Violet Leaf

What it is

Violet leaf comes from the leaves of Viola odorata. In perfumery it is encountered particularly as violet leaf absolute, a green material that is very different from the familiar powdery smell associated with violet flowers.

What it smells like

Violet leaf can suggest:

• crushed wet leaves
• cucumber skin
• watery greenery
• metallic-green freshness
• earthy or slightly bitter depth

It is therefore better understood as a green leaf material than as a floral violet smell.

Violet leaf versus violet flower

The two belong to the same plant story but should not be merged:

• Violet Leaf refers to the green leaf material or an explicit violet-leaf note.
• Violet refers to the powdery violet-flower reference, commonly reconstructed with ionone-family materials.

A source that simply says violet leaf maps here because that is the source’s named note. Unless the source specifies an extract or absolute, the relationship should not be read as proof that natural violet leaf absolute was used.