Violet Ida

I purchased a full bottle of this after receiving a decant as well as some boxed samples from Miller Harris. I thought I might have made a mistake because when I used one of the samples, it was just plain, dry, doughy iris. I couldn't find the same delicate, lightly sweet but non-gourmand scent I experienced with decant I received from a very good Fragrantica friend of mine. I loved it, but couldn't detect any violet. After I read the notes I realized why. Anyway, I wasn't feeling well when I tried the sample. My friend suggested that it might be due to being ill, or perhaps, horror of horrors, it had been reformulated. However, I has a hunch that it might be rated to the small amount of spray that came put of the sample, as if it was unable to diffuse properly. Whatever the case may be, I received my full bottle today, and I'm pleased to say that I'm back on the love train with Ida! Delicate and powdery, I don't find it to be a Lipstick scent the same way others have. I own Malle's Lipstick Rose, which represents that smell quite well to me. If this resembles any other fragrance in my collection, it would be Boucheron Iris Syracuse, though that is even drier than VI. Blissfully, I don't get a big dose of carrot seed. That's the note that ALMOST ruins Les Exclusifs Misia for me. This is all about iris, made powdery by heliotrope, and lightly sweetened by a non-gourmand vanilla. I have a suspicion that this will be a shape shifter depending upon the season. As always, I will now put it aside for a bit to give it a chance to settle, testing again in a week or two. This is my second purchase from Miller Harris, and I love them both. I've also sampled Etui Noir and think it's exquisite, but that's for another day. Longevity moderate, sillage moderate, it definitely leans feminine in my opinion. I'm just thrilled that I didn't panic and cancel my order, because it's a welcome addition to my collection.

I've had an eye on this collection from Miller Harris for a while, as fleeting sniffs in shops here and there have suggested that the scents are as wonderful as their enticing name and lovely bottles suggest. And now that I've finally gotten my hands on a decant of Violet Ida, I'm happy to report that at least for this one, that high expectation holds true. Especially in the opening, I really dig it: like the reviewer below me, I'm transported to childhood, but for me it's to my very earliest memory of "perfume", the one that came with my Polly Pocket beauty case. I know that doesn't sound good, and I'm sure that the scent was pretty bad, too, really, and this probably smells nothing like it. But it evokes the same feeling: instant joy and recognition, "oh yes, this is what perfume smells like!". No matter what the list of notes says, that opening smells like old-fashioned waxy lipstick, fresh pencil shavings (or I guess carrot seed), and sweet powdery floral notes (violet, or alright, iris and heliotrope). Whatever it is, it's a wonderful composition, well-balanced but somehow rather original however familiar it smells. I get why it's compared to Infusion d'Iris, for instance, but this is much more exuberant, much warmer. It's feminine and comforting, but also kind of glamorous, not girly. As it dries down it becomes less pronounced, the woody aspect is replaced by more powdery sweetness as the vanilla starts to dominate. Then it strays into almost-gourmand territory, which I also love, but it's less unique by then. It also seems to project less, but that might be an illusion, because I've gotten compliments on this one long after I myself stopped noticing it very much. I'm so glad to have Violet Ida in my collection for the upcoming colder months - can't wait to try it out in winter!

Woah, this smells very different to my other fragrances, which is a good thing... The only one I've smelt that is vaguely and I mean very vaguely similar, is iris goddess by floral street. They just share some notes I think. So there's a lot of carrot seed to begin, and actually throughout and there's also something warm. It's thick with makeup powderiness underneath it. Then something shifts and you start to get a tiny bit of vanilla, but the iris and carrot seed are really the main things. At this point, the fragrance has a definite vintage feel to it, old handbags and handkerchiefs and old makeup compacts. Later still, the heliotrope appears but it is so so light, and actually that is the best bit for me, it's a very delicate mix of the iris and to a much lesser extent the carrot seed, vanilla and heliotrope. It's almost like a sweeter version of how Aveno oatmeal moisturisers smell or something like that. This is really not my usual choice, this was a blind buy 🙈 I'm going to see how I get on, but right now, this isn't a love, but I've tried it only a few times. My plan is to spray more of this, brave the opening and see whether I can make the drydown more prominent, because that's the good bit. On me this is not a projection or sillage monster, if you want that, go elsewhere, it is very close to skin and delicate. I've read Brighton Rock and I wouldn't put this perfume with Ida, but that's perhaps just me. Edit: 6 weeks later and I really like this, now this is still a lot of carrot seed but I get sweeter and stronger powdery heliotrope vanilla. This was a success.

I got this as a sample directly from Miller Harris. I would never have willingly bought a iris/violet heavy perfume, but I am trying to expand my horizons with florals, and thought the description of this sounded lovely. I actually tried the Scherzo first out of the samples, and I honestly don't know what the hype is. I really didn't love it, and it lasted about 5 seconds on my skin. The second sample I tried was violet Ida. Upon first spritz, I immediately started panicking and thinking this is going to be too mature for my liking. It had a little bit of pungency in the forefront that might be the carrot seed that was displeasing to my nose. In about 20 minutes all I could do was hold my arm to my nose and inhale deeply over and over again. This scent is absolutely intoxicating. I cannot get enough of it! It has the most fluffy, powdery, vanilla tainted, bold iris, but airy, cottony, slightly marshmallow, feminine scent. I want to bathe in this. I immediately knew that this was probably the one I'm going to get a full size of. I've always struggled with finding a powdery floral scent that I love because for whatever reason whatever combination of scents it is, it always smells sour to me. Well this is it folks. They nailed it. I cannot stop smelling myself. And wonder if this could possibly be my forever signature sent. I hope that they don't ever change this!

Update: 4 months later and I’ve come to really love Violet Ida. The opening is rooty carrots and Iris with an powdery leather accord that smells like a expensive leather bag. Call me crazy but the dry down of Violet Ida smells very close to Shalimar Vanilla Planifolia- it’s a dense, sweet custard vanilla with a touch of leather. The interesting part is the carrot and the vanilla never meet on my skin. I wish the carrot in Violet Ida stayed around for the dry down but it’s still a keeper for me. I believe the name speaks to the color that this fragrance is evocative of. Irises are also purple and Violet Ida does make me think of the dusty, somewhat muted violet hue of the bottle. The opening of Violet Ida is all about the Carrot! Semi-sweet, rooty and earthy! This is more Orris root than Iris -more buttery and almost lipsticky. As VI dries down, it becomes sweeter as vanilla, heliotrope and amber starts to come forward. Even then for me, I wanted more sweetness. I’m not experiencing the “carrot cake” some speak of. Maybe with more wears... It’s 7 months later and I love Violet Ida! The more I wear this fragrance the more I love it. I am starting to get Carrot cake. Silage is above average and longevity is fantastic. This is why I don’t like to make my mind about a fragrance after 1 wear.

Violet Ida is true to the listed notes & the packaging perfectly matches the smell. There is initially a resemblance to Dior Homme, but it’s softer & sweeter - without the harsh edges. The heliotrope is very much present, which (I think) gives the play dough impression that some describe. I don’t read it as play dough though, it’s sweet “purple” florals to my senses, Iris & heliotrope accord. The iris in it especially smells to me like a new wool blanket, especially in the opening it has that “new textiles” smell. As the florals subside the amber/vanilla base comes through more & it takes on a more creamy tone. I sense the vanilla quite strongly, but it’s not too foody or sticky, more like a hint of dusty cocoa....I think VI will be especially lovely in cold weather. This was a blind buy for me based on the notes, & because I wanted to like Dior Homme but found it a little bit harsh & with something not quite right for me (I have an original bottle of DH from a swap). Anyway, to anyone who likes the heliotrope/play dough vibe, I recommend sniffing out Jacomo Art Collection #2, there is a similarity to VI, & it’s reasonably priced. Also, if you love Fleur de Peau, this is well worth trying. I love all of them. This is a very lovely perfume, & I’m so pleased I chanced buying it blind.

A blind buy that has straight away made its way into my top 5 favourites. Oh what can I say about this beauty. Creamy, slightly sweet like a comforting blanket of coziness. The opening starts with a strong burst of carrot seeds which lasts for a minute or so on my skin. It then turns into this cloud of beautiful iris mixed with soft bergamot that lingers on till the drydown where it's accompanied by the most delicious vanilla, cocooning you in a warm hug. It's not baby powder and its not talc, it has this quality of refinement, of luxury. This one shines when it's cold outside but also works particularly well on cool summer nights. An awesome bedtime scent. I reach for it on most days and already have a backup bottle. Can't imagine myself being without it. I love it so much. Thanks to the reviews here that influenced me to buy it, that too without testing. If you are a fan of powdery perfumes then this is a must try. For me- It's the best powdery perfume out there. Projection- 7/10 sits close to the skin after the first 1 hour. Uniqueness- 10/10 Longevity - 9/10 it easily lasts 10 hours on me.

Fragrances with violet and iris are just about my favourite thing, so I tried this on paper last week and I really liked it. Today I went into town and applied some sprays from the tester bottle to my wrist and scarf. It's lipsticky, but not overly so, it's vanillic, but not overly so, it's not too sweet, it's powdery. Wish it was a bit louder though! It's just really good! But there is something really magical about this that is hard to explain because it's so subtle. Some note, some aromachemical. It's almost indescribable, it gives me a feeling. It feels luminous. Changes the way my breath feels when I inhale. What is that?! Is it Liquidambar? Never heard of that. Could it be Hedione? I don't smell it on my wrist, but I only smell it in the air, it's coming from the scarf, I'm sure. Gives it that little something extra, something uplifting and luxurious. I need a big bottle of this sometime in the future. When I have run out of one of my other iris fragrances. Purchasing this right now would make something redundant. OMG I LOVE THIS

This was a blind bottle buy and I don't usually do that. I was nervous but since I couldn't sample and I was dying to try it I just went for it. It took forever to get the bottle but I finally did 2 days ago and I wore it all day yesterday I was happy I took the risk. I love this perfume! My husband loves it on me as well. This fragrance is a modern nod to old fashioned powdery fragrances in the style of L'Heure Bleue by Guerlain but this is so much more wearable. This fragrance is a subtle sweet powdered kiss. It is as beautiful as a violet/pink sunset and as soft as a cloud. It is the Goldilocks of powdered fragrances, it is just right. There is a slight warmth to the cold powder and that is what wins me over. So many powdery fragrances while nice can be a little dry and cold, the earthy carrot seed combined w/ the vanilla gives the iris and heliotrope a subtle warmth that makes this fragrance like the softest blanket on the skin. This blind buy has made me decide to blind buy 2 others from this line and I can not wait to get them.

My personal favourite within the Miller Harris line, in my humble opinion, & instantly transports me back to childhood. I remember my great-grandmother wearing a talcum powder that smelled like this. It also reminds me of a window cleaner called Windowlene, which I used to constantly raid from my mother's cleaning cupboard to dab on the back of my hand & smell whenever I could. The firm, long-lasting beautiful, intoxicating powdery imitation violet smell sure lifts my mood when I apply it when working from home. I certainly get the iris, but not so much the carrot seeds in the opening. I also distinctly smell some vanilla, in addition to some small quantity of heliotrope, especially during the dry-down. However, I am distinctly aware of the overtly feminine qualities of this fragrance as a man. Therefore, I wouldn't dare wear this in the outside world & risk embarrassing myself. No, this beauty is just for me to wear in the privacy of my home, especially after a shower before climbing into bed at night.

Heaven....I’m in heaven, And my heart beats so that I can hardly speak..... God, I love this gorgeous and feminine fragrance, it is absolutely exquisite! It definitely has a soft powder-puff vintage cosmetic charm, but at no point does it smell staid or grandmotherly. It beautifully combines a heavy dose of one of my favourite notes-iris, cold, lip-sticky and powdery with delicious warm, vanillic amber notes. A marriage of fire and ice that just smells delicious, like a mildly spiced slice of carrot cake with a buttery iris heliotrope cream. I bought this blind because of the notes and I couldn’t be happier, it is just blissful, I like to spray it on a cashmere jumper and just bury my head in it. It is very comforting to me. My scent preferences seem to fall into two distinct and opposing camps- Angelic or Dark enchantress, this fragrance belongs firmly in the angelic realm. Definitely a scent more for Autumn/Winter day wear or for wearing to bed to induce sweet surrender.

Wow! This is fantastic! It's a powder lovers dream. The name Violet Ida is a bit misleading as you would think there were a lot of violet in the perfume, but there isn't, it's iris. The name Violet Ida is a literary reference to a character- Ida Arnold of Graham Greene’s book; Brighton Rock, she wears violets in her hair. I blind bought this and it's great! I love powdery fragrances and this one is very well balanced, the iris and carrot seed compliment each other really well, giving it a more dry earthy feel. The longevity and the silage is fantastic as well, this lasted all day on me and I could still smell it the next morning. There is bergamot in the opening making this fresh and citrusy and then the vanilla softens it out, it's gorgeous, if you can get a hold of a sample try it out! Like a beautiful powdery haze, that lasts all day. It reminds me of Guerlain l'instant Magic, but has it's own unique powdery feel. Very feminine, not masculine at all, lovely!

For anyone in the UK who's mourning the discontinuation of Violet Ida, it is currently available at TKMAXX for £34.99 (plus postage if you order online). I just bought a backup bottle. The outer box is purple with a white label on a glass bottle, as @bel.gravia says. As for the perfume, it's all about the dry down for me. That liquidambar note is to die for. The opening is very carrot and iris-heavy, with the merest hint of violet, barely detectable, so if you're more a fan of violets, you may feel slightly disappointed. Vanilla adds a pillowy air of sweetness in the mid dry down, along with that subtle hint of violet. Performance is impressive. I get an easy 12 hours wear, and I do mean easy. In truth, it lasts much longer. If you're an Iris fan, it is an absolute must for your collection. Liquidambar adds a warmth to that beautiful Iris note, which of itself can generally feel cold and slightly aloof.

To be clear - this is not a violet perfume, but a powdery amber. For the first 15 minutes or so the carrot seed , standing in for iris, smells so much like a new bolt of cotton cloth to me. It’s strange and I don’t really care for it, though interesting. As this wears off a sweet, powdery amber (liquidambar = styrax) comes to the fore and the scent then remains pretty linear for the rest of its development: a strong vanilla amber styrax, very powdery, sweet and comforting. I had the good fortune to pick up two 50ml bottles from TKMaxx for less than £25 each, these will probably last me as you don’t need a lot: one or two sprays is enough as it has penetrating sillage and lasts over 12 hours. To me, the closest thing it resembles is a mix of the drydowns of vintage Shalimar and vintage L’Heure Bleu. Lovely.

EAU MY GOD!! Violet Ida is like a powdery iris lover’s dream! It’s PERFECT!! Soft, powdery, silky, buttery orris, not the formal stoic sort of iris but the friendly kind. This perfume smells like kindness, a beautiful heart, a smile, a friendly hug. It’s the scent of the sweet girl next door or the princess in a storybook. Or even a baby wrapped up in a violet blanket. It smells innocent and pure yet still all grown up. It’s the scent you fall in love with and take home to meet mom. "Ida represents goodness, tenacity and morality in a world of desperate cruelty” ☝️ It smells like that. It smells sweet, lovely and kind. This is one beautiful iris fragrance and anyone who loves powdery iris will fall head over heels for it. Violet Ida steals your heart.

This truly was love at first sniff! <3 An utterly addictive dream of a fragrance, that magically conjures a dark, sweet Violet. It is somehow simultaneously comforting and empowering. I can't compare it to any other scent. It's unlike any other fragrance I've tried. Above average lasting performance, with moderate projection. Anyone within arms length will be intrigued by this beauty and want to move in closer. The Orris butter and Heliotrope are strong on first spraying. The touch of Bergamont and Carrot seed are only detectable for a few minutes, before they melt into the Vanilla and Liquid Amber, leaving a wonderful not overly sweet, Amber, slightly woody, Vanilla Iris/Violet. Pure alchemy. Beautiful, alluring, mysterious, seductive, perfection <3

I love this, it's STUNNING. As someone who loves iris/lipstick scents this might be the best one I have smelled. It's perfectly balanced between powdery iris, sweet vanilla and damp earthiness from the carrot seeds (which I absolutely love). I am not familiar with liquidambar but I believe it is adding a richness a lot of similar perfumes lack. So chic. It is conjuring long forgotten memories of 2 beloved discon scents, Tom Ford Violet Blonde and Shalimar l'Initial but I sadly have not smelled those in years. I think it shares the very smooth vanilla of l'Initial but is a bit moodier and earthier. For me Violet Ida is for stomping around a city on a wet, rainy dark day. Glam/high fashion goth. It is soft but certainly not delicate. Love it.

It tends to happen to me again and again. I like a scent, buy it, then dislike it, but not completely... A mysterious craving makes me keep coming back to it until one day I suddenly fall in love and pronounce the perfume my signature scent 😄🤷 This is my story of Violet Ida, but I also like the story Miller Harris tells about it - the story of a lady detective, unorthodox and modern in her times, but also retro from our perspective. Violet Ida is like that - vanilla but not cloyingly sweet - powdery and floral, but not stereotypically feminine. It's cozy enough for winter, but smells beautiful during sunny and rainy days of other seasons too. It lasts on skin a decent amount of time, but on fabrics it can even survive a gentle wash.

We can consider Miller Harris as an established house now since they are around for 22 years. They had some hits and a lot of misses for me but overall it's a respectable brand i believe. I bought Violet Ida for my wife, and she loves it since it pushes all the right buttons for her. Though it's marketed for women, i see it as a perfectly fine unisex. The scent profile is slightly smoky, powdery iris interpretation. If you look hard, you can find hints of Shalimar and Guerlinade vanilla, Dior Homme Intense and Masque L'Attesa as well. However i believe Violet Ida manages to remain unique still being within the theme. Performance is very well compared to Miller Harris standards

My favourite perfume from Miller Harris. This is SO stunning on both skin and clothes. It reminds me of a perfected version of Dior Homme Intense. I found DHI way too sweet, too lavendery with not enough iris or powder and just slightly off what I envisioned when I thought of a perfect iris. This one is just perfect. I don’t get much vanilla here (only a vague softness and creaminess in the base), just this perfect, soft, comforting slightly woody/earthy (from the carrot seed I suppose) touch along with this glorious powdery iris. Amazing. Scent: perfect 10 Longevity: good - lasts a full work day on my clothes (ie more than 10 hours) Projection: moderate Polarity: unisex