10 Best Vetiver Colognes for Men
Updated January 2023
How We Found the Best Vetiver Colognes
5 Experts Interviewed
18 Fragrances Tested
Top 10 Picks
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Liam Carson
In the perfumery world, vetiver, especially Haitian vetiver, is perhaps one of the most coveted and sought-after perfumery notes.
The core texture of this fragrance note presents an earthy-woody vibe with uniquely fresh features. This is where the similarity between vetiver fragrances stops, however, as each vetiver scent is a unique wonder on its own. Even if you have smelled a vast array of vetiver colognes, there will definitely be surprises waiting to greet you.
If you are looking for the best vetiver cologne for men in 2021, you have come to the right place! Strap on your seatbelt, because we’re going down the woody road of Vetiverville!
Summary List
Vetiver Fragrances Ranked by Cologne Critic
Editor's Pick
Best Overall Vetiver Scent - The Art of Shaving Cologne Intense, Vetiver Citron
4.9/5
Why we chose it
Another strong cologne from the brand The Art of Shaving, Vetiver Citron, is a fresh citrusy-woodsy blend that will brighten up your morning and uplift your mood!
Right at the beginning, the note of grapefruit and lemon are featured prominently, creating an uplifting and zesty scent that will create a beautiful scent profile. After a while, a medley of irresistible subtle spices kicks in, with the note of cardamom taking the rein.
Finally, as the scent reaches closer to its base notes, it becomes softer and woodier thanks to the earthy note of vetiver, cedarwood, labdanum, and a slight hint of cashmere.
This uplifting scent makes for excellent daily wear in hot summer days, as it will work like a charm in warm weather. Its projection and longevity are both moderate.
Main Accords
- Citrus
- Woody
- Aromatic
Our Take
It’s hard to talk about vetiver without touching the classic Tom Ford Grey Vetiver EDT. It truly is one of the most successful vetiver fragrances of all time.
Featuring a fresh and spicy aroma with a robust woody presence, this eau de toilette is the perfect image of a modern gentleman: someone who is both reliable and dependable.
The cologne bursts open with a healthy dose of citrusy grapefruit and fresh basil, creating a profile that will make heads turn. After it dries down a little, the spicy notes of sage and artemisia, along with a slight powdery touch from the note of orris root, will kick in. In our opinion, this is what turns the cologne into a spicy powerhouse.
As it reaches closer to the base notes, the vetiver’s note, already present throughout the formula, will become much more prominent, turning the scent into a woody delight with a pleasant citrusy touch.
This cologne is fresh and inoffensive enough for daily office use, but it is a perfect choice to wear on a date night.
For a fresh woody scent, the longevity is impressive. The projection is nice as well.
Main Accords
- Citrus
- Earthy
- Aromatic
Our Take
The house of Diptyque rarely fails, and Vetyverio is undoubtedly an exciting fragrance from the brand.
It follows the same citrusy-woodsy cologne structure that is featured quite prominently in Grey Vetiver. Still, the scent is refreshing enough to keep you pleasantly surprised.
The opening is a full blast of citruses, with the classic note of grapefruits and lemon taking the lead. After the blast dies down a little, a medley of fresh floral notes takes the stage.
The minty note of geranium blends perfectly with the note of ylang-ylang and rose, giving the cologne a slightly feminine touch. The spicy notes of cloves and nutmeg quickly balance out the cologne with their masculine blast.
As it reaches closer to the base, the cologne becomes muskier and woodier with the notes of musk, cedarwood, and vetiver becoming very prominent.
Diptyque Vetyverio is a highly unique fragrance, so it is definitely good to save it for special occasions to achieve that added wow factor.
Like most Diptyque offerings, this fragrance tends to stay close to the skin, but it lingers for a pretty impressive amount of time.
Main Accords
- Citrus
- Woody
- Aromatic
Our Take
Vetiver Insolent offers something a little different than the typical woody note that is so synonymous with vetiver. Instead, it opts for a spicier and warmer blend that exudes elegance and poetry that brings to mind an autumn evening in England.
Instead of a fresh citrus opening like most vetiver colognes, this perfume opens with incense and a very prominent presence of black pepper and elemi resin.
After a while, notes of iris, lavender, and amber come into play, adding more depth and warmth to the cologne as a whole.
When the scent reaches the base notes, the vetiver will reveal itself in its fullest, but it isn’t the fresh kind of vetiver that you would smell in most mainstream colognes. Instead, it is a meditative and almost zen-like scent with a woody profile. The sweetness from the note of tonka beans will help to mellow the scent down a little.
This is the perfect scent for cold and windy nights, as the soft and incense-y vetiver wraps around you like a light blanket. It can last a whole night to give you the warmth you need, and it tends to stay quite close to your skin.
Main Accords
- Woody
- Aromatic
- Warm Spicy
Our Take
No vetiver scent list would be complete without at least a mention of the legendary Terre d’Hermès, arguably among the first colognes to popularize the note. This version features an even more intense offering of vetiver!
The initial blast is a refreshing citrus delight with the familiar note of grapefruit taking the helm. The middle notes are even spicier than most mainstream vetiver colognes, including the note of Sichuan pepper and geranium.
The cologne’s base is entirely dominated by an intense woody vetiver and incense-y olibanum, with a slight hint of patchouli here and there.
Terre d’Hermès Intense Vetiver is a little overwhelming, so it is better suited towards dates or on special evenings out, instead of at the office. Its longevity is truly impressive. The projection is such that there will always be a trail of the cologne wherever you go.
Main Accords
- Citrus
- Woody
- Aromatic
Our Take
Taking inspiration from Parisian dances in the 20s, this fragrance stays true to its namesake: a very eclectic mix between modern vetiver and a bouquet of wildflowers, a perfect scent for a romantic gentleman.
Upon the first spray, you will be treated with a bouquet of exotic African flowers, alongside some very prominent citruses to uplift your spirit.
The intoxicating notes of orange blossom and tagetes will dazzle you with their exotic olfactive dance and take you on a wild adventure. After a short while, violet flowers and jasmine will come and join the dance, before unveiling the king, the note of vetiver, at the end of the ball.
This certainly is a pretty unique cologne, ideal for making an excellent first impression. The longevity is good, but the projection leaves much to be desired, so don’t hesitate to be generous with the application.
Main Accords
- Citrus
- Woody
- Aromatic
Our Take
Guerlain Vetiver is a true stalwart in the cologne world that has captured many men’s hearts since the year 2000. Exuding true elegance and modernity in just a tiny bottle, this fragrance is a must-have if you are a die-hard vetiver fan who just can’t have enough of the note.
The cologne itself is undoubtedly a sophisticated fragrance with an interesting note structure. The headnotes include many citruses such as bergamot and mandarin orange, accentuated by the neroli and other spicy notes. Notably, there is a strong presence of tobacco from the start that will stay prominent throughout the scent’s development.
The middle notes are noticeably quite woody, with a manifest presence of vetiver and sandalwood. The cologne rests on a leathery and animalic base of civet, oakmoss, and leather.
This scent is best avoided for office use, as the animalic base could be quite offensive for some. Instead, use it on nights out for the best effects. The cologne lasts very long, but it does not project very far.
Main Accords
- Woody
- Aromatic
- Fresh Spicy
Our Take
If you’re looking for something a little different in your vetiver cologne, this may be it. This fragrance does not follow the fresh-citrusy aspect of vetiver in other scents. Instead, it paints a deep, dark, earthy, and green vetiver that immediately brings to mind a forest with imposing trees.
Upon the first spray, the cologne will take you on a forest walk with the cypress’s coniferous note, accentuated by bergamot. After a while, the unmistakable woody aspect of vetiver takes over, along with a slight hint of cedarwood, turning the cologne into an aromatic and pleasant delight. Wait until the end of the cologne’s development, and you will be treated with warm amber, which balances out the woody vetiver.
People unfamiliar with woody scents might find this fragrance a bit aggressive, so you should use it on special occasions with a loved one. Both the projection and longevity are pretty decent.
Main Accords
- Citrus
- Woody
- Aromatic
Our Take
Creed Original Vetiver is an exciting take on this note indeed. Accentuated by a dose of ambergris, this fresh-woody scent is definitely unique enough to blow your mind away even if you have tried plenty of vetiver-centric colognes.
The fragrance blooms open with a harmonic display of uplifting citruses and a fresh spicy nuance from the ginger’s note. As the blast fades away, the woody notes of vetiver and sandalwood take the stage for their own, mellowed down a bit by the ethereal note of iris.
The musk and ambergris base gives this cologne a soft and soapy vibe that makes it accessible to the general public.
In general, this cologne is friendly enough for the office. It lasts for a very long time, but the projection can be a bit underwhelming.
Main Accords
- Woody
- Aromatic
- Warm Spicy
Our Take
Many will say that Black Linen is a clone of Terre d’Hermès, but this isn’t entirely true. This cologne certainly stands out on its own with a rather classic take on vetiver.
This is a straight-up citrus-woody cologne with little development in-between the notes, but that is not necessarily bad. It features prominently the notes of vetiver, grapefruit, and a special appearance of clary sage, which gives it an interesting twist. The vetiver is woodier than most mainstream offerings, helping to set it apart from other vetiver-centric colognes.
You could definitely use this cologne in the office, as it is quite pleasing and inoffensive. It performs really well in terms of projection and longevity.
Vetiver is a modern and chic note that has become somewhat of a celebrity lately. This perfumery note also possesses a vast range of texture and aspects, so don’t hesitate to try out as many vetiver fragrances as possible. You will definitely be pleasantly surprised!
Main Accords
- Citrus
- Woody
- Soft Spicy
Other Colognes We Considered
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Researched by a team of fragrance experts.