Violette

What I was after exactly. It smells like C Howard’s violet pastilles which are floral, chalky and soapy. It’s what I imagine Victorian Valentine cherubs smell like or what little purple fairies dab behind their ears when they’re getting gussied up, peering into a dewdrop to see their reflection. This is an old fashioned, ladylike violet scent without unnecessary surprises. It’s very good for the price and if you’re concerned about its longevity you’ll be thrilled to know that they make a mini spray bottle that’s perfectly sized for your purse.

I was looking for something that’s smells just like C Howard’s violet candies and this, I love. I use it very occasionally as a man, but I believe this scent can be unisex, though totally floral, and of course leaning toward feminine. I could see this being layered with any scent you think needs more violet. Sweet, powdery, peppery. Pure violet essence

This is a straight up old-fashioned violet. And I mean that in the best way, since I am a lover of vintage fragrances. At first the woody notes come through, plus some sweetness. Then comes the fragrance of the blossoms themselves, potent(but not overpowering) and velvety. Violette truly captures the romance of the violet.

I bought this blind recently, wanting a violet pastille sort of violet. It lives up to that initially- it's a violet soliflor, isn't overly sweet, and has hints of green as well. The drydown gets a bit soapy, slightly chalky and a tad bitter, reminding me of violet bath cubes, and smelling rather old fashioned (not necessarily a bad thing). Don't love this element of the drydown. The early phase is what I was looking for in a violet perfume and it lasts that way on clothing better than on skin. All-in-all, for 20 bucks, it's a nice violet to have around and I'll probably use it as an environmental scent as well.

Lovely sweet violets scent. Powdery at first, candy like, almost like cherries in a mix. It's quite pleasant take on violets, since it's not that powdery. I find many violet scents are more on a mature side and some might avoid it because they can be too strong and serious. However, check this one out. I really like it! Has a nostalgic European feel. Nicely done. Only complaint is it lasts 3 hrs, its there but barely afterwards. Strong at first, but it's a light chill scent. Yummy, candy violets. I'd say notes are: violets, cherries and whiff of citrus.

Empress Sissi of Vienna was fond of candied violets. When I visited Vienna, I was sure to check out their high-end candy shop Demel and sample these historical delights. This perfume opening reminds me of those candied violets. What's interesting is that it then transforms into a dewy, green garden violet. Practical considerations: you need a few sprays to get the full effect. I use it in my hair as well. Overall, this is a fun one and I like it alot. I definitely want to check out other scents of Outremer!

I bought samples of a few Outremer fragrances, and this is the first one I've tried. If you've ever had the Choward's violet candies (sometimes called "mints" but not very minty), you'll identify this scent as violet immediately... and if you're anything like me, with an immediate happy rush of childhood memories. I like this very much for its nostalgia value, but not sure yet if I'd wear it as a perfume. Still thinking about it, though! 4/5

Pretty, natural smelling violet fragrance, neither too sweet nor too powdery. The longevity is good (about 8 hours on me), sillage is soft but noticeable. I tried layering it with Al-Rehab's Dehn Al Oud and got something a bit similar to a very expensive perfume I'm currently coveting. Nice on it's own or layered, and inexpensive too!

This is a lovely, light, violet fragrance. It is not cloying, like some other violet scents I've experienced. This one feels pure and innocent, with a touch of sophistication. The sillage and longevity leave a little to be desired, but for the price point, you can't beat this!

A pretty, pleasant violet. It's not overly sweet or powdery, despite the candy note. A lot of violet leaf in here as well, making it quite airy. Not a groundbreaking violet scent, but a very nice one. Especially if you are seeking a simple violet.

goes on bitter, sharp and herbal and green in top but still powdery then dries down to powder and sweetness; not the best violet frag I have but pleasant and pretty if you want a soft out-of-shower or morning fresh feel

Quite frankly I'm floored. As a human being with a pair of functioning nostrils, one who smells violet blooms every spring: I think this smells like violets... If they were crushed to a pulp and left in a jar to ferment. This violet has powdery, sweet touches, but it's moreso oily, watery, with deep, herbal greens... a deep, sour fruitiness, similar to the hiss of black currant. It has a strangely bitter, dusty, medicinal progression, but it's not anything like incense, patchouli, licorice... Closer to a cough drop. It mellows with time, but never smiles. Quite an anachronism. Outremer Violette evokes old world imagery, it's a transportative profile. I envision it as a turn-of-the-century apothecary scent for dour matrons. My brain conjures Lady Tremaine, although the time period is a bit off. A potent and long lasting oil. I find it impressive from a composition standpoint, and the price:value is fantastic. Although admittedly too clinical and embittered for my taste. As far as old fashioned violet perfumes go, I suppose I'm more of a Kenzo Flower person.

I was hoping for Chowards Violet candies, but this is a powder bomb with very little sweetness and actually very little of what I recognize as violet. Soapy, powdery, old fashioned. If you want to feel like a proper lady from a bygone era, pick this up. But personally, I'll pass. It is quite strong and lasted several hours. As I do with all failed blind buys, I'll tuck this away for a few months a revisit in a different season and edit my review if my opinion changes.

Like... not love. Outremer is not easy to find or well known in the US. They don't seem to have a presence online either. I only found this searching for perfumes with notes of violet here on fragrantica. I ordered mine from smallflower's website. I've seen some of the Outremer scents on Anthropologie's site but they don't have this one. I was/still am in the market for a candied violet perfume. I sampled Annick Goutal's La Violette and though it fit the bill, was too expensive and weak in longevity and sillage. I thought Outremer's Violette might be a good dupe. Sadly, I don't get sweet notes from this at all. I compared it to some of the other violet perfumes I have on hand, and it's definitely more on the realistic side. If you're looking for an affordable non-sweet violet soliflore, this is it. I'm using this one for spritzing before bed. It's a linear, simple fragrance that may also layer well with others. I'm thinking of layering some of Demeter's sweet scents to try for a more candied scent. I haven't attempted it yet- if it works out I'll update the review with the combo in case anyone else is looking for an inexpensive candied violet.

This is a sweet and pretty violet fragrance. Pure violets. They smell realistic at first like actually inhaling the scent from violet flowers but they are very sweetened up by chemical perfumery. However it is not a powdery or cloying kind of perfume. It's sweet and lovely but it's subtle. It is more of an evening fragrance to me because it smells like night time violets. There is also something just a little bit woodsy in it. Purple is my favorite color so whenever I wear something violet colored I put this on because it's really just a simple inoffensive violet scent. This is the kind of scent that has no progression of top middle or base notes so all you get is the same sweet violet. For more depth or complexity layer this with other scents. I layer it with Ysatis Iris but it usually eats through this one. This matches up with any perfume that has purple flowers of iris violets or heliotrope. Very nice scent.

Tried the EDT but purchased the smaller, more concentrated extrait, this is the violet I was looking for. It's cool, sweet, and mouthwatering. It reminds me of Lush Daddy-O purple shampoo, which is much heavier of a scent, but this is the perfect Choward's violet, so fresh and nearly edible. Violet is paired so often with iris in perfumery, and while I can appreciate iris for its powdery lipstick scent, it doesn't really mesh with my skin. Glad for this single-note affordable find.

Violets are so hard to do, I’ve tried like 20 violet perfumes: not going to get better than Insolence. Violet perfection. Powdery sugary violets-mallow. Pure Parma candied violets-Sweet Parma Violets. Raw earthy violets that take you on a journey and non linear The Virgin Violet. Molinard Violet is super duper earthy and raw. I’m selling that one.