Two things strike us as we walk through the green tea plantations of ancient Java: the cone of the Kawa Ijen volcano and the vetiver bushes. Their long roots reinforce the pathways: they are the reason we came here, for the earthy, almost ashy note that makes this vetiver a unique olfactory experience. Vetiver: it sounds so French, but the name is deceptive. Vettiveru is actually the Tamil word for a plant whose long roots are also prized as a textile material. After extraction and distillation, they produce an amber-coloured essential oil. Its origins take us back to southern India, but we wanted our Perris Monte Carlo Vetiver to be a truly special fragrance experience. After sampling the most commonly used varieties from the Antilles, Haiti and Bourbon, we travelled to ancient Java. The largest, most populous island in the Sunda archipelago still has something of its mysterious aura. Perhaps because the great active volcanoes are so close at hand: it is certainly true that Java vetiver does not share the clean simplicity of its closest relatives. By contrast, it is pungent, sharp, smoky and almost burnt, with unexpected green, floral and spicy hints. Our Vetiver fragrance is perfect for anyone searching for elegantly charismatic notes: an intense, woody heart that opens out into light, floral notes. 