Admittedly it took some effort for me to like violet scents. And, even now, I prefer the edgy violet fragrances, those “dirty violets” like Ava Luxe Midnight Violet, Creed Love in Black, Comme des Garcons + Stephen Jones and Soivohle’ Domino Viole. There’s just something too pretty and overly girly about most classic violet fragrances for me. When I wear Guerlain’s L’Heure Bleue or Borsari Violetta di Parma I feel like I should be wearing a gingham jumper dress and pig tails.
In 2006 Guerlain Insolence EDT arrived on the scene. Insolence EDT caught my attention – even though it isn’t an edgy violet – it’s an undeniably pretty and fruity violet scent. I bought a bottle of Insolence EDT, and I like it, but don’t wear it very often.
Then, in 2007, along came My Insolence. This one makes me gag. The only day I wore My Insolence I wanted to crawl out of my skin by 12 noon.
Guerlain saved the best Insolence for last. Hitting the stores now in the U.S. is Guerlain Insolence EDP. Somehow the EDP manages to be stunningly beautiful yet not too girly or innocent. Insolence EDP is violets in flashing neon lights. It’s violets on crack or steroids – it’s a 50 foot violet plant. It’s so aggressively violet-y that it refuses to be simply pretty. This is not a soft wallflower violet; this is an attention getting scent. The main difference between Insolence EDT and EDP is that the EDP is much stronger and so much more intensely violet-y, that when I compare them side-by-side the EDT hardly even smells like violets anymore. The most delightful part for me is that while Insolence EDP is a sweet candied violet scent for sure, it’s still not too sweet, it’s entirely wearable.
Why am I not surprised that it took Guerlain and Maurice Roucel to create the perfect pretty violet for me?
Longevity: Days
Sillage: Strong, one or two sprays will do it
Rating: 5 Stars, I love it
