Vétiver (1959)
by Givenchy

Impressively restrained. A pronounced, rooty -though not radical - green vetiver note at the center, surrounded by a conservative and very well executed bouquet of masuline gentility - cedar, perhaps sandal, refined sweetness of tonka, mossy diffusion. Where Villoresi's excellent Vetiver is all about panache, this one is all about low key style. Not exciting, indeed, but excellent. A great alternative for those who cannot stomach the tobacco in Guerlain's version.

Like vetiver de Guerlain without the dry pepper/nutmeg welded to the vetiver core and perhaps a little less earthy. Surprisingly to me, the quality of the vetiver is very comparable guerlain's but feels more rounded overall, less sharp. Perhaps a higher dose of coumarine?...so the main accord is vetiver/tonka bean huh? it must logically smell of vetiver tonka by hermes? NO! it does not get to the point of smelling like waffles... after all it smells like a nice quality vertiver rounded with tonka beans (no reference to tobaco, no reference to sweet dough either). Overall classy, fresh n clean (in a vetiver kinna way) and comfortable. If you love vetiver de guerlain but never found one as good, you should try this one out. Three thumbs up

Probably the most perfect vetiver ever made. Second to the pointed vetiver of Malle's Vetiver Extraordinare.

This is one of the Vetiver benchmarks in my opinion. It is somewhat less composed and truer to a pure vetiver note that Guerlain's. I love both Givenchy and Guerlain's take on vetiver. They are very different from each other. This one doesn't have as much of a citrus explosion on top, nor do I detect any tobacco as I do in the Guerlain. There is definitely an herbal/spicy note in the middle, perhaps it's the cilantro note that JaimieB is describing. The sandalwood is barely perceptible. This is not a variation on the theme of vetiver, which Guerlain tends to be IMO (and a brilliant variation at that). To my nose, while I would not go so far as calling Givenchy Vetiver a single note fragrance, it is very clear who is the star of this show, and none of the supporting cast get many lines. The other notes are like a very subtle frame on a striking painting. This is a brilliant take on the Vetiver concept, and it is one of the best on the market.

The reissued Vetiver from Givenchy features a very spare, nutty vetiver accord that sweetens gently through something vaguely suggestive of licorice to a very suave woody-mossy base. This is not the sort of raw, aggressively earthy vetiver you get from Route du Vetiver, Vetiver Extraordinaire, or Etro's Vetiver, but rather a comfortable men's club vetiver your well-dressed uncle might have worn while lounging in a leather chair. Among the best of its classical, sophisticated, "Old World" breed, even if it's not terribly exiting.

This is a review for the actal relaunch:
Im a fan of the Givenchy Gentleman-the best scent I have ever smelled so far.
The Givenchy Vetiver is also a very sophisticated, elegant and masculine scent. It has everything what is missing in the Guerlain vetiver. It starts with a citrus note and then the vetiver comes through and just stays perfectly on the skin. It gives a lightly saopy, clean impression-never too much but still intense and longlasting. very well put together.