Annick Goutal La Violette is a violet soliflore. It’s feminine, floral, and sweet. It reminds me of so many things that make me happy: Choward’s Violet Mints, mild weather, and fancy French cosmetics. This is my favorite violet soliflore ever.
There isn’t much to La Violette. If you are familiar with Choward’s Violet Mints then you have an idea of what this fragrance is like. At first it is very violet. It has that violet food flavoring aroma mixed with greenness. It is so sweet, playful, and innocent…like candy but with enough greenness to keep it fresh. It has a juicy, tangy raspberry lollipop accord to play of the candiness of the scent. The tad bit of greenness quickly fades or at least I notice more of the florals. It sniffs a bit more “robust” than just violets and I do pick up a rose. But, it smells more of a rosy violet with a hint of spice. Almost like some type of medicinal syrup but that’s why I like it. And then it gets more like the Choward’s Violet powder that gets all over the bottom of purse. It reminds me more of powdered candied violets. It then gets a spiciness, a very mild floral spice that is clove-like, almost powdery. This reminds me of violet scented makeup by Guerlain and other high-end lipsticks with floral rose fragrances such as Lancôme. I love this dry-down because it reminds me of high-end French makeup. This fragrance is such a feminine violet. It’s candies and cosmetics. Love it!
La Violette is a “fun” comforting fragrance for me. It’s a fragrance that if someone smelled on someone else, they would think of me. Or so I like to pretend. I have like 15 million packages of Choward’s Violet Candies hidden all over the place from home to purse to car to desk. Everywhere. Since I am in love with perfume, I don’t have a signature. This is the closest thing to my signature because I’m always accidentally emitting the aroma of candied violets. This all being said, I like this simple fragrance and that’s why I have a bottle. I’m old school and I spritz it on letters, wrapping paper, etc.
The lasting powder is an EDT. It lasts about 3 hours on me on mild weather days, less on 75° plus days. My violet fragrance experience is limited, more towards foods, but this is my favorite violet soliflore so far. Borsari Violetta di Parma EDP is OK. If you’ve read my review of that one, then you know that I like it. But, that was before I wore Annick Goutal La Violette. Now Borsari smells rubbery and more masculine. I still like it but I needed a sweet violet in my collection too. All the other high-end violets smell very green and more masculine. Annick Goutal La Violette is much more fun!
Notes listed include violet stems, violet leaves, and Turkish rose. PERFUMER – Camille Goutal/Isabelle Doyen
Give La Violette a try if you are looking for a violet soliflore, especially a fun violet soliflore that isn’t too powdery or like plastic.
The 1.7 oz. retails for $80 and is available at Lucky Scent.
Victoria’s Final EauPINION – I know that I have said a million times that I have no interest in soliflores. Well, maybe I lie. Or at least I forget. I LOVE AG La Violette, hands down the best violet soliflore on the market. If you want a playful violet that plays up the natural fruitiness, greenness, and powderiness of a violet flower and stems, then look no further. La Violette is it!
Want more reviews? Try…
Basenotes (member reviews)
Muse in Wooden Shoes (great review)
I’m curious about Annick Goutal’s soliflores but with my hit/miss ratio with this line I’m not ready to pay for samples. But I will try them, this one included, if I ever see them in a store.
I understand. Many are hit or miss. Or you’re that “Annick Goutal” person, which apparently I am.
It’s worth a sniff if you ever see it. I also like Caron Violette.
I’m ashamed to admit but I haven’t smelled a single Caron’s perfume. But I’ll remember the name for future.
Caron is “new” to me too. I’ve only started trying them about 1.5 years ago. Now I’m hooked.
I’m laughing! 1.5 years ago I didn’t fully realize there was life beyond department stores’ perfume counters and online discounters (and a couple of “niche” perfumes in my collection got there without my understanding of what they were). I hope I’m on the right course now.
How quickly you’ll go down the rabbit hole!
Love love love AG La Violette. Its been getting a lot of wear this steamy hot summer. Perfect! I put it on this morning & thought exactly “I love this violet scent because it the candy-ist violet”. Pretty!
This scent makes me happy. I feel “pretty” and it lifts my mood. Everyone needs one like that in their collection.
This is my favorite violet fragrance too. It’s light and pretty. I like it that it is sweet.
It is very pretty 🙂
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