Infusion de Vetiver (2015) by Prada

Smells incredible, truly unisex, blending earthy notes with something super clean and pleasant. The vetiver comes through soft and balanced by the ginger, making it perfect to try without fear. It develops beautifully on my skin over time: versatile, easy to wear, with a subtle sensual touch. It’s all-rounder: perfect for the office or a special date.

What does it smell like? A glass of gin with ginger ale and vetiver and neroli botanicals. An opening of white liquor with ginger that gives way to a very fresh, natural Haitian vetiver, similar to the Prada Infusion line that leaves a bubble around you, projecting discreetly and elegantly, but with better performance than its siblings. Perfect for spring, summer and work, suits both men and women equally. Pity they discontinued it. Update: it’s back on the market, though I’m not sure if it’s been reformulated.

A super fresh, citrusy vetiver that is easy to wear. Very unisex. I bought it blind due to the difficulty of testing it, but knowing the perfumer and the Infusion de Prada line, I knew exactly what I was getting. It’s a green, citrus scent that doesn’t overpower or project much, yet it envelops you with a charming aroma. The opening, with ginger as the star, is a hit; it adds great zest and energy. A good perfume to start exploring this note… or if you’re wary of other vetivers that are more aggressive and sharp.

Infusion de Vetiver is a treat. It’s luminous, bright, like a fresh summer morning. A pale yellowish green that sparkles with lightly floral citrus: bergamot, mandarin and unopened neroli; the powdery trail of rose and iris sits in the background, maintaining coherence with their sisters. The real star, vetiver, is green like few others, with a slightly bitter, crunchy side that adds naturalness, amplified and refreshed by the citrus. It’s a spotless, impeccably clean vetiver, sophisticated in its simplicity and good-natured character, energising and full of positivity. Totally unisex, it feels nothing like adult and could be a very good option for anyone wanting to try this note, which is often so wild. The truth is, it reminds me very little of the discontinued Prada vetiver I once owned and didn’t enjoy much, of which a little must remain in my parents’ bathroom. In fact, in that one I never found vetiver but something resembling a tisane. As for longevity, it’s average, around 6-7 hours, with moderate projection, tending towards low after the first two hours, but without losing the ability to feel and enjoy it constantly. It has been a wonderful surprise and this summer I’m going to wear it constantly.

A vetiver that makes me faint, sigh, want, love… Prada Infusion de Vetiver is glorious. Normally, I’m not the type to faint over fresh, green vetiver scents, but this composition has everything going for it. Vetiver is a unique note that appears only occasionally; in nature it can be dry, bitter and dusty, and most fragrances present it as smoky and dry-oriental. I think Infusion de Vetiver takes a different path. It’s clean and refreshing, but not flat, green or boring. The dryness of the vetiver is evident, especially on skin, but the clean, soapy accord balances it very well. It’s not very herbal, just light and slightly soapy. It’s hard to do justice with my words. All I can say is that it seems very attractive to me and would compel me to approach anyone wearing it. The earthy freshness works very well. Prada makes elegant scents, and while Infusion de Vetiver is one of them, it’s not strictly so, so I’d encourage any man, even the casual ones uncomfortable with suits, to give it a try. It smells almost perfect on any man, at least in my opinion.

I think it’s more of a hesperidic perfume than woody, a very fresh vetiver that, together with bergamot, achieves a freshness similar to that found in Ninfeo Mio.