Les Fleurs: Violette Molinard for women

The nineteenth-century-inspired violet soliflores range across a spectrum from quite sugary to green and not very sweet at all. Molinard's entry, VIOLETTE, lies toward the sugary end of the spectrum, particularly in the opening minutes, which always take me back a bit, so similar is the scent to that of violet candy. As the composition dries down, some of the sugar evaporates away, leaving a very thin, glistening patina of sugar, but I do not find it overly sweet.

To be honest, I do not detect much else here beyond the violet, what seems to be vanilla (though it's not listed as a note--perhaps I am misidentifying heliotrope?), and of course the sugar. Naturally this composition appeals to me since I love violets in nearly every combination with anything, although I must say that I draw the line at plastic (I'm talking to you, Guerlain INSOLENCE).

VIOLETTE is simple, but what else could one expect from a violet soliflore? I like it, and would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes either Caron AIMEZ-MOI or Laurence Dumont VANILLE VIOLETTE, both of which are really quite sweet to my nose--and in fact sweeter than the Molinard. Everyone else needs to try this before they buy, because it may well exceed your tolerance for sugar in perfume.

If you like Bosari VIOLETTA DI PARMA and Berdoues VIOLETTES DE TOULOUSE, L'Artisan Parfumeur VERTE VIOLETTE, and Histoires de Parfums BLANC VIOLETTE, you may or may not like this sugar-encrusted version of the same theme. The quality of the violets seems comparable to me, so I'd call this yet another excellent value from Molinard.

Les Fleurs Violette is a gentle violet fragrance based on musk. Upon first spray, my nose picks (in the order of dominance) fresh violets, musk, and heliotrope. Dominant musk notes always bomb on my skin, and perhaps that's why the first 15 mins upon spraying isn't my favorite part of this perfume.

However, the heart reveals only the powdery violet note and the musk really serves as the agent on which this lovely but airy note can effervesce on my skin. As the hours pass, the dry down becomes sweeter, almost a candy like note of violet. However, it isn't cloying or bothersome. This is truly my favorite phase of the perfume.

I've been able to score a 3.4 oz bottle for a very reasonable price. And as a Violet Lover, I shall be keeping this inexpensive little gem in my collection as my go-to violet perfume.

Projection: Not even a foot. Stays close. But it's a lovely little cloud of violet.

Longevity: Considering that my skin eats up perfume way too much, not bad for a violet one. After 4 hours, I needed to re-spray. But it IS relatively inexpensive, so this is not an issue for me.

Violet Lovers: I don't think you can go wrong with this as a blind buy if all of this sounds good to you.

This smells exactly like the traditional violet flavored sweets we have here in France !

I agree with Bighouse - too sweet. I miss in the perfume the true violette fragrance. The very first impression was the one of caramel...

Violette - Le Fleurs Molinard is much sweet! The first violet notes (leves) disappear quickly. I did not consume Violette de Les Fleurs de Provance

amethyststar - you should try parfums berdoues, Violettes de Toulouse Eau de Parfum or Violettes divines

No one has reviewed this one yet? In my search for "The Perfect Violet" fragrance, this is one of several I have purchased. It is a soft violet, I do not detect the rose in here---the violet stands alone, and is very powdery, but not sweet. Not as intense a violet as I am searching for, but quite lovely for spring and summer days. Very good price and availability are a big plus!