Vetiver Bourbon — Chrysopogon zizanioides | Biolandes Madagascar | The Perfumer's Vetiver

Part of our Professional Perfumers Range — curated for the discerning natural perfumer seeking exceptional depth and rarity.

Vetiver Bourbon — The Vetiver of Renown

Every serious perfumer needs one great vetiver oil. This is it. Produced by Biolandes — one of France's most respected natural ingredient houses — from roots harvested in Madagascar and Mauritius, this is the vetiver that defined a generation of masterpiece fragrances. From the very first encounter you will recognise it: this is the oil behind Guerlain's iconic Vetiver (2000) and Jean-Claude Ellena's landmark Terre d'Hermès (2007). Its DNA is woven into the fabric of modern perfumery.

We call it Bourbon oil in homage to its spiritual home — the now-mythical vetiver of Île de Bourbon (today La Réunion), the original source of the world's most celebrated vetiver, no longer produced there but carried forward in spirit by this extraordinary oil from Madagascar. This is not a blend or derivative. It is 100% pure, natural, steam-distilled vetiver — nothing added, nothing removed.

Scent Profile

Deep, smoky, and unmistakably rooty from the first moment — a rich earthy-woody character of extraordinary complexity, with distinctive hazelnut undertones and a dry, slightly leathery smokiness that recalls open fires and sun-baked earth. As it develops over hours, soft woody facets emerge alongside a subtle sweetness and a quietly animalic warmth that anchors the composition with remarkable tenacity. On a smelling strip this oil evolves for over 400 hours — one of the most tenacious naturals available to the perfumer.

It is powerful at full strength but reveals its true genius in dilution, where the smoke softens, the roots deepen, and something genuinely beautiful emerges.

Perfumery Applications

Vetiver Bourbon is the quintessential base note material — a structural anchor in woody, masculine, and oriental compositions of all kinds, and an indispensable fixative in chypres and fougères. Its combination of tenacity, smokiness, and rooty depth makes it one of the most versatile base materials in natural perfumery, capable of grounding a light floral just as effectively as it anchors a dark oriental.

Average use is around 2% in a perfume compound — a figure that underlines both its potency and its extraordinary value at that concentration. A small quantity goes a very long way. Used alongside our Vetiverol Natural Isolate it produces exceptional results — the isolate brightening and sharpening the full oil's smokier facets into something even more compelling.

IFRA 51: Unrestricted — no limitation in any application category.

Blending Suggestions

Pairs beautifully with labdanum, oakmoss, cedarwood, sandalwood, patchouli, bergamot, rose absolute, geranium, clary sage, frankincense, tobacco absolute, orris, violet leaf, and citrus oils. Exceptional in combination with our Vetiverol Natural Isolate for a multi-dimensional vetiver accord of unusual depth and precision.

Technical Details

• Botanical Name: Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.) Roberty
• Common Name: Vetiver / Bourbon Vetiver / Khus
• Botanical Family: Poaceae
• Manufacturer: Biolandes, France
• Origin: Madagascar and Mauritius
• Plant Part: Roots
• Extraction Method: Steam distillation
• CAS Number: 84238-29-9
• Classification: Base note
• Appearance: Pale gold to amber liquid
• Odour Family: Woody / Smoky / Earthy / Rooty
• Longevity: Over 400 hours on a smelling strip
• IFRA 51: Unrestricted
• Natural: Yes — 100% pure natural essential oil

Packaging

1ml sample supplied in a 5ml clear flint glass bottle. 5ml, 10ml and 30ml supplied in amber glass bottles — all with inbuilt droppers and tamper evident caps.

Safety Information

For external use only. Avoid contact with eyes and sensitive areas. Not suitable for use on babies, children, pets or broken skin. Avoid use during pregnancy or whilst nursing. Always dilute properly and perform a patch test before first use.

Sample Policy

We recommend purchasing a 1ml sample first before committing to larger quantities. Please note that no refunds can be offered on opened items.

Photo images are for illustrative purposes only.