Hermessence Violette Volynka

Got myself a sample, wore it two days and then put down the big bucks for the 2.5 fl.oz. bottle - it's on the way to my mail box! This says a lot in today's economy! This is a beauty I simply cannot live without. I've been a Hermes fan for most of my perfumed life, and violets I've loved even longer. Thanks to the elegant wife of one of my uncles, early on I dabbled in fragrances at her dressing table. Powdery violet notes must have been featured there. But also a love of design, the heavy, faceted bottles. What we now call vintage was fresh and new to me then! This Hermes takes me back there, but is so unique to my nose today. In my violet collection is also Molinard Violette and Guerlain Meteorites. Fast forward to today, 1/21/2024 and I have applied the frag to one arm. Wow! An overpowering scent of something like honey and an unidentifiable note, almost gourmand. Not to my liking at all. This is so different from the sample I bought for $25 a few weeks ago. The sample is violet, violet, violet and leather. A creamy leather. But this costly full-size bottle? Very different. And now later: the honey note has faded and finally 6 hours later, the violet emerges softly. So softly. And the leather is now creamy and soft also. So, what? I have to endure something I do not care for (scrub worthy!) for 5 or 6 hours to get to violet and leather?? And yes, the drydown is so lovely...I would bet the longevity will be around 12 hours.

I received a couple of samples of Violette Volynka with another purchase, and spoiler alert, I ended up buying a full-size bottle. I would rank this as my second favorite Hermessence, after Agar Ebene. It has a delicate, powdery, ozonic (I didn't really know what that meant until smelling this one), semi-candy-sweet smell with a quiet, rich leather background - a very intriguing, harmonic balance. It feels like the perfect early spring fragrance, reminding me of when flowers start to appear, but most trees are still bare of leaves. As is the case with most of the Hermessences, it's a skin scent (at least for me), and the longevity is fleeting. I find it to be perfectly unisex (male here); there are floral scents, but in equilibrium with the "tougher" leather. This is a somewhat unusual scent, so I would recommend trying before buying to see if works for you. It's working on the same principles as Cuir d'Ange, but I find them to be very different. I've found all the accords listed on this page to be accurate with this scent on me.

Violette Volynka is another simple but high-quality composition from the Hermessence line. I am partial to a violet note, and here it is beautifully rendered - initially green and dewy, becoming increasingly powdery. Smooth throughout, it is quite light and airy, as Hermessence scents tend to be. VV opens with the aforementioned violet, becoming increasingly powdery as it develops. The leather accord develops steadily in the background, smooth and shiny like a worn leather couch. In conjunction with the violet, it smells (aptly) like a high-quality leather handbag with powdery makeup inside. It remains like so, becoming a tiny bit musky as it fades. Sillage and longevity are moderate. Simple and beautifully formed, this is like the modern successor to Germaine Cellier's sublime Jolie Madame for Robert Piguet, albeit simpler and lighter. Easy transeasonal elegance that is feminine-leaning in my opinion. Violet-leather done right. 4/5.

My second time testing it. It is absolutely beautiful, very classy, violet more on the mature versus dainty, fairy side. Simple, but stunning and great longevity. Already made a purchase. It is somewhat similar to Putain des Palaces, at least that violet and leather combination, but Violette Volynka is more sheer, luminous, less powdery, more dewy, aquatic violet. Putain des Palaces is opaque in comparison, it's buttery-powdery. Virgin Violet is not comparable, it's more dainty and shy than Volynka, as the leather note is not there, which makes a vast difference. I thought, I like Putain des Palaces more, as I usually lean towards the powdery types, but as I have a satisfying amount of such perfumes already, PdP would be redundant, whereas the beautiful, crisp, transparent violet note in Volynka is something I can admire more for a change.

The moment I sprayed my sample onto a paper strip, I said, OH NO! to myself out loud, because I knew I'd definitely be buying a full bottle. This stuff is not cheap, but practical considerations aside, this violet-leather combination literally makes me swoon. After a sweet apricot-violet opening, the soft leather comes to the forefront. Little outrageously gorgeous floral moments come back here and there as the scent dissipates. It is unisex and very sexy. As another review mentioned, it has a surprising cool aquatic note that comes through a few hours in. I could bathe in this stuff. My only criticism is that it's an eau de toilette rather than a parfum–this is a scent I wish would stick around all day. This beauty is fleeting but–maybe as a result of high quality ingredients–much less so than any other toilette I've tried.

Hermes Violette Volynka (2022) - violet suede - If I didn’t know better, I would have thought it was created by Mr. Ellena. #christinenagel after serving 7 years as Hermes’ in-house perfumer has molded her style to that of predecessor and finally made an Hermessence truly representing the house. It’s pretty much a haiku focusing on powdery violets and birch tar. But a seemingly rough accord, morphs into something smooth and tamed. Apart from what fragrantica lists, I also get fruit red berries, dry Iris, and a silky white musk & woody base. It does remind of Cuir d’ange, but with a more prominent violet accord, it’s a wonderful addition to the leather perfumes of the brand. #sotd #fragrance #cologne #scentoftheday #hermes

Violette Volynka is more violet than leather for sure. The violet is fleshy and airy at the same time. It has a fruity undertone and when you smell it up close, the violet feels ripe and wet, like it was smuggled to a jungle decades ago and the flower has started to adapt to a new and wild environ. Violet is not a fruit of course, but it smells like it's a purple fruit that has just burst open, and the juice--poisonous and dangerous--is leaking. I know this doesn't make any sense, but it does! Violette Volynka defies the traditional "romantic" character of violet and reveals a dark, much more alluring, aspect. Smell it at a Hermès counter and you'll know what I mean.

What a curious contrast, violets and leather. But to my taste, this works beautifully in the quirky, always standout way I find Hermes scents to be. The two are almost in balance, with the leather slightly dominant, yet enveloped in the powdery violet. I suppose that's appropriate in an old fashioned way. 😘 Hermes scents are never for "everyone". That doesn't make those who enjoy them special. But Violetta Volynka, like a number of the Hermes Jardin scents, do demand your nose to slow down a bit, not wrinkle up at first sniff, consider atypical combinations and discover the harmony they dance to. A fragrance that will never bore me.

On my dry skin, Violette Volynka evolves beautifully. each spray starts with a buttery smooth ultra luxe leather with a hint of sweet make up-y violet. just a hint, not a screaming lipstick violet. slowly, the sweet violets blooms more and leather becomes a soft background. this leather is smooth and refined, not thick and strong. I didnt get strong animalic note at all. this is a calming fragrance for me. where everything is steady and reassuring. time passes slowly and my cup of tea is always floral and warm.

Good quality and very pleasant. But only if you like leather/suede scents. Similar to Suede Pony from Boy Smells and has hints of Ombre Leather from Tom Ford. I have both of those in big bottles so I will not be buying a full bottle of Violet Volynka bc it’s too many for me in that category. I suppose it does smell like Volynka which is a bagpipe from Ukraine made out of goat skin/leather. It will probably be better on a man but I can totally pull it off as well. Overall, I recommend it.

The opening immediately reminded me of Insolence, except this is way sweeter and fruitier. The drydown, I do smell just a tiny bit of leather and even lipstick. Is it nice, yeah, but it is nothing unique. And it's rather sweet, i did not expect this from the Hermes higher end line. Update: Ok eating my words here. I went for a walk before hitting the gym with this on and the wafts were OMG. Plus the lipstick vibe at the drydown, had to purchase the bottle.

Somehow it smells both futuristic and timeless. The violets are very ozonic and bright, which I personally love. The scent first smells playful, but then the leather adds a perfect layer of maturity. Definitely quirky, but smells very expensive. However, I don't know if I would describe it as natural. There's something almost artificial about it, but I don't hate it. Edit: If you're looking for a dupe, Violet Shot is pretty comparable.

Like viewing the world through indigo silk. This is haunting and classy. Wearing suede high heels and a trench coat, walking through rainy violets. If you want to smell remote, intellectual and mysteriously beautiful this will be your friend. It makes me think of Kristin Scott Thomas, at all ages. Timeless elegance. I can see how it leans masculine too, it has a touch of Dior's Farenheit, but it's much much softer.

I’m addicted. I fell in love with this fragrance a while ago and I still can’t get enough of it. Such a masterpiece! I knew I would love this one since I’m a sucker for violet and leather combination, but this one exceeded my expectations. I appreciate the story behind Volynka leather too. To my nose it’s not strong at all, but it did give my friend a headache, so would not recommend to blind buy.

Violette Volynka is an elegant and sophisticated fragrance. It is a unique blend of soft suede-like leather with some sharp white florals and a powdery fruity violet note. This is sensual and expensive smelling and mature (which I mean as a compliment). The scent bubble is very strong considering this is an EDT. A beautiful creation from Christine Nagel for Hermes.

Where do I even begin with this beauty? The truth is, I walked into the Hermès store and accidentally tried this perfume. After letting it sit on my skin for a while, I decided to buy it. Honestly, it’s exactly what I was looking for: an elegant, well-balanced, unisex fragrance. It has that Hermès DNA (as if it were created by JCE), and I absolutely loved it.

True beauty! It’s a complex scent with deep leathery notes and some creamy powdery violets. It’s not a gourmand scent but it’s so cosy snd smooth that actually feels like eating the most delicious dessert in the luxurious restaurant inside some gorgeous castle (think Versailles). Absolutely stunning! Follow me on IG: scent.guide

This is certainly not your powdery violet or sweet Parma violet. It's oily, intense, purple violet. It does remind me of Fahrenheit by Dior, no bad thing at all. The leather is classy, suede-y, feels realistic, not animalic though. Overall, this is a slightly heavy, vampy, yet classy and contemporary violet leather.

An almost straightforward, quite bold violet with strong facets of Putain des Palaces. Doesn't get that powdery. An easy like for me, as I do appreciate violets, but I find Putain des Palaces a more interesting leather+violet creation, also the mentioned Mimosa Indigo is a wonderful choice.

Love this. Didn’t love it at first it just didn’t seem special and seemed too soft but after I wore it While traveling I kept wondering is that me smelling Soooo good? It’s feminine and leathery at the same Time. I love this fragrance!