L'Artisan launched Verte Violette in 2000 as part of the Je T’ai Cueilli Une Fleur trio, which also included Jacinthe des Bois and Oeillet Sauvage. Perfumer Anne Flipo created all three fragrances; the notes for Verte Violette are violet leaves, raspberry leaves, rose, heliotrope, cedar, iris and white musk.
Verte Violette starts slightly astringent, as violet fragrances sometimes do, but it settles quickly. It is rather sweet, although perhaps not quite so sweet as the opening of Borsari Violetta di Parma. It is also less directly focused on the violet: the Borsari is more likely to satisfy a craving for the scent of the flower itself. Verte Violette is fresher and prettier, although whether that is a mark in its favor depends on your outlook.
And it is green, though only mildly so; personally, I am always disappointed when a fragrance with Verte in the name doesn't actually scream out with leaves and shrubbery and the like. The dry down is soft and musky, with just a tad of powder.
I have never really made up my mind about Verte Violette. It is pretty, but perhaps too conventionally pretty for my taste; it has an almost old-fashioned "girly" prettiness that reminds me of Drôle de Rose, another L'Artisan fragrance that I fall in and out of love with on a regular basis. There are times when I enjoy Verte Violette, and then there are times when I wear it and wish it was greener, or earthier, or something more than what it is.
Verte Violette is available in 50 and 100 ml bottles of Eau de Toilette. For buying information, see the listing for L'Artisan under Perfume Houses.
Tomorrow: more L'Artisan