WHAT I SMELL: Violette Fumee opens with the most beautiful lavender and bergamot combination; it’s herbal and refreshing in a creamy comforting way.  After a few minutes, the fragrance starts to warm and become deeper as a beefy oakmoss emerges from the bottom that envelopes and seems to fold over the lavender.  After about 10 minutes or so, the violet seems to make an appearance from the edge of the fragrance.   I know this is going to sound strange, but it’s appearance is like prairie dogs popping their head out of the ground.  What I mean is that the violet doesn’t come out at once, but seems to pop in and out until eventually you feel like you are surrounded by violets tinged with rose.  Violette Fumee at this point still retains its creaminess but it becomes slightly brighter without becoming sheer.  What I love about this is that the herbal aspects of the fragrance keep this from becoming too floral and pretty which allow Violette Fumee to retain a substantive elegance.  After some time, the myrrh and opoponax emerge from below and a slight suede provides for a beautiful finish to this multi-faceted fragrance.

Violette Fumee Notes:

Top notes:  Mediterranean Lavender, Bergamot from Calabria, Oakmoss from the Balkans

Heart notes:  Violet flowers and leaves from Egypt, Turkish Rose, Veitver from Haiti, Clary Sage

Base notes;  Opoponax and Myrrh from Somalis, Cashmeran

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  A page from a 19th century botanical illustrative leather bound book.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE VIOLETTE FUMEE:  transformative, calming, elegant

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT VIOLETTE FUMEE: Cafleurebon

BOTTOM LINE:  Violet fragrances have not been my friend in the past as I find that they are typically too feminine for my taste.  Violette Fumee breaks that mold.  The violet doesn’t completely dominate and take over in a sweet and simplistic fashion.  The first time I wore this, I really liked it, but the 2nd time I have to say that I loved it.  Voilette Fumee is an elegant and substantial fragrance, that holds layers upon layers of wonderful surprises.

• Bone Rating: 4 out of 5 possible bones
• Scent:  Oriental Fougere
• Classification: Unisex
• Expense:  EdP Intense to be launched in September 2013

Promotional sample provided by Mona Di Orio Parfums.