It’s been such a long time since I managed to write anything here. This autumn has been a very long one, but now it’s over. And I’m all a-ready for new greats and glories 
These days, it seem to be getting more and more common that I wake up and violently crave a certain scent. I simply MUST wear it, otherwise I’ll be very grouchy for the rest of the day. I had this recently with ”Voile de Violette” by Sonoma Scent Studio. I’d tried it once before, dismissed it as too similar as a certain type of violet/liquorice candy. Then I forgot all about it until suddenly, one morning – waking up, harboring an epic need for violets that only Voile de Violette would satisfy.
So, what does it smell like? It starts out earthy and almost sour. Imagine watching a nature documentary, the camera is zooming in on a small patch of dark soil. Suddenly a small leaf bursts through, tiny flecks of soil clinging to it, it pokes it’s way up in the air. Then there is the stalk, pushing it’s way upwards, towards the light. Then, there are more leaves, and more stalks, a big mass of them, oozing their way upwards, gushing forward in a manner that is more reminiscent of a hoard of zombies, crawling out of the ground, than the average shy violets.
And that’s just the start, Voile de Violette has more to offer. After an hour or so, most of the initial damp sourness has faded. At this point, what it makes me think about are the white-clad church ladies featured in the intro of True Blood(1). They sing hymns, pray, get baptized and have massive, religiously induced, fits on the church floor. ”Church ladies” might sound a bit drab, but I don’t think they are. They have this stern and matronly air, looking all clean and proper, but just watch the amount of passion present during their interactions with the Lord! I quite envy them having found a socially acceptable channel for ”letting it all out” as they seem to be doing. VdV is similar to them as it does seem covered in a coat of soap, but inside the soap there is the biggest and most passionate violet soliflore I’ve ever encountered (2). There are also jam-like undertones, home cooked jam made from a mixed forest fruit. And I do get a tiny hint of something salty, which somehow brings the whole composition to life and adds intrigue. I suppose it is rather warm in the South.
Violets come with certain assumptions, they are supposed to be shy, dainty and ladylike. Violet perfumes are sometimes powdery or lipsticky, sometimes smell like frail, sugary candy. All this, in addition to having tried VdV, makes me wanna say, ”No honey, whatever anyone makes you believe, there is no amount of makeup that will make up for you not having a personality, and candy doesn’t work either. Just be yourself, do whatever it is that makes YOU happy, and you’re gonna kick ass”
Disclaimers:
1) I hardly ever go to church and I don’t know anything about real life ”church ladies” and what perfume associations they might bring. When I talk about what they might smell like, it’s all just figments of my imagination. As is most of the content in this blog.
2) Not that I would technically know. I’ve unfortunately never smelled an ”viola odorata”, but VdV is a perfect match for my idea of a violet soliflore - violet that’s such a violetty violet it should be placed right next to that painting of Kevin Bacon, made out of bacon.
Fragrance Notes: violet, iris, hint of rose, cedar, vetiver, violet leaf, tonka bean, hay, myrrh.
Image: Icelandic violets, My own
My already great day just got better; so very glad to see you back and in top form, Sigrun. I loved this review, and the larger thoughts that go beyond what you think of the perfume. The way you view the church ladies is similar to how I view them. As someone who also doesn’t go to church, and who often bristles at anything overtly religious (or maybe I should say, evangelically religious), still I think, Who am I to write off someone else’s deeply felt beliefs and experience? And a socially acceptable outlet to convey one’s passion … yeah, that is enviable.
Of course, your analogy also made perfect sense in context with the perfume. I’ll dig out my sample and see if I smell the soap that this violet soliflore is encased in, per your wonderful description.
Thank you Suzanne, and I always love receiving your comments! When I sat down to do this review I realized I’d nearly forgotten how fun it is writing about perfume. It was great to get in touch with that again, and I think there will be several more reviews coming up soon
Do you, by any chance, also have a sample of SSS Wood Violet? When trying it alongside VdV the soapiness of the latter becomes very evident. It somehow lifts and clears the hole composition, very interesting
No, don’t have SSS Wood Violet, just the VdV, which I’ll be giving a test drive sometime this weekend.
It’s good to see you here.
For me both SSS’s violets – Voile de Violette and Wood Violet – are spring scents. That combination of flowers and earth I associate with spring. You’ve described it very precise.
Thanks Undina! It’s interesting how we think of different scents as different seasons. For me, violets don’t have a seasonal association, maybe that’s because I more associate that particular scent to violet flavored candy than the actual flowers
Not all violets associate with spring for me, just those two perfumes – because of that earth note. Though I do have some flowers that are definitely spring – mimosa, lilac, linden blossom.
I agree it is nice to see you back! (As you can see, my reading schedule has been erratic too.) I am fascinated that you are waking up with a craving for certain perfumes. For me lately it has been a tough decision to pick something. I think I have decision-fatigue from everything that demands attention at this time of year.
Yes, it’s quite surprising, I haven’t had it before like this. I can relate to the perfume fatigue as well, there have been days where I’ve just skipped wearing perfume at all because choosing seemed too much of a task. I suppose, confusion sometimes leads to an enlightened awakening, I’m not sure that’s my case, but at least it’s cool that this mental process around perfumery seems to be moving
I think your description of the church lady scents is pretty much on point. Good post.
Thank you