What does violet leaf smell like in perfume? Violet leaf smells green, watery and crisp, like freshly cut cucumber and crushed leaves. Surprisingly, it smells nothing like violet flowers, but adds a cool, verdant freshness to a fragrance.
| Botanical name | Viola odorata |
|---|---|
| Plant part | Leaves |
| Origin | France and Egypt |
| Extraction | Absolute |
| Note | Heart |
| Scent family | Florals |
| Odour | Green, watery and cucumber-crisp, with an earthy, leafy depth |
| Perfume uses | Green florals, fougères and fresh woody blends |
| Key molecules | 2,6-Nonadienal (violet leaf aldehyde), nonadienol |
| Odour impact | High |
| Odour life on a strip | Medium: most of a day |
| Found in | Carissis |
Used within IFRA limits. Impact and odour life are our own studio guide, judged on a smelling strip.
What Is Violet Leaf?
Violet leaf absolute is extracted from the heart-shaped leaves of the sweet violet, Viola odorata. It is dark green and intensely powerful, so it is used in tiny amounts. The flowers themselves yield almost no oil, which is why violet flower notes are usually recreated.
What Does Violet Leaf Smell Like?
Here is how strongly each facet of violet leaf comes through, from our own smelling-strip notes.
Green
Crushed leaves and cut stems.
Watery
Cool, cucumber-like freshness.
Earthy
A damp, soil-like depth.
Floral
A faint, powdery hint.
How Perfumers Use Violet Leaf
Perfumers use violet leaf to add a cool, green freshness to florals and woods. A small amount brings modernity and a dewy, garden-like realism.
Leaf, not flower
The scent people think of as ‘violet’ comes from ionones in the flower. Violet leaf is completely different: crisp, green and cucumber-like.
Smell Violet Leaf in Prosody London Perfumes
For violet leaf at its most expressive, try Carissis. Violet leaf adds a cool, green freshness beside rose in this soft skin scent.
CarissisWhat Blends Well With Violet Leaf?
Questions About Violet Leaf
Does violet leaf smell like violets?
No. It smells green, watery and cucumber-like.
Is violet leaf strong?
Yes, very. It is used in tiny amounts.
What pairs with violet leaf?
Rose, lavender, orris and soft woods.
Explore all of our natural perfume ingredients.
