La Violette
Goutal (2001)

Turin gets it right with his four stars and "fresh violet" sum up.

It may be that the other reviewers here are approaching an original and a reformulation, since their impressions vary. I am sampling the original and there is no sweetness or candiness at all. It is pure and simple violet, lovingly mingled with a strong iris. The dry down is balanced with a very light rose.

It couldn't be simpler, nor nicer. My favorite violet for years was the Trumper Ajaccio Violets, until they changed the formula and began using a chemical substitute for the real thing. Still the best violet ever remains the Balenciaga Le Dix from 1947. Since that is hard to come by, even via Ebay, Goutal's La Violette is a good choice for violet lovers, who want a simple, unadorned reproduction of this exquisite flower.

This is a floral opening, mainly violet, on a herbal-green background; I get some basil and clove impressions mixed in. The drydown has a darker rose not to in it. An intruguing combination. On my skin there is no real development into a base note evident.

This is well done, simple with a touch of originality. Sillage is moderate, projection good, and the longevity stands at six hours. This is spring material. 3.25/5

I am a self confessed, out and out, violet lover and I do not like this scent! Too sweet and smells of cheap aldehydes. Oh, what went wrong?

Too much sugar in this for me. I would classify it as a fruity floral, but unlike other fruity florals, the violet adds a certain shyness or innocence. Reminds me of a little girl with a sugared lollipop.

What a strange drydown La Violette creates. The true violet blossom scent explodes upon application, only to nearly disappear within 15 minutes. At that point come olfactory mayhem, pitting odd greens, possibly vetiver, and clove with children's cough syrup. Once this settles, all that remains is piercing, penetrating fresh raspberry which continues for hours.

I was so excited when I received my newly reissued bottle of Violette in the mail, I have very fond memories of violets from childhood...unfortunately, the perfume evoked the wrong kind of childhood smell- that of a sticky, way too sweet, sugar-coated purple lolipop. What a disappointment...