I’ll be honest. I’ve never smelled a vetiver perfume that has the deep, tangy and satisfying greenness of natural vetiver essential oil.

But why, since the most lovely and memorable aromas are natural things, rather than fake them with aroma chemicals, not present them as they are? My answer has been four eaux fraîches, each a tincture made with pure drinking alcohol and an unadorned natural product.

As it’s possible to imagine, this tincture of pure vetiver oil is magnificent, but I would lack candor if I didn’t mention it doesn’t last. I mean, at all. The term is detestable but for lack of something better, it is a splendid room freshener or après bain spray. I have a small stock of this and the other three eaux fraîches, but because natural ingredients have become so exorbitant, I’m unlikely to make them again.