Vetyver Lanvin (new) (2003)
by Lanvin

The review below is for the Lanvin in the same bottle as this called L'Homme. Now that I can edit, I will fix my review. I hope I did not lead too many astray with my review. So here it is: first, Diamondflame's review is spot-on. If one were to compare this Vetyver with Guerlains, it smels like 2 different fragrances, and I suppose Geurlain is a more more trustworthy frag-house? This Vetyver smells more like Azzaro's Pure Vetiver, a type of vetiver I would dub as modern. Azzaro goes straight for the punch and delivers vetiver, while Lanvin seduces those who grew up with the 90's aquatic trends: opens like Davidoff Echo and Givenchy's PH (Red Label) and Blue Label. In contrast, I find Guerlain's to be too sharp and astringent like. Lanvin and Azzaro's offering I can do. One problem: sillage and longevity. I have to do 12 sprays minimum, otherwise, nothing. It is good for snuggling up with your sexy someone without suffocating them. For that, it gets a thumbs up.


OLD REVIEW
Smells to me like C Herrera's 212. Not bad and it sticks around quite well. I am not old enough to know what the origianl was like, but this isn't my fav scent. It's bright and it stays that way....

Ahh, vetiver. A root problem for many reviewers it seems, pun intended. There appears to be some confusion surrounding Lanvin's updated (butchered?) version of its '60s original particularly in comparison to its more illustrious counterpart from Guerlain. Is there or is there not 'vetiver' in this one? If you're looking for the 'musty, earthy' notes commonly associated with vetiver root you won't find it here. Lanvin's vetiver is much softer and greener, quite easily missed. The difference could be due to the nature of the raw vetiver or the derived vetiver oil post disillation. Whatever it was, it makes for a quieter scent that wears closer to your skin. Perhaps it won't find fans among sillage lovers but I rather like its understated elegance.

Lanvin Vetyver has become one of my favorite "go-to" fragrances. Strange but true...

The first time I smelled it was when I bought a small bottle of it blind. It was inexpensive. I found it a very middle of the road scent. The opening reminded me a little too much of a Lysol air freshener smell so I put it away for a while. I was confused by the name also, because it's not your typical vetiver scent. Many people say this has little to no vetiver at all, but that's not true. The vetiver is apparent only as it dries down onto the skin, but once it does the effect is palpable and gives the scent a nice texture. Some people look so hard, they seem to miss it!

There is a "cologney" vibe about Lanvin Vetyver that might be offputting to some people, but it manages to behave well enough in its construction that it never falls apart into brash cliché. There are a lot of designer fragrances on the market that start out similarly to this one but turn awful because the quality of their ingredients is so poor. This one starts off a bit unambitious and common but gets better with time and repeated wearings. Very fresh and bright smelling. Supposedly, this contains a very high percentage of natural ingredients and I'm inclined to believe it.

If you're looking for some kind of be-all end-all vetiver root tour de force, look elsewhere. If you're looking for an outgoing, crisp, sporty, fresh, versatile cologne that dries down to a slightly dry vetiver skin scent-- think about adding this to your rotation.

"OK" fresh and aquatic opening. The Jasmine here is very unclean, and offensive to my nose. Mixes with something salty and dirtier, but not in a good way.

I actually enjoy this scent, altough not as much to turn it into one of my favourites. Nevertheless, it is crisp, light yet distinguished, sporting a more vibrant and easygoin, informal approach, in comparison to the almost hieratic opulence of the more calssical Guerlain or Creed Vetyvers.

When I first put this on it felt strange. No vetiver opening at all. It was more of a typical clean sporty style. Throughout the drydown I get wafts of vetiver. The aroma was intermittent, coming and going like a summer rain. While I found that interesting it was ultimately boring and didn't last.