Vetiver

Vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides) is a perennial grass of the Poaceae native to India. The name vetiver is native to the Tamil language. Old Tamil literature mentions the usage of vetiver for medical purposes. In western and Northern India , it is popularly known as Khus.

Vetiver is mainly cultivated for the fragrant essential oil distilled from its roots. Worldwide production is estimated at about 250 tons per annum (Lavania). Due to its excellent fixative properties, vetiver is used widely in high end perfumes. It is contained in 90% of all western perfumes. Haiti is one of the leading producers of vetiver in the world, along with Java, China, India, Brazil and Japan. The United States, Europe, India (also a producer) and Japan (also a producer) are the main consumers.

Vetiver oil is described as deep, sweet, woody, smoky, earthy, amber, balsam. The best quality oil is obtained from roots that are 18 to 24 months old. The roots are dug up and cleaned then dried. Before the distillation, the roots are chopped and soaked in water. The distillation process can take up to 18 to 24 hours....more

The Vetiver Network Org. Int.