Vetiver Ambrato (2005)
by Bois 1920

A rather synthetic and cloying opening recedes swiftly into a warm and somewhat engaging drydown. There are similarities in tone to Miller Harris Noix du Tubereuese, but more muted and with less finesse.The slight almond paste sweetness ensures this remains wearable, but its contrived and cosmetic personality jars continually. One can only detect a suggestion of vetiver in the top notes, but as an ingredient, it is superfluous. A sweet and synthetic bore.

Whatever Vetiver is in there dissolves after a fraction of a second only to be replaced by the most sickening synthetic amber that will stick on your skin for days. This is badly made and overpriced niche at its worst. I'd rather walk around in any Hugo Boss fragrance you can name. Hideous!

Nicest of the range imo with a beautiful opening of a sweetened vetiver. I love the amber note in this fragrance, which blends really well with the green notes. I must disagree over the strength though -- I find VA to have a rather powerful sillage and liberal spraying would be quite overwhelming (for everyone). Good stuff.

I am not sure I smell any vetiver! Bois 1920 as a house has a tendency to be very light, and so I really poured on the sample. However, I think all the Bois 1920 fragrances must be sprayed to get the full effect. I can't say I really know what is going on with VA, it is THAT subtle. On the plus side, the sweet amber is a light one, and could be a great day-time scent.

Top: bergamot, lemon, petitgrain, cloves, geranium, artemesia
Mid: patchouli, lavender, vetiver, sandalwood, cedarwood
Base: tobacco leaves, musk, amber, vanilla, benzoin, labdanum, galbanum
The citrus is absolutely invisible in the opening. I get rich and spicy cloves, and a bit of green artemesia. Then appear some good smoky and tangy notes of vetiver and lavender. I find this phase to be excellent. Then the vetiver reaches down and shakes hands with the amber. I’m not a fan of vanilla, amber or tobacco leaf. However, they are well done here, not excessive or cloying. This one is not my style, but I can appreciate it. Perhaps it is more suitable for a woman, in fact I think it would be quite attractive on the right woman. The dry-down is excellent, I appreciate the hint of dry and dusky-green galbanum.

A sweet (but not too sweet), slightly earthy perfume that really puts vetiver in a starring role for the first 30 minutes or so. Vetiver Ambrato is nicely balanced fragrance that becomes more ambery in the dry down with notes of vanilla and musk becoming noticeable. This is an understated, and as others have mentioned, classy fragrance that lasts about 4 hours with a moderate sillage. This would be suitable for business or casual wear. I like this but there are other vetivers that I like much more, so I don't think this will find its way into my collection any time soon.