For this week’s Materials Wednesday, the green parade
continues with the old standby, violet leaf absolute. This is a
solvent-extracted absolute from the leaves of the common violet, Viola odorata,
which grows as a weed in my yard and garden, propagating itself lavishly by
both seeds and runners. In fact, the violets are in full bloom right now. The
flower scent isn’t as strong as that of their larger cousins, the pansies
(Viola tricolor) or domesticated violas, which are one of the winter garden
standbys here. I imagine the leaves of any species or hybrid could be used to
make “violet leaf absolute”, but it’s always listed as Viola odorata.
The leaves of Viola odorata are dark green in color, toward the
blue side of green, tinged with purple-red. Violet leaf absolute is a viscous,
yellow-green semi-liquid that at first has a penetrating green-vegetation
smell. It’s heavier and darker than tomato leaf absolute, with an earthy,
minerally note that’s quite unique. To me it’s evocative of geologically ancient places in
cold, foggy, northern parts of the world, places that have not yet driven out the fairies, gnomes, and invisible ancient spirits of the land. If I wanted to make a perfume that
symbolized the old stone ruins of druid burial grounds in Ireland, it would be
heavy on violet leaf.
As the absolute dries down, the earthy, minerally, damp-dusty,
slightly metallic notes gain strength. Throughout, there’s the slightest hint
of violet flower scent. It’s a top to mid note, lasting for about 5-6 days on
paper. By the end, the violet flower note is subtly perceptible, so it seems to
last longer than the greener components.
I am looking forward to using violet leaf absolute in a new composition that I’m working on.
I am looking forward to using violet leaf absolute in a new composition that I’m working on.
[This time, all photos are mine.]
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