Category Archives: Fragrances

English Violet EDP

Notes: Fragrantica has no listed notes.

Year: 1919

This is my signature fragrance. And that will never change. Unfortunately it was discontinued. Although Floris still sells a mouthwash.

The drydown is powdery. And honestly…not all that impressive. At least in this edp, which is likely from the 1970’s or so.

But even in the drydown you can still smell faint traces of haunting violet. And possibly wafts of something akin to freshly mowed lawn.

It’s the beginning that’s VIOLET.

I’ve smelled so many violet perfumes. So many. Recent ones, historic ones. And this is the violet I love most. It’s not overly soft or sweet. It’s sharp and green and clean and beautifully articulate, if a fragrance can be articulate. There’s a bit of powder but not much, relatively speaking. It’s…floral. You don’t have to wonder if it’s a violent perfume. Actually, it’s very of its time. A lot of other fragrances from the 1910’s smell like this. Some might call them linear, but to me they’re realistic and romantic and brave. To the point. Direct. And sometimes in a world of manipulation and deceit a straightforward fragrance is refreshing.

Electric Sky

Notes according to Fragrantica: Top notes are Blue Sage and Violet; middle notes are Cactus Flower and Lavender; base notes are Palo Santo and Vetiver. 

Year: 2022

This is…very typical. But what’s wrong with typical every once and a while? Nothing.

Lately I’ve been planting lavender in my front garden. I can certainly smell the lavender in Electric Sky. It’s an excellent choice as a note in this composition.

…The cactus flower and violet are also very noticeable. I wonder if I’m also smelling the palo santo in particular?

…Anyway. It’s fresh. Very reminiscent of the Hermes Le Jardin, especially Le Jardin Sur Le Toit. …I often wonder if that scent profile is getting dated, but…this debuted two years ago and I received this sample as part of a Nordstrom’s beauty sample pack just this spring. So perhaps it’s not a dated smell yet.

Anyway…today I did gardening, ate breakfast and then used L’Occitane Verveine lotion so this perfectly compliments my aesthetic today. And so far I recommend it, although I’d not buy a bottle myself.