Violette Berdoues 2017

Last Saturday, we were invited to a golden wedding anniversary. The couple celebrating is still relatively young (both 70) and absolutely modern and open-minded. They beautifully note that it makes no sense to mourn the past, but that the past is needed to understand some things in the here and now. The celebration itself was festive, but by no means stiff or formal (and thus light-years away from the kinds of celebrations I remember from my childhood and youth).

Appropriately for the event, a fragrance was of course necessary. It should not be too strong, yet noticeable and refined, moderately festive, but definitely not too much. It was a fortunate coincidence that the "Violette" by Berdoues had just come my way shortly before.

"Violette" is an absolutely fine, powdery, and unsweetened iris-violet scent, which is very gently spiced with a hint of patchouli. Figuratively speaking, golden patchouli threads weave through this lilac fragrance creation.
Patchouli here is everything but loud, earthy, or musty. I would describe it as very softly spicy, minimally sweet, and refined.
Iris and violet completely merge with each other, creating a gentle and almost unsweetened powderiness that reminds me more of chalk than of flowers.

All in all, "Violette" presents a very soft, harmonious, serene, unexcited, coherent, fine, and enveloping fragrance profile. With this scent, there is no real fragrance development or surprises, as everything is directly present from beginning to end.
"Violette" is not loud, but rather close to the body, yet still perceptible, surrounding the wearer with a finely spicy and elegant aura.
"Violette" does not seek to be flashy, but convinces with a natural elegance and refinement that does not come across as arrogant.

And just as the couple, even after 50 years of marriage, gently and lightly touches each other by chance, each of them instinctively seeking the other's closeness, "Violette" accompanies me through this day. Always there without being intrusive, always close yet not overwhelming, and saying so much more with mere gestures and glances than with many words.

Benoist Lapouza, who has created many fragrances for Fendi and Pierre Cardin among others, has truly crafted a very fine and sensual scent here, which is worth testing if one wants to experience, live, and enjoy the color purple in a literal sense with all the senses.