Violetta di Murano (Italian Journey No. 4)

I saddled up to the Scent bar one day (that's what DSH calls their shop), and spent 2 1/2 hours sniffing this, that and everything. I started with the raw materials, and quickly discovered that African Violet was one i was drawn to more than anything else. So my guide brought out Violetta di Murano and let me try it. At the end of the visit this was my favorite. It's a true earthy violet, with some lovely supporting florals. To my nose, however, the violet takes center stage; I know the notes make it look complex, but it isn't really. This is also what I would call a floral green. If you are thinking about sampling from this line, i highly recommend putting this one in your bag. It's very pretty and fresh, just lovely.

I'm always game for another violet soliflore, and to be honest was expecting this creation to be something along the lines of Berdoues Violettes de Toulouse or Borsari Violetta di Parma. What I found instead is that DSH Violetta di Murano is a dead ringer for Bvlgari pour Femme! Perhaps I should say that it's a dead ringer for my memory of Bvlgari pour Femme... The similarity is truly remarkable, although I think that there may be more violet and less rose (if any) in this composition. Violet and iris and mimosa loom large in both, and it could be the mimosa which is reminding me of Bvlgari pour Femme. The resinous quality is also definitely present, though, and it reminds me so much of the Bvlgari that I feel compelled to do a quick side-by-side test. Back in a jiffy... Okay, I'm back. My conclusion is that Bvlgari pour Femme is a better perfume than Violetta di Murano. I like the DSH, but it is less rich and full, probably in part because of the marked rose note in the Bvlgari. So for this type of composition--which does not really strike me as a violet soliflore in the end--I'd recommend Bvlgari pour Femme. I hasten to add, however, that my bottle appears to be vintage, and I don't know anything about the recent reformulation. As usual: try before you buy!