For The Love of Vetiver
May 17th, 2010
Once upon a time, Vetiver was a hands-down, no-questions-asked, deal-breaker. In fact, I used to run screaming in the opposite direction. Oh, how things have changed. I am happy to report that I am completely and madly in love with Vetiver.
Vetiver has a deep, robust, musky, smoky aroma that is full of character and body. Typically used as a basenote, Vetiver grounds perfume blends and revitalizes the senses. As a full-blooded resin junkie, it came as a surprise that Vetiver was a deal-breaker. I know it’s not technically a resin, but many varieties of Vetiver oils are deep and resinous and have many of the same characteristics as my beloved resins.
I have even pinpointed how this love affair began. When I started Good Judy, I was determined to find the best products to include in my perfumes. In fact, I have quite the graveyard of discarded and unused notes. They did not pass the muster, and were exiled. Many a Vetiver is in that pile. Then, one day, I uncapped a bottle of Javan Vetiver. Swoon! Something was different. Something changed. The aroma was heavenly.
As I began working on my Chakras, Vetiver became an integral part of my routine. Vetiver powerfully resonates with the Muladhara or Root Chakra (the first Chakra). The more Chakra work I did, the more my love for Vetiver blossomed. So much so, that I began to experiment with creating my own Vetiver accord from many different sources. Eventually, my satisfaction with my creation warranted sharing it with others. Now Good Judy’s Vetiver is available in the Repertorium.
Sadly, and a bit unjustly (as I was once anti-Vetiver myself), Vetiver carries a stigma in the world of perfume oils. If you are one of those folks who consider Vetiver a deal-breaker, I implore you to try it again. I accept that there will always be those who dislike Vetiver, but experience tells me that many dislike Vetiver solely on the claims of others. It took me years of misguided dislike before I realized that Vetiver is a deliciously warm, soul-satisfying, and reassuring smell-goodie.
Viva la Vetiver!
