vetiver

Noun

vetiver (countable and uncountable, plural vetivers)

1. The grass Chrysopogon zizanioides (synonym Vetiveria zizanioides), which is native to India, but planted throughout the tropics for its fragrant roots and for erosion control.
   • Two types of vetiver have been found in India – (i) flowering or seeding vetiver which grows wild in North India, and (ii) non-flowering or non-seeding vetiver which is cultivated in South India.2003, Anand Akhila, Mumkum Rani, “4: Chemical Conatituents and Essential Oil Biogenisis in Vetiveria zizanioides”, in Massimo Maffei, editor, Vetiveria: The Genus Vetiveria, page 73
   • Vetiver can easily thrive in wetlands and can be used in the constructed wetlands for removal of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) and heavy metals from the polluted storm water, municipal and industrial wastewater, and effluents from abattoirs, feedlots, piggeries and other intensive livestock...2007, R. Sinha, et al., Phytoremediation: Role of Plants in Site Management, S.N. Singh, R. D. Tripathi, Environmental Bioremediation Technologies, page 328
2. The aromatic root of the grass.
3. An essential oil derived from the root; the fragrance of the oil.
   • She pressed his hand and was gone in a mist of vetiver, abruptly as the other evening.2006, Thomas Pynchon, Against the Day, Vintage, published 2007, page 612
   • A sweet scent which relieves stress, tension and headache, promotes restful sleep, heals the skin, lowers high blood pressure and cures sunburn (when blended with cedarwood, clove, clary sage, pine, geranium, vetiver and patchouli).2007, Parvesh Handa, Be Your Own Beautician, page 132