Bel Ami Vétiver Hermès 2013

I know original Bel Ami well. My father wore it in the late 80s and early 90s. There is no other fragrance that I associate with him like the original. When Bel Ami Vétiver came out, I tested the scent at the Hermès boutique and took a liking to it. But it was Papa's fragrance, although of course I had helped myself to Papa's every now and then as a teenager.

Now my father has been dead for a year. Bel Ami Vétiver is, after all, so close to the original that it evokes memories, including memories of my father. Also because of this I have bought the Eau de Toilette, now the second bottle. Of course, Bel Ami Vétiver is a bit domesticated. Whether the original would still fit well in 2021 remains to be seen. The suede in Bel Ami Vétiver is that of a well-maintained leather jacket, which (like the owner of the same), has put on a little patina, but is still top in shot.

That Bel Ami Vétiver goes in the direction of Hermessencen, is not surprising. One recognizes Jean-Claude Ellenas signature. Is Bel Ami Vétiver the better vétiver tonka? Yes, it is! And I don't mean that in a pejorative way in any way. On the contrary, I am grateful, since Vétiver Tonka is incomparably more expensive. I wonder if my children will later associate Bel Ami Vétiver with their father?