4. Varieties of Vetiver
Chrysopogon zizanioides, or vetiver, comes in two distinct types. The first variety originates from the southern regions of India and contains no seeds upon harvest. This strain of the plant is what manufacturers use for producing essential oil from the roots of the grass. This species of vetiver in non-invasive and farmers must cultivate the grass using clump subdivision for propagation.
The second species of vetiver hails from the Northern areas of India and contains seeds. The seeded version has two distinct subtypes – the Indonesian species has a smokier quality to the oil, while the Haitian variety features floral notes.
The quantity of oil generated from each plant depends on the area in which its grown, nutrients available in the soil, and the cultivation methods used to rear and harvest the grass. Some types of grass may yield less oil than others, but it’s usually up to the farmer and their use of nutrients and soils to increase yields.