Eau De Cartier Vetiver Bleu by Cartier

Here is the second and final of my two recent Cartier fragrance sample review. Today’s entry is: Eau de Cartier Vetiver Bleu. Yes, it is a flanker perfume of the original unisex scent, Eau de Cartier. This one has the famous vetiver note along with mint and was released in 2015. Does it smell good? Perform well? Should one try it out?

What does Cartier Vetiver Bleu Smell Like?

Notes include: mint, vetiver, and liquorice

Click here to try: Cartier Vetiver Bleu Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.3 Ounce

My Full Review

The opening of Vetiver Bleu is of course a blast of vetiver. However, it is a cold and crisp aroma that is joined by a mint note. I like it at this point, as the fragrance feels earthy/woody yet completely refreshing.

It is an icy mint sensation like you would find in Ice Men, with a much less intense spearmint coming at you.

As it dries down, Vetiver Bleu becomes sweeter with the emergence of the licorice note, and takes on a smokier woody undertone. The licorice and mint feel like the merge during the dry down and you get this sharp sweetness in the perfume.

At this point, it is much warmer than the opening, and still retains a bright and upbeat vibe. I like the mint and vetiver combination, it’s found in many colognes, but just works amazingly well.

The licorice, isn’t too bothersome, and actually adds a nice element to Vetiver Bleu. It can be a tough note to deal with for me. There are plenty of perfumes which have utilized it, that start to get annoying after an hour or so. Vetiver Bleu seems to avoid that fate.

That’s about what you’re going to get from Eau de Cartier Vetiver Bleu in terms of the smell. It’s a simple and pretty linear fragrance. Although, the change that I mentioned is pretty noticeable and interesting.

Sillage, How Long it Lasts, and Versatility

Projection is moderate. It’s kind of a light fragrance, as it won’t be in your face all day, but it’s strong enough that you’ll catch whiffs during your wear.

The longevity is just ok. Not great, but I can squeeze 5-6 hours from it, which keeps it useful. After trying Vetiver Bleu a few times, I’ve come to the conclusion that this time frame, is about its limit. It’s not terrible, but fairly disappointing.

It’s a fragrance for casual times in the spring/summer or it can be worn at the office. Vetiver Bleu is safe enough to wear without catching any negative attention in the process.

This is a unisex fragrance, even if that focus note is much more widely used in men’s fragrances and this one does lean masculine. But, with the licorice and mint, it really doesn’t stray all that far into that direction.

I wouldn’t call it a sexy scent or one that will really gather too many complements, but it is solid and fresh.  Really just a pick for those who enjoy vetiver and want a slightly different take, on the note.

Overall Impressions of Vetiver Bleu

Do I like Eau de Cartier Vetiver Bleu? I do. I think it’s nice but I’m not in love with it. I do like the opening of vetiver and mint the best. Licorice, is not my favorite note, and as seen with Lolita Lempicka tends to give me a headache.

I think that it is an interesting take on vetiver scents, but it doesn’t strike me as one of the best of the lot. If you like vetiver and licorice, this is definitely a solid buy.

The only real weak spot is the performance. It’s completely average, in that regard. Not going to be an all day wear and isn’t going to absolutely leap off of the skin. Which can be a problem, when you’re paying Cartier prices.

I’m not sold on it, but like it well enough. If you enjoy this type of cologne and can get a good deal, it may be worth a try. For most guys, it’ll be a pass.

Update: Here in 2023, Vetiver Bleu is not widely available, even among the discount sites. I’m not sure when it was discontinued, but it has been. I’m only seeing bottles for basically above $100, at most places. Not a fragrance that one needs to track down at that price.

Best Men's Colognes

Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with different fragrances, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, I have written hundreds of reviews and other pages about perfumes and colognes.