Mainstream Monday: Sniffing a Popular Perfume
I had a feeling that Tom Ford Violet Blonde would be a difficult one for me. I really like the “regular” (non-Private Blend) Tom Fords but I never like any of them at first. With each one, I had an expectation. And my expectation ruins the perfumes for me. My expectation with “Violent Blonde” (difficult not to read it as such) was that it would be this va-va-voom violet. Well…
Violet Blonde opens as a marshy, spicy iris-violet. There are some aldehydes but not enough in my opinion. I want more! I also get a very dry pink pepper and pencil shavings. And then I get this fruity, indolic borderline tropical jasmine. The fragrance does have a cool, greenness to it but it seems to be warmed up by an orris powderiness and suede; it pulls in both directions of cool and warm. And the heart is a powdery jasmine with Habanita-ish vetiver. The dry-down is sweet on me with vanilla, benzoin and musk. And it’s powdery. Like all of the Tom Ford “regulars”, this one has a ton of notes and so much is going on. This is a style that you dig or you don’t, but you can’t deny that it is “Tom Ford”.
On me, I’m getting Jasmine Blonde. This isn’t a bad thing. I’m still trying to drop my violet expectations so I can like this fragrance. I do appreciate it because it’s a “perfume-perfume”. This means that it wants you to know it’s a perfume. It’s not ocean. It’s not a cup of tea. It’s perfume and proud of it.
Notes listed include violet leaf, Italian mandarin, pink pepper, Tuscan iris absolute, Tuscan orris butter, Sambac jasmine, sampaquita, musk, suede, cedar, vetiver and benzoin. Launch date 2011.
Give Violet Blonde a try if you like powdery florals or jasmime. Or if you like Ormonde Jayne Orris Noir, Ormonde Jayne Woman, Givenchy Dahlia Noir EDP, Oscar de la Renta Esprit d’Oscar and/or Juliet Has a Gun Citizen Queen. Violet Blonde is marketed as a feminine but I have a hunch that it could smell really great on masculine types. So, if you’re a masculine type that has worn it, please share your experience with it.
Projection and longevity are above average.
Violet Blonde comes in 2 sizes with prices ranging from $110-$155 at Sephora and Harrods (UK). AND you can sometimes find it at discounters like Lily Direct andFragrancenet.
Victoria’s Final EauPINION – Should be called Jasmine Blonde – a jasmine heavy, powdery amber perfume. It’s good for a mainstream offering and honestly, I prefer it over the much more expensive Private Blend, Jasmine Rouge.
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Fragrantica – member reviews
Violet isn’t one of those notes for which I have any expectations at all since I don’t know how actual violets smell. So I liked Violet Blonde just for what it was – a perfume. I’m not sure I’ll ever need more than my decant and a couple of samples I scored but I enjoy wearing it from time to time and it’s one of the most complimented perfumes on me.
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As a perfume, it’s great 🙂 And technically I do get violet, just more jasmine.
I haven’t decided on this one. It’s like Black Orchid. I like both of these and when I’m in the mood for them, they’re perfect. But, if I’m not in the mood for them, I get tired of them very quickly.
A little goes a long way. Your samples will last.
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