Midnight Violet
by Ava Luxe

Earthy, complex, dark: a vision of black violets growing in a discarded rubber tire. It evokes a place from a strange dream. This is not a perfume for women only, it's very unisex. I think this is Ava Luxe's greatest achievement.

An initial blast of galbanum gives way to pepper. Then cedar and dusky violet with green leaves take over. In the end, there is sweetness, but it is very dark and earthy. The base lists moss and hemlock, but there may be patchouli as well. These woody, grassy notes lend a dried-leaf type of sweetness. In the end, the notes combine to form a strange violet candy or a bit of Sen-Sen breath mint aroma. This fragrance is sensual and strong. It smells like dry wood and living leaves at the same time. I find it extremely attractive, wet and dry, with dark, earthy sweetness. This is not for the "shrinking violet" type of person. Midnight Violet makes a bold statement.

Yay, I get second review! I agree with Galamb. Midnight Violet is really something-a shocking, smoke-infused violet like non-other. Like violets thrown into the ashes of a fire which are still smoldering and red (fish the violets out of those smoldering coals and smell what's left of them and you'll have Midnight Violet) I love it, I love smoke scents though. If you don't you won't like this so don't even bother. This is highly unisex and would smell wonderful on anyone. When I wear this I feel mysterious and vampy. I smell as if I've been somewhere around a fire and had some type of late night forest experience I shouldn't have had ;) It has that type of vibe to it, it takes you someplace and I love it when that happens! I bought the Parfum Extrait, so that's what I'm reviewing. I don't as of yet know if there's a difference.

It's funny, the first time I tried Midnight Violet I found it powdery, soapy, mossy and slightly candied, a bright and sunny violet fragrance and not at all a "midnight violet". This time around I get smoky civet, not much else. The scent is dry, ashen, smoky, bitter, metallic, with a distinctly animalic undertone, the really dirty kind, and fleeting on top of the composition, yes, some sweet yet soapy violets. Midnight violet indeed, this is kinky like a fetish club. I do enjoy the edgy darkness of the scent but it is rather "difficult". Thumbs up for originality.

Am I really the first Basenoter to write a review of Midnight Violet? Shocking - this is one of Serena's most masterful creations!

Midnight Violet is a fragrance that takes violet away from quaint, powdery, Victorian interpretations as well as brisk, green masculines and gives it a unique and edgy spin.

The violet note starts out direct and almost sharp, quickly modulating into darker, smokier and rougher-edged. This is not a wet, earthy fragrance, in fact it's so dry it's almost ashen, with any sweetness from the violet toned down with wood, incense and a touch of something animalic ( Serena seems to just love those animal notes, and if civet was here in some form it wouldn't surprise me in the least ).

This isn't a naturalistic rendition of the flower. While the violet note is clearly present throughout, this is an abstract creation of the perfumer's palette - something welcome considering the wide availability of violets-in-a-forest type fragrances.

The longevity and sillage are quite good, something that has been, in my experience, endemic to the Ava Luxe line.

If you try no other Ava Luxe, try this.

Shrinking violets, run away! Ava Luxe Midnight Violet is no fragrance for the timid.

According to her website, the notes for this scent are Violet, Blue Iris, Orris , Earth , Black hemlock, Galbanum, Pink pepper, Cinnamon, Cedar, Sandalwood, Incense, Wood balsam, Moss, Civet and Cashmere musk.

The name of this fragrance is very descriptive. This is a very dark, complex fragrance, and the violet is certainly there, but it takes a little while to reveal itself on the skin. My husband noticed the pink pepper, and the fragrance also has strong orris/iris notes, but I wouldn't classify it as a floral. There is no sweetness at all, and I was initially put off by the strong earthy/animalic notes in this fragrance. Looks like the base notes contain some civet, which people seem to love or hate. On my third wearing, I couldn't stop sniffing my wrist. Interesting, beautiful and sexy. Smells like an old-fashioned classic, along the same lines as Bal a Versailles or Mitsouko

Midnight Violet is definitely unisex, and it's not going to be everybody's taste, so purchase a sample first. I have sampled it and look forward to purchasing a full bottle!