more than I do cumin and the cumin is very smooth. The base notes of Le Male are expertly blended and are sweet — but not cloying (which surprised me). I particularly like the dry vanilla-tonka bean finish. Near the last gasp of Le Mâle there is, yet again, a harsh chemical aroma but it quickly dissipates and leaves behind a “fruity”, almost apple-like, scent.Jean Paul Gaultier Le Mâle is available in 75 and 125 ml Eau de Toilette, and in a wide variety of bath & grooming products 2. Dior Homme contains sage, bergamot, lavender, Italian iris concrete, cocoa, amber, vetiver, patchouli, and possibly leather and cardamom.The fragrance begins with a sweet blast of iris, cocoa and amber, perfectly blended and just the right strength, but then begins to fade into a slightly powdery amber accord with a mere hint of patchouli and lavender. Dior Homme is not available anywhere but I think you can get it at Sephora.

That's an interesting question!

I was curious about this too

how is it pronounced