Vetiver is a perennial plant – a tall grass with long, thin, rigid leaves, purple-brown flowers and roots that reach 4 meters in depth, which is grown in India, Indonesia, Haiti, China, Japan, etc. The name "vetiver" comes from the Tamil "vetiverr", which means "uprooted" – a description of the way the roots are harvested.
Vetiver oil is extracted from its roots through steam distillation. The resulting oil is amber, brown or dark golden in color, with a syrupy consistency, and its aroma is rich and intense, composed of grassy, woody, earthy, balsamic, amber and sweet notes.
Due to its grounding, sensual and deeply calming aroma, vetiver oil is often also called the "oil of tranquility" and the "scent of the soil".
