Hi there Posse, Tom is completely snowed under and has asked me to fill for him today. I thought we could chat about a little known, in my part of the world anyway, fragrance called Calypso Violette. A while ago I bought a few Christiane Celle for Calypso from Surrender To Chance and I just found them this week in a box that I thought had some decanting supplies in it, nope, chock full of samples and decants awaiting moderation. GAK!! Exciting and overwhelming, in fact I seem to have rebought some of them. Ah well. Let’s spend a moment together with the one that has immediately captured my attention, Calypso Violette ….
Calypso Violette by Christiane Celle for Calypso 1999
Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Bergamot, violet, lemon
Heart: Rose, heliotrope, rose hip
Base: Sandalwood, white musk, tonic bean, honey
Spring in the northern hemisphere, the weather is warming and you lot are all about floors and greenery, the birds are singing, the world is shining and its beautiful. Violets, well the fragrance version of violets, seem extremely springlike to me. Like a cool sunshiny afternoon with a light breeze and the promise of a cosy meal with friends.
Violets sparkling in a soft citrus, a little bit yeasty but dewy and fresh. Pretty and powdery, a lovely clean fragrance that warms through with white musks and sweet warm tonic through the heart. Imagine a sheer lilac version of CHANEL No 19 and you’d be on the right track. Prim and aloof yet quietly radiant and a little bit dressed up. You know those elegant people who look chic dressed in a T-Shirt and jeans? This is exactly the kind of scent I could imagine them rocking. I’m not much for sexing fragrance and any guy could wear this in an instant but my mind is instantly thrown to one of my besties Eve, since we were teens she has always had a fragile, ethereal beauty that Calypso Violette captures perfectly.
Dry down is a soft melange of white musks and woods, nothing groundbreaking but it is nice enough and inoffensive, for this price though you can go back and enjoy the opening again and again.
First In Fragrance has €79/100ml
Some of the discounters have Calypso Violette at an even better price too.
Surrender to Chance has samples starting at $4/2ml
What is your violet fragrance?
Portia xx
I’m not real big on violet scents, but like Ann, I was intrigued by you comparing it to a sheer Chanel 19. The only one I really love is Apres L’Ondee, and I have to be in the right melancholy mood to wear it.
I’m catching up on the fragrance musings I’ve missed over the past few weeks here and at APJ and all around. It’s good to know about Calypso Violet. I’ve shied away from violet scents as they remind me of an odd little violet-scented doll I had as a child. To this day when I smell a violet fragrance I get a peripheral hit of plastic doll head.
Also enjoyed your thoughts on Contradiction here at Perfume Posse. I have fond memories of a friend who wore it back when it was new. I’m going to look for it and give it a good sniffa to see what memories it evokes.
Also also, I was feeling a bit tender today when I read your crunchy- grumpy-blue post at APJ. Thankyouthankyouthankyou for sharing your woes and your gratitude list, for reaching out to the world with your words and strength and kindness. Now I’m off to find a violet scent to sniff. 🙂
Tiffany,
Thank you. What a wonderful comment, you have just made my day a whole lot brighter and it was already pretty damn good.
You know, I think violet has a slightly plastic edge to it anyway. You may be eternally stuck with the memory sorry to say.
Contradiction, I am loving it more & more.
Hopefully that post helped you as much as it helped me when I wrote it.
Portia xx
My favorite violet fragrance is Guerlain Insolence. I also enjoy the violet note in Lolita Lempicka Lolita Lempicka. Calypso Violette sounds lovely, I absolutely adore violet!
Hey Jessica,
I LOVE Lolita Lempicka too. I think you may find this one a good deal dryer and cooler than your current faves.
It would be great to read if you one day try this.
Portia xx
I have the diptique candle violette, which I really love, but I am still searching for a violet perfume that I will like equally as well. I shall keep searching! Thanks for highlighting this one though, it sounds lovely.
Hey Sun Mi,
How is violet as an ambient scent?
Portia xx
I’ve got a love/hate thing with violets. It all depends on the perfume really. I’ve never even heard of this line so needless to say I have never tried this one. Some violet perfumes are just too much violet. I’m not a fan of them in the garden either. They tend to behave like weeds and sprout up everywhere I don’t want them.
Hey Poodle,
HA! I think we can safely leave this off your to try list then.
We had violets growing at the Pymble house and it was like herding cats.
Portia xx
There is quite a bit that I haven’t been smelling it’s not funny. I can’t recall smelling a violet dominant perfume. Every time I hear violet, I think of Ingrid in White Oleander when Astrid says something about her secretive violets.
Eldarwen,
There is SO MUCH fragrance out there that you can’t smell everything. It’s impossible.
Sniff what you love, try some stuff, enjoy.
Portia xx
Mine is Mona do Orio Violette Fumee! How I love that fragrance.
Is it possible for you to point me towards of picture of someone who looks weak wearing t-shirt and jeans? I can’t begin to imagine what you’re saying, and I’d like to comprehend it.
Hey Deb,
Sorry, It was a brain fart moment. CHIC. Look chic in T-Shirt & Jeans.
Of course you were confused, I really had to sit & think what I could have meant when I went back & read it.
Portia xx
LOL! Thanks, Portia.
Howdy, Portia! How lovely to see you on a Friday! You have completely caught me unaware with this one; was only vaguely familiar with their original scent and had never heard of this one. I don’t go for violet much, but your “sheer lilac version of Chanel No. 19” definitely has me intrigued. Thanks!
Hey Ann,
Nice to see you too.
It’s extremely pretty and a little dressed up. I do imagine you would rock it beautifully.
Portia xx