GUERLAIN
VETIVER FAUVE
2025
PERFUMER
Delphine Jelk
pineapple
tropical green accord
fig
cedarwood
tonka bean
cypriol
vetiver
‘Vétiver Fauve Eau de Parfum unveils vetiver in a new light – unexpectedly fresh and vividly alive. Blended with a tropical fruit accord, the fragrance becomes an invitation deep into the heart of a waking jungle. Inspired by Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book, the scent evokes a wild world where nature takes over – an early morning jungle, untamed and alive with sound, color, and scent. A composition as vivid and textured as the jungle itself. For Vétiver Fauve, Delphine Jelk reimagines this traditionally dark and smoky ingredient, bringing it back to its origins. She brings out its wilder, fresher side – untamed yet refined. Though naturally dry, vetiver here is brightened with green freshness. Blended with a lush tropical fruit accord, it comes alive with vibrant, botanical energy. The result is an elegant, earthy depth – evocative of a wild creature moving gracefully through the jungle at first light.’ – Harrods
‘I combined the warm, woody essence of vetiver with an accord of green, wet tropical jungle, illuminated by a fruity note of pineapple and fig. If this perfume were a work of art, it would be the Kipling’s Jungle Book.’ – Delphine Jelk
I wore this alongside Ambre Samar, and while Vetiver Fauve would usually be less up my alley based on the notes/scent profile, I ended up liking it a lot more. Still, not one that’s for me, but it’s better than I expected.
And it’s the fruits that ‘save it’ for me. It sets off strongly green, with grassy notes. Throughout the entire wear, the vetiver here is a vibrant green; not the clean, soapy, easy-to-love-even-if-you-don’t-love-green vetiver Tom Ford Grey Vetiver, nor the more gothic, astringent vetiver from a Lalique Encre Noir. It sits in between with a grassier, but also still earthy green.
As it dries down, it becomes a tad warmer and sweeter, and I get images of hands in the soil with some basil-tomato leaf-esque sweetness. While earthy and woody, it never gets too screechy or harsh.
As mentioned, the fruitiness is what keeps this enough in my ballpark to not dislike it as something to wear personally. It’s subtle, but there. Like underripe, green, watery fruit… non-descript, but giving a nice edge to the composition and it sticks around.
Overall, quite a well-balanced scent that doesn’t feel too modern, sweet, screechy or simplistic. Not something to write home about either in my opinion, but I can appreciate it.
