Vétiver Extraordinaire Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle (2002)

Vétiver Extraordinaire by Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle

Bottle Design: Frédéric Malle

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8.2 / 10 268 Ratings

Vétiver Extraordinaire is a popular perfume by Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle for men and was released in 2002. The scent is woody-green. It is being marketed by Estēe Lauder Companies.

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Perfumer

Dominique Ropion

Fragrance Notes

Top Notes	Bergamot, Bitter orange
Heart Notes	Clove, Pink pepper, Vetiver
Base Notes	Oakmoss, Musk, Myrrh, Sandalwood, Cedar

Ratings

Scent

8.2 (268 Ratings)

Longevity

7.6 (185 Ratings)

Sillage

6.4 (175 Ratings)

Bottle

7.6 (171 Ratings)

View Video of Vétiver Extraordinaire (Vimeo)

Submitted by DonVanVliet, last update on 27.02.2019

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Reviews

03/26/2017

7.0 7.0 6.0 9.0/10

K1
121 Reviews

K1

1

Woody - earthy - green

A crisp, decent, neat and weightless woody fragrance with precise amount of earthiness to woo without being vulgar. This is by far one of the best tributes to vetiver.

Green peppery citrus opening solves in a slightly pharmaceutical vetiver that gives you goosebump if you're fond of this extremely earthy note: an accord of vetiver composed of several notes to bring a complex impression in simplest way. "Less is more" in olfactory definitions.
4/5

09/18/2015

MasterLi
367 Reviews

MasterLi

Helpful Review 3

The "Real" Vetiver...

Let me start off first of all by saying that I am a huge fan of vetiver in all forms, and a huge fan of vetiver based fragrances. I find this one very authentic and extremely well made.

The fragrance starts out with a hit of smoky, earthy vetiver and some citrus. I get the cloves and some dark spices (including black pepper) and it really brings out the "dark" aspects of the vetiver root. It is said that perfumer Dominique Ropion, who has done amazing stuff for the Frederic Malle line, used about 25% vetiver absolute when composing this. This makes it the highest concentration of vetiver in a perfume currently available on the market. As a fan of vetiver, this alone made me want to try it.

I am also a huge fan of Guerlain Vetiver, but this one is slightly different. Where that one was a balance between vetiver and citrus (ie lemon), this one is a very dark, earthy, rooty type. It showcases the whole root of the plant, almost as it the earth is still clinging to it. I also compare this one to Lalique Encre Noir, but there are noticable differences. Although they are similar in "feeling" or "tone", the Lalique is sweeter, and less natural. This one is greener and earthier all the way.

Vetiver Extraordinaire hits you with a strong blast of vetiver root and says "here, deal with it". You have no choice but to accept this in-your-face type of vetiver.

As for me, I would consider purchasing, but only because I am a die hard vetiver fan. This one I think is a vetiver fan's vetiver, there is no compromise. But I must admit that if you are concerned about cost and versatility then there are other options, the Guerlain, Tom Ford version and the Lalique are all great choices, so don't feel under pressure to get this. But if you want it done right, then try this out. My only drawback is that it doesn't last the whole length of my day, even though the concentration is high. Still for now, I would only buy this if I had the money to spend on it. Otherwise I can still stick with what I already know.

05/18/2015

jtd
484 Reviews

jtd

Very helpful Review 4

Vetiver Extraordinaire

Vetiver root has been used in perfumery since day one, but the eponymous masculine Vetivers fixate on it with a particular reverence. Vetiver isn’t simply the masculine equivalent of the feminine white floral. It’s become a ceremonial totem of male toiletry, ranking with the fougère as a masculine olfactory reference. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the Big Three (Carven, Guerlain, Givenchy) boosted vetiver from a fixative and a basenote material to the center of the discussion.

The Maculine Vetiver became safe harbor in the 1960s-1970s when the underpinnings of masculinity were up for discussion. More vetiver fragrances than you can shake a stick at followed. Some kept close to the scent of the vetiver root itself (eg. Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier Route du Vetiver, Etro Vetiver, Lalique Encre Noire) while others strayed a bit further, riffing on a particular quality of the root (Annick Goutal Vetiver’s salty iodine, Serge Lutens’s chocolate Vetiver Oriental, ELDO Fat Electrician’s plastic and vinyl.)

Vetiver Extraordinaire falls into the conservative camp of Vetiver perfumes and The Big Three are its specific predecessors. All four are sweeping, classical perfumes that balance broad splashes and nuanced choices. Malle and Ropion are too well-versed in composition and history not to have understood the importance of the Big Three, but they chose to rival them rather than to imitate them. Malle also takes advantage of the of the fetishism surrounding the material, and fumies dutifully cite the 25% of vetiver oil used in the composition.

Ropion’s approach is to take vetiver to finishing school. After the dazzling citrus punch of the first sniff, he employs a swirling floral topnote to accentuate vetiver’s inherent thumping bass range. The liveliness of the topenotes have hints of lipstick and makeup and Vetiver Extraordinaire barely skirts the scandalous 'Old Lady Perfume' territory. The topnotes are ‘perfumey’ and remind me that Ropion known for his over-the-top perfumey feminine florals (Givenchy Amarige and Ysatis, Malle’s own Carnal Flower). Vetiver Extraordinaire eventually settles into a more traditionally masculine woody range, albeit with a dandy flourish.

Vetiver Extraordinaire captures the sensibility of the Frédéric Malle line perfectly. It is a superlative contemporary spin on a traditional form. Though not nearly as ubiquitous, Vetiver Extraordinaire rivals Guerlain Vetiver as the standard-bearer of the genre among vetiver enthusiasts.

from scenthurdle.com

12/21/2012

7.5 2.5 10.0 8.0/10

Drseid
670 Reviews

Drseid

Helpful Review 2

Ropion's Successful Take On Vetiver...

When I first tried Vetiver Extraordinaire, I immediately was worried as I got a decent amount of cumin in the top notes, and I don't like cumin in most scents... That said, I give Ropion credit for being able to balance the cumin so it blends with the vetiver gradually, and it becomes a seamless transition that actually works here. The vetiver itself is not overly smokey, but instead has almost a peppery lemon-like supporting accord that makes it quite distinctive and interesting. Longevity is excellent, but projection is minimal. All in all, a very strong effort by Ropion and Malle. One of the best vetiver scents on the market, IMO. Recommended to just about anyone. 4 to 4.5 stars out of 5.

02/10/2012

5.0 5.0 6.0/10

Sherapop
1239 Reviews

Sherapop

Helpful Review 1

Vetiver for the Sake of Vetiver

Frédéric Malle VETIVER EXTRAORDINAIRE is a vetiver lover's vetiver cologne. It smells spare and streamlined to the point where I am reminded of recent wearings of aromachemical niche perfumes such as MOLECULE 01. I really smell vetiver and just about only vetiver, which is a result no doubt of the fact that this particular composition contains, according to the manufacturer's card, a higher percentage of vetiver than any other.

So, it all comes down, in the end, to one question: DO YOU *LOVE* VETIVER? Nothing else is going to pull you through, but if vetiver is really what you're after, then VETIVER EXTRAORDINAIRE may well be for you. Wearing this creation would be an excellent way for anyone to sort out their true feelings about vetiver. (-;