Sel de Vétiver

"A touch of salt, a bit of rain water and some vetiver dried under the sun: this is the story of Sel de Vétiver. A fleeting image seen on a rainy day in an African shop, amongst a happy mess of jute canvas bags, piles of bright colored fabrics, and glazed pots, where plaited vetiver roots show themselves. I rub the roots in my fingers and a sour and dry perfume, almost burning, escape and soak my hands. I wish to keep a record of this instant, and I imagine a salty harmony, at once sour and smooth, sensual and fresh, that evokes the smell of the skin after a sea bath, when the salt molecules stay prisoners and that the water has evaporated under the heat of the sun."