Monday 15 June 2015

The Different Company - I Miss Violet Review + Giveaway


I'm the first to raise my hand when my knowledge and experience is lacking, so I'll confess from the outset and declare that my exposure to The Different Company perfume portfolio has been very limited. Living in the most isolated city (of more than 1M people) in the world, Perth has it's geographical challenges, so its really only whilst vacationing or ordering online that I have access to certain brands. With a small decant sent to me by a fellow perfumisto of the delectable Bois d'Iris notwithstanding, earlier this year I was offered the opportunity to experience my first fragrance from The Different Company, so of course I was enthusiastic. With Sorcery of Scent now well into its seventh year, I'll also plainly proclaim that these days it takes rather a lot to wow me, but when my tidy 10ml sample of TDC's newest offering arrived a few weeks ago, I must announce I was pleasantly surprised.

The offspring of master perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour, "I Miss Violet" is a colourful feather to add to The Different Company's vast back-catalogue of fragrances. To date, my appreciation of Duchaufour's oeuvre has been a little hit and miss; to my nose Amouage's Jubilation XXV is an epic thrill, whilst Enchanted Forest for the Vagabond Prince made me recoil in disbelief, however I Miss Violet has restored my faith somewhat and allowed me to dig my heels in as more of a fan. In 2015, Duchaufour's muse is Violet, a globe-trotting young woman who gives in to her fancy and traverses the world following her heart, her work, and her passions. In a sense, this inspirational figure translates well into what we smell in the bottle... I Miss Violet feels carefree (but not reckless), lively, vivacious, self-assured.

The perfume's flight is dominated by the powdery prickle of violet, a champagne accord, and nutmeg... a delicate powdery softness with an effervescent sparkle - like a sassy glance, or wink from beneath feather-like lashes. There is a vein of silver/green rising from below... a viridian balloon of perfumed air pressing up from beneath; violet leaves, husky iris and aromatic basil. The dry orris accord swims parallel to a growing seam of soft napped suede; a gauzy leather facet that steps forward, but remains courteous and well-behaved. I Miss Violet is the embodiment a young woman who has just stepped across the threshold into adulthood... one who has found her feet, and her insatiable apetite to collect experiences. As the scent evolves on skin, the powdery soft floral accords start to recede and a warm, balsamic - dare I say animalic - component shifts to the fore; a sassy and seductive ribbon of ambergris make's Violet's intentions clear... she is passionate person, and despite her worldly obligations, longs for love.

Without much of a grasp on the Different Company's previous releases, I can only imagine I Miss Violet is aimed at a younger demographic, however that being said, I see no good reason why this perfume can't be enjoyed by men and women of all ages. In the same way perhaps Guerlain's Météorites or Chanel's Misia both enchant with their floral-powder semi-saccharine prettiness, I strongly predict that I Miss Violet will find a broad appeal.

I Miss Violet is an eau de parfum, available in 50ml size now available via select retailers online and offline. Visit www.thedifferentcompany.com for more information.

GIVEAWAY!

Sorcery of Scent has one 10ml spray sample of I Miss Violet to give away to one lucky reader. To enter, simply post a comment in the comments field below and tell me which other The Different Company fragrance you would recommend I try, and why.
To double your chances to win, you may also 'Like' the Sorcery of Scent facebook page and re-post your comment on the Different Company post that has been published over there.
The winner's name will be drawn and shared here on Monday June 22nd, 2015.
Good luck!

8 comments:

Just AlexandeЯ said...

Hello Sorcery of Scent. Great review, and I kinda feel the same way about some of Duchaufour's latest creations. I haven't had the chance of trying I Miss Violet, but believe me, that Oud for Love by the Different Company is a wonderful creation by Mr Bertrand. Masculine, fantastic fragrance with enormous longevity. Try this one, I love it.

Sun Mi said...

I've only tried one The Different Company scent, Tokyo Bloom, but I really like it quite a lot. It has a fresh vibrancy and really feels alive. If you ever want a fresh green floral, I highly recommend Tokyo Bloom!

Lyubov said...

Hello, Dimitri,
believe me, Perth is far from isolation. You should live for a while in my hometown at one of the borders of Bulgaria...Well, I suppose it is a matter of point of view - I receive packages from USA and Australia here, but there is only one pharmacy working 24/7.
Oh, I am a sucker for violets, and I like almost all Duchaufour's perfumes. Moreover, I love the soft-speaking style of The Different Company. Last, I love White Zagora, and I am considering a full bottle.
When I read "violets" and "powder" in a review, it's an instant must-try for me, especially when there was a comparison with Guerlain's Meteorites - my referent powder violet.
I hope I am eligible for the draw. Thanks for the chance!

Blog Author said...

Hello Lyubov, thanks for your comments!
Remote or otherwise, perhaps the towns on the borders of Bulgaria suffer more from smaller infrastructure than from isolation - but I can see how one pharmacy is indeed very limiting! What i refer to in my post is of Perth being the official most isolated city of 1M+ inhabitants on the planet. Im quite certain if you drive for a few hours from your hometown, you would find yourself in another country or at very least a major city. Here, to drive from Perth to Sydney would take approximately 5 days. Our country is vast, and Western Australia is chiefly forgotten as far as imports go; even on a national scale. We 'Perthites' generally prefer to visit Singapore or Bali than the east coast of Australia, as it is cheaper and closer than other Australian state capitals. Have you ever seen a photo of a map of Australia overlaid with a map of Europe on google? Its truly mind-boggling.
Thank you for your recommendation - you most certainly qualify for the draw! best of luck! :)

Lyubov said...

My Oh My, mind-boggling, indeed! I knew that distances are huge for some places, but 5 days from Perth to Sydney...well, I would choose Bali instead, too!!! Actually, I opened the map on Google, and I should say the Australian desert is frightening me...
You are right - my hometown is an hour and a half by car away from the capital, Sofia. I am working in the capital, and traveling every week. That is a piece of cake considering your point of view! No niche perfumes, but most of all I am having difficulties with obtaining scents from the US - only sample-sized volume.
I should add that my favorites from the Different Company are Sel de Vetiver, Sublime Balkiss and De Bachmakov. I was excited about the initial fresh blast of Sienne d'Orange, but it disappointingly fleeted in less than an hour from my skin.

leonel said...

Rose Poivree is my fave TDC. it's rose thats' pepperry and musky. Luca Turin says it smells like "soiled underwear"

Teresa said...

Please, oh please....review Jasmin De Nuit.....it sounds lucious!

CurlyJo said...

Always a delight to read your eloquent and enlightening posts.
What to try next...well how could a girl go past 'After Midnight'
I hear Michael Jackson start to sing the opening line to 'Thriller'
and am transported back in time to another life
xx