Vetyver Incenso by Farmacia SS. Annunziata

*****
Year: 2012

Notes: bergamot, grapefruit, lemon, pink pepper, juniper berry, ginger, frankincense, cedar, patchouli, vetiver, oakmoss, ambergris
One initially had high hopes for Vetyver Incenso but, going by this niche house's track record, one should have known better.

In a nutshell, it's a quiet vetiver and frankincense outing, with cedar accents. Also, the citrus opening is acutely ephemeral and the spices are firmly relegated to the background. With rubbery and salty nuances, it's tedious, uninspired and remarkably thin. But what redeems it slightly is the oakmoss drydown with a hint of something vanillic. It's only during this stage when things start to fall into place, even though it's now nothing more than a lingering skin scent.

Contrary to popular belief, Vetyver Incenso isn't exactly a clone of Hermès' Terre d'Hermès. But, in saying that, Vetyver Incenso also doesn't possess the same stellar staying power as this Hermès' classic.


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