Our take
What does Grey Vetiver smell like?
Tom Ford released Grey Vetiver in 2009, when the brand wanted an everyday masculine to sit next to its darker signatures. The formula is credited to Harry Frémont. It opens on squeezed grapefruit softened by orange blossom. Sage adds an herbal edge. Nutmeg and pimento follow, kept short and dry. Orris then brings a crisp powder that smells like a freshly ironed shirt. Vetiver takes over the whole base. Here it has been scrubbed of its earth and smoke, and oakmoss with a little amber holds it in place. Think tailored suit rather than wet roots. Guerlain's Vetiver is greener and leans toward tobacco, while Grey Vetiver feels more urban and far less rustic. Some will call it safe. That restraint is exactly what makes it so useful at the office.
When to wear it
Wear it from March to October, at work or on weekends with a white shirt. Three sprays last the day without filling a meeting room.
It belongs to the Woody, Aromatic family. Grey Vetiver is one of 33 creations by Tom Ford in our encyclopedia.
