Reviews of Vétiver Extraordinaire (2002)
by Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle

I'm not a fan of musty earthy vetiver. That's why Guerlain Vetiver gets no love from me. But vetiver of the green and grassy variety? That's a different story altogether - I love the stuff! And I'm glad Ropion's take leans closer to this type.

VETIVER EXTRAORDINAIRE does seem a little underwhelming at first, nothing extraordinary as the name suggests. But I've come to realise this was never meant to be another Carnal Flower. Rather it feels like a modern update of the gentlemanly scent, eschewing the traditional 70s-style citrus in favor of the earthly, though not quite earthy, vetiver. A nod to greater environmental awareness in the 21st century perhaps? Presumptious at best. But juxtaposed against the occasional and fleeting 'lighter fluid' accord, the irony of it all is nothing short of brilliant.

May '09:

Vetiver Ordinaire, perhaps?

I really wish I could feel some enthusiasm for this, but I just can't. It smells so very plain. It's a well balanced vetiver note pretending to be a complete fragrance, and the soon-vanishing pepper top note does nothing to relieve the monotony. After the first thirty seconds, this is all about vetiver, to the point where I can't help wondering if this is mostly just vetiver essential oil diluted in alcohol.

Now, don't get me wrong. Unlike some essential oils, like petigrain or nutmeg, vetiver essential oil makes pleasant wearing as a fragrance. However, I really expect more from a fragrance sold at Frederic Malle prices.

To be fair, it does last a while - about fourteen hours through its epic non-development - and its sillage is adequate.

If this is a masterpiece, it owes nothing to Malle and Ropion and everything to Chrysopogon Zizanioides.

September '09:

After a summer of wearing this semi-regularly, my opinion has gone a complete 180 since I first tried it and wrote the above.

While Vetiver Extraordinaire is minimalist, the grassy vetiver note is framed in a delightful and refreshing way. Pepper in the top notes and that persistent, peculiar "airy" note that gives the vetiver a nice lift and makes it quite refreshing.

While I generally prefer smoky, earthy vetivers this vetiver is still potent and long lasting despite being fresh and grassy. It's great in warm weather, and if I lived in a hot climate I'd own it for sure.

At first it simply smells like the best vetiver essential oil in the world. Then you start to notice the other facets, such as ozone, pepper, a bit of citrus and a musky base. It's wonderfully simple and complex at the same time. Although VE is a little linear, it does develop nicely throughout the day, only it's hard to notice because it always retains the same character throughout. To me this is how a healthy man should smell - like nature but even better (due to a flawless choice and blending of synthetic ingredients with natural vetiver essential oil). If you've ever walked through a mossy forest in the summer, you'll recognize the same vibe in this only more refined and wearable than the smell of a forest.

Sexy, clean, green - I agree with Anthony that VE is part of my top 5 fragrances of all time.

Edit: I overdosed on this the other day and I got this crazy lighter fluid thing everyone else has been talking about. I still love VE, as I actually like the smell of lighter fluid, petroleum (and all those other flammable liquids) but I have to admit that VE loses points because of it, and is therefore no longer one my absolute faves.

9.25/10

Its brilliant and I am not surprised of all the positive reviews. I am more surprised to see any negative or even neutral ratings on this because it is that likeable and easily accessible.

To my mind there are four major ingredients to this scent: Vetiver, myrrh, sandalwood and musk.

VE is rich and smooth with perfect balance. Oily, smoky, medicinal and resinous-spicy. Very natural smelling with soft and warm edge.

Easy-to-wear masculine juice that is extremely pleasant and luxurious.

This is what niche fragrances are all about. Expensive but well worth it.

Should probably last a bit longer, to be honest. It is fading fairly fast although the lasting power is not exactly a total disaster.

By far and away the best Vetiver there is. There is a lot of the stuff in this potion. Mind you that is not too difficult as Vetiver oil is a relatively cheap ingredient, its acrid nature has been softened just enough by the citrus and sandalwood. Very green - nice.

Notes: Bergamot, Bigarade Orange, Pink pepper, Nutmeg, Floralozone, Haïtain vetyver, Sandalwood, cedarwood, Oak moss, Myrrh, Cashmeran, Musketone, Tonalide

If there is a modern vetiver which is worthy of ranking alongside the old world vetiver classics, Vetiver Extraordinaire (VE) is it. Dominique Ropion's haitian vetiver overdosed masterwork (25% concentration) is a sleek and smooth vetiver extravaganza married to quality modern synthetics to conjure what is probably the leading vetiver fragrance out there. The bitter bigarade top note lasts for mere seconds before VE gets down to business...the green, lemony, slightly earthy vetiver digs itself out of the composition and is fleshed out with a sprinkling of nutmeg and pepper resulting in a mineral earthy vetiver accord. But it doesn't stop there. Ropion has integrated an ozonic note (florazone) which operates underneath this accord to lend it an airy distant ozone aura which feels like smelling vetiver roots in space. Florazone gives the mineral vetiver accord an ozonic-floral lift without dominating the composition. One caveat: if for whatever reason the ozone note dominates on your skin, it may spoil infect the vetiver accord with lighter-fluid or a hot-plastic note. The woody base, composed of a complex proprietary Ropion wood accord, provides a comfortable landing pad for the searing yet well controlled vetiver note. Cashmeran provides diffusiveness to the vetiver note and is thankfully not overdosed.

VE isn't the most dynamic vetiver fragrance, nor is it the most 'vetivery'. What it is though is an exhibition in providing a perfect balance of a dominant vetiver note with a nose's own interpretation of vetiver art. It is a blast from the past with a nod to the future. It is evident yet never overbearing. I don't understand the appeal of heavy handed vetiver fragrances with a crassly handled dumplings of Whole Foods(r) vetiver oil...I certainly don't have any interest in smelling like the Swamp Thing. I do however have an interest in smelling like a presentable, well groomed man with a whiff of outdoorsy freshness and a tinge of modern. Pick a vetiver which is right for you.

Other mineral vetivers: Creed Vetiver '48, Loccitane Vetiver

Rating: 9.0/10.0

instantaneous blast of vetiver, trailing bergamot right behind it, its a romp in the woods amongst the blackberries, (ouch), its the colours of autum and the dying back of the undergrowth on a river walk. If a man walked by me wearing this, I would be picked up, cartoon style, by the nose and floated along in his wake, two inches from the ground......Is it a little bit "older man"? Yes, of course, but, as with most things, true style is evident by its longevity.

Another vetiver hater converted, thanks to Vétiver Extraordinaire. However, it did take me a while to appreciate it for what it is. Now, it’s one of the first things I reach for during the warmer months. Fresh, moderate sillage and great longevity.

This is the only Frederic Malle frag that I really love.

[Original submission date: 10 April 2008]

Supposedly to contain the highest concentration of Vetiver on the market, VE has the sharpest and bitterest opening on the planet dominated by an ozonic, raw vetiver, pepper and a hint of bergamot followed by a dry woody drydown devoid of any sweetness. Unfortunately longevity and sillage on human skin are very poor and frequent reapplications costly. To get the most of it, spray it on your clothes as well, where it wonderfully stays for several days.

Though I no longer have it in my wardrobe, I still consider VE to be one of the finest niche fragrances ever created. I will probably see to it that I obtain another bottle some day.

It took me a while to really appreciate VE after having been familiar with a much less "potent", citrus-based vetiver fragrance. There is a bit of a rubbery note that quickly disappears.. leaving earthy, raw vetiver and woods. I wasn't aware of MPG Route de Vetiver before VE - only Guerlain Vetiver, Creed's OV and Vetiver '48, Givenchy Vetyver, etc.

I was lucky enough to purchase my big bottle of VE during the season it fits with best - autumn. The rain, mist, fog and walks through the forest seemed so appropriate whilst wearing VE. VE is strikingly melancholy yet uplifting at the same time. Not fresh in the way Aqua di Gio is fresh, not at all.. I shouldn't even bring AdG up. True, pure, green, earthy freshness that you're probably familiar with if you've spent lots of time outdoors walking through forests and taking in the smells of nature.

The longevity is great, sillage was OK on my skin. Absolutely I would recommend it, and I feel it's worth every penny and then some. Probably in my Top 5 fragrances of all time. Probably my favorite vetiver of all time, easily blowing most of the others away.

I think this is a really wonderful vetiver - dry, smoky and enveloping with a wonderful slight nuttiness (that for me, often translates into the smell of fresh pine nuts). I do not find it bitter at all, but my chemistry seems to magnify even the tiniest sweet and nullify bitterness in any scent. My husband did not like this - "soapy" was his only comment. Gasp! Not at all. I find the smokiness perfect - not barbeque esque, no lighter fluid notes, just the dry crisp smell of a far off campfire in a wide open space. My only wish is that it had a bit more development - this for me starts off the same way it ends, a very linear, glorious vetiver.

Lighter fluid at the start? Ok, yes.
Acrid throughout? Ok yes.
Well made? OK, yes.
Better than Guerlian? No way.

This one's too pretty for me.

not nearly as good as Lalique's Encre Noire----which is the same scent, only far more focused, intense, and beautiful. fail again, Malle!

This one is very peppery to me, and after a few hours I'm unsure whether I like the dry down or not. It is strong and the silage is good, for a vetiver this may be my least favorite.

Recently, I've been looking at various vetiver fragrances. Up to now, the two leaders have been CdG Vettiveru and Guerlain Vetiver. I am trying to find something of a Holy Grail, something that captures the woody, nutty quality of vetiver essential oil, but in a complete composition that has good longevity.

The Malle VE starts grassy, dry and earthy, with a bit of an herbal edge which is almost like a mint or menthol. In some ways, the start is similar to MPG Route du Vetiver, but is lighter, and with an almost airy quality. As the top notes burn off, I am starting to smell the resinous nutty quality that I associate with vetiver. The airy note (almost ozonic on my skin) is getting in the way at this point. I also smell a little bit of an ammonia smell--I often get this with fragrances that have lavender or an herbal component. I hope it stays subdued as it is right now.

More time has passed, and although the vetiver is apparent, VE has become very woody and smoky. These notes were also prominent in Route du Vetiver. I must say, the VE is quite a nice fragrance, and I think among the best vetivers. However, the faint sweet, nutty and resinous quality has not really come out in this one. 4-stars for the fragrance, but my search continues.

Guerlain's was a revelation to me, old school, with its tobacco/spice debonair. Where the Guerlain is smooth and spicy, this one is crisp, herbal, and to the point. Where the Guerlain can take a bewitching turn on a lady, I'm not sure this one is anything but masculine. It has great lasting power, too. Virile Vetiver Extraordinaire!

I didn't like Guerlain's Vetiver at first. Too soapy. And I thought "why are there so many vetiver lovers?" Here's the answer. Vétiver Extraordinaire is one of the best vetivers available. May come across as too powerful for some but for me this is quality grassiness right here; like a very good pilsner.

Vetiver Extraordinare: ....close your eyes and VE does give an impression of moss and vetivers growing on the area of application, quite literally. smells very real and true. However, it smells very similar to Encre Noir (EN, please see my views on EN below). Im not indicating EN is Better than VE, what i'm indicating though is, i dont have the money for VE($210). both scents have enuff difference to stay in the same wardrobe...where EN may smell of Wood, Spices & Vetivers; VE smells of the very same vetivers used in EN + moss and damp forest smell. if you like EN, there is no way one is going to despise this one. nicely done.

Composed by the great Dominique Ropion and he quotes "a new essence of Vetiver, stripped of its bitter edge, which he matches with five woody notes to play up the scent's various facets. The result is something surprisingly fresh and crisp."

YES! Vetiver, vetiver, vetiver GALORE. Green, fresh, but not weak. Not for everyone though. Only vetiver lovers may enter!

This is easily one of the top three vetivers I've tried, and on some days I even think it's the best of all. Through an astonishing feat of perfumery magic, this manages to be bitter and raw yet moist and refreshing at the same time, all the while remaining true to vetiver in all of its moods. No verbal description and no other vetiver fragrance can adequately prepare you for your first encounter with this almost otherworldly scent, so just hurry up and try it already. Earthy yet luminous, it will always have a place in my wardrobe. Excellent sillage, outstanding longevity. Thumbs up all around.

Ropion's not pulling any punches here! Vetiver Extraordinaire starts off wickedly harsh and green, like a big, herbaceous uppercut to the jaw. Then, just as it starts looking too aggressively bitter to wear, the fragrance begins to transform. A bit of incense starts to peek through, along with some woods and a very subtle sweet note that I can't quite pin down. It's arresting and raw, and you have to LOVE vetiver to wear it, but Vetiver Extraordinaire is a very serious, remarkably deep, and beautifully composed fragrance. Stands with Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier's Route du Vetiver as one of the finest vetiver scents I know.

For me this comes across as Vetiver Insipid. The first note is one of rubber, followed by the dry woody scent of reeds blowing in the wind. Two hours later the faintest of vetiver scents emerges. A failure in my book.

Since receiving this as a Father's Day gift, Vetiver Extraordinaire has become one of the mainstays of my wardrobe, especially as we head into the hot days of summer. This cool, dry scent is very refreshing when the temp goes up, but works well on cooler days as well. I can't see a lot of change over the course of wearing it... Seems pretty linear, and very integrated. Nothing jumps out; just the slightly sharp, earthy, extraordinary vetiver, all down the line.

VE is my favorite vetiver out of all of the ones I've tried. It has such a dirty yet clean smell to it that makes it intoxicating.

Similar to Creed's OV, but at the other end of the scale. No lime and soap, just vetiver and some woody notes. The opening is a little rubbery, but that dies down fairly quickly and paves the way for the vetiver onslaught.

There's not much that I can say that hasn't already been said. This is an extraordinary fragrance that lasts and lasts, I've gotten over 24 hours out of it.

2 thumbs way up! Worth every penny.

VE is a terrifically sophisticated vetiver fragrance. It is not overstated nor too strong; nor is it a vetiver trying to bring out the "true" vetiver note by imposing a contrasting citrus element on the user. It is so perfectly blended that the mid-tier and basenotes are hard to discern. Eventually, VE tends to disappear into the skin, and yet it hovers over it in a edifying way. Very masculine, not sweet, but not rough, brash or dissonant either. Where other vetivers can be a bit difficult to wear, this one is a sheer pleasure to put on. The only bad news: greatness does not come cheap.

I never use Vetiver (the one I tried is Guerlain's) but bought a bottle of VE after having tried it for few days. A revelation, fresh and lasting, very pleasant slight citrus note. Quite dry, very usable. Other fragrances I used are Creed GIT, Creed Erolfa, Frederic Malle Angeliques sous la plui,Caron Yatagan and Pour un Homme. I believe VE could become a real classic.

I'm among those who have not been fans of Vetiver fragrances typically, but this one works very well for me. I received a couple of samples when I purchased Musc Ravageur while in NYC and boy, did I make them last! It has a real freshness to it without smelling like a mass-market clone (not that it should at this price point, granted). I find it vibrant, earthy and masculine without any of the "sour" quality I've experienced while wearing other Vetivers which shall remain nameless. And the longevity for me is almost unmatched. Between this and Terre d'Hermes, do I need any other daytime mainstays? Not for now anyway...Bravo!

What's most interesting to me about this scent is how it seems to go against the grain of most fragrances and yet still creates a totally unique, enjoyable experience. This one is very crisp, very green (purplebird's descriptions are spot-on). But, unlike most fragrances, there isn't even a hint of sweetness thrown in, even for good measure. Nor is there anything very spicy, or deep. If Guerlain chopped off the sweet bottom of their scent, and added 10x's the Vetiver, then it might be something like this.

DEFINITELY worth a try for vetiver fans, but don't expect non-fragrance fans to find the appeal. The lack of usual fragrance "talking points" (where's the vanilla? where's the patchouli? etc.) might leave them wondering why you crushed beansprouts this morning and rubbed them all over yourself instead of just spraying on some cologne.

Unusual, fresh, green, dry, unsweet. Smells like citrusy lemongrass from the Thai grocery, with a little salty celery, and a bit of smoky, dusty cedar. Very refreshing. A good palate-cleanser from all other scents. Airy, not particularly long-lasting, but avoids harshness very well.

Delectable. Serious. Crisp. Earthy. Straightforward. Cold. Warm. Wonderful. (So many adjectives; so little time.)

A definite power scent for me -- great one to wear for meetings with clients and (gulp!!!) family.

I was really excited to smell this at first. It's such a different interpretation and the vivid first impressions stuck: leaves and needles frozen in ice, or freeze dried, or laminated. I also smell water which is quite fantastic. I don't know many vetivers yet but I'm surprise there hasn't been drawn the comparison to cdg vetiveru, both are kind of like pale washes.

this one is so elusive though, you could spray the live long day and nobody would be any the wiser. discreet. private, kind of repressed!

It's a beautiful scent but before that it is a fragrance that says, "oh no you don't". Which is alluring, but. . .. I don't want to be denied satisfaction.

At least its titties and balls are not all hanging out like Musc Ravageur!

I usually hate Vetiver, having been turned off by Guerlain's raw, earthy version. When I first applied this, I was thinking it might be more like Creed's Vetiver, which is a soapy sort of scent. Well, could it be possible that the Malle take is somewhere exactly in the middle? I will have to see about longevity, but this version of Vetiver is very wearable for me.

Sam

I was bit of a pyro when I was younger. My friends and I use to burn things and blow things up. Vetiver Extraordinaire reminds me of our failed attempts to make napalm in a milk jug. Melted Plastic Extraordinaire.

This one of my top 3 Vetivers. Such an amazingly potent scent. There is not much going on besides the amazing vetiver but that's all I want and need anyway. Longevity is excellent. Goth babies should be nursed with this stuff :)

Funky.

It takes a while for the other notes to disappear. They smell nasty to me. Someone said lighter fluid and I think that is pretty close.

Then the funky bad vetiver from testosterone hell kicks in and stays.

I wouldn't wear it out but sometimes a few drops at home to round off a few days of different vetivers......

..OOOOwwwwwww!!!! Baby!!!! Get on down!!!

Vetiver Extraordinaire doesn’t unlock its secrets to me. When I try to analyze and categorize it, I keep finding ambiguity. At first sniff it seems raw to me—a basic scent that is not too different from the vetiver it’s made of. But the next sniff tells me that it isn’t raw, it is highly evolved and refined—ozonics and everything—fully incorporated. It seems linear to me because the same basic note continues from beginning to end, but then I keep picking up a rich variance in background and support. Finally, it seems so rooted in the natural and the earth, and yet I never for a second lose the feeling that there is something ethereal in its emanations. This challenging and cryptic fragrance is liquid genius.

I feel really guilty saying this, because they were so nice sending me free samples and whatnot. But this smells like death. Someone described this as smelling of musty basements. I think a crypt comes more readily to mind. Probably the worst thing I have ever put near my nose. When my friends come over I let them have a sniff just so I can watch the revoltion on their faces. 24, CA, USA

My Favorite vetiver is Creed 1948. This FM VE would be my third perhaps. It is a little bit raunchy for my liking but overal not a bad fragrance. Although this will most likely not get any wear from me, I will still give it a thumbs up.

I love Vetivers and have tried several of them. The first time I smelled this fragrance, it immediately set a different standard and quality. Claire, the staff at Edition Frederic Malle in Paris made it clear that it has 25 percent more vetiver and I'm hooked. I bought the shower gel and the fragrance. This Vetiver Extraordinaire is on the top of my vetiver list!

I hate Vetiver. I've tried again and again to incorporate a Vetiver based fragrance into my collection, but I could never find one that I liked, or was even tolerable. VE is the exception. It has an incredibly high concentration of Vetiver in it, the highest in modern perfumery, I believe, and yet, it isn't harsh or astringent in the least. It's just a beautiful green scent that is pleasant from application to drydown. I imagine, that if you are a Vetiver fan, you will absolutely love this fragrance, as it was able to convert one so anti-vetiver as myself.

My favorite Vetiver. Damp and minerally - it reminds me of good Pinot Noir, musty basements, wet stones, a grassy field on a cold misty day. The citrus opening is similar to the bitter orange in Cologne Bigarade. Sharp and peppery.

I think that there are two categories of vetivers: the first category tries to conserve or to copy the natural beauty of the simplicity of vetiver; the earthy, dry and wet – meagrely and intelligently - character. The second tries to merge it in a complex context to make a “cultivated” scent.
I would say that the vetivers of the first category are products of great “craftsman” and the vetivers of the second category are from “artists”.
VE belongs into the first category, Route du Vetiver and eg. L´Artisans in the second, and both ways can be marvelous.

PS: Try the soaps of VE!!

Let me preface this by saying that I have been pretty well documented on the forum about my dislike of Vetiver as a dominant note in scents (even beyond that wretched Guerlain concotion which I still don't understand that appeal of ). I have found some scents that can use it and be wearable, LV's was nice but too earthy as a whole and the entire MPG line, which I call the Death by Vetiver Series which contains Racine, Centaure (the most wearable of the lot) and the crime against humanity Route du Vetiver. MPG's line as a whole reminds me of a surgical patient in post-op who's allowed to hit the morphine bottom to their heart's content. It's used so heavily that it renders the whole thing unwearable. It gets to the point where the vetiver strangles every other note in the scent. Creed' OV I have warmed up to but still find too safe and uninspiring to be hold in the regard that I hold this scent in. Vetiver can have a post meltdown nuclear reactor vibe on me but this scent takes vetiver to places I could hever have dreamt of. This scent removes all things foul and unwearable about vetiver and turns it into a fresh, citrusy and musky edge that puts all other vetiver scents on the market I've tried to shame. I have worn this scent, on several occasions for over a week straight (unheard of for me) and still never fail to love it any less. The dominant notes at the top are citrus. However, unlike many of the higher end scents, this scent is not a jumbled mess like many of them are. This scent begins with a beautiful simplicity it would seem but the true complexity of this scent takes many wearings to truly fathom. It has a pleasant lemony and orange feel with bergamot quietly mingling with the vetiver at the top and then evolves to show its multifaceted wonder througout the wearing. The vetiver is simply the note that holds it together. IT's not so much a focal point, but a catalyst which all the other notes play off. The vetiver never goes too far away or too far upfront and makes this scent one of something that is a challenge to the senses and a delight to wear to see the balance of this scent appear. While there are soapy feels at times, and other times a brief, mildly, earthy stage but the citrus never truly goes away (how Ropion pulls this off is a testament to his genious) this scent is a mind blower in every sense of the word. This scent isn't defined by a note, it's a sum of the parts. This scent is a symphony with all the parts put in place for balance and a specific purpose. It's not an assault on the senses so much as a delight. Brilliant scent and this one may eventually overtake my beloved Piper Nigrum as my signature. Brilliance and elegance combined.

This gem is an unusually potent blend. The fragrance consists of about 25 percent Vetiver, but it smells surprisingly robust and clean. A very unique scent that smells unlike any other vetiver scent out there. There are more beautiful Vetivers (like, for instance, Racine by MPG), but this one is incredibly pronounced and raw. I unreservedly recommend this to gents of all ages.

The only downside to this line is the price (160 for a 100ml EDT of this particular one), but the Malle line truly does sparkle in its originality amidst a sea of blah. The fragrance industry, as with most modern industries, is today out of control and lacking authenticity. With such lines as Parfums DelRae and Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle, authenticity is thankfully making a comeback. You can purchase Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle in the US exclusively at Barney's.

One of the best vetivers out there , even if it doesn't feature the eponymous note dominantly ,alongside Vetiver Oriental by Serge Lutens and Vetiver Tonka Hermessences( which is very sweet and completely different ).
Needless to say too much here. Just TRY it , even if you think that vetiver is a musty smell that can't possibly be good on a woman. It can and here is proof of it. A different one! Bravo

VE is a very nice vetiver rendition, but I can’t help but feel there isn’t much to it. I mean, I don’t feel VE is much different from vetiver in EO form. It’s got a few twists and additions here and there, but I don’t really feel like it’s very complete or well done. I do, however, love Vetiver, and this is the closest you can get to Vetiver EO in a fragrance.

Vetiver Extraordinaire is one of the strangest fragrances I've yet encountered. The first minute smells like a BBQ grill that badly needs cleaning. In the beginning, it has a potent cumin note that really gets to me, but it does diminish quickly. I am also not a big fan of the bitter bigarade orange note that Frederic Malle uses in their fragrances and this one has it strong. The bitter bigarade oranges mixes with the strange musty ozone note and gives it kind of a dank, sour feel for the first few minutes. Afterwards, when the uber-strong bigarade orange and spice rack cools down a little, the vetiver shows up along with lovely fellow base notes of musk and amber. VE is sharp bigarade oranges, hot spices, smoky cedarwood, a dank, musty ozone note, grassy vetiver and a warm amber and musk base. It is very smoky and I still get teriyaki chicken cooking on the backyard grill out of this one, but I still like it a little for some reason. Maybe because it is so different and yet still okay smelling. Though kind of nice it is still slightly novelty and reminds me a lot of a less sweet version of the sickening Gobin Daude Biche dans L'Absinthe. It's kind of fun to wear out but only when you want to be extremely different.
NOTES: Bergamot, Bigarade Orange, Pink Pepper, Nutmeg, Floralozone (muguet ozone),
Haïtain vetyver, Sandalwood, Cedarwood, Oak Moss, Myrrh, Cashmeran (synthetic spiced floral), Muske-tone (synthetic musk), Tonalide (synthetic musk)

I love Guerlain's Vetiver and believe it is a classic in men's fragrances. But it is a little weak in some areas, and Vetiver Extraodinaire corrects those flaws, making it the ultimate Vetiver fragrance. Whereas Guerlains is almost dominated by citrus notes, Vetiver Extraordinaire leans more to the woody and spicy notes, making this almost more of a fougere than a chypre scent. The quality is excellent as with all of Frederic Malle's perfumes, and my only complaint is that it is exorbitantly expensive($150 for 100 ml bottle.)and the scented cards they send you don't do it justice.