Violetta di Parma was said to have been created by the monks at the Monastery of the Annunciata for Marie Louise, the second wife of Napoleon Bonaparte. In 1870, Lodovico Borsari obtained the formula and launched his own perfume line with the fragrance.
Violetta di Parma is a simple fragrance, only lightly sweet, with green notes and a hint of earthiness. It is not a startlingly beautiful perfume, nor would I go so far as to call it interesting. The first time I tried it, I thought it was nice but perhaps no big deal, and it was only later, after trying a myriad of other violet fragrances, that I decided it was perfection, largely because of what it is not: it is not powdery, or dark & musty, or candy-sweet.
It an Eau de Parfum, and has minimal sillage but good lasting power. It layers nicely with other simple scents. I think I have already mentioned that it works well with Comme des Garçons Calamus, and it is also very nice with Diptyque Tam Dao.
Borsari also makes a violet-based mixed floral, Bouquette di Violette, with rose, lily of the valley, iris, and hyacinth. I have not tried that one, but please comment if you have.
For buying information, see the listing for Borsari under Perfume Houses. You can also sometimes find bargain prices at ebay, and occasionally at TJ Maxx, which is where I found mine. Borsari also sells collections of miniatures, and these are worth looking for as the larger sets include fragrances which are difficult to find elsewhere, such Corteccia di Pino (a lovely pine scent) and Acqua Classica (a fresh citrus with oakmoss).
Right now my yard is FULL of black violets…only problem: one must get on hands and knees to smell them — so tiny! Since you like fresh green violet scents, have you ever tried Geo F Trumper's Ajaccio Violets? I wore it in Morocco five years ago and used the entire bottle as I went thru the country. It was refreshing to wear on hot days and I got non-stop compliments from tourists and natives alike. The smell of the cologne is of dewy violets and spring grass…with a far-away tinge of vanilla bean (that is more 'bracing' than 'sweet.') It can be ordered from Trumper's London shop.
I had a huge patch of violets but the rabbits ate most of them last year, and only a few came up this spring. I used to think rabbits were cute, but now that I have a yard full of them I have become Mr. McGregor.
I did do a brief review of the Trumper on March 21. It is a lovely fragrance, darker than the Borsari and certainly more of a unisex. I should give it another try, I didn't catch vanilla at all.
R, how does this compare to l'Artisan's Verte Violette – assuming you've had the chance to sniff that? N
Hi N, The VV is drier, greener, less earthy, although the Borsari is only slightly earthy itself. I also found the VV to be very short lived, and it does have a tiny hint of powder which the Borsari does not. I liked the VV but was not captivated enough to buy it — but that was some time ago, and I should try it again, especially as it looks like it will be the only thing from that Spring trio not to be discontinued.
Ah…no rabbits here to munch on the precious violets…give your poor bunnies points for choosing such lovely scented things to eat. HA! I just read your March 21 review…and am now intrigued by the Sandalwood scent by Trumper too. I used to use their Coral Skin Food (Rosy!) post-shave and liked it. Speaking of rose…did you get the lusciouscargo email yesterday saying Rose d'homme is available? I'm almost tempted to buy it without sampling…a tragedy in the making…but still…!
I think I read somewhere that Trumper will send samples if you email them — worth a try.
And yes, the Rose d'Homme is very tempting, especially with the free shipping offer. I have contented myself with a sample order though. Of course by the time it arrives & I fall in love with it, the free shipping will probably be over.
You know, I love violets, R, but I'm not crazy about this one. I prefer Guerlain Meteorites, which has great sillage. Actually, my favorite violet of all time is Crabtree and Evelyn's violet, but they discontinued it back in the 90's. I wish they would re-issue it. It was a lovely, true violet!
R, I haven't tried Meteorites. I think I was scared away by reports of powder — is it very powdery?
No. I don't like powdery either, R, and find Meteorites to be a happy, happy fragrance!
Then I must be confusing it with something else! Another to add to the list. It never ends, does it, LOL? I can barely keep up with the darn samples I already have
Violet Lovers must also try Elizabeth W.'s violet. Not powdery or sweet, just a true, crisp, clean violet.
Me, I like powdery and candied. Love Violettta De Bosco and Molinard Violette.
I like Fresh Index Violet Moss. Very cool fresh violet.
Tara
I really liked the Elizabeth W, and in fact was going to review it tomorrow, then realized I gave my sample away to someone. Do I remember correctly that it is sweeter than the Borsari?
Violetta di Bosco is lovely but not me
T, I haven't tried that one & will have to look for it. I love anything with moss.
I just bought Yardley's April Violets. I think many of you might find it powdery–I think it's lovely and longlasting. Other opinions?
RoseWater, I never see Yardley fragrances any more, where did you buy it?
It's hard to get. I got mine at Merz Apothecary in Chicago, where I live. Their online store, http://www.smallflower.com, sells it as does the Vermont Country Store, through their catalog and online. Yardley's does use real violets.
I hadn't known the word, “silage,” which by the way has only one 'l'.
Hi Mark, The english word silage has one “l”, but see here for the french term sillage:
http://french.about.com/library/motdujour/blmdj-sillage.htm
Thanks, what a great selection they have!
I had Violetta di Parma and swapped it away. It was an amazing TJ Maxx score – $9.99 for a 1 oz bottle. I found a bit too powdery and prim for my taste.
My favorite violet to date is Attar Bazaar's. It's cool and earthy. Layers very well with other scents.
I wanted to like Fresh Violet Moss, but like all the index line, it dried down to a generic “men's cologne” scent on my skin. I love the bar soap, though.
Thanks for the comment. I don't get powder from the Borsari, but can't argue with prim.
Is the Attar Bazaar Violet soapy? I tried a few things from the line but they were all too soapy for me.
I would say it's just a little bit soapy. I like soapy in small doses, though.
Thanks! The few ABs I tried were way too soapy for me, but I'll have to look for the violet.
Anyone ever tried Penhaligons's violet? BTW, Vermont Country Store also sells the Bosari violet.
I tried the Penhaligons briefly some time ago, if I remember correctly, it is somewhere between the Borsari and the Caron Violette Preciuese: a bit dark & brooding, but not overwhelmingly so.
I almost always spray this on when I visit Saks but never loved it enough to actually purchase as the staying power is not great on me. I think I may get the Penhaligon Violetta body lotion and talcum powder for the New York summer when the heat and air gets really nasty. The packaging of Violetta line, especially the powder shaker, is the nicest in the Penhaligon's range, I think.
I do love their bottles, especially the etched Artemisia one. Will have to take another look at the Violetta. Just don't love the any of the scents enough to buy!
I have to comment because (late as I am) I was fortunate enough to stumble upon one of Borsari's little collections at T.J. Maxx.
They all sort of start out in the same way: Fresh, simple and clean. However, after a couple of minutes, each evolves into interesting little stories, all while remaining freshly intriguing. The violet is pure and soft–and not candylike, in the least. Sometimes violet can be very heady or entirely too faint; Borsari have made a delicate water that steams off the body in sweetness, as it heats up on the skin.
I was particularily impressed with one that I believe Borsari longer produces: “Notte Romana” is a gorgeous evening cologne that melts into a creamy velvet–like sucking almond italian candies in a grove in the moonlight. However, just as the tonka bean starts to enter in a mellow drag, the whole thing becomes very mischevious. For the ultimate in gorgeous balance, I mix “Notte Romana” with the more well-known “Aqua Classica Borsari Parma”. You wouldn't think that two simple splashes could marry so well, but together they are the ultimate in intoxication. It's as if time stops as Roma days and Roma nights join in an eternal circle. That may all sound very flaky and/or poetic, but the experience really is that lovely–and who would've thought it could be the product of some watery colognes? Even their tea rose is refreshingly simple but velvety. I wish you guys luck in finding one of these little treasure troves (hint: they are hidden in a box that could pass as a book) !
Oh, I love those sets! I had one at one time. Hope you got Cortecchio de Pino (sp?) — great little pine scent, and I don't think you can buy it separately. The Aqua Classica is nice too, but those are the only ones that made a lasting impression on me.
Is there such thing of violet parma essential oil? I heard Ashley Judd speaking about it on tv last spring
I am not sure — I am not an expert on such matters at all, but I thought most of the violet essential oils on the market were violet leaf, and that oil from the flower was very rare and expensive.
thanks, that is probably why ashley judd can wear it, she's got the money to buy it…
Try Yardley Violettes. It's the closest to a true violet scent I ever found. Ignore mediocre top notes, I promise it gets better.
I am also sooo late but I had to add a post too:)) I have found both sets: small and a large in my little, local perfume store. I paid a low price for them too, perhaps the sales-lady seemed like she just wanted to get rid of them. After reading an article on mimifroufrou.com about Borsari's Rosa Thea I was so tempted that I opened one of my little flacons and tried some on my wrist. Oh mi amor, how beautiful that little tea rose is! I was so impressed because I wouldn't think I'd fall in love with it so much, now I'm thinking I should've never opened it – so hard to find a large bottle of it that it breaks my heart. I am big on iris or jasmine, I am not and have never been a rose-lover, perhaps Rosa Thea is so delicate, fresh, dewy and velvety it makes my mouth water. All I could think was how deliscious and yummi it smelled and ofcourse without being gourmand:)) Anyone has a bigger bottle of it or knows where to buy please, PLEASE let me know. As for Violetta Di Parma I was also impressed but it's not something I am in love with. I can see why it might be considered one of the purest, nicest violet scents by someone, but it just simply doesn't scream my name.
I've no idea where you can find it, sorry — good luck!
Crabtree and Evelyn and yes, Yardley violets are really nice… I agree :))