What about vetiver oil?

Don't have any idea how the oil is priced, but $255 for 100ml is worth the investment IMO if one really likes the Malle as I do.

I like the sweet-grassy stuff from Haiti. Most commercial vetivers have considerably better longevity than pure oil (about 3 hours?), since they are mixed with fixatives like musks and Iso E.

Aqua Oleum do a good bourbon vetiver oil:

http://www.aqua-oleum.co.uk/proddeta...rbon_oil&cat=1

There's some info about it in the following threads:

http://www.basenotes.net/threads/252...ls-as-Colognes

http://www.basenotes.net/threads/270127-Vetiver-scent

http://www.basenotes.net/threads/242...iver-Varieties

Yep, I agree with this. It is of course very easy to acquire all the ingredients above at low cost and together with alcohol (unfortunately much more difficult to obtain) you could make a superb vetiver scent quite easily.

Bought mine from Aqua Oleum a few years ago based on a thread here. It is thick earthy,smoky everlasting and beautiful. Vetiver by Guerlain is my favourite scent and this oil has been guarded as much as the Guerlain.

Haven't tried nor owned ant brand-name vetiver oil, but, as a somewhat off-topic remark, even the non-branded vetiver oil retailing in fair trade/health/bio-farm etc. stores is already an entirely different and surprisingly fulfilling experience.

Another happy user of Aqua Oleum Reunion bourbon vetiver oil. I prefer it to the Khus-type ones - I just like the sweeter, woodier, smokier, more lower register vibe of the bourbon to the herbacious diffusive greenness of a typical Khus, although admittedly, those are nice too especially when worn in really hot and humid weather.

You should try contacting fellow B'noter and friend Trebor who is very knowlegeable about vetiver and has created a forum dedicated to it:
http://www.basenotes.net/group.php?groupid=92

Have to say that after being introduced to the oils, I don't think I will ever need to buy another perfume containing it., I absolutely love them.The oils are tenacious, complex, powerful and a little seems to go a long way. Very regional like oudhs and each region produces oils with different characteristics and seems to produce different facets as time goes by.

Ooh, interesting. Any other suggestions or comments on currently available oils aside from that of Aqua Oleum?

All true.

Those who have not had a chance to try the pure juice are missing out on a valuable experience.

I'm just saying all this after just trying three oils from India, java and Madagascar.......and there are yet so many more to explore. All I can say is thanks Trebor! You got me started on a wonderful journey!

That's not necessarily true - it really depends on the variety of vetiver (as well as age and source of either the supplier or distiller) as they all perform differently on the skin. Haitian vetiver is probably the lightest of all the varieties I've tried so far and I completely agree with you there. But with regards to other varieties, such as Javanese and Bourbon, they're a lot more potent (and complex) than most of the vetiver fragrances currently on the market.

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Brand name isn't really as important as many may think - it all comes down to personal preferences. A lot of the non-branded stuff is just as good but they may have sourced the oil from other distillers. For example, I've tried Sri Lankan vetiver essential oil from three different suppliers and one smelt completely to the other two (which were pretty much the same, to my nose).

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No worries, sultanpasha! I hope you gain a lot of enjoyment from the Sri Lankan vetiver!

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The complexity and richness of these oils are second-to-none. Hardly any vetiver-based fragrances can offer this, IMHO.

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In the world of perfumery, Vetiver Extraordinaire is a masterpiece. There is no doubt about that. However, from a practical perspective (and having been on both sides of the fence), vetiver fragrances lack the complexity and robust richness of the essential oils.

Now, that's not to say that vetiver fragrances are redundant, as it all comes down to personal tastes. But, based on what I've sampled so far, I would never return to wearing vetiver fragrances again (although the LesNez renditions of vetiver are exceptional, especially from a compositional point of view, and came the closest to being exceptions to the rule).

£150 for diluted Haitian vetiver (at EDT strength), combined with synthetic musks; or £20-30 for at least 30ml of the real thing, which would probably offer just as many applications (if not more)?

For someone who prefers to keep their fragrance collection relatively small, there's really no contest...

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Glad to hear you had a great first experience, Roper-Hall! Just remember that vetiver essential oil is one of the few natural oils that can be worn neat as well, if you so wish. With more time and experience, you may begin to understand the virtues of these oils that some of us have been raving about...

Trebor and/or Roper-Hall, would you mind posting where you sourced your Haitian vetiver oil from?

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Will, I don't own any Haitian vetiver, as it tends to go sour on my skin after a short while. It's the only variety of vetiver that doesn't agree with my skin chemistry. However, I have sampled this oil from both White Lotus Aromatics (they no longer ship to the UK, unfortunately) and Eden Botanicals. Both seemed pretty similar to each other but I found it difficult to fully evaluate them due to the aforementioned issue.