The plant at its roots
A material fragrance that highlights the original nature of the precious essence. Here, vetiver professes its innate wildness. And even more: its masculinity. Although it has been an integral part of men's fragrances for decades, it is usually in a polite, urban, toned-down form. In Vétiver Bourbon, Marc-Antoine Corticchiato frees it from its overly civilised manners to restore its original elegance. That of a substance which, in its raw state, is a unique and contrasting fragrance.
A tribute fragrance that evokes the iconic vetiver bourbon after which it is named and which is now extremely rare, having virtually disappeared from the island of La Réunion, where it was once widespread. With its fresh, green, aromatic facets and earthy, mossy and woody notes, it is the richest and most comprehensive vetiver essence. The benchmark quality of the ingredient.
A fragrance landscape reminiscent of the harvest of the fragrant root at dawn, just as the robust root is torn from the ground, a reminder of Marc-Antoine Corticchiato's travels to the former Bourbon Island. A volcanic landscape that infuses the mineral facets of the essence of Vetiver Bourbon.
Vetiver Bourbon intensifies the earthy character of the essence by interweaving it with two roots. Angelica, herbaceous, musky, peppery, whipped by the burning clove from Madagascar. And delicately woody iris, illuminated by clear ambrette seed.
This is untamed vetiver, torn from the earth of the island of La Réunion.
A word from Marc-Antoine Corticchiato
"With Lucien Acquarone, my companion from the Macchie and bush, a brilliant distiller who knew how to get the best out of perfume plants, we often stopped off in La Réunion on our way to or from Madagascar. There we bought essential oils from Bourbon vetiver and often visited the plantations on the island at the crack of dawn to witness the laborious harvest. This impressively robust grass, which can withstand hurricanes, protects the soil from erosion and its harvests strengthen the weak economies. This gave us the idea of growing vetiver in Madagascar from the roots we had brought back from La Réunion. During this project, we realised how difficult it is to cultivate this plant. It also inspired me to explore all the facets and contrasts of vetiver bourbon, both its rawness and its sophistication.
