Dirty Violet

This is the first true unisex perfume I think I’ve owned. When you first spray this, it has a very sharp floral scent and almost herbal black tea type of thing. Once it dries more, it becomes this cozy sweet delicious soft warm sweater perfume. This smells like someone’s “house smell” in the best way, like books and hardwood floors, or when you borrow someone’s favorite leather jacket and deeply inhale and you can smell their old cologne on it. If you absolutely hate patchouli, I really don’t think you’ll like this, it’s pretty heavy and I can see someone thinking this is hippie-ish. To me it just smells natural and comforting. Floral, leathery, almost chocolatey or honey. This smells like Histoires de Parfums1969 without the rose. I would LOVE this on a man but it’s still feminine and soft. Very strong for a clean perfume, I would never guess it was. I could also see this being warn year round, but if I had to give it a season to describe its vibe, I would say winter and spring. Edit: my only complaint is that $165 for 50ml is wild. But, one spray of this is very strong and lasts for hours. So I guess it evens out a little. Still way too much money for barely 1.7oz

This was an instant love for me, not because it's a masterpiece, but because it fills its modest brief impeccably. Leather, violet, and patchouli is simple but it makes a statement. It's true that this more "Come hither" than the S&M "On your knees!" that the name and marketing suggests, but I do find it quietly sexy. The leather is a bit more raw and realistic than I expected based on the reviews. It's not quite animalic, but it's on the verge. The violet is also realistic, and has none of the girlish, candy-like qualities that violet perfumes can sometimes have. It's violet flowers crushed under the heel of a black stiletto. Sexy is relative, but this has a quiet, dark seductiveness to my nose. It whispers rather than screams, and to me, that's pretty alluring.

wow. this is lush, sexy stuff! It is darkly, softly floral. It is animalic yet purrs instead of roars...extremely sexy on my husband too - Bravo Heretic!

Starts off with leather, soft floral violets, a blast of quality patchouli and a bit of an animalic tinge, although that dissipates rather quickly. I'm sensing a bit of green ambrette here too, although I could be mistaken. It settles into soft violet leaf, powdery leather, and just a hint of sweet chocolate (perhaps from the patchouli) and amber-y vanilla, reminding me a bit of a softer version of Narciso Rodriguez for him. It's not necessarily weak, it's just that it sits very very close to the skin. Heretic isn't particularly known for loud fragrances anyway and, as I understand it, 100% natural perfumes don't project much either, save for perhaps an oud. It's certainly not a very unique or groundbreaking scent, but what I do love about Heretic is their commitment to naturals and quality ingredients, which makes endlessly smelling and searching through their fragrances for nuance of material quite enjoyable. Blood Cedar is my other favorite. Yet it is quite sexy; something about violet leaf + patchouli has a dominant energy to it. Combined with the powder and amber facets, I can see how it plays up contrasts of soft and hard, seductive and aggressive. A fitting homage to the collaborator and muse for this fragrance, Violet Chachki, who has frequently incorporated BDSM aesthetics into her drag.

I can see how someone would expect this to be a big, bold powerhouse scent, as I certainly did. I was thinking this would be like like Black Orchid with a violet twist, or something that would remind me of something succulent, pungent and purple smelling. Dirty Violet is nothing like this at all. While I was expecting something else, I am not disappointed. This is a polished violet leaf with leather beauty that creates a nice yin/yang of barbershop shave cream and very soft suede. Think more boardroom than bedroom as this would be fine to wear to work. I can see this on a man wearing a crisp white dress shirt and blazer, which can be sexy as hell too. If your mental image of Dirty Violet translates to whips, chains, and handcuffs and not something professional smelling, think outside the box a bit and you won't be dissapointed. Having a dirty mind mean a lot of things to a lot of people, so why not something soft, clean and refined? Dirty Violet is dirty fun in it's own special way.