Violet leaf

The violet is a perennial flower of the Violaceae family. The sweet violet grows naturally throughout France. It particularly favors cool woods and hedgerows where it forms lovely colonies. The violet flower is recognized by its color but above all because it releases a sweet, penetrating scent.

Violets closely resemble pansies but are distinguished by the number of petals. In perfumery, in order to recreate the fragrance of violet, a composition of synthetic molecules is used, chiefly the molecule ionone. Perfumers also use violet absolute, obtained from the distillation of the leaves using volatile solvents.

The violet flower, a very herbaceous fragrance

Violet releases a green grassy scent, paired with an earthy base that evokes the moss of damp undergrowth. In this respect, the violet flower is very different from other flowers. The violet flower has another advantage, as it also acts as a modifier. This means it supports and rounds out a perfume's main notes. Violet is therefore mostly found as a heart note. Violet entered perfume legend in the 1980s, thanks to Christian Dior and its perfume Fahrenheit. Full of contradictions, this perfume is built on a modern woody note and a floral accord infused with violet flower. Fahrenheit ranks among the 10 best-selling perfumes in the world, and its fragrance has never been matched.

The pairing of violet flower with olfactory families

Violet flower is present in many floral perfumes. A small touch of violet in a floral perfume makes it more elegant. Violet and rose meet in a great many perfumes. This wonderful duo was inaugurated by Yves-Saint-Laurent with its perfume Paris. Here, these two magical flowers sit as heart notes, accompanied by lily of the valley and mimosa. Incomparable elegance for an unforgettable perfume name. Violet flower is also found in woody perfumes, often masculine ones. There, violet flower releases its freshness and brings a positive energy to a masculine composition. This is the case with Décibel by Azzaro, where violet, again as a heart note, is paired with olibanum and licorice. A rock-inspired composition offering an overdose of explosive notes.

A lovely fragrant flower, violet can be mistaken for the pansy. Used in confectionery and pastry-making, violet also holds its own letters of nobility in perfumery. With its very herbaceous fragrance, violet flower pairs wonderfully well with other flowers, notably rose. It can nonetheless also be found in woody or oriental perfumes. Violet flower is today an indispensable element of both masculine and feminine perfumery.