What is Wild Indian Vetiver Essential oil ?
The essential oil distilled from roots of Vetiver found abundantly in the wilderness of North India is what we call as Wild Indian Vetiver oil. A magical aromatic crop, Vetiver, has been used for centuries in India for its various applications. Vetiver's secret lies in its root which has a very characteristic fragrance and is often used by world class perfumers as a base note.
Known to be one of the most complex oils known, khus, scientifically known as Vetiver zizanioides offers unique characteristics and is one of the most complex oils known to research scientists and poses a real challenge as Modern science has been able to isolate out more than 150 aromatic molecules from vetiver but still there are ones that cannot be identified.
How is Wild Vetiver different from other Vetivers?
A casual olfactory analysis of the cultivated wild north indian variety would lead one to believe that they are quite similar in nature with Vetiveria ziazaniodes,the roots found extensively in countries like Haiti, the Reunion Islands, Java, and South India. However, the commonly found variety, Vetiveria ziazaniodes,has deep, mysterious, rich and earthy notes while Wild vetiver has powerful earthy diffusiveness with a multidimensional profile.
Grown & found in the wilderness of North India, especially in the states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Harayana and Madhya Pradesh, Botanists would describe wild indian vetiver oil as "seedy" vetiver because it spreads its population through seeds compared to the cultivated variety of vetiver which must be propagated through slips and by division.
Some other precise differences quoted from the research of Mr. Jacques Pogel (Chanel perfume creator) are (https://www.vetiver.org/UP_Vetiver.htm):
Studies of oils from various producing regions(the plant is also cultivated in India particularly in Kerala and Tamil Nadu) indicate that all varieties except the North-Indian Khus oil are chemically similar
A characteristic feature of this type is the presence of the large amount of laevorotary khusilal(a rare C-14 class of terpenoid) which is in fact responsible for the strong laevorotation of this oil; this compound is absentin the typical dextrorotary oils(Haiti,, Renunion, Java and South India.
Applications of Wild indian vetiver oil:
Perfumery:
In the hands of a skilled perfumer, wild indian vetiver oil can produce outstanding effects in fougere, chypre and oriental type compositions. When using this oil in creating perfumes, a perfumer must remember that It is, in effect, a rather dominant note and likes to be a front seat driver which is quite different from sandalwood that moves to the background and only modestly appears as a solid contributor in a fragrance. For aspirational perfumers, this oil offers great opportunities for people to dive into the adventurous world of blending their own fragrances and essences.
Some of the oils with which it blends nicely are patchouli, cinnamon bark, linaloe berry, sandalwood, oakmoss, opopanax and mimosa.
Flavors:
Having grown up in India, we have always cherished the refreshing and classic khus sherbets(syrups) that cools the bodies in summers and helps in balancing the body temperature in extreme heat. The hydrosol, a by-product while distilling the oil, is the raw material that is used in preparing this delicious sherbet. Due to climate change, the increasing temperature in Europe has made Europeans victims of extreme heat and a mild khus mocktail can just be the perfect drink that they are looking for.
Buying Indian vetiver oil from authentic vendors in 2022
To make sure that you only procure vetiver oil from authentic locations, we have travelled across North India to identify the most reliable, affordable and passionate farmers of khus. This video below is from one of our journeys in uttrakhand’s ramnagar at the foothills of himalayas where we teamed up with a farmer who distills exotic vetiver oil. We have smelled many samples of vetiver oil but the one that he distills is extraordinary in its sweetness and its connection to the land.
Why Innoveo Exports?
We at innoveo exports manufacture, contract manufacture and trade authentic & organic essential oils from best vendors across India while providing complete traceability, affordability and reliability in your buying process.
Please reach out to us to get your free sample of Wild Indian Vetiver oil at vaibhavsharma@innoveoexports.com / rafiq.shaikh@innoveoexports.com
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For the curious ones, Here’s how indians have been using Vetiver in their everyday life:
The dried roots of vetiver are widely used to make a number of useful household items. Indian housewives like to layer them inside their clothes both to repel insects and to impart their sublime fragrance to the material with whom they come in contact.
In Southern India, fibres of vetiver roots are woven into mats which impart a cooling effect when slept upon.
The most renowned use to which the roots are put is for making screens which, since ancient times, have been hung over windows during the hot months. It is one of the most unique forms of "air conditioning" and during the day, these mats are periodically sprinkled with water so that when any chance breeze blows through them a cooling & subtle fragrance is immersed to the air.
Khus slippers are made from fibres of vetiver roots.
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