Violetta

I am not sure why I want to smell like a sweetie from my childhood (the German version of parma violets = Veilchenpastillen, which have a hard liquorice centre), but apparently I do. I had no idea what it smelled like but had wanted to smell Bois de violets by Serge Lutens, which wasn't available and didn't get as good write-ups as this one on here - so I traveled into town to the nearest Penhaligons (there are six in London). They sent me to the next one. They sent me to the third one: because of its unpopularity, Penhaligon have discontinued it. Curse all those silly people who think this old-fashioned! It isn't! It is FAR more dark and delicious (though also powdery) than those best-sellers bluebell, lily of the valley and other such nonsense. You can't argue over taste of course, but in this case, lack of popularity means that those of us who really like it will have to do without it very soon. They had 4 left in the Burlington Arcade branch in London. I bought one. So that's three left - if you love this stuff, get it now!

Violetta is a smoky and haunting violet. It's devoid of the innocence often associated with violet fragrances, and instead it's deep, musky, and a little bit sensuous. It's slightly sweet,and slightly green,but there's a dark accord in the mixture, that makes it a worthy choice for the mother-murderer-artist character in Janet Fitch's novel White Oleander. Olfactory memories are used so powerfully in this novel that Violetta gives me that chill I'd get if I'd ever known a real, live Ingrid Magnussen. (Also, I'll never smell l'Air du temps, Ma Griffe, or Love Potion No. 9 in the same way after reading this novel!)

One of my favourite fragrances ever. Gorgeous, gorgeous violet scent. This is a very green violet - no sweetness whatsoever. I quite like sugary sweet violet scents, but this one is a pure violet. And very sophisticated for a floral. Very surprisingly I cannot detect the iris (I hate iris). Nor do I get any musk (and I adore musk). I just get crisp greenness with pure violet, almost like a violet-filled forest after the rain. Expensive, but well worth it in my opinion. I tend to use a light hand with fragrance so I rarely get comments on my perfume, but this one has received compliments.

I'm in love. Violetta is the platonic violet soliflore fragance, clean, flowery, not too sweet, not too powdery, not too green, just perfect. It's a victorian perfume with a modern edge, it has an airy quality that I enjoy a lot, I love powdery perfumes but I was looking for a fresher violet, well, I don't have to look further, I would've wanted to find a cheaper one, but you have to take advantage of the opportunities life presents you, and this is the VIOLET opportunity with capital letters. It has medium sillage but it's very longlasting on my skin. Beautiful, and oh that bottle.

This is a peppery little number! I like this take on violets. It is an old-fashioned, very powdery swansdown puff type of violet. It does resemble April Violet's somewhat, although AP has a bit more violet in it. Like I said, I also get some pepperiness to this, too which makes it lovely. I am really enjoying my sample in the evenings, it's a really relaxing perfume. If you don't like old fashioned type of violet scents, you probably won't like this. With the sweet little bottle with the purple bow, I think it's fit for a queen! Lovely:)

I got this in a Penhaligon's sampler. This is quite a lovely fresh floral combination with violets being center-stage. Perhaps some of the clean feel is due to the lemon opening. Also, the drydown is a very light musk. I could discern the iris as well, but I'm not sure about the geranium. The fragrance lasted a couple hours on me - better than Borsari Violetta di Parma. I may want to purchase a whole bottle of this one. I tend to like Penhaligon's perfumes.

Violets, violets, violets! I am a February-born girl, and the violet is my birth flower. Violetta is the perfume that most strongly says (or, rather, shouts) "violets!" to me. It's a green, woody violet, and not much else. As literal as those violet mints you can still find on the checkout counter at some grocery stores. Violetta is pretty much that candy in perfume form: A pure shot of the little purple flower.

Violets are one of my favorite flowers and Violetta is one of my favorite violet frags. I like the big opening of violet. It quickly calms down and becomes a light almost soapy powdery frag. I sometimes get the make-up smell too. I wish the top and middle notes lasted a little longer however on my clothes that violet opening does last so instead of smelling my arm I just sniff my shirt, in private of course.

I am very selective person. And this is the best violet perfume you can get and last long time. Nothing you can possibly hate if you do like violets. One man stopped me, and he ask me what it is, that he smells a bonbon, he asked me for the name so he can buy it to his girlfriend. Definitely worth every penny. :) Will look for more at Penhaligon house. Smell 9 Longevity 8 Unique: 8 Price x quality: yes!

I got a chance to sniff this side by side with Serge Lutens Bois de Violette. I liked Penhalligon Violetta better. It is heady violet minus the medicinal and spice that BdV carries. With a touch of honey and herb but it still let the violet shines, Violetta is well-blend indeed ! As far as longevity goes, Violetta only lasted 3-4 hours and doesn't project as much as BdV.

I did not decide yet whether I like it or not. It's too intense and too heady for me. I prefer lighter, greener, and fresher scents. It's definitely not your every day fragrance. No doubt it's a classy, elegant perfume. It's just not exactly my type: too powdery for me.

Do you remember the children's bubble bath called Mr. Bubble? It comes in a pink plastic bottle. This smells exactly like Mr. Bubble bubble bath.

I love violet perfumes almost as much as rose . This is light and summery . It is not as dark and woody as the violets I pick from my garden .

It's a pretty good combination of flowers with sandal and musk. Everything is in it's place, nothing excess. I love Penhaligon's perfumes.

Very strong and clean scent of violets. I absolutely love this perfume, but realize that it wise only to use it at special occasions.

I have the vintage in the stoppered bottle: sharp green violet with maybe a hint of oakmoss and some woods

This to me is same as Penhaligon’s The favourite. Love both of them, very powdery elegant floral

Beautiful seductive Violets.It's more leaves than flowers.If you like Violet it's a must buy.

This is such a darling, romantic violet. Very pretty. To my nose it is clear, sheer and uncomplicated--great for hot days. The basenotes are almost undetectable to my nose, but that might be because the scent has all but disappeared by the time it would have dried down. The violet note in Violetta is is one of my favorites, and there is a point at which the violet and geranium blend in a way that is greater than the sum of its parts. I just wish it lasted longer. Even applying it to clothes doesn't extend its life much. Nonetheless, I am very sorry to learn that Violetta has been discontinued! Edit: I realized that at the point at which the rose and geranium accord emerges, it smells candied and cosmetic-y, and very much like an accord in Malle's Lipstick Rose. Different supporting notes of course, but yum!

I have been mildly troubled (il ne faut pas trop exagerer...) by the relatively recent preponderance of plastic and candied violet notes in perfumes that I might have appreciated, if only the violets had been neither plastic nor candied! No such problem with Penhaligon VIOLETTA: this is a splendid rendition of non-plastic, uncandied violets. Hurrah! I really love violets, so I welcome the new experience of well-made violet perfumes, even if they are nearly as simple as a small bunch of the flowers. VIOLETTA has a bit more going on, but all other notes present serve only to embellish the focus: violet in all of its magnificent glory. Highly recommended for those drawn naturally to natural-smelling violet.