Recommend me a violet leaf fragrance.

[Redneck Perfumisto]

I’m unfamiliar with the house. Reviews bring to mind Lalique’s Equus with some added pepper. Is that a fair comparison? How prominent is that neroli?

I may or may not have sniffed that Lalique, but my memory is saying that I did, and yes to the comparison. Neroli is not prominent, IMO.

 

[JBHoren]

I see peach is listed as a note. How prominent would you say it is?

Peach? It's not listed as a note (see Fragrance Notes, Molinard Violette Eau de Toilette).

(Also, fun ShaveOTD thread! I wet shave, but haven’t tried pairing my scents to that degree. I really don’t need another thing to spend money on, but that looks like fun. Appreciate the look into your routine.)

TYVM! 👏

 

[NettyYeti]

Peach? It's not listed as a note (see Fragrance Notes, Molinard Violette Eau de Toilette).

My apologies. I was looking at the 2016 eau de parfum of the same name.

 

[cheapimitation]

I tried Gucci Virgin Violet recently and found it quite nice. It is a pretty straightforward violet but I appreciated that it didn't go too powdery.

A left field choice but I always got a ton of violet in the opening of Malle's Dans Tes Bras, but you have to be OK with a load of mushroomy musks to follow.

 

[ihxb01]

Is the violet very prominent here or more in a supporting role?

For my nose, the violet leaf is a very prominent middle note in Cartier L’Envol EDP. You won’t waste your time trying it anyway. You may not like it but you almost certainly will agree that it’s unique.

 

[Foxsbiscuits]

Reviews on this one certainly are interesting! Hard to get a feel for it. Some reviews mention “booziness”, which gives me pause. What’s your experience?

So I found Aleksandr not boozy at all, you get crisp violet leather that feels cold. The official description is

On a frosty winter afternoon, a fiery gentleman finishes his toilette by dabbing on a preparation of Neroli and Violet. He draws down his cuffs, dons a heavy fur and strides out in polished leather boots. As he rides off on his sledge, the woody scent of Fir fills the air. Beyond the snow-laden trees, on a clearing bathed in amber light, his fateful duel awaits.

It's the first time I found a good match between scene and scent. You really do get all the aspects mentioned so if it intrigues I'd recommend trying it.

 

[ImaFedec]

Maison Violet have nice affordable niche fragrances. One of their release is violet centred (leaf and flower)

 

[Castingshadows]

Since no one has mentioned Sibet by Slumberhouse I’ll go ahead and say it opens with the violet leaf of my dreams. Very musky at first with goat hair and ash but pretty quickly it becomes a leathery/suede Iris scent that dries down to an incredible resinous oakmoss and amber accord. Seriously it’s the best composition Slumberhouse has ever released and no one seems to dig it with that crowd because it’s so different from the usual Slumberhouse lineup.

 

[Brian5701]

For my nose, the violet leaf is a very prominent middle note in Cartier L’Envol EDP. You won’t waste your time trying it anyway. You may not like it but you almost certainly will agree that it’s unique.

L'Envol is a challenging scent that I never really got violet leaf from. The honey is nice, but the bitter artemisia/amber base is off-putting to me. I would love a fresher flanker of it. The bottle design is gorgeous.

 

[ImaFedec]

And what about Ombre Leather parfum?

 

[Airegin]

L'Envol is a challenging scent that I never really got violet leaf from. The honey is nice, but the bitter artemisia/amber base is off-putting to me. I would love a fresher flanker of it. The bottle design is gorgeous.

There's an EDT of L'Envol. I prefer it to the original EDP. No more violet leaf though.

 

[tspencer]

Hmm,

There has to be a fragrance somewhere that uses Violet Leaf with a synthetic musk to make a fruit scent 'misty' and 'creamy'. Does such a concoction exist?

 

[Ken_Russell]

Many great recommendations, also adding Eau de Grey Flannel

 

[Castingshadows]

Hmm,

There has to be a fragrance somewhere that uses Violet Leaf with a synthetic musk to make a fruit scent 'misty' and 'creamy'. Does such a concoction exist?

Myst by Hendley does this very thing. It also has a dry woody, suede-like drydown but the opening two hours is a somewhat misty, creamy, deep violet leaf vibe that has fruity undertones.

 

[LeeroyDaBoy]

Zegna Verdigris is an interesting one.

 

[andym72]

NettyYeti, I wouldn’t recommend Eau de Cartier Concentree. Unless you like Cedar notes like pencil shavings. The Violet Leaf is still there but playing second fiddle.

 

[deltasun]

YSL Grain de Poudre. I enjoyed this quite a bit when I had a generous sample. I did eventually grow tired of it, but still worth checking out.

 

[Johnny_Ludlow]

Kiton Men vintage is what you are looking for! I assure you! I would describe it exactly as you described Brioni. And yet it probably smells very different in reality.

Incidentally these are my two absolute favourite tailors. (not great fan of their prices, though)

 

[NettyYeti]

Thanks for all the recommendations! I’m still doing my research, but here are a few quick questions/comments:

I tried Gucci Virgin Violet recently and found it quite nice. It is a pretty straightforward violet but I appreciated that it didn't go too powdery.

A left field choice but I always got a ton of violet in the opening of Malle's Dans Tes Bras, but you have to be OK with a load of mushroomy musks to follow.

Re: Virgin Violet: My change-of-heart experience with Burberry Touch has me wondering if this would be too powdery. I don’t mind a soapy iris, but if it’s too powdery I find it gets grating after a few hours. Love the smell, just tire of it easily.

Dans Tes Bras looks pretty wild! I’ve yet to try a Frédéric Malle fragrance I didn’t like. Even if the violet is fleeting, this looks like something I’d dig. 👍

Maison Violet have nice affordable niche fragrances. One of their release is violet centred (leaf and flower)

Is there one in particular you’d recommend?

Since no one has mentioned Sibet by Slumberhouse I’ll go ahead and say it opens with the violet leaf of my dreams. Very musky at first with goat hair and ash but pretty quickly it becomes a leathery/suede Iris scent that dries down to an incredible resinous oakmoss and amber accord. Seriously it’s the best composition Slumberhouse has ever released and no one seems to dig it with that crowd because it’s so different from the usual Slumberhouse lineup.

Slumberhouse’s own description of this is interesting, but not something that initially captivates me. Goats? Carrots? Huh. One review I read relates it to a badger fur shaving brush - now that’s something I’ve smelled! Does it in fact lean a bit soapy (even barber-shop-y)?

And what about Ombre Leather parfum?

Not the vibe I’m looking for here, but I love Ombré Leather. Definitely in the same realm as Fahrenheit in aesthetic, but not quite as all-purpose.

Many great recommendations, also adding Eau de Grey Flannel

Thanks, Ken! I find Grey Flannel wears great in the summer. Is the ‘Eau’ reminiscent at all of the original or does it mostly do it’s own thing? It’s cheap enough I may just grab it next time I see it at discounters.

Zegna Verdigris is an interesting one.

I have a sample from their “triple stitch” line somewhere I’ll have to dig out. I think it was the cypriol one, which I wasn’t keen on, but Verdigris looks more interesting. Does the drydown retain some of the metallic edge from the violet or is is predominantly musky?

NettyYeti, I wouldn’t recommend Eau de Cartier Concentree. Unless you like Cedar notes like pencil shavings. The Violet Leaf is still there but playing second fiddle.

Appreciate the feedback. I’d prefer supporting wood notes more subdued and smooth rather than sharp (though Vetiver I wouldn’t mind at all in a supporting role). I’ve not seen a Cartier at a fragrance counter in my neck of the woods in some time other than the Pasha line. It’s a shame; I know some are well-regarded.

YSL Grain de Poudre. I enjoyed this quite a bit when I had a generous sample. I did eventually grow tired of it, but still worth checking out.

Angela’s review on the ‘now smell this’ blog made this one sound quite attractive: “In brief, Grain de Poudre is a neutral leather that’s spicy enough to please someone looking for a ‘manly’ fragrance, but understated enough for anyone to wear without a second thought. It’s quiet enough for the office, elegant enough for the opera and easy enough for jeans.” This is exactly the aesthetic I’m looking for and I never would have stumbled on this without your suggestion. Violet or no, it’s on my radar. Thanks!

Kiton Men vintage is what you are looking for! I assure you! I would describe it exactly as you described Brioni. And yet it probably smells very different in reality.

Incidentally these are my two absolute favourite tailors. (not great fan of their prices, though)

Just a cursory look at prices and reviews online has me thinking I’ve missed the boat on this one as well. Rather than rush to find a bottle, I think I’ll wait and see what, if anything, becomes of this under Lauder. If I miss out, c’est la vie. This does, however, look right in line with what I’m after. Does it have any dihydromyrcenol?

 

[barcode8]

Da bomb…