Lance Carson
Violet perfumes have been popular since the 19th century, when the flower became a symbol of modesty and discreet love. The process of distilling violets for perfume is complex and delicate, as the flower does not contain enough essential oil to be extracted by steam distillation. Instead, it is the violet leaves that are distilled, blended with other notes to create a unique fragrance. While it is difficult to recreate the true scent of a violet, the flower's essence can be captured and combined with other notes to create a fresh perfume.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Flowers used | Highly fragrant flowers such as rose, honeysuckle, and lavender. Violet flowers are also used, which are typically harvested in spring when they are in full bloom. |
| Ingredients | Essential oils, jojoba, vitamin E, beeswax, and fragrant flowers. |
| Scent | Fresh, floral, fruity, musky, and woodsy. |
| Complexity | Fine perfumes can have up to 100 ingredients, but a simple perfume made with flowers and water can also be effective. |
| Notes | Top, middle, and base notes can be combined to create a complex perfume. |
| Storage | Store in a cool, dark place. |
| Yield | 2 fl. oz. |
| Packaging | Glass or tin bottles. |
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$8.99
What You'll Learn
Violet flowers: history and cultivation
Violet flowers have a rich history and have been cultivated for centuries. The term "viola" is typically used for small-flowered annuals or perennials, including wild species. Violets are known for their heart-shaped leaves and asymmetrical flowers with five petals, often in shades of blue, yellow, cream, white, or purple. They are perennial plants, but there are also annuals and small shrubs within the species.
The cultivation of English violets was introduced to the Northeastern United States in 1882 by William Saltford, the head gardener at several estates in England. The Hudson Valley in upstate New York became known as the "Violet Capital of the World" for nearly a century, from the 1880s to the 1960s. The flowers were widely popular, with violet corsages considered essential for Valentine's Day and bridal bouquets. They were also a fixture at Yale football games and Easter parades. The industry employed a significant portion of the surrounding population, with flowers grown in glass greenhouses heated by coal.
Violets have been used in various ways throughout history. They were once used medicinally to treat congestion, sore throats, and stomach cramps. The water from boiled roots was believed to help remove excess water from the body. Additionally, violet flowers are edible and have been used in recipes and savoury dishes since ancient times. They contain vitamin C, antioxidants, and other nutrients beneficial for the immune system.
The elusive scent of violet flowers has been described as different from other floral fragrances. One sniff is said to be enough to desensitize the nose due to the presence of the chemical ionone. This unique scent has been captured in perfumes, oils, and lotions, with perfumers creating abstract interpretations of the natural flower.
Today, violets continue to be cultivated and hybridized, offering a wide range of varieties for gardens and floral arrangements. They remain a popular choice for their delicate beauty and distinctive fragrance, leaving a lasting impression in the world of horticulture and perfumery.
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Creating a natural violet fragrance
Choosing Violets
Violets are delicate flowers native to Europe and Asia, prized for their beauty and enchanting fragrance. When selecting violets, opt for those grown in well-drained soil rich in organic matter, with moderate sun exposure and constant humidity. Harvest violets when they are in full bloom, usually in spring, and pick them by hand with care to avoid damaging the plants.
Distillation
The process of distilling violets for perfumery is complex. Unlike other flowers, violets do not contain enough essential oil to be extracted through steam distillation. Instead, the fragrant essence is derived from distilling violet leaves. This step involves specialized techniques to capture the delicate fragrance of the flower.
Fragrance Accords
Violet fragrances offer a range of creative possibilities. They blend well with floral accords such as rose, jasmine, lily of the valley, or iris, adding a floral and powdery sweetness. Violet scents are also commonly used in powdery accords, paired with notes of talc, iris, or musk, resulting in soft and elegant fragrances. Play around with different combinations to create unique and enchanting compositions.
Additional Ingredients
To enhance your natural violet fragrance, consider incorporating complementary ingredients such as cedar, vetiver, violet leaf, myrrh, or tonka bean. These additions can provide a fresh, green, or woody aspect to your perfume, creating a well-rounded and captivating scent.
Experimentation
Storage and Packaging
Once you've created your natural violet fragrance, store it in a cool, dark place, preferably in a beautifully decorated bottle. Your perfume will last for up to a month if stored properly. Consider adding a label to your bottle, or leave it as is, embracing the simplicity of your handcrafted fragrance.
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Combining with other scents
Violet is a versatile fragrance that can be combined with a variety of scents to create unique and enchanting perfumes. Here are some ideas for combining violet with other scents to create a fresh perfume:
Floral Accords: Violet blends beautifully with other floral notes to create a delicate and sweet fragrance. Some popular floral pairings include rose, jasmine, lily of the valley, and iris. These combinations can result in a soft and romantic scent without being overly flowery. For example, a perfume might combine violet with rose, peach, and musk for a timeless and sensual fragrance.
Woodsy Notes: Violet can be paired with woodsy notes to create a fresh and modern scent. This could include notes such as cedar, vetiver, and tonka bean. These combinations add depth and warmth to the perfume while maintaining its freshness.
Fruity Florals: Violet can be a wonderful addition to fruity floral perfumes. It can be combined with notes like bitter orange, purple freesia, and cedarwood for a bright, colorful, and elegant fragrance. Violet also pairs well with dark berries, cherry, and musk-amber, resulting in a sweet and clean-smelling perfume.
Musky Base: Violet perfumes often have a light, musky base that adds a subtle warmth and elegance to the fragrance. This can be enhanced by combining violet with other musky notes, creating a captivating and playful scent.
Green Undertones: Violet perfumes with green undertones can be very appealing. The addition of green notes from violet leaves or other green elements helps to anchor the violet and prevent it from becoming too sweet or overpowering.
These are just a few examples of how violet can be combined with other scents to create fresh and unique perfumes. The versatility of violet makes it an excellent base for a variety of fragrances, allowing perfumers to create enchanting and memorable scents.
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The role of violet leaves
Violet leaves have a unique and refreshing scent, with intensely green nuances and subtler floral notes. They offer a crisp, cucumber-like fragrance with hints of cut grass, providing a fresh and invigorating touch to perfumes. This attribute makes violet leaves a popular choice for blending with other floral, green, or aquatic notes, resulting in refreshing and lively compositions.
The use of violet leaves in perfumery is not a recent development. Violet leaves have been prized in the world of perfumery for centuries, with the flower gaining prominence in the Victorian era. The natural fragrance of violet leaves is versatile, making it suitable for both male and female fragrances. The leaves can be distilled with volatile solvents to obtain violet absolute, a colourless product that is more easily incorporated into a perfumer's palette.
The process of extracting the scent of violet leaves has evolved over time. Initially, perfumers in the Victorian era employed the enfleurage technique to capture the fresh, powdery scent of violet flowers. However, with the invention of extraction solvents, perfumers gained the ability to harness the aromatic power of violet leaves as well. This evolution in extraction methods has allowed the fragrance industry to utilise the distinctive scent of violet leaves in their creations.
The delicate fragrance of violet leaves is a beloved component in perfumes, adding a touch of freshness and a subtle nod to nature's bounty. The leaves contribute to the overall scent profile of a perfume, enhancing and rounding off the main notes. Violet leaves are particularly prominent in middle notes, where they provide a sturdy foundation for the more delicate top notes to shine.
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Presentation and preservation
When it comes to presenting your homemade violet perfume, the bottle you choose is key. You can opt for a simple, elegant look, perhaps using a washed and sterilized vanilla extract bottle or any small coloured bottle with an airtight stopper. Alternatively, you could get creative and decorate the bottle, perhaps with a hand-painted design or a label of your own design.
As for preservation, your perfume will last for up to a month if stored in a cool, dark place. To ensure your perfume stays fresh for as long as possible, it's important to use a bottle with an airtight seal.
If you're giving your perfume as a gift, consider the recipient's tastes and preferences. You could even give the perfume alongside a bouquet of flowers or present the perfume in a pretty bowl, with the flowers used to make it arranged alongside.
Making your own perfume is a great way to avoid potentially harmful chemicals found in some shop-bought fragrances. However, it's important to note that your homemade perfume will not last as long as a synthetic fragrance, and you will need to take extra care to store it correctly.
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Frequently asked questions
Making fresh violet perfume is a complex process that involves distilling violet leaves, as violet flowers do not contain enough essential oils for steam distillation. The fragrance of the flower is elusive and delicate, and its scent changes from the moment it is picked to up to ten hours later. However, you can create a simple homemade perfume using fresh flowers and water.
You'll want to use a highly fragrant flower to achieve a good scent. Rose, honeysuckle, and lavender are some great options.
Wash the flower petals with water to gently clean off any dirt or sediment. Place cheesecloth inside a bowl with the edges overlapping, then put the flowers into the bowl and pour water over them. Cover the bowl and let the flowers soak overnight.
Pour the cooled water into a washed and sterilized bottle and cap it. The perfume will last for up to a month if stored in a cool, dark place.
Perfumers tend to make abstract versions of their real-life experiences. The true, natural odour of a violet fades after several hours, so it's important to analyse the flower's scent at different intervals. The scent is also said to be easier to simulate than to reproduce all its nuances, freshness, and naturalness.
