Description
In Mona di Orio’s Vétyver, she wrests every facet she can from its earthy-citrus scent, like a pianist exploring the intricacies of a particular key in a Bach piano concerto.
Fresh, dry, peppery, hesperidic and even minty – Vétyver marries the best Bourbon vetiver with notes that bring out its herbaceous-fresh qualities.
In the top notes, blue ginger from Madagascar creates the olfactory hallucination of having the fresh root under your nose. Virginia cedar and Clary Sage Absolute add a slightly bitter, herbaceous accord with a momentary glint of mint.
Vétyver then creates a sleight-of-hand impression of both dryness and freshness, like freshly steeped spiced tea with a grapefruit zest just beginning to release its oils. This hesperidic note, concentrated rather than juicy and sparkling, adds a lovely counterpoint to the subtle but rich tonka and labdanum, which add weight and roundness to the perfume. Ginger and nutmeg become more prominent as the perfume progresses, and in its dry down.
Vétyver’s paradoxical freshness and dryness linger delicately on the skin. A perfect unisex scent for warm weather, Vétyver is a rarity: a clean scent that is also complex.
Vetyver was launched in 2011.
wikini – :
Stunning…just a brilliant fragrance! I am a huge vetiver fragrance lover, but I freely admit they aren’t for everyone and most lean heavily on the masculine side. Mona di Orio manages to create a smooth-as-silk vetiver fragrance that is completely unisex and equally suited for men and all the gorgeous ladies out there.
Mona di Orio Vetyver to be a fresh, rich, opulent, slightly-dry, lightly-smokey, not-too-green, not-too-rooty, not-too-bright, not-too-dark, it’s just right type of a scent. In other words, it manages to capture that Goldilocks range and is simply just a brilliant vetiver fragrance.
Performance is solid in that it lasts 6+ hours and projects moderately on my skin, which is again just right for this type of scent. I hate to admit it, but this one is on par (quality and experience wise) with Dior Vetiver and Vetiver Tonka, which are two of my favorite vetiver fragrances.
My only regret is that I’ve used my 2ml decant of Vetyver and this one will set me back a few buckazoids since it has been added to my to-buy-list. C’est la vie.
Johntheterrible – :
Mona di Orio’s Vetyver is inarguably beautiful! Exquisite! Where to begin with this review?
Let’s start with the overall “Big Picture”. It smells a lot like if you were to take a very pure, natural, soothing vetiver note and add a bit of Bois des Iles to it. On the whole, it’s woody, but it’s also a little powdery and does have a soapy vibe to it. I’m certainly not saying that men can’t wear it, but I see it as a distinctive, elegant, classy, femmed-up vetiver. It’s a vetiver made with a woman in mind.
The vetiver itself smells really pure. Not overly dry, but not rooty either. Maybe more along the lines of grassy. But it’s smooth. Vetiver is the one note really comes through and shines in this perfume. The vetiver isn’t sour. It smells clean and simple, and then it’s flanked by these other Chanel-like elegant notes, like iris paired with just a touch of musk.
Sillage isn’t good on me, and neither is longevity. I always want to spray again after only 3 hours. But this perfume is such a stunner that while frequent spraying typically annoys me, I look forward to spraying this again to enjoy it all over again. Every second of it is rapturous!
There’s not much citrus, maybe just the first few seconds. I notice very minimal spice (although it doesn’t smell specifially like nutmeg) and something herbal like dried sage, but all of these notes are so cohesive. Seamless blending adding up to something that is absolutely a modern classic. I don’t find it artistic due to the fact that it smells classically composed.
This was a blind-buy for me as I’m on a vetiver kick. While I typically like my vetiver more earthy and not soapy at all, this is a definite keeper. This perfume just makes me throw out superlatives. It’s stunning! Smashing! Glorious! Beguiling! Extraordinary! Unimitable! My favorite by Mona di Orio, God rest her soul. She is still making beautiful impressions on us and has left such a remarkable legacy.
Edit: I meant to say that out of all the perfumes of hers I tried, this one is so stunning that I wondered if it was somehow personal to her because I almost feel as if I know her through this fragrance. I know that sounds weird. But this one really moves me. I read somewhere that vetiver was her favorite note to work with. It absolutely shows, if that’s true.
skif1965 – :
1 Word “MASTERPIECE ”
The world lost a genius when she passed away @ such an early age
tit5958 – :
I was recently asked to name my favorite fragrance(s) and I decided then that I loved too many to have favorites, but I should have mentioned Mona d’Orio’s Vetyver, because it’s one of the very few perfumes I have ever smelled that genuinely smells gloriously sexy to me, as in whenever I smell it, I internally shout expletives and my field of vision fills up with fireworks. I think it’s the saltiness of the vetiver combined with the heat of the ginger and the depth of musk, that makes this so beyond compelling to me. It’s a very unique scent. There is nothing remotely comparable. Maybe it will be my new signature and I’ll end up having one again after all…
Not_porfekt – :
I’ve sampled this a few times over the past three or four years. The first time I tried it, I was still very new to fragrances. I liked it but thought it was a bit too “stuffy” for me–maybe better suited to someone older and more sharply dressed. But each time I wore it over the years, I liked it more and more. What my inexperienced nose had interpreted as overly formal were really just its dry and intellectual aspects.
I wore it again today after ordering yet another sample, and I really like it. I’d describe it as a spicy, mostly clean vetiver with a very natural feel and a fascinating, non-linear evolution.
The ginger is probably the most prominent note on me for the life of the fragrance, and what a ginger it is. Spicy, exotic, evocative. Really nice stuff. Whenever anyone asks for a ginger-prominent fragrance, this is my number one recommendation. I also, of course, get the vetiver, which underlies everything with its shapeshifting translucence: glimmers of nut, root, smoke and soapiness. But not too soapy. In fact, as was mentioned below, there’s the faintest hint of something animalic every now and then. To me it reads as a ghost of civet, and I’m guessing it’s a combination of the musk, grapefruit, and spice. But don’t let that scare you away: it’s definitely not an animalic perfume per se.
Above all, this just smells really good. If you want something that does well in warm weather and is generally “fresh” without all the negative tropes that usually implies, this is a great choice.
koval.s – :
I have the utmost respect for Mona Di Orio. This fragrance is certainly an artful one. At first I couldn’t get into this fragrance at all. I just kept smelling dish water everytime I sprayed it but now that my nose has become a lot more developed – Im getting a better experience. Yes It’s still soapy but so much more. it has a fresh sharp tanginess and the vetiver is definitely there. I can’t say whether it’s clean or dirty vetiver b/c i never smell a dirty vetiver before lol. To me it’s clean! …unfortunately, this scent doesn’t last on my skin and honestly it doesn’t suit me either. With that being said, it’s a no for me – 7.2/10
bardak759 – :
Most reviews here led me to believe that this is going to be a powerhouse.. but turns out that’s only the opening (which lasts for about 10 min) :/
It’s slightly dark yet pleasant and light, kind of sits between a bright vetiver (Vetiver Tonka, Sel de Vetiver, Dior Vetiver) and the likes of Sycomore.
kirill777 – :
The mastery here is so absolutely brilliant it makes my head spin! Although clearly a vetiver fragrance it could easy have been named something more lofty and all-encompassing, and reached out to those who wouldn’t generally think they like vetiver.
This is an “old soul” of a fragrance. It was as if Mona channelled vintage Guerlain finesse, and to a certain degree a vintage feel as well. Think Vol de Nuit’s young, vibrant, slightly wild and bohemian niece.
The way how this moves through it’s life is truly a beautiful thing for the nose to behold. A bright beginning with a slightly sour (but not at all unpleasant) grapefruit. The vetiver is already strutting handsomely, and continues to do so throughout the wearing. The tart aspects fade, and a polished, grounded hesperidic feel ebbs forth.
The namesake ingredient has its moments which are grittier than others, but this is a far cry from the hefty, swaggering, masculine vetiver fragrances.
Wonderful movement.
Definitely unisex.
Sensibly European.
It’s so hard to write about Mona di Orio’s creations without a certain wistful frame of mind. Particularly when we see an artist deliver to us something so tremendous as what she gave us in Vetyver.
Kudesnikt3 – :
خوب
اینم تست اول من از این برند
منی که عاشق وتیورم
منی که میمیرم واسه گرلن وتیور و تام فورد وتیور
اما
این دوتا برای تابستان و بهار مناسب هستند
ولی مونا دی اوریو وتیور مناسب پائیزه بیشتر که جزو معدود عطرای با کیفیت بالاست که شما میتونید قشنگ وتیور رو بشناسید.
ولی اگر بخواهید کیفیت رایحه این عطر رو متوحه بشید یا باید مثل من روغن طبیعی عطرسازیش رو داشته باشید. یا برید از یه جایی ریشه وتیور پیدا کنید .
شروع عطر حالتی صمغی و خاکی و چوبی مانند داره
گل خطمی رایحه صمغ مانند رو در این عطر به وجود میاره که در کنار وتیور شما رو یه مرد بسیار مقتدر و قوی نشون میده
از اون استایل های رسمی و مجلسی شیک و لوکس که همه رو وادار به احترام میکنه
بعد از مدتی زنجبیل خودش رو نشون میده . بوش منو یاد نون های شیرین زنجبیلی داغ میندازه . بوش خیلی خوبه . اصلا دزش زیاد نیست مثل بیشتر عطرای دیزاینری که آدم رو از عطر زدن منصرف میکنند .
در کل شما یه عطر شیرین و تلخ خواهید داشت که گرمای قوی داره .
نمیدونم این آمار و ارقام از کجا میاد ولی این عطر فقط به درد پائیز و زمستان میخوره و اگه در روزای گرم استفادش کنید فرقی با کسی که وان میلیون تو تابستان میزنه نخواهید داشت
trw698InsuffBooni – :
I am a vetiver lover and I have Sycomore vetiver extraordinaire and original vetiver and the reviews made me really curious to try this one. Can anyone tell me why they have 2 types pf bottles . Is the current bottle on their website a reformulation . Thanks in advance
vva71 – :
Vetyver – Les Nombres D’Or
Timeless, Unique, Alluring!
The first spray on my skin is a bright, tart ginger and grapefruit accord. I sense a little bit of the nutmeg.
The elegant dry vetiver comes through on my skin, it is the note that dominates on my skin. The fragrance is slightly warm and resinous from the labdanum and nutmeg. The scent is dusty, earthy and dry due to the vetiver, it blends with the labdanum beautifully. The musk is very sheer underneath the vetiver, herbal elements is provided by the clary sage. I catch whispers from the ginger for the life of the fragrance.
It lasted on my skin for about 5 hours and sillage is noticeable.
Vetyver from the late Mona Di Orio is an elegant, seductive and unique fragrance.
net875InsuffBooni – :
EDIT: My experience is from the release with the black wire wrapped around the cap, like the cork of a champagne bottle.
This is a wonderfully inviting vetiver based fragrance. Vetiver is a curious note, in that it can be exposed in a raw and challenging form, or dressed up to be soft and easy going. Plus numerous variations in between.
Mona’s Vetyver creation is rather unusual. It starts off a bit strong with the vetiver note, somewhat salty/marine like smelling similar to Etro Vetiver. But as it develops the character notably changes. The vetiver and ginger starts to tone down and the accompanying notes envelop it. The labdanum, nutmeg, clary sage, and grapefruit notes are discernible, and together they really soften up the vetiver. There’s something about this accord that gives a subtle hint of being animalic, and yet it’s not. Almost “fresh breath” without the mint. I can see this working well for both men and women.
In time the labdanum, clary sage and grapefruit notes fade, leading this fragrance into a slightly drier woodier phase as it recedes to becoming more of a skin scent. Longevity is about average. No, this isn’t a bold vetiver, but it doesn’t need to be. This is a beautifully constructed fragrance, something I’m glad to have finally experienced. Mona, you created something wonderful here and I’m so very sorry you aren’t around to enjoy your creations!
Overall: 8.5/10.
kalan1969 – :
Not exactly a fragrance which highlights Vetiver, but it is one of the most fascinating fragrances that revolve around a very suggestive, unique and personal interpretation of the essence as used in men’s fragrances.
Blue Ginger Madagascar Bourbon vetiver and musk soft halo effect cloud to join our skin.
MdO never dedicated a fragrance essence as a major player not marry her to another or other essences in order to perform dual and versatile, different, original creation and establish its purpose of adding its identity which makes it unique, for staging of his creations:
For instance:
In tuberous it made equal with tuberose when mixed with milk, creating a lactone, unique and sublime scene like a dessert.
Oud misinterpreted the same thing happens to unite as absolute Mona osmantus takes you to the dream world, leading to the presence of the soul of a fragrance as smoky cloud take your hand and accompany you.
The essences are of extraordinary quality, very natural: the rare blue ginger brings all the difference and comparisons with other fragrances vetiver placing the original, fresh and sweet touch to the composition and Bourbon vetiver covers the earthy, hearty and elegant peak.
A fragrance in general almost nothing synthetic is perceived, and what little there is, well used, as it is only to provide depth, nuance, expand the scale of notes and important attachment to the final wake.
The composition is superb, very well treated olfactory nuances and perfect and unique result.
And moderate long trail normal thing when there is much concentration of natural essences, which makes it perfect for daytime wear.
Besides versatile and wearable, it is a neutral pulling vetiver, is dry, slightly dirty and being softened by musk makes perfectly unisex and a lady or girl also be perfect.
MdO fragrances do not cry, they are subtle, refined, classy and really smell what they say they carry.
His creations bring back the high quality perfumery early twentieth century to the twenty-first century scene with a classic vintage feel, away from the stereotypical mainstream and synthetic fragrances.
Very unfairly battered by Luca Turin and other critics, I would say that Mona di Orio is and will be recognized as one of the most important perfumers of the current scene perfumery.
Rating: 8
iniplesmeappy – :
Opens with a root type vetiver that is surrounded by tonka, ginger and resins that give me an overall thick incense feel. After one hour it starts to settle and I get mostly a sweet, slightly spicy and slightly woody combination; it’s sweeter than I imagined it would be and the vetiver is just a supporting note, because after the initial spray it doesn’t make its presence any more like a clear note. Due to the weight that it has, this one is more suited for the colder days.
Scent: 8/10
Longevity: 9/10
Projection: 7/10
dieux999 – :
Earthy vetiver with lime and something else. I wish it was smoother or rounder but it is not, instead the scent although having vetiver and lime, is rough and jagged. The same texture as Terre de Hermes. It has a scraggy feel that just makes me very uncomfortable wearing it and instead of enjoying I find myself fighting with it.
Tyhik – :
“Quality, depth, and intensity”
Definitely not a straight-foward vetiver. It oozes quality, sustains depth, and projects intensity at every turn. Sun dried, desert air, slightly medicinal yet graceful. A fantastic and complex morph to a more spicy and damp woodsy vibe.
yusukekun – :
No other VETIVER scent is like this . If You are familiar with this, once You catch the notes of someone wearing it, You will say, that’s MONA DI ORIO’S VETYVER . The bite of the blue ginger puts me in high spirits every time . Triple grade AAA .
soldatb88 – :
My first knowledge of vetiver was one day when I sprayed an iconic scent: Vetiver by Guerlain. I got fascinated by it but felt that smell wasn’t meant for me but for an older audience. When I later started reading more about scents, vetiver as a note was definitely not in my list of priorities. I linked it to people above 60. However, the thing is the more I read, the more I got curious about how vetiver had everyone else crazy and so I started a rather shy research. In every purchase I made I would ask for a sample of a different take of it. This way I got to discover a few of my favourite scents such as Timbuktu (airy exotic and fresh), Route du vetiver (heavy and enchanting), Encre Noire (dark), French Lover (weird mix with angelica) and a few other.
Unfortunately, other gorgeous vetivers had me again watching the picture of my grandfather. That is the case of Vetiver extraordinaire and this Mona di Orio. I explain all this to show it is not a matter of criticising a scent for it being bad but instead in these cases it is only about what you want to smell like. In my case I still go for modern takes on vetiver where it is the main note, where it is not matched with overly sweet notes (Vetiver tonka) and where I don’t feel uneasy for the age target of it. Of course this is cultural, in some places vetiver might bring to mind babies or young men… not in my place.
In this case, although it is pretty fresh and enjoyable… I find it elegant and classic in style so I don’t really know when or where I’d wear it. The tonka and grapefruit make a blend I don’t feel particularly easy with. Don’t think of old heavy vetivers, in this case it is well blended with other things and indeed it is modern and assertive without being stuffy, but it is formal and a bit talcy to my nose.
I think there are many other vetivers in this same range and I’m afraid most are half the price so it’s up to you to go smell many and choose which one fits you best. I like this, it is good stuff but it is definitely not for me. Thanks Skins (in Holland) for the generous sample.
Occarbula – :
Very original and excellent revision of Vetiver from this lovely house.
Not exactly a vetiver scent, although this is always there. Have a lot of ginger and wood (and grapefruit in the opening). For this, vetiver lovers may not like too much.
In the dry down, the vetiver turns into a incredible dry and lovely note.
Longevity is great and sillage moderate.
Masterpiece!!!!
Scent: 9/10
Longevity: 8/10
Sillage: 6/10
b1mbo0 – :
Mona Di Orio fragrances do not scream, but rather they just whisper ‘quality’ and ‘class’. Perfumes that have a richness and depth and body and are somehow ‘substantial’ without being heavy.
This one is all about VETIVER…but subtly melded with a lovely ginger/lemon/cedar accord, perhaps the sage note helps give a little herbal note to the top, and the nutmeg some subtle spiciness, but I could not disentangle that from the notes that form the the lovely top note accord..earthy but somehow nevertheless still bright on the top.
The base is rich and lovely…what I guess is that labdanum/patchouli/tonka accord, yet to my nose without this time the subtly ‘animalic’ musky note that is in the base of Eau Absolut. This has good projection and sillage, without being ‘in your face’ and it has on my skin good longevity.
It is tuly unisex. To me, it is a bit more suited to a man, but a confident woman could easily wear it. No one who smelt it disliked it, but as with many vetiver fragrances, opinions were mixed about just how much folk liked it. It is clean and bright but yet rich and complex.
I have yet to try Sycamore by Chanel, but so far of all the many vetiver fragrances I have tried, this is my favourite. It could be worn during any season, day or night and is something that could be someone’s signature scent. It is just ‘classy’ and has a richness without being loud.
UPDATE – it is potent juice and the base is quite heavy and can become cloying. So for me, ‘less is more’ and it is best with fewer sprays
HerexesqueMus – :
One thing that I can count on with the perfumes of Mona di Orio is that they always smell rich and redolent in natural essences. Les Nombres d’Or Vétyver is no exception to the rule, and a welcome change from the all-too-common aromachemical-saturated vetiver frags in the mainstream. Anyone who is well and truly sick of iso-E-super and ambroxan and all of the other STUFF which dominates nearly every other vetiver cologne out there would do well to give this elixir a sniff. I hasten to reiterate that this is a perfume, not a cologne.
Gorgeous, smoky vetiver! It’s simple but incredibly inviting. This composition really showcases the vetiver note, so one’s estimation of its value will inhere nearly entirely in one’s feelings about vetiver. Other notes are listed in the official pyramid, but they are merely embellishments to the star of the show: vetiver.
I happen to love vetiver, so Vétyver is a winner to me, and I do not believe that this is a specifically masculine scent. When I think of masculine, I think of “cologne guy” stuff. Happily, none of that is present here.
backlinks – :
wow, a very special vetyver fragrance,had read some nice things about this, very woody and a litte spicy but a dry type of scent. i really am liking this more and more, definitely a quality frag..I get an herbal type of aura to it with the vetyver notes..i think with this one right up there with tom ford grey vetiver.. very interesting in its development..i could see myself wanting this one. it will be on my list..thumbs up..i look forward to sniffing some other ones from this house, this is very, very nice…good feedback among people i work with….manly and appealing, i like fragrances that tend to be one way or the other masc or fem..some unisex ‘s out there i really like but more partial to masculine scents. you will get that special attention with this one. people will know you are the not the run of mill guy, they will know you are particular, bolder type of personality.females will think, there goes a confident smelling man..
to me on this one, the dry down is exceptionally a warm dry vetiver and I enjoy the way this fragrance settles on me.
megabomb – :
This Mona d’Orio fragrance is wonderful. The warm very, very dry vetiver combined with spices makes this an intoxicating day or evening fragrance. The sillage is good, the longevity is fair…I can get 5-6hrs of sniffing out of it. I wear this more than most of my wardrobe.
I usually don’t mention package or bottles, but this one has a great box with display stand, and a really classy Champagne bottle style cap.
kolr – :
Mona Di Orio’s Vetyver, together with Vetiver Pour Elle, is probably one of the most sophisticated interpretation of this root. Don’t get me wrong, the Guerlain and the MdO don’t share almost any similarity but they’re still both great examples of perfect unisex elegance. Where Vetiver Pour Elle achives elegance by introducing white floral patterns, the MdO plays on subtle undertones and details with an overall result that is far from being complex yet incredibly sophisticated.
Vetyver opens with ginger and bourbon vetiver that immediately give the fragrance a fresh, fizzy, sort of zing-y quality. The ginger starts to fade while the fragrance “morphes” into a resenous and woody middle phase and drydown subtly enriched by a soft violet note while labdanum and tonka beans provide a tad of sweetness. Amazing exectution.
Overall, Vetyver would make an hell of a fragrance for any vetiver lover but, most of all, could represent a terrific alternative to anyone who’s looking for a vetiver-centered composition that takes the distance from the straight forward and hardcore types of stuff a-là Vetiver Extraordinaire or Route Du Vetiver.
Just beautiful.
Downside: weak projection.
Rating: 8/10
Meobp988bedyWelty – :
On application I get a blast of vetiver with ginger and woods with a light musk with a hint of sweetness joining not long after.
This vetiver is bone dry and arid like the desert, a desert vetiver if you like. It is what you can imagine sandpaper to smell like.lol
Imagine if you were in a desert sandstorm with the dry hot sand hitting your face. But also a cool musky breeze with a hint of sweetness running through it been part of the sandstorm. That is what I get with this.
I am not fond of vetiver fragrances and I’m not too keen on the citrus,sour or dirty rooty earthyness of a lot of them. But this one is fantastic and I am loving it.
I guess I have found the one Vetiver fragrance that blows a lot of the others out of the water. I just love the dryness of this desert vetiver. It is going onto my to buy list.
bucik3 – :
I was deeply touched by Mona di Orio’s sudden death, and I bought this one without proper tests. I shouldn’t have done it.
Unfortunately, after a promising beginning, in which vetyver and citruses really shine, it becomes a generic, innocuous, green car air freshener. It will stay like that for long, until in the drydown it’ll become even more plain, if possible.
I’m not discussing the quality of the raw materials that have been used to compose this perfume, but the way they’re handled makes them smell incredibly cheap.
A huge and pricey disappointment.
ptw004Unlogrere – :
Mona di Orio died today, shocking.
I just bought this vetyver about three weeks ago.
I love this stuff.
mushe2007 – :
Vetyver is a scorching fragrance that blasts out of the bottle like a demonic sandstorm. If you can picture a Texas summer you can picture yourself wearing this. The only relief is from a raspy slap of tonka, which is about as effective as tossing a bone at the Alamo.
This is a man’s scent. The opening is very reedy but the dry down, at least on me, is one standing reveler short of Tequila party. Just way too sweet, and I think it needs a man’s chemistry to stay grounded.
Now what would I think of a man wearing this…
Heady. This fragrance is all ‘air’ and no ‘water or earth’. I would expect a man who was wearing this to be all talk and… This is a detached scent; an aloof, disdainful, cerebral experience. IMO it could really benefit from some moisture, something to cool it down and make it more inviting.
Try it. Let’s see what you get.
gugutse – :
YOU HAVE MADE IT!!”THIS IS IT!” The Aphrodesiac, the one fragrance that i get so many compliments from the Ladys!!..Perfectly balanced notes allures and demands attention with this sophisticated redelance..Ginger and nutmeg become more prominent as the perfume progresses, and in its dry down, Vétyver’s paradoxical freshness and dryness linger delicately on the skin. A perfect scent for warm weather, Vétyver is a rarity: a clean scent that is also complex.. Ive been trying to find the 1 and i beleive i have found it, with the NEW- Mona Di Orio-Vetyver..Its dangerous to say the least, if your going out specially where Felions Prowl..This is only for the confident conissueur,i say this cos you will be set upon!…*Grrr*!!
5 stars.10/10