Violettes du Czar

Wow, I am surprised by all the negative reviews. I think this a lovely violet scent, a soft, old-fashioned oriental. By "old-fashioned" I mean that it brings to mind Victorian times: big skirts, high collars with lots of buttons, proper manners, and delicately perfumed stationary. It smells of violets, but it is not too sweet. It smells more like an oriental than a violet soliflore floral. The leather is noticeable but very well-blended (I do not care for prominent leather). The balsam rounds everything out, and the whole composition is dreamy and soft. I love this, although I am not sure if I will buy it, due to price/longevity. Soft, delicate, powdery, old-fashioned violet oriental

I believe Violet's scent is the most beautiful among flowers, and this fragrance is a good representation of this heavenly scent. Violet here is complex. It smells fresh, powdery and soapy but never turns sweet or fruity. I love the smell of leather and tolu with this delicate flower (it keeps perfume grounded and dignified). The fragrance is a real unisex floral, somehow bitter but lovely violet. It does smell old (in the best possible way) and unique. On my skin, this fragrance is a beast. Its longevity, as well as sillage and projection, are very satisfying. I can see myself loving this perfume forever.

Oh WOW! Isn't this a luscious little Madame. Having been given a little kitty of sample decants from a fellow fragraholic, only three samples in and I am crazy in love with the Emperor of Violets. Although I figure Violettes du Czar to be closer in proximity to an Empress; I see Catherine the Great awaking after a stormy night in her gilded bedchambers to find her bed littered with freshly cut violets while outside, the gardens of the Winter Palace are covered in snow. Having searched long and hard for the perfect Violet fragrance, I might well have just found it!

Still searching for my perfect violet, but this isn't as bad as other reviewers said, nor is it so masculine. I admit the opening is a little hard to get through, but after it settles it's quite nice. The only reason I'm not feeling love, is that I don't perceive the mental images I usually get when I smell violet, so I guess the leathery and balsamic notes are really dominant here. Edit: I have fallen in love with Violettes du Czar and have ordered a full bottle! I can't get enough of it's old-shampoo-y scent, it makes me want to wear gowns and velvet gloves :-)

I've just received my sample of this- on the first try it was sweet soapy violets with a green edge. Today the soap is gone, and is replaced by a spicy, powdery amber dry down, overlaid with a lovely violet. As someone who grows parma violets, this is a very realistic violet fragrance which seems to last and last. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones whose chemistry agrees with it! Definitely worth a try if you love violets, but get a sample first. I'm now saving up for my bottle- also love the packaging on this one!

I wanted to love this fragrance so much...but it smells much to masculine and harsh for me. It starts off as a very medicinal aftershave, quite menthol, then after a half hour, when the violet and iris come together, it is so beautiful, but that only lasts so briefly...then it gets harsh, soapy and medicinal again. gorgeous bottle, though. The Heliotrope Blanc from this brand is absolutely gorgeous...the best heliotrope I've ever smelled...

Violet baby powder both notes I love but some how a bit overpowering here. I can however see this absolutely slap in the late 1700s. Might keep the sample for the next revolution. This is very similar to heliotrope milk bath but there’s something more playful about HM - this would be like HMs great great great relative Edit - kept sniffing my wrist the whole night - its strong but i think i fell in love with it as the night went on

One of the richest and cleanest violets tested. The perfume style, with its balsamic and woody charge, reminds me quite a bit of Nishane's Vjola, albeit a bit lighter and with some fresher, more aquatic and less vanilla undertones. It seems to me a perfume to use during the day almost at any time of the year. A jewel for lovers of violets. Scent: 10 Longevity: 7 Sillage: 5 Versatility: 9 Originality: 8 Global: 9.5

This dreamy clean warm powdery scent is probably the closest I have come so far to how I remember my late Finnish grandmothers cozy bathroom.

Violet and Leather seemed like a utopian pair for me until I discovered Oriza’s Violettes du Czar. I have tried many, but there was always something to throw off the balance: the violet was overpowering the leather or vice versa, too makeupy, too animalic, too sweet, too fruity, and so on. I almost gave up. Then, this came along. Not only striking the perfect balance between the two components, but bringing about such a complexity as I have rarely encountered in violet-themed perfumes. At least on my skin, this fragrance radiates a myriad of nuances, including notes that I usually detest, such as soapy and medicinal elements, which somehow work incredibly well within this composition. Like most Oriza L. Legrand perfumes, it evokes a bygone era, perhaps what most people nowadays would deem as “old-fashioned” or “dated,” and maybe that is another reason I love it so much. The main player is the leather accord, skewing into the leather boots direction. It is rather dynamic, constantly changing throughout the scent’s evolution. Medicinal at first, akin to leather polish/conditioner, smoky in the middle, in the veins of a “Cuir de Russie” accord, balsamic in the final stages once the tolu balm kicks in, as well as soapy (perhaps a combination of various musk molecules). It paints the image of a Russian Tsar wearing his high-end leather boots, freshly polished, smoking a fine cigar that contrasts with his neatly groomed appearance. The heavier accords (smoke, leather, balsams) are perfectly balanced by the green, invigorating violet leaf from the opening, which also makes for quite a perplexing introduction when paired with the medicinal/shoe polish aspects. Later, the very naturalistic violet accord, which closely resembles the flowers, not too sweet or too fruity, with the right amount of powderiness and none of that faux lipstick-like connotations these florals are often associated with in perfumery. And finally, as mentioned, a soapy facet creeping in toward the end that works surprisingly well with the leather and the resins. It brings to mind a high-end soap bar, simultaneously suggesting a tidy appearance. For me, Violettes du Czar fits well within the floral-leather genre, offering copious amounts of both violets and leather, among many other elements. I reiterate that one has to enjoy the more classical-smelling perfumes to appreciate this scent, and that it wears politely (rather soft). The opening can be a deal-breaker given the sharp violet leaf that combines with the medicinal aspects; patience is required to allow for the perfume to develop further. Indeed, this fragrance changes multiple times and rather drastically. I’d also recommend this to people looking for a natural-smelling violet accord, a well-balanced violet-leather scent, or a unisex, even slightly masculine violet perfume. IG:@memory.of.scents

My final sample out of my sample box, and incidentally my least favorite of the ones I tried from this brand. The opening was a big WTF moment for me. Sharp medicinal mouthwash spilled into an old leather bag. It got me really really close to rushing to the sink to get rid of it, but I resolved to wait it out a little, and it does calm down within 15-30 minutes, to dry down to a mild powdery violet scent with suede undertones. However, the final dry-down is a bit too weak and too simple for my liking. Very soft sillage and moderate to low longevity. The outcome, so to say, just doesn't make up for the harsh opening imo. I find this fragrance perfectly unisex, but if a man was to wear this, I'd imagine him to be wearing formals or at least semi-formals and dress shoes, plus maybe some added touch of accessories like a fancy hanky or something like that. As in, not modern office formals, but retro Sunday outing formals, if that makes any sense. It does indeed smell very retro, so in that sense, the creation stays true to the house's main creative approach. It's just not for me. The dry-down still deserves a like.

It's apparently cheap and easy to synthesize the smells of violets using ionones, and has been since the late nineteenth century; it's much harder to make the sweet, powdery, soft smell of that flower seem in any way masculine. Even so, one of Oriza L. Legrand's most famous fragrances from over a century ago combines the sweetness of violets with a leather note, producing a very unusual accord. When the house was revived a few years ago, they re-created this famous fragrance, and it's certainly interesting (as is everything I've tested yet from Oriza L. Legrand), but to me it still leans a little too feminine for me to wear. I would love to see some sort of offshoot or flanker produced that has less violet (which comes at you in the opening very powerfully) and more leather (which emerges only after a good initial fifteen-twenty minutes). At least the violet accord at the opening is nicely complex and multi-dimensional, however.

Pretty much every Oriza I've tried starts out with some jarring medicinal, apothecary blast and this one is no different. I notice different things on different wearings, but I get an overwhelming wintergreen plus urinal puck note- which I actually like, lol! But would not be confident wearing around others who probably don't have that same fondness. Once it settles it smells more like powdery violets with a bit of iris and some oily leather. I was hoping for (or looking for) violet pastilles, and while there's an element of that in here somewhere, it smells like violets, both Parma and green leaf, and leather, not very sweet. I like the contrast of demure violet and black leather. Very S&M. Similar to Balmain Jolie Madame in that regard, though that one is greener without any powdery aspects to my nose. Not sure I'd reach for this very often if I owned it, but I'm enjoying sampling it!

Violettes du Czar by Oriza L. Legrand captures the essence of a classic Parma violet, reminiscent of traditional formulas like Borsani’s Violetta di Parma. The violet note here is candied, powdery, and pastille-like, with a charming, boudoir quality. Oriza pairs this sweet, nostalgic violet with a rebellious ambery, balsamic leather accord, where the leather smells freshly tanned, like stepping into an artisanal workshop. This fragrance feels almost suspended out of time. Oriza’s skill in creating harmonious compositions shines through; every element is balanced, subtle, and evocative, without making loud statements. It suggests moods and impressions, all woven together. Violettes du Czar is both dandy and romantic - in the true sense of Romanticism, where nostalgia, elegance, and a touch of rebellion come together.

I had low expectations based on other reviews but ordered it as I love violets and have never been disappointed in a perfume from this house. Well, I was pleasantly surprised. Often reviews on violet perfumes mentions how it smells like candied violet pastilles, this is the only perfume I've smelled that has that note nailed. The violet is almost perfect here and so smoothly blended with the other notes. I don't think it's that masculine, it evolves into a beautiful unisex scent. A woman can absolutely wear this, but it's not for everyone. It's a complex, fairly dark and old-fashioned violet and it is different from other violet scents. While this is well done, I do wish there was a more feminine version with the same lovely violet, a Violettes de Czarina.

Initially a bold violet fragrance. A light bright note anchored with tolu balsam and leather. After the inital startling burst with alcohol it settles quite nicely. Great idea to anchor with tolu balsam and leather as it certainly increased the longevity. Unfortunately the violet, iris and heliotrope disappear quite quickly and what remains for a good few hours are the aromatic, woody deep notes of tolu balsam, leather and guaiac. In its finally couple of hours it is quite leathery. I dont think a woman would want to wear this but I think men would. I think it would benefit from a males chemistry.

Probably the most Parma Violet-y perfume I’ve smelled. This is a pleasant scent, and actually not too sweet! I think the leather or amber is lurking in the background here and rounding this off nicely as a fragrance. I certainly don’t get any screechiness from this like some other reviewers have mentioned. Unfortunately, I just don’t think it’s original or different enough to impress me. The dry down reminds me of Iris Poudre. Sadly the longevity isn’t too terrific either. But for fans of violet and iris notes, it will be an enjoyable experience nonetheless.

This is very heavy on the violets and it seems so concentrated that I feel like I'm smelling a violet based oil (and I am saying it because I get sort of a wet oily/balmy smell). However, they're not left alone, but surrounded by iris and a soft suede. The dry down leaves me with a pronounced musk smell backed up by the violets and amber. Violet is not among the notes I like, but if it were, I suppose I'd be head over hells for this perfume. I highly recommend it for violet lovers. 6/10

The Czar must have liked black licorice because this smells like a black licorice pastille, one of the old fashioned kind, with a thick coating of sweet candied violet all over it. Almost like a Jordan almond. The candy smells segue to a smooth and mild leather within a half hour, and within two to three hours the fragrance was imperceptible on my skin. The sillage is intimate, this is a very transparent fragrance. It’s fun while it lasts.

Epitome of what you call Violet in the world of perfumes (maybe some violets in nature do smell like this, but the ones I know smell very different... More like Deja le Printemps). If you ever crave that aroma look no further, this is extremely good quality and high concentration.

Violetty necco wafers. In a good way, but that's what I smell here. Very strong violet, one of the nicest I've tried. Even my husband commented on it smelling like violets and he never says anything about my perfume.

God only knows how much I love Oriza L. Legrand and violet scents. I thought, surely, this would be a match made in heaven! But this one makes me gag and not many fragrances make me gag. It's so strong and there's this sharp, fresh note taking over on my skin which, sadly, makes the whole thing smell like a cleaning product. And not a pleasant one at that. If you're a fan of Guerlain's Insolence, Berdoues' Violette or even YSL's Paris... Don't expect to find the same kind of scent with OLL's Violette du Tzar. It's very masculine to me.

A powdery violet scent: classic yet refined. This style is one of the most challenging for me; I have Equistrius playing on this stage, and even that one can sometimes get on my nerves. I have an ongoing love-hate relationship with violet, and here it’s (of course) front and center; yet it doesn’t feel overwhelming. There’s a soapy facet to it as well, and it isn’t sweet > which is a plus. Longevity, however, is far lower than I expected :/ Tag(s): classic powdery violet

This begins with a burst of violets and something almost anise like with a hint of leather which is absolutely divine. I adore a spiced juicy violet! But alas, this dries to a somewhat simple powdery iris and violet. It's certainly pretty, but the dry down wants for something just a little... more.

I was super excited to try this as violet is my favorite scent of ALL. To me, this is not very violet smelling at all. I love the bottle and the box but the scent was just okay. I guess I was looking more for Violettes de Toulouse by Borsari which is one of my top favorites.

Something in this perfume smells "turned" to me. But not the smell of old perfume that's turned, rather something else, I can't quite put my finger on it, but it's nauseating. Chypre Mousse has the same effect.

Oh boy this is unpleasant! Opening so freakishly sharp with so much cloves! I don't usually mind clove in perfumery, but here it was so overpowering and out of the line together with the sweet powdery violet that it was hard to bear. I had to tilt my head away from my wrist for 2 long hours like all the time! I never scrubb, I'm all about second chances and giving time to develop! But "Violettes du Czar" never did. Never in it's journey from opening to drydown it got pleasant on my skin, it stayed sharp, out of place and annoyingly persistent. It's like all the notes simply decided to jump at me and never worked together as a composition. Thankfully for me it lasted only 3 hours and then was gone completely, so it wasn't a long torture. A strong dislike. It's been so long since I was repulsed by something so much.

Violettes du Czar (launched 2014) starts as delicate, dewy violets that soon reach a surprising level of intensity! This potency is quickly followed by pungent violet leaves, tolu balsam, animalic leather (common to Russian-inspired parfums), and a jarring industrial-strength soap—too challenging for my nose. I would buy this eau de parfum just for the old-world packaging and tasseled bottle from this historic house, once “Purveyor to the Imperial Russian Court.”✿ Scent family: Amber Floral Longevity on me: long-lasting

Alcohol, plastic doll head iris, vivid ultraviolet flowers. I've never had such a strong expression of baby wipes scent as there is in the opening of Violettes du Czar. After the alcohol burns off, the violets remain along with heliotrope at full throttle and are pulsating with a kinky neon glow. Strong like vinyl -- not leather, just like in Heliotrope Blanc from the same house. So far these purple caricatures aren't working for me but I'll keep exploring this house. 0 for 2.

I am not sure if anyone wants to smell like this stuff. Sorry but no....if you are interested I can send you sample for free. I think I hate heliotrope...

Is the Heliotrope Blank the same stuff? Then I hate it...yes founded in 1720...stay in this age.

This smells like straight-up gasoline. I get some violet in the opening, but it’s immediately drowned out by the leather, which becomes the only thing I smell. I was expecting feminine, powdery violets with an interesting, edgy base, but this smells extremely sharp and strong, like gasoline or alcohol, and it burns my nose hairs. This is also VERY masculine. I’ve never gotten a headache from a perfume before, but this gave me one.

Identical to the lavender window cleaner we have at work. We used to use a scent less one and it was fine then we switched to the lavender one and I feel like dying every day and then I spray this and the sh*t follows me home???? Absolutely not !

im legit gonna cry this smells like a change room and a cleaning agent combined. maybe im not into violets that much but it also smells so medicinal im throwing this sample out

Violettes du Czar ( from 1865!) opens sublime, led by a redolent note of traditional violet water, suggestive of both flower and leaf. However, important caveat: if you long for such traditional violet water, then just wear traditional violet water, ...because this V.d.C. quickly goes somewhere else. The nominal violets are soon joined by an array of illustrious acquaintances: orris, anise, and heliotrope. Also an odd take on (Russian) leather, ...with tolu balsam, I guess. This admittedly grand cavalcade of accompanying notes makes Violettes du Czar a more richly complex scent, than that of mere violets, ...but, at least in this moment, I'm finding such extras to just be excessive. Right now, all I really want is more of that sweet, watery violet, ...with maybe a touch of orris and heliotrope as sufficient added intricacy, if any. Who knows, at another time I might more fully embrace Violette du Czar. Afterall, it is very well-crafted for what it is. Yet that leathery note, as well as the anise, take this far from a natural violet perfume. Come to think of it, I would very much like to one day compare this scent with that of Hermes' Violette Volynka. Edit: I have now sampled and compared Violette Volynka with Violettes du Czar and found the two fragrances rather different. The violets in Violette Volynka are much less powdery, with no orris root listed. This changes the entire compostition to a softer and more linear scent; with the violet and leather notes presenting together in a more equal and closely joined manner. ...and if the powers that be at Oriza L. Legrand ever deign to read this, let me fully recommend that they add a strong and finely crafted, traditional violet water perfume to their offerings. To present only violets, but very well-done and persistent, would be a great achievement indeed.

Love this stuff. I understand folks getting a baby wipes vibe from Violettes du Czar, but for me, it's more like a children's bubble bath. It sparks good memories from my childhood (similar to Berdoues' 1902 Violette). It is rather infantile, innocent, and genderless in it's scent profile, but don't get me wrong, this is an adult, Eau de Parfum, and lasts many hours, unlike Berdoues 1902 Violette which lasts maybe 1 hour. Violettes du Czar is a soapy, clean floral with a fairly linear timeline. The violet leaf serves as a top note (sort of), adding a green bite to the opening. The Heliotrope, Violet and Iris are the main players and dance around each other in a playful way for a few hours, and I might add, seriously projecting during this period. The violettes are much softer and powdery during the dry down, with a faint ambery wood and balsam foundation. Not something I would wear out on the town, more of a personal fragrance for my own enjoyment at home, while perhaps wearing flannel pajamas and watching cartoons on the tv. It has an aromatherapeutic effect, inducing pleasant images and feelings from my youth. Tarot card enthusiasts: think 6 of Cups.

I seem to be drawn to stuffy antiquated fragrances like a moth to a flame. Is it some olfactory cosplay? Is there some past life that channels this desire? Could it be I am just one weird guy... That must be it. We'll I'll be damned if anyone tells me that the house of Oriza L. Legrand doesn't get "days of yore" down to an exact science, from its irresistibly late 19th/early 20th century aesthetic, it's flourishes of grandeur down to the hand-made tassels, right through to the compositions themselves, rumored to be as close to the originals from back then as could be made possible, IFRA notwithstanding. With Violettes du Czar, my nose responds with rapturous delight. VdC is parma violets greased up with violet leaves and cloaked in somewhat medicinal overdoses of sarsaparilla salicylates; its austerity is perverted a bit by a leathery, musky dry down, which makes it perfect for the gentleman with a wink and a nod. It's springtime and the dandies are randy. When this dries down, the skin warms the tolu balsam, and things get a bit spicier (and randier) while still coated in whispers of violet and heliotrope gentility. Oriza FTW.

Oh boy...This is a very weird scent. It has a mix of nuclear strength violet (leaves and flowers), with something that to my nose is very harsh and bitter. It might some myrrh plus the tolu balsam? the leather? does it have some undisclosed styrax? something is lurking with medicinal and bitter flavour, which is disappointing because the floral/violet aspects of the scent is fascinating. The violet here has to be one of the most photorealistic violet notes available, but sadly the other components of the scent make the whole thing bitter and old fashioned. Not a blind buy worth. Sample it first. Unisex, unusual, interesting? It gets much better after a few minutes on the skin. Very natural smelling even though what I smell is not the most feminine or crowd pleasing scent. I must say probably this has a high concentration of natural oils. I am not sure that I would wear it, but this is a high quality, very complex scent.

I love this house, and its always a bit disappointing to read the negative reviews. I think because this house is very much about the past, and not the 70s...but the turn of the 19th to 20th century....that for many its just too confusing. It does not smell like vinyl, it smells like violets and a couple different varieties. This is very much an older European style scent (for men, I think this is much more a masculine fragrance) which suggests fin de siecle Paris or Vienna maybe. Its very evocative and dreamy, really. I like powdery but there are not many scents for men that do that quality well. The longevity is quite good, the projection fine, its not meant to be more I don't think. I can see men in their forties wearing this at night. Its mysterious and intelligent and suggests depth and confidence. Oriza L Legrand is a terrific house.

I'm normally a huge fan of powdery violet, so thought this one would fit well. The opening is just odd-there's a very sharp medicinal chemical note initially, quite harsh and herbal, but within 20 minutes it settles a bit to a more vaguely milky, slightly sour tone-I can see why some are comparing it to baby wipes, although it's more baby spit-up to me. It's quite unpleasant and the violet is very faint behind this. It's a skin scent on me, and it's only after about an hour that it sweetened and becomes the warm, soapy, clean powdery violet I was expecting. It's not a sweet candied violet, it's more musky, almost smoky. Interesting, but not for me.

This is that good gas, that strong stuff..I'm talking 91. Here the powdery notes are on steroids, it would never pass a physical. An absolute perfect fragrance to wear after a long grueling day. *Disclaimer* the violet here doesn't play well with others, however I find this to be a very optimistic fragrance. It has that retro minty coolness that you rarely find in today's perfume sphere. For those interested in the leather aspect, will likely be disappointed by its barely visible presentation. A non-complicated offering perfectly constructed for both genders but one may have to emancipate his/her mind to enjoy hence not for everyone.

the sprayer smells like the classic powdery smell of parma violets...I was almost lulled into a false sense of security until I actually sprayed it on my skin! From a distance (the space between my arm and my nose), the light violet smell remains- but up close it's pretty brutal. Very medicinal, almost mentholated leather. I do find that leather turns quite dieselly on me, and violet leaf carries the smell of coal tar soap (i love coal tar soap ftr). I like the contrast, though. Pretty from afar and rough up close. Maybe even gothic, somehow. I like it.

I wish I would have known about this one on my quest to find a perfect Violet fragrance. This one scared me a bit due to the leather note. Leather can be a big miss for me, and it just seemed strange to pair candied violets with leather but I don't really get leather from this. I get sweet violets, the violet leaf's transparent lightness, which cuts some of the traditional powdery qualities of most violet perfume. It's perfectly sweet, not a drop too sweet.

Root beer meets Pepto Bismol meets Lifesavers Spearmint. It's quite nice for a day when you're overdosed on traditional perfume notes and want something completely different. The violet starts to work its way through after a while, and it smells like freshly powdered linens. Not something I would like to smell like all the time, though, it needs to be a bit sweeter/prettier for me to wear casually.

Opens with a pleasantly unexpected root beer/sarsaparilla glow that I suppose is the Tolu Balsam, which fades after about 15 or so minutes. After that, up close this has a rubbery, oily leather accord but the florals in the projected scent tilt towards baby wipes. It's neither a like or a dislike for me, but certainly not a buy.

This juice is just too harsh. I know of no woman who could wear this and I would not like it on a man either. I am pretty sure it is the tolu balsam that makes this intolerable for me. Its a shame really, because it has potential. Here's one they should reformulate.

A soft, dainty, pleasant violet. A bit of a candied violet not, here and there, but it is just too soft -- not much of a counterbalancing aspect to this, unfortunately. I liked it, but it didn't knock me out...

lavender and bitter in the top due to violet leaf and tolu; lovely perfect violet in the base; top and middle suck but base is awesome

another victim of my strange skin chemistry . this smells like minty damp towels then dries down into a strange rubbery smell.😔😔😔😔