Molecule 03

Molecule 03 100ml Fragrance consists of Vetiveryl Acetate, pure and singular.

Vetiveryl Acetate could be described as a hybrid molecule, half-synthetic, half-natural. It is a fraction of vetiver oil distilled from the roots of an Indian grass, which is then ‘crossed’ with acetic acid to remove the bitter and leathery aspects of the root.

In India, vetiver essential was an ancient perfume ingredient and was referred to as ‘the oil of tranquillity’. Vetiver is known to reduce anxiety and promote mental clarity through the comforting and venturing powers of its aura.

For Molecule 03, Geza put a modernist spin on Vetiveryl Acetate, the refined vetiver note celebrated for its earthy-smokey facets and rich, enveloping nature. Think of uncut grass on a warm day, or envisage a forest muddled with warm balsamic undertones, and you’ll have an idea of what vetiver smells like.

“We all know the attractions of vanilla, grapefruit, and musk, but some ingredients take time for people to understand. Vetiver is one of these. It is a Marmite ingredient; you either love it or reject it. I love it,” says Geza Schoen. “Molecule 03 has the necessary complexity to stand alone because it is half-natural to start with. Acetylation brings out the grapefruit touch in vetiver, giving a more pronounced bitter-fresh top note. This I love, especially in the way the grapefruit blends with the woody, warm character of the vetiver itself.”

Molecule 03 is an elegant and refined scent with vetiver’s woody, slightly grassy character, but far smoother and softer, resulting in the olfactory equivalent of an equatorial jungle.