April Violets

Yardley perfumes have always been part of my life as my mam and Grandma used Yardley. Even my husband in the 1990's used the English Blazer line. I've always loved everything violet scented. When on a family holiday in Devon, my family would always bring back a small bottle of Devon Violets, the green liquid in a clear bottle with a little purple bow on it. When I inherited my aunts perfume collection a few years ago, in the collection was a little bottle of DV. I was amazed as it still smelt the same. I discovered April Violets by Yardley when I was quite young. I used to fill the family home with its fragrance. My dad had allergic rhinitis, and the heavy aroma of Violets played havoc with him. Yet he still bought me bottles.I always got a bottle of AV or the older version of English Lavender for birthdays or Christmas. Over the years I've had so many Yardley perfumes, but I always come back to AV. Today my husband ordered me the full range of the "new" Yardley fragrances as I'm in love with the Cherry Blossom and Peach. They cost £9.99 for 125ml bottles! I was initially looking for Peony, but that's sadly been discontinued. AV is a heady fragrance but once it settles its cosy and comforting. I have Meteorites perfume and it DOES smell like the older versions of AV, just more refined.

I was looking for a violet fragrance which reminded me of Swizzels Parma Violets sweeties, which we used to eat as breath fresheners as children. I lived not far from where they are made. I found it with Yardley, although I don't detect any hint of vanilla at all and find it fresh and almost green. I bought it in April and am still spraying liberally in July. I use it on my hair and nape of neck and find a delicate aroma meets me on my pillow. I find it's lasting enough but not at all sickly or over powering, so perfect for warm summer days. What began as a trip down Memory Lane, has turned into a firm favourite and it's so affordable, I think I'll allow it to take the place of Paris which is infinitely more expensive and only takes me as far back as the 80's. So if you're looking for violets, I recommend this as an inexpensive experiment :-)

When I was in 5th or 6th grade, my grandmother gave me an April Violets set with a bottle of cologne and a bar of soap. I loved it, and I remember how grown up I felt when I put it on before going to school! This was in the early 70s, and the box was a pretty purple and green swirly pseudo psychodelic design, and I still have the box. I used up the cologne and soap long ago, and I threw away the bottle, unfortunately. It would be so cool if I still had the bottle and could open it up and smell it. Will I try the latest version? I don't think so. I'd like to get a violet fragrance, but I need something stronger than this for my dry, perfume eating skin. I'd call this a safe office fragrance, and also a good gift for a tween who likes fragrances with a vintage, old fashioned vibe.

I love AVs I wear it to bed everynight and I fell so clean and feminine it is sweet and powdery but refined too a true violet and one of the only ones I would think I can smell nothing but violet no other notes. I get so sick of rose this is a bit different it takes me back to 1900 an era I would have liked to live in, they used violets in perfume a lot then, sometimes I layer this with a franapanni perfume I have for fresh daytime summer use. AP is hard to get now and I found a big bottle in a small country town I was so pleased love it a true classic Grandma or not who cares.

There was one day, last summer, that I couldn't believe how beautifully my cardigan smelled. I couldn't tell what it was. It kept coming to me, again and again, and, then I said, wait, you know this smell.. It is the white powdery Yardley soap bar, you once thought was too heavy to use. Well for some reason, it spent some time in my suitcase and then ... just beauty on my clothes. I have never had the chance to try the actual perfume but the soap is quite possibly one of the best products out there to refine and give a bit of character on your clothes. Exquisite. Beautiful.