Love in Black vs Original Vetiver
Side by side. Scored honestly.
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Side by side
Comparing the originals — price, breadth, listed-note depth.
Blackcurrant opens with a tart, almost inky sharpness before rose and iris take over in the heart — cool, powdery, and serious rather than soft or romantic. The floral core leans more gray than pink, the iris adding a rooty, slightly metallic edge that keeps it from reading as conventional. Cedar and vetiver anchor the dry-down into something dry and woody, while sandalwood and musk bring just enough warmth to smooth the edges. Projection is moderate; sillage stays close but leaves a clean, sophisticated trail — best worn in fall and winter by someone who wants a dark floral with real backbone, not sweetness.
Opens with a sharp, slightly bitter galbanum cut that clears fast, letting a clean, earthy vetiver take center stage within minutes. The heart is linear and composed — vetiver supported by dry cedar rather than pushed sweet or smoky. Sandalwood and amber soften the dry-down without turning it creamy, keeping the woody base cool and grounded. Projection is moderate and well-mannered; sillage stays close after a few hours, leaving a quiet musk trail. — Best in warm weather on anyone who wants a clean, no-fuss woody that reads polished without demanding attention.
How they overlap
Love in Black and Original Vetiver share 4 notes (vetiver, cedar, sandalwood, musk). The same note name doesn't always mean the same scent — different houses use different vanillas, different woods, different musks — but a multi-note shared spine usually does indicate genuinely-comparable wear character. The remaining notes (4 unique to Love in Black, 2 unique to Original Vetiver) are where the divergence happens.
The buying decision
Original-bottle pricing is essentially identical ($310 vs $310), so the choice rarely comes down to upfront cost. Love in Black is built for fall/winter; Original Vetiver for spring/summer/fall. Pick by when you'd actually wear it. Heads up: Love in Black is marketed feminine, Original Vetiver is marketed masculine — they target different wearers, though plenty of buyers cross those lines.