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Tom FordEau de Parfum · EST. 2009

Grey Vetiver

A clean, business-ready interpretation of vetiver — crisp citrus and pepper over a smooth, slightly woody and orris-laced vetiver core. Smart and inoffensive.

NOSE: Harry FremontRELEASED: 2009RETAIL: $110 - $175
The Quick Answer

Grey Vetiver opens on Grapefruit and Orange Blossom, moves through Vetiver and Orris Root, and dries down to Amber Woods and Oakmoss. At $110 - $175 it is a designer-tier price you pay for the name as much as the juice, with long lasting (7h - 9h) on skin. Reasonably safe to blind buy if the note list appeals to you.

ADEGBE ANALYSIS SCORES

7.2
Expert
7.2
Longevity
6.0
Sillage
7.9
Versatility
7.5
Value

Scores are AdeGbe's editorial analysis based on composition, concentration and community-reported performance — not a single personal wear test.

Approx. $1.10/mlBased on the lowest street price ($110) over an assumed 100ml bottle for this concentration.

OLFACTORY PYRAMID BREAKDOWN

TOP NOTESFirst impression · 15–30 min
  • Grapefruit
  • Orange Blossom
  • Sage
HEART NOTESCore character · 2–4 hours
  • Vetiver
  • Orris Root
  • Pimento
BASE NOTESDry-down · 6–24+ hours
  • Amber Woods
  • Oakmoss
  • Vetiver Roots

EXPERT ANALYSIS — COMPOSITION & PERFORMANCE

AG
AdeGbe Fragrance Research Team Data-Driven Analysis
Olfactory composition & performance assessment
Updated Spring 2026Eau de ParfumMethodology: note-pyramid analysis + community performance data + AdeGbe scoring model

Grey Vetiver by Tom Ford is a bright citrus-leaning eau de parfum released in 2009, composed by Harry Fremont. This is our research team's structured analysis of how it is built, how it performs, and who it suits — based on its composition, community-aggregated performance data, and the AdeGbe scoring model.

The Opening

The opening leads with bright citrus and floral facets — Grapefruit, Orange Blossom, Sage set the first impression in the initial fifteen to thirty minutes.

The Heart

The middle phase is floral and dry woods: Vetiver, Orris Root, Pimento carry the core of the scent through its most expressive hours.

The Dry-Down

The dry-down anchors on a dry woods and golden amber base of Amber Woods, Oakmoss, Vetiver Roots, the phase that clings closest to skin and lasts longest.

Projected Performance Timeline
Hour 1
Grapefruit and Orange Blossom opening. Moderate, arm's-length projection.
Hour 4
Vetiver and Orris Root heart fully developed. Still projecting clearly.
Hour 8
Amber Woods and Oakmoss base emerges. Becoming a skin scent.
Hour 9
Soft base notes still detectable close to skin.
Longevity
7.2/10
Sillage
6/10
Blind Buy
LOW RISK
Final Score
8.6/10

Who Should Buy Grey Vetiver

Grey Vetiver leans masculine but is wearable by anyone who enjoys the style. Its season vector points strongest to spring, and its day/night balance makes it best suited to daytime and office wear. If you gravitate toward bright citrus and floral compositions and want a more moderate, easy-going wear, it belongs on your shortlist.

One Honest Warning

No major red flags in the composition, but fragrance is personal — skin chemistry can shift the balance of notes, so a sample wear is always wiser than a blind purchase at this price.

Analysis based on composition, community-aggregated performance data, and the AdeGbe scoring model.A human skin-test review is added as our team tests each fragrance.

PERFORMANCE INDEX & SUITABILITY VECTORS

LONGEVITY FACTORLong Lasting (7h - 9h)
Weak (1h)Moderate (4-6h)Beast (24h+)
SILLAGE / PROJECTIONModerate Projection
IntimateModerateEnormous
DAY · NIGHT SUITABILITY
DAY
75%
NIGHT
25%
GENDER INDEXMasculine
FEMININEUNISEXMASCULINE
SEASON SUITABILITY VECTOR
SPRING 🌸32%
SUMMER ☀️28%
AUTUMN 🍂25%
WINTER ❄️15%

PROJECTED PERFORMANCE TIMELINE

Projected from this fragrance's concentration, note structure and reported longevity — an analysis, not a single personal wear test.

Hour 1
Top burst

Grapefruit and Orange Blossom lead the opening before the volatile top notes burn off.

Projection: Strong
Hour 4
Heart in bloom

Vetiver and Orris Root take over as the core character of the fragrance.

Projection: Strong
Hour 8
Early dry-down

Amber Woods and Oakmoss anchor the scent close to the skin.

Projection: Moderate
Hour 12
Base residue

A skin-scent of Amber Woods and Oakmoss is what typically remains by now.

Projection: Skin-close

Wear It

  • Spring (32% seasonal fit)
  • Summer (28% seasonal fit)
  • Autumn / Fall (25% seasonal fit)
  • Daytime and casual daily wear

Skip It

  • Winter — it underperforms here (15%)
  • Formal black-tie evenings where you want more depth

Blind-Buy Risk

19/100SAFE
Risk factors
  • Balanced, conventional profile with no major red flags
In its favour
  • Moderate projection makes it forgiving and easy to wear day to day.

INGREDIENT SAFETY SNAPSHOT

Linalool / Limonene

Common EU-declarable allergens; can oxidise and irritate sensitive skin.

Atranol / Chloroatranol (oakmoss)

Heavily IFRA-restricted; modern formulas use reduced 'low-atranol' versions only.

Benzyl Benzoate (fixative)

Generally well-tolerated base/fixative materials with low sensitiser risk.

This snapshot is based on the published note list, not a full INCI ingredient breakdown. Always check the box for the official allergen declaration and patch-test if you have sensitive skin. See full ingredient-safety guides →

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is Grey Vetiver an office scent?
Yes, it is one of the most office-friendly vetivers available — clean, polished, and never overpowering, making it ideal for professional settings.
How does Grey Vetiver compare to Guerlain Vetiver?
It is smoother, more citrus-forward, and more modern. Classic vetivers like Guerlain's lean earthier and more old-school; Grey Vetiver is deliberately refined and contemporary.
How long does Grey Vetiver last?
Around seven to nine hours on skin with moderate projection, performing reliably across most seasons.
Is Grey Vetiver worth buying?
For the money, Grey Vetiver ($110 - $175) is a fair buy. It projects at a moderate projection level and lasts in the range of long lasting (7h - 9h), which puts its performance around the average mark. It is worth it if you connect with its Grapefruit and Orange Blossom character; if you want an all-occasion safe blind buy, sample first because it leans toward casual daytime wear.
Is Grey Vetiver good for summer?
Not really. Grey Vetiver scores only 28% for summer — heat tends to amplify its Amber Woods and Oakmoss base and push it toward cloying. It performs far better in spring, so save it for cooler months and reach for something lighter when it is hot.
How many sprays of Grey Vetiver should I use?
Two to four sprays suits most people. Grey Vetiver has moderate projection projection, so you can apply a little more generously than a beast-mode scent without crowding others. Spread sprays across pulse points and let it settle; its long lasting (7h - 9h) longevity means you rarely need to reapply.
Is Grey Vetiver safe for sensitive skin?
Grey Vetiver is an alcohol-based eau de parfum and its note list includes materials such as Grapefruit, Orange Blossom and Sage, some of which fall under EU-declarable allergen rules (for example linalool, limonene or coumarin depending on the notes). That does not make it unsafe — most wearers have no reaction — but if your skin is reactive, spray onto clothing or patch-test on the inner arm first. This guidance is based on the published note list, not a full INCI breakdown.

INTERACTIVE FRAGRANCE TOOLS

Personalised calculators and scanners specific to Grey Vetiver.

INTERACTIVE FRAGRANCE TOOLS

Personalised calculators and scanners specific to Grey Vetiver.

TOP DUPES & AFFORDABLE ALTERNATIVES

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