Quick answer: Vetiver smells earthy, woody and green, with a faint smoky edge, and it is dry rather than sweet. In perfume it is a classic base note that gives a scent a clean, dry backbone, so sweet or fruity notes above it do not end up sticky. Mykonos lists vetiver in at least eight perfumes, always in the base.
What does vetiver smell like? Think of dry roots and grass rather than a freshly mown lawn: earthy and a little woody, with a green sharpness and a trace of smoke. It is rarely the note you notice first, but it is often what keeps the end of a scent dry instead of sweet. This guide describes the note, sets it beside patchouli and cedarwood, and goes through six Mykonos perfumes that list it. We are an authorized Mykonos retailer for Europe; the notes and ratings come from the brand's product data and handbook, and the rest is general perfumery knowledge.
What does vetiver smell like?
Vetiver is a grass, and its roots are what give the note its smell: earthy, woody and slightly smoky, with a green edge. The thing to remember is that it is dry. Where patchouli carries a slow sweetness and a hint of chocolate, vetiver stays cool and clean, closer to dry roots and cool soil with a faint trace of smoke. It is one of the classic base notes in perfumery.
| Note | Smells like | Feels |
|---|---|---|
| Vetiver | Dry roots, grass, a trace of smoke | Earthy, green, dry |
| Patchouli | Damp soil, dark leaves, a hint of chocolate | Earthy, dark, slightly sweet |
| Cedarwood | Pencil shavings, dry planks | Dry, clean, straight |
We cover the other two in what patchouli smells like and what cedarwood smells like.
What does vetiver do in a perfume?
- It dries things out. Praline, vanilla and ripe fruit sit better on a dry base, and vetiver is what stops them from turning sticky.
- It adds earth to woods. Beside cedarwood or sandalwood it makes the woody finish feel earthier and less polished.
- It stays. Vetiver fades slowly, so it belongs to the drydown rather than the opening. Our guide to top, heart and base notes explains that order.
- It rarely announces itself. On a note list it is a supporting note. You tend to notice what a scent would be without it more than the vetiver itself.
Vetiver in the Mykonos range
Mykonos lists vetiver in at least eight perfumes, and in every one it is a base note. Six of them show what kind of company it keeps.
Vetiver under citrus
Mykonos California puts mandarin orange and lemon over lychee, rosemary, cardamom, lavender, geranium and aquatic notes, with tonka bean, teak wood and vetiver in the base. Mykonos lists its accord as citrus, aromatic and aquatic, for spring and summer, and rates its sillage moderate to strong, its projection strong and its longevity at 9+ hours; how long it lasts on you depends on skin and climate. The lavender is worth following up in our lavender perfume guide. Mykonos x Paola Serena Jynx goes herbal and spicy: bergamot, grapefruit, ginger, melon and marine notes above clove, nutmeg, lavender, sage and lily of the valley, with leather, vetiver, sandalwood, amber, musk and iris underneath. It is an eau de parfum, and Mykonos gives it no ratings.
Vetiver under sweetness
Mykonos Untamed opens with aldehydes and a crisp linen accord, has praline and a coconut soap accord in the heart, and ends on black amber, cedarwood, vetiver, musk, vanilla and cashmeran. Mykonos lists the accord as gourmand, woody and vanilla; the vetiver is part of why a praline scent ends dry. Our Mykonos Untamed review gives the full verdict. Mykonos Senja lays coffee and almond over a heart of patchouli, chocolate and milk, and closes with sandalwood, chocolate, vetiver and cistus. Mykonos rates its longevity at 9+ hours and lists it for autumn and winter. Mykonos Sansa is the most unusual of the six: moss, peach, black tea and osmanthus on top, rose, tuberose, narcissus and toffee in the heart, and cedarwood, orris root, vetiver and dark chocolate in the base.
Vetiver in a crowded base
Mykonos Inferno has seven notes in its base: patchouli, oakmoss, amber, musk, vetiver, tonka bean and ambroxan. Vetiver is one voice among them, under blackcurrant, caramelised pineapple, clove, nutmeg and rose. Mykonos lists the accord as fruity, spicy and mossy, and the scent for summer. The other two perfumes that list vetiver are Mykonos Down to Earth, which sets it with sandalwood and cedar under fig, matcha green tea and incense, and Mykonos x Sapeyeeee Dolce Cherry, where it sits with tonka bean, cedar, amberwood and sandalwood under maraschino and black cherry.
| Perfume | Above the vetiver | Mykonos accord |
|---|---|---|
| California | Mandarin orange, lemon, lychee, lavender | Citrus, aromatic, aquatic |
| Jynx | Bergamot, grapefruit, clove, lavender | None given |
| Untamed | Aldehydes, linen accord, praline | Gourmand, woody, vanilla |
| Senja | Coffee, almond, patchouli, chocolate | Sweet, warm spicy, woody |
| Sansa | Moss, peach, black tea, toffee | None given |
| Inferno | Blackcurrant, pineapple, clove, rose | Fruity, spicy, mossy |
How to choose a vetiver perfume
Choose by what sits on top of the vetiver. Citrus over vetiver, as in California and Jynx, is the dry, fresh route; California is listed for spring and summer, while Mykonos gives Jynx no season. Sweetness over vetiver, as in Untamed, Senja and Sansa, suits anyone who likes sweet notes with a dry finish; Untamed is listed for spring and summer, Senja for autumn and winter. Inferno, listed for summer, is the one where vetiver is part of a crowd.
You can browse the woodier scents in our Woody & Vanilla collection. Whatever you choose, try it on skin first, because a dry note can read very differently on different people.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between vetiver and patchouli?
Both are earthy base notes, but vetiver is dry, green and slightly smoky, while patchouli is darker, damper and carries a slow sweetness. Many perfumes use both: Senja has patchouli in the heart and vetiver in the base, and Inferno lists both in the base. Our guide to what patchouli smells like covers the other note.
Is vetiver a masculine scent?
No, the note has no gender. Of the six perfumes above, California is listed for him and the other five are listed as unisex.
Does vetiver smell like grass?
A little, but it is closer to dry grass and roots than to a freshly mown lawn. The green is cool and slightly bitter, with earth and a trace of smoke under it.
Is vetiver a base note?
Yes. It fades slowly and stays in the drydown, and every Mykonos perfume that lists it places it in the base.