Violetta

Very green violet with a powdery/make-up smell. Very subtle and delicate yet unisex. Perfect for office wear or if you have to be around people who don't like heavy, loud perfumes.

I am not sure why I want to smell like a sweetie from my childhood (the German version of parma violets = Veilchenpastillen, which have a hard liquorice centre), but apparently I do. I had no idea what it smelled like but had wanted to smell Bois de violets by Serge Lutens, which wasn't available and didn't get as good write-ups as this one on here - so I traveled into town to the nearest Penhaligons (there are six in London). They sent me to the next one. They sent me to the third one: because of its unpopularity, Penhaligon have discontinued it. Curse all those silly people who think this old-fashioned! It isn't! It is FAR more dark and delicious (though also powdery) than those best-sellers bluebell, lily of the valley and other such nonsense. You can't argue over taste of course, but in this case, lack of popularity means that those of us who really like it will have to do without it very soon. They had 4 left in the Burlington Arcade branch in London. I bought one. So that's three left - if you love this stuff, get it now!

I have been mildly troubled (il ne faut pas trop exagerer...) by the relatively recent preponderance of plastic and candied violet notes in perfumes that I might have appreciated, if only the violets had been neither plastic nor candied! No such problem with Penhaligon VIOLETTA: this is a splendid rendition of non-plastic, uncandied violets. Hurrah! I really love violets, so I welcome the new experience of well-made violet perfumes, even if they are nearly as simple as a small bunch of the flowers. VIOLETTA has a bit more going on, but all other notes present serve only to embellish the focus: violet in all of its magnificent glory. Highly recommended for those drawn naturally to natural-smelling violet.

I got this in a Penhaligon's sampler. This is quite a lovely fresh floral combination with violets being center-stage. Perhaps some of the clean feel is due to the lemon opening. Also, the drydown is a very light musk. I could discern the iris as well, but I'm not sure about the geranium. The fragrance lasted a couple hours on me - better than Borsari Violetta di Parma. I may want to purchase a whole bottle of this one. I tend to like Penhaligon's perfumes.

The most natural smelling violet I have tested, enough to buy a FB of this; it very much reminds me of being out in the woods after a rain and smelling the violet leaves that seem to project their delicate, tender scent best at this time. I have only smelled it in nature perhaps a half dozen times, and all of those experiences were years ago when I lived in New England. That being said, this perfume is soliflore in its nature; and I always miss the chypre development in a fragrance that solilflores lack. This makes me more determined to try Guerlain's Apres L'Ondee so I can experience the entire forest floor after a rain, instead of just the violets! Also amongst the prettiest bottles I own.