At any given time, my liquor cabinet contains violet liquor, and at any given time, my desk has violet confections tucked in a far away corner so I don't eat them all in one sitting. And come spring, if Mother Nature smiles on my foraging eyes, I pick violet blossoms to make syrups to add to my darjeerling tea and homemade sodas. My favorite summer sip is San Pellegrino and and a splash of Violette Creme. It is truly a drink of another era that is beginning to make a comeback.

Violet flower oil was harvested in Grasse in the 18th century and was the rage during Napoleon's rein, both one and three. I yearn for that violet. After 1900, it was the leaf that was found to be the most useful part of the plant and that is the extract that is still available to this day. Violet leaf is a very good absolute, to be sure, with its cucumber notes and blends well with woods as the middle note in a blend. It creates some very interesting notes fougere blends. The absolute is a beautiful addition to carrier oils to help with fluid retention and edema. Stress induced acne is greatly helped too.

Suggest use: recommend in perfumery compositions such as Rose, Osmanthus, Lotus - Pink and White, Neroli and Frangipani.