Violette Precieuse

A truly unique fragrance. As much violet leaf as flower in the opening. A fresh, green, dry, masculine violet leaf to open, a little metallic. An intensely green, powdery open, mixing a clean, grassy, green with a deeper, earthier leafy scent. On me this is quite potent. Some of this is the violet, and violet leaf, but some is iris. The violet is not at all sweet, so the sweetness of the iris, like powdered sugar, is quite a treat. I have delayed reviewing this, as my appreciation has grown over time. This is a surprisingly assertive fragrance on me, not soft at all. Hardly seems a floral, as it seems so fresh and green on open, rooty and earthy on dry down. Only the heart seems sweet and floral, with a bright white jasmine joined by just a touch of LOTV. The sweet orange blossom on opening has remained in the background, until it merges with the heart notes to create a white floral accord. Remarkable to me is the drydown, combining a spicy, woody, dry nutmeg with a heavy, sweet sandalwood. Together, these create an exotic, balsamic note, resinous and woody. A little sour wood, but with a clean, bracing acidity. And the raspberry? This is an animalic raspberry, redolent of civet. It mixes with the nutmeg to create a glorious spicy note, dark and dirty. How this works with the dry, green, powdery, slightly acidic or acerbic opening, is a mystery. Somehow the florals join to sweeten and soften the green opening, while the woody, earthy, rooty base is sweetened by a spicy earthy nutmeg. The more I wear this gorgeous fragrance, the more confused, delighted, and engaged I feel. I can't wait to wear this one again. Edit: green, but definitely floral. The drydown is sweeter than the opening, a buttery sandalwood flirts with a lingering violet and powdery iris.

This is an exquisite spicy, earthy, woody, joyful violet. It has no hairspray note like Insolence or her flankers on my skin. It is not candy sweet like violet pastille candies. The sweetness is low key, natural, and elegantly Caron in nature. It feels very vintage Caron in the deft weaving of the vetiver, nutmeg, and raspberry base which becomes evident about 6-7 minutes after spray on for me. Oddly enough on me, the heart blooms after this point and THEN the gloriously beautiful Orange blossom, Iris, non-indolic Jasmine and just a touch of Lily Of The Valley swirl out. It becomes a beautiful very lush, dewy green forest floor. This doesn't go to powder on me. It is never oily but not dry either. It has a very relaxed, meditative feel without being sad or depressed. Feels like a moist forest floor with mist swirling around at eventide. I sense a deeply comforting earthiness without any overtly unpleasant "dirt" per se. It smells like a very organic natural violet with low-key white flower support, subtle fruit, and very discreet spice mediating. Beautiful woods all around cradling everything like a perfect portrait frame. This is the most delicately beautiful violet I have ever encountered. It is certainly not the strongest, the most edgy, the most groundbreaking, the most stylish.....but just purely for me...the most simply beautiful. I love it!

This is definitely the best violet perfume ever made. It has none of the cloying "little bunch of violets" little old lady perfume qualities you fear you might get. I bought mine around 2000, when it came in the bottle in the purple box with the green leaves at the base. I'm not sure if the new packaging means they've changed the formula too, but the one I have didn't need any changing. Don't pay any attention to the notes they say are in this perfume. To my nose anyway, this is all about the woods. When I wear it I think of a deep dark forest of maybe redwood trees, where you can't see the sky, and suddenly the sun comes shining through on a little patch of violets about 10 feet square. So, a good violet fragrance but lots of woods to keep it from being cloying. Very good to wear in the rain or on a cold day.

I had purchased La Violette by Annick Goutal several years ago, and loved the fragrance, but so disappointed that it just disappears after a few minutes, even if you douse yourself with it. I finally own a bottle of Violette Precieuse, and am very pleased with it - exceedingly pleased with it! It smells wonderful, lasts 4 - 6 hours on me, and has moderate sillage. I love it!

Green violet leaves coupled with petals. I love this frag'. Too bad it's discontinued. I'm stocking up now. I am looking into alternatives if anyone has any ideas. I hear that La Violette (Annick Goutal) is a nice green violet, and L'Artisan Parfumeur's violet fragrance looks promising. I'll report back with results.