Character
The Story of White violet
White violet is a delicate floral note prized for its luminous softness and airy green nuances. Less powdery than traditional violet, it brings a pure, transparent quality to modern fragrance compositions.
Heritage
The late 19th century through early 20th century earned the name 'violet era' for good reason. Violet fragrances adorned royalty, with the Duchess of Parma, Maria Louise of Austria (Napoleon's second wife), driving demand for violet perfume in the early 1800s. Perfumers in Grasse, France pioneered extraction techniques, initially using warm enfleurage before solvent extraction. The first commercial ionone-based violet perfume, Vera Violetta by Roger et Gallet, launched in 1895 and revolutionized the industry. This chemical breakthrough transformed violet from an expensive luxury into an accessible note found across modern perfumery.
At a Glance
2
Feature this note
France
Primary source region
Ingredient Details
Synthetic
Flower petals
Did You Know
"Extracting 1 kg of natural violet oil once required over 33,000 kg of flowers, making violet one of the most precious materials in 19th-century perfumery."