La Violette Pourpre by Coty c1906

La Violette Pourpre by Coty: launched in 1906. Created by François Coty.

Violette Pourpre was a favorite fragrance of the late Anastasia Romanov. Anastasia tried many perfumes but always returned to her beloved violet. The violet signified "I'll always be true" in the Language of Flowers. Anastasia was a vivacious and clever girl, who had long flowing auburn hair sparkling with gold highlights, she possessed mischievous blue eyes, she was both sharp and had a tomboyish flair. 

Fragrance Composition:

So what does it smell like? La Violette Pourpre is classified as a soliflore fragrance for women. Since violet extract is very hard to produce, a blend made up of synthetic and natural extracts of other ingredients was composed to make an accord of violets, most notable of these was the addition of ionone and linalool.

• Top notes: cassie, almond, bergamot, orange peel, geranium, linalool
• Middle notes: violet, orris, rose, tuberose, ionone, jasmine, mignonette
• Base notes: vanilla, tolu balsam, musk, civet

 In the 1920s and 1930s, it was customary for perfume companies to introduce the idea that women of certain complexion or hair color would be better suited to particular perfumes. Incidentally, perfumers said, blondes should wear light perfume, brunettes, heavy Oriental perfumes.  

• For Blondes: Paris, L'Aimant, L'Effleurt, La Rose Jacqueminot & L'Or.
• For Brunettes: L'Aimant, L'Origan, Emeraude, Chypre, Ambréine, Fougeraie au Crépuscule, or Styx.
• For Red-Haired Women: Emeraude, Paris, L'Origan, L'Ambre Antique, Iris & Cyclamen.

Other perfumers advised women to seek out perfume based on their personalities or moods rather than their looks. These marketing techniques worked and thousands of bottles of perfume were purchased, probably by those who needed to buy gifts for others or were unsure of what perfumes to wear.

• For the Woman of Sunny Joyous Type: L'Effleurt, Muguet & Violette.
• For the Woman of the Dreamy Elusive Type: Jasmine de Corse, La Jacinthe & Lilas Blanc.
• For the Exotic Types: Chypre, Violette Pourpre, Ambre Antique
• For the Mysterious Types: Ambre Antique, Styx & Cyclamen
• For the Brilliant Sophisticated Temperaments: Emeraude, Paris, L'Origan

Bottles:

Fate of the Fragrance:

Discontinued, date unknown.