Platinum Collection : Vetiver
Commodity (2017)

Bought today as a blind buy at T.J. Maxx for $35 in Georgia.

I have always enjoyed the scent of Guerlain’s Vetiver. Bright and luscious green Vetiver. Refined. And I have enjoyed individually the scents of Patchouli, Sandalwood, and Jasmine. I must have an inner hippy, though I was much too young to be a part of the culture.

First impressions:
I am left to be perplexed by Commodity Vetiver. No bright green Vetiver here. It is somehow dark and smoky, and not in a good way. Like they took the Vetiver and set it on fire and used the burnt ashes. I don’t smell any Jasmine, Sandalwood, or Patchouli, either. I enjoy them all. And I am left without a reason to keep this bottle. Glad I asked at the counter if it was returnable. Sure the young lady said. Thirty days. It might not last the first day that I bought it.

Does not seem to have any real purpose. I feel that I am smelling a brown burnt Vetiver. As I raise my wrist to smell the scent, one minute it is the brown burnt ingredient with a nutty mustard spice of some sort, and the next minute it seems to be something that’s developing with sweet notes that just might be something potentially grand, which then as quick disappears, and the brown burnt scent reappears. There is a hint of camphor. Though I have yet to detect Patchouli, Sandalwood, or Jasmine, and those scents may be what I detect as the fragrance moves in waves between the burnt smoky scent and the sweetness. I find the interplay strange. Is it a boxer in a ring with Muhammad Ali or a delicate fairy dancing among the freshly bloomed springy wet forest plants and flowers?

Sure, wear this on a date. They will know you are a screwball, for sure. Wearing this fragrance, will keep anybody guessing.

Second impressions:
After many hours and finally ridding itself of the previously mentioned interplay of burnt vs sweet, it has left a pleasant scent. But what I had to go through to reach this point. I honestly didn’t think I would make it. It is the remains of what was applied eighteen hours ago that appears to reward this user. It finally has a more rewarding scent of what remains, though I still don’t observe the Patchouli and Jasmine. I will try it again fresh. As someone else mentioned, it does seem to adhere to fabric very well, leaving a lasting impression of a pleasant time of Vetiver that no longer smells burned. Dare I say a sexiness that lingers in the memory haze of the previous nights nocturnal encounter with the aforementioned date that was not so easily frightened away?

From a previous experience with Bulgari Black that is reminiscent of tire rubber brought on by the use of a smoky Jasmine, it is possible that the smoky scent is attributed to its use. The Bulgari bottle is actually wrapped in black rubber. And it is a delight, but not for the faint of heart.

If that is the case, then the Vetiver, Jasmine, and others are layered so delicately as to not be able to distinguish them individually. Could it be possible that a Patchouli and Sandalwood are in there somewhere and I haven’t been able to detect it? While writing my second impression, I have changed my rating from Thumbs Down to Neutral, for now.

When I spray this, I picture an oil painting. Of a basket on a white marble table with a deep magenta wall behind it. Next to the basket are two glasses of white wine. On top is a lid, with a few berries balancing. The basket was just brought inside after being out for hours. Nothing is inside of the basket, it has only acted like an oven, baking itself with the harsh light.
Poetics aside, it's a strong, dry, fulfilling vetiver with some juicy, fermented, wine-y touches. It's not something I reach for often; I'm still deciding how much of a vetiver fan I am. Lasts forever on clothing.

This is very clean and uplifting vetiver. It’s also soft, smooth and comforting. An elegant fragrance for grown ups - not old people! - regardless of age. Smells confident and assured.

I’ve neglected this one a bit, but now that it’s spring, this will be a staple.

EDIT (6/24/22): as I wear this more I get the initial fresh citrus in the beginning. It’s bright and juicy, but calms quickly. Adds to the overall charm.

A complete thumbs up. Starts with a bright vetiver to my nose before it begins to turn slightly smokey. It's not as bright as Mugler cologne nor near as dark as Laliques Encre Noire. To my nose it is extremely close to Terre d'Hermes edp. It is clean smelling and unisex for sure. I find this to be a steal, especially at TJ Maxx $25.00 dollars for 100 ml (seriously). I hope my local TJM has a few bottles (found mine in Atlanta). Safe blind buy IMO. Great for the office or casual.

Reminds me of a summer sausage when first sprayed. It smells like a smoky vetiver once it's dry.

The sausage note was really off putting when I first noticed it, but after wearing it all day it turned out to be something I really like.

This one is barely a thumbs up in my opinion. It was just different enough to stand out from the highly-saturated vetiver market.

Commodity Platinum Collection Vetiver is a clean-fresh scent centered around the vetiver note, rather than a straightforward vetiver fragrance. For a vetiver lover, this is going to come across bland and flat smelling. There's no rooty or sharp elements in this and the vetiver is only exposed in it's softer elements and in combination with other feature notes. The opening has a hint of citrus and jasmine that gives way to a vetiver-sandalwood-patchouli accord through the heart. The later dry down seems to be mostly patchouli with perhaps a remnant of cedar. Below average sillage and 6+ hours of longevity. All of the Commodity line strikes me as office safe and gender neutral with Vetiver being barely distinguishable from the rest of line. Overall, Commodity strikes me as a line for people that don't typically wear fragrances. It's all flat and dull and generic. The packaging even reflects it as well. Vetiver is such a great note, well done and ubiquitous in perfumery. Why opt for overpriced and boring?

I'll give it a neutral because its fresh and doesn't offend, but I wouldn't recommend it as a vetiver fragrance.