I recently learned a great French expression, "mi chien mi loup", which basically means "dusk" and literally translates as "between dog and wolf". I think it perfectly describes that time of day when night is already chasing away the sun, but it is not quite dark yet, and everything is covered with cool, milky mist. At work, we use mi chien mi loup when talking about L'Ete en Douce. I think that Histoires des Parfums' Blanc Violette inhabits the same twilight hour.It is less sweet than most violets; the beginning is fresh, almost juicy, because of the presence of bergamot. The tangy note is carried to the heart of the scent by anise. Ylang-ylang serves as a counterbalance to the fresh accord, bringing creamy softness to the composition. It is ylang, combined with sandalwood and vanilla, that adds the blanc to the violette. The three notes create the milky fog that envelops the green leaves and delicate petals, keeping the fragile flowers warm till the chien of the day will chase away the loup of the night.
Fresh and creamy, hiding a hint of witchy darkness among its white notes, Blanc Violette is quite unlike other violet perfumes that I know. The two that, in my opinion, come closest are Verte Violette (because of the green airiness) and Pierre de Lune (because of the downy, ethereal feel).
Available at miomia.com, $115.00 for 4oz.
The image is by Tim Walker.
Beautiful description, Marina. I'm have mixed feelings about en Douce. It hits me with a lot of musk, and while I intellectually love linden, it's also likely to make me feel slightly creepy, as if someone were stepping on my shadow deliberately.
ReplyDeleteIs there a trend toward all this licorice and anise? There seems to be a lot of it emerging mixed with florals, hidden as absinthe, tucked underneath greens. How can I say this delicately? EWWWWWW.
entre chien et loup - between dog and wolf - is my favorite french expression! the idea is so poetic. it even made me want to write a poem. i suppose it could also be ni chien, ni loup - neither dog nor wolf - but i haven't heard it that way. then again, i don't live in france, so there are a lot of things i haven't heard the french say! tant pis. will have to remedy that.
ReplyDeletei don't know the scent, but am now curious about it.
- minette
Quinn,
ReplyDeleteLinden is a very tricky note for me too.
As for anise, in Blanc Violette, it is just a tang, a tiny speck of purple in all the whiteness, not a humongous purple monster that note usually is. Trust me, anise and I are not friends, so if it was any more loud in a scent, I would have been saying ewww too :-)
Minette,
ReplyDeleteA very poetic expression for sure. First time I heard it, I had goosebumps :-)
Sounds lovely. . .love the expression, too!
ReplyDeletePS Is this the same as Bergman's "Hour of the Wolf," do you think?
ReplyDeleteWhat an absolutely perfect expression for my favorite time of day!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a huge fan of violet scents - like the odd few, but almost never wear even those. Still, violet is on my list of notes to fall madly in love with in the next decade, so will be sure to sample this one and keep it in mind for when my violet epiphany occurs.
I would not have thought this one was "you", M...
ReplyDeleteI am working my way through the set, but I did not get to this one yet. Now, I am curious. I also love "entre chien et loup" expression.
ReplyDeleteVika
Judith,
ReplyDeleteInteresting! But wouldn't the hour of wolf be already night? :-)
L,
ReplyDeleteI am not huge fan of violets either, actually, not a fan at all, really, but this one is haunting me
R,
ReplyDeleteSomething is happening to me, clearly :-)
Vika,
ReplyDeleteWhich one are you liking so far
I love that phrase, but am unsure that I would like the scent..
ReplyDeleteActually, I think "the hour of the wolf" is just before sunrise (or maybe a bit earlier)--the time when you think all sorts of terrible things.
ReplyDeleteTom,
ReplyDeleteI kind of don't think it's You either.
J,
ReplyDeleteThat makes a lot of sense! Chilling...
Ah, me.
ReplyDeleteI'm a violet fiend...
Too tempting: your nom de plume (nom de web?!) should be Eve:-)
ReplyDeleteI'll have to search for this one, just to try it for myself ... I'm intrigued by the description,
cheerio, and thanks for setting me a quest,
regards, Anna, Edinburgh, UK
Ida,
ReplyDeleteI want a different, darker, warmer, more sensual violet for you. Like Bois de Violette, perhaps.
Anna,
ReplyDeletethank you! I have always, always wished my parents would've called me Eve or rather Eva. Honestly :-)
I wore this for my wedding. Spent a happy afternoon in my profumeria in Roma choosing it. I still love it.
ReplyDeleteClaire