Perfume Review: Comme des Garcons Vettiveru

Just when you thought it was safe to read this blog again, there I go reviewing yet another vetiver fragrance. Vettiveru is a part of Comme des Garcons Cologne trio, which also includes Anbar and Citrico. Vettiveru is a Tamil word for vetiver (vetti means to dig up and veru means root. “Vetiver” or French “vetyver” is actually derived from this Tamil word). Comme des Garcons’ take on vetiver is a light, fresh scent, very green, slightly earthy and quite a bit floral. This transparent, airy, very easy-to-wear composition undergoes quite a lot of development on my skin and is by no means simple and linear. Vettiveru starts citrusy, with bergamot being the most prominent note, moves on to acquiring a dry and slightly spicy accord consisting of cedar, a sprinkle of pepper and a hint of cloves, evolves into a lovely, softly floral, faintly rooty iris scent enriched by the presence of sweetly piquant cardamom and finally settles into a green, green and green vetiver drydown. I like the fact that although vetiver is certainly the most prominent player in this blend, other notes are still perceptible even in the drydown. At this point Vettiveru smells like grass growing next to irises, in the shadow of citrus trees. Vettiveru may not be one of Comme des Garcons’ most unusual, borderline extraterrestrial fragrances, but it is an interesting, multifaceted scent that would be wonderfully refreshing in summer. Vettiveru is available at Luckyscent, $80.00 for the whopping 500ml. The picture is from Luckyscent.com.