Sephora's is a good place to test the latest in perfumeries. They have a system where they give you a small sample of a scent in a plastic container. Perfumes (eau de toilettes, eau de parfums, etc.) these days cost in the $50s and $60s, so it isn't pleasant to have an unpleasant perfume hanging around in one's cabinet (although I do use some as room freshers, since they are better than those store-bought sprays).
I go to Sephora's and simply walk through the aisles to see if they have anything new. Well, the Italian brand Tocca has a new perfume out called Tocca Violette.
I told the salesgirl that I do have Tocca Bianca (but didn't elaborate that I ended up using it as a room spray), so she doesn't think I'm doing the rounds for free samples. Tocca Bianca had an interesting lavender note, but it ended up smelling too much like dried lavender flowers.
The minute I smelled Tocca Violette, it reminded me of Elizabeth Taylor's Violet Eyes (which I reviewed here). I wasn't sure what it was, but it seemed like a slightly diluted version. The store's perfume data base wasn't working, and the salesgirls never have a clue what they're selling, so I waited until I got home to find out the notes.
Along the way, I sprayed Tocca Violette on one sleeve and Violet Eyes on the other, to see the lasting power (and dried down scent) of both. Tocca Violette was almost gone in about half an hour leaving a trace of unidentifiable "rough" scent behind, whereas Violet Eyes stayed on in its original form, and is still delicately perceptible on my sleeve. Why buy an expensive, $60, perfume, if it's main notes disappear in less than and hour, and leave behind unpleasantness?
Here is a long (but funny) review from Fragrantica's site by "Sherapop" who also has her own perfume blog at Sherapop's Salon de Parfum:
I love violets. I love thick-glass bottomed bottles, and Tocca's is one of the best...I wasn't wrong.
...The problem with VIOLETTE, for me, is that there is an aquatic facet which shrouds and even compromises the presentation of the violets. I'm not saying that violets have to be soloists...but here I feel that the violets are overwhelmed by some sort of aqualia...
Needless to say, I won't be purchasing any more of this fragrance, but I'm pretty sure that I'll never be able to throw this bottle away. It's really too bad that we've no further need for paperweights... I'll add this one to my collection of "implement of self-defense to leave within arm's reach on the bedside table in the event of an uninvited nocturnal visitor" bottles
By the way, Sherapop has purple roses as the background to her blog. I have the purple rose as the main symbol for my blog.
Here are the notes in Elizabeth Taylor's Violet Eyes:
Top: White Peach
Middle: Purple Rose, Jasmine
Base: Violet, Cedar Wood, Amber
Here are the notes in Tocca Violette:
Top: Ginger, Bergamot, Coriander
Middle: Bulgarian Rose, Violet, Black Current
Base: Cedar, Musk
Tocca has the same fruity (black current instead of white peach) scent, but the black current is stronger and fruitier. There is rose in the middle notes, but Tocca's is less pronounced. Violet Eyes leaves out the musk, which can be an overpowering base, and instead adds the lighter cedar wood and amber. And finally, while Violet Eyes has the delicate violet in the base, giving it a more dominant presence, Tocca puts it in the middle notes, and it is overwhelmed by the other stronger notes, including the musk.
Overall, Tocca's Violette, which I am convinced is a copy of Elizabeth Taylor's Violet Eyes, is a more astringent - too fruity - version of Violet Eyes, and lacks the subtle wafts of rose and of course violet. It also leaves behind an unpleasant "unperfumy" scent as its dry-down.
Finally, I don't like Tocca's bottom-heamvy bottle (all their bottles are like that), although the glass is thick and nicely chiseled. Violet Eyes is a more elegant, long flask, with a thick band crystals surrounding the lid.
