Original Vetiver (for men)

guynspfld

I wore OV for the first time today and did I get compliments. I work in healthcare and have to be cautious as to what I wear. I am a loyal Tabarome fan, but find it to heavy for work. OV is subtle enough that I can wear it and no I am not offending anyone. The citrus beginning to the spicy base it never sours as many do. I am glad I purchased this yesterday!!

shamus1

I have to swallow my pride on this one. I wrote a scathing review of OV a month ago (see below), but what I didn't know at the time was that I was sold a fake bottle of OV (I was dumb enough to buy it on eBay, which I've learned now is notorious for peddling phony Creeds). Two weeks ago I went to Neiman Marcus and sampled the real OV, which didn't even resemble the schlock I had accidentally purchased. I then purchased a real bottle of OV from a reputable vendor, and now my view has changed.

That being said, I must say that OV is a fabulous fragrance. I'm wearing it right now and enjoying every minute of it. It starts off with a fresh, green soapy accord reminiscent of Irish Spring soap, but more subtle and elegant. You don't smell any vetiver at all until the top notes fade, which takes about an hour. At that point, the vetiver starts to sneak in, and remains through the drydown. The vetiver itself has a sort of soapy character, very unlike Goutal's Vetiver, which has a very raw, earthy feel. Creed's vetiver is of excellent quality here. My only complaint with OV is that it doesn't last very long - five or six sprays on my skin only lasts about five hours. However, those five hours are wonderful. OV is fascinating in the way it unfolds - you wonder where the vetiver is in the beginning, then it slowly creeps its way into your heart. Excellent!

As for my earlier review, my apologies to Creed and others who like this fragrance (although I still think Creed's advertising is snooty and pretentious!)

andyray

It is beyond doubt that the house of Creed exemplify perfumery at its most opulent. There's a depth of history and an association with Royal Courts and their so-called 'Private Collection' to the stars of a bygone era, that engenders nothing short of 'Class': that is, fragrances for the elite who demand expensive, refined, and highly sophisticated perfumes.

Indeed, their availability from exclusive retailers; the grand packaging; the iconic bottles; the fragrance names and the 'Millesime' strength, togther with the high price tag, all reflect this. However, for me, the 'Original Vetiver' remains an oddity.

'Vetiver' fragrances are, by definition, characteristically both 'vetiver' in composition and in dominant thematic chord. One thinks of the classic Guerlain Vetiver; the recently re-released, beautiful, Givenchy Vetiver; Miller Harris's gorgeous 'Vetiver Bourbon', or the Frederick Malle 'Vetiver Extraodinaire' by Dominique Ropion.

Therefore, given the fragrance title and Creed's 'Millesime' strength, implicitly, I expected this fragrance to pack a real heavyweight 'vetiver' punch yet, disappointingly, found it more akin to an old-fashioned, apres-rasage, gentleman's cologne.

To be sure, it is a lovely fragrance and is seems to work well as a fresh, 'first thing in the morning' smell, and lasts quite well, yet its title seems at odds with the olfactory outcomes.

If it had a name like 'Green Valley', for example, I would have more 'confidence' with this perfume. However, and similar to the previous reviewer, I think it is more 'Original Lemon and limes' or 'Original Lemongrass' than 'Vetiver' and it remains very 'green' in nature rather like the nice bottle it is presented in.

In fact, I struggle to find the vetiver in this perfume albeit, occassionally, a flutter of this enignmatic wood appears: a glimpse however that remains delicate and opaque in quality, rather than the woody stuff that imbues one's jumpers, collars and cuffs, to be smelled the next day as a kind of gentle olfactory hangover.

Maybe I've missed something in that Creed have presented a wonderfully subtle version of Vetiver that bucks the paradigm trend which I referred to above?

Finally, it is as if the chamelion of 'vetiver' has turned its essence into something other than itself and, although the fragrance is pleasant and fresh/grassy/green in nature, I remain underwhelmed by the paucity of that which its title implies. Andyray.

Aiona

6 hours later, the top notes are completely gone, or maybe I have nose fatigue! All that seems to be left is a sandalwood/amber base, similar to that of Spirit for Women. 6 hours is way too quick for such an expensive scent to disappear!

Aiona

I know the name says "Vetiver," but my first initial impression with this one was "LEMONGRASS". . . overwhelming LEMONGRASS. And ginger, too. Behind it all, I can smell what people call the "Ivory soap" smell. But it's Ivory soap mixed with lemongrass. I don't see lemongrass as one of the notes, though. However, if I wanted to smell like a big, spicy bowl of tom yum, mixed with Ivory soap, then this is what I would choose to wear!