Question:
I've come full circle with violets. The process began when I was young and found a very old bottle of violet perfume with a tiny bit of liquid dried in the bottom, smelling rather grapelike but very perfumy. I was charmed.

My opinion took a sharp turn at my first taste of violet candy when, expecting a sweet grape flavor, I recoiled at the actual taste. How does violet candy taste? Exactly the way it smells: like perfume. (I crave this flavor now, along with rose candy.)

I remember my first "ah-hah" moment when I recognized the note in two of my favorite perfumes--violet in Balmain Jolie Madame and viola in Jean Patou 1000. And I finally could identify it as the "plum" aroma in the rose of Le Parfums de Rosine La Rose de Rosine.

Feeling confident that I finally knew the note, I was abashed by my experience with Les Nez Unicorn Spell. Violet leaves? I did not know that another part of this plant could smell so green and vegetal, and yet still violet-like. I gathered my self-confidence from the floor and announced that yes, now I could identify violets at 10 paces. But I was too hasty in my announcement.

The circle came around in full closure with Parfums Berdoues Violettes de Toulouse, which is advertised as a violet fragrance with the highest concentration of violet essence from the famed violet fields of Toulouse, France. It is supposed to be "happy" and "laughing."

Spring is in the air, spring is in my blood, and I yearn for the sweet scent of the little purple-faced flowers. As I applied the purple liquid (very purple) I wondered what incarnation of the plant I would receive.

Back to my childhood I returned, to the fruity essence of violets, the grapelike, sweet candy of my imagination. Strong at first, the fragrance quickly dissipates (too quickly on me, as it had short lasting power) into a light, fruity floral with quite alot of springlike feeling, and yes, happiness and laughter.

What violet experiences have you had lately?

(Kumquat, I can't believe I keep forgetting to try your your Caron Violettes Precieuse. We have to fix that.)

Answer:
Sorry for all the attached images. I forgot how to post a photo.
For those of you who are similarly challenged:
1. Upload your photo to Photobucket
2. Copy the IMG code
3. Paste it directly into your post
4. Do not use the "attached images" feature at all.

Answer:
Violets smell ?
Yes, yes, yes ... poor, old Quarry, with her crippled senses. (Nobody's crying a river?)
When last I trotted out this lament, I mentioned I was starting to pick up on something within Serge's Bois de Violette--just about cramping a nostril straining to find that floral. So, at this thread's prompting, I've uncorked the vial again. Closing my eyes, I think I'm beginning to build a violet "file" in my brain, although it's surprinted by the bois. Owning Feminite du Bois helps me cipher the differences.
Keep talking about violet and maybe I'll catch up with the rest of the class.

Answer:
My latest violet experience was to meet the gorgeous "candied" violets in Fresh´Violet Moss...mmmm... I also have found back to the "cool" violets in Aimez-Moi. To me, violet is almost instantly recognizeable in a frag, although I think it can smell quite different. I don´t like the very "green" violet represented by for instance Verte Violette (L´Artisan). Bois de Violette (SL), I find a very "pure" violet, and it´s also one of my favourites.

Answer:
Parma Violets where little sweets we had when I was a child. Small purple and crunchy, you just had to sniff them in the little tube. Then rose and violet creams, covered in dark chocolate and they tasted how they smelt roses or violets. That was alway the smell of violets I wanted.
Green violets just don't do it for me, no candied delights.
N'Amiez Qui Moi does have it mixed with the roses.
Violette Precieuse has it but with a celery note to cut the powdered candy.
Penhaligons Violetta is sweeter.
Ormonde has the earthy darkness.
Violets I want dark earthy woodland, with a little of the sugary powdery sweets

Answer:
Borsari Violetta di Parma.
And I'm longing to try the Santa Maria Novella Violet. In fact, when I go to New York, that's probably what I'll buy, instead of the more incensey or exotic stuff.
Love that violet candy note. Frankly, Violette Precieuse was a bit of a disappointment to me, or maybe I got a bottle that had turned?

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Silver Violets by Possets is a very nice fragrance, and I wear it quite often.

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Violette Precieuse, don't get me started!! I thought the bottle I had was bad and tried to return it, long story short. I didn't get my money back but I did met a great per son on BN who sent me a generous decant sample which I still have. The reason I thought it was bad, I discovered is; The crazy old Caron starts out for fully 2 hours smelling exactly like turpentine then magically changes to warm creamy, not sickly-sweet violet.There a mellow oak moss base you won't find anymore either.That's the God's honest truth. I know there's a reformulation and I'm sure that's why. If any one's tried it I'd love to know how it goes.
On the ohter hand I've found L'Artisan; Violette Verte to my liking although it's completely different. All green tangy violet leaves and maybe vetiver or some such herbal treatment.(someone correct me)
I also love Eleonora Duse by Laura Tonatto but it might be discontinued.(Got it at Fragrant Frip.)
My favorite underground mainstream sleeper violet is Bulgari Femme now selling at many TJMax. Just give it a decent drydown, 1/2 hr and it is subtle, not sweet grown up womanly violet I can live with.

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I appreciate Caron Aimez-Moi very much but find the anise note a strong distraction. I prefer my violets on the sweet side but not as 'Parma Violets' sweet as Guerlain Les Meteorites - at least not all the time!

I adore both of the above but need to be in the right mood for them...

Other favourites include:
Balmain Jolie Madame - violets and luxury leather
L'Aromarine Violette - lovely true violet floral scent
YSL Paris - powdery velvet roses framed by violets deliciously classic and feminine like Frederic Malle Lipstick Rose but with more character.
L'Artisan Drole de Rose - similar to YSL Paris & Frederic Malle Lipstick Rose.
Guerlain Apres L'Ondee - cool, icy violets. The texture of the earthy iris tends to dominate in this one for me, reminding me of half frozen soil in the spring.
Byblos by Byblos (original) - this is a fruity floral which happens to have a significant violet accord which is too distinct to ignore. Great in warmer spring & summer weather.
Lolita Lempicka by Lolita Lempicka - like Caron Aimez-Moi the violet heart note of this is overwhelmed by the distinct anise and licorice notes. There is also a distinct 'burnt sugar / caramel' base accord that dominates as well.
Ava Luxe Midnight Violet - I think of this as the violet version of what L'Artisan Voleur du Roses does for roses. This is all dark loamy earth, and violets at midnight. Truly unique and original. Amazing worn alone or layered with other more linear violet scents.



Answer:
Ooooh, Midnight Violet sounds great...