Anthousa violet black currant is a limited edition that keeps violet from turning sugary by wrapping it in fruit, and it is worth understanding why that works before it disappears.
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Earlier this year, Anthousa launched a new fragrance – Violet & Black Currant. It’s a fruity floral blend of red raspberries, Valencia oranges, tart black currant, Macintosh apples and peach nectar grounded with pink jasmine, red geranium and purple violet. Violet can tend to be very heavy and sweet, but the addition of all the fresh, fruity notes really help lift and energize the scent.
How anthousa violet black currant balances sweetness
Violet is a tricky flower in fragrance. It can easily go powdery and candy-like, a bit like a sugared sweet from the bottom of a coat pocket. The fix is contrast, and that is where tart black currant, orange and apple do their work.
The fruit keeps the violet lively. The jasmine, geranium and violet underneath hold the whole thing steady so it does not drift into a fruit salad.
There is a lesson here about how to read a fragrance description. A long list of fruit sounds like a cocktail, but the real question is what holds it together. Here the answer is the floral base, which gives the fruit a place to land.
I like fruity florals when I want a mood boost without the sugary weight of a bakery candle. They tend to suit mornings and afternoons, when you want energy rather than a wind-down.
For anyone wondering whether anthousa violet black currant is too sweet, the fruit really does the balancing here. It lifts the violet instead of burying it.
For anyone asking whether anthousa violet black currant is too sweet, the fruit does the balancing. It lifts the violet instead of burying it.
Candle or diffuser?
The same fragrance comes in both forms, and they behave differently. A candle gives you a burst when lit, and the wax itself has a soft violet tint that makes it pretty to look at even when unlit.
A diffuser is more like a background bouquet. As the post says, it works like passing a vase of flowers, a pleasant little lift rather than a wall of scent. Flip the reeds when you want a fresher hit.
If you have a small room, I would go for the diffuser. A larger living area handles the candle nicely.
Anthousa says the candle wax is made from 100 percent vegetable wax and lasts around 60 hours, and the diffuser runs about 6 to 9 months. Those numbers come from the maker, so your own results may vary with room size and airflow.
To get the most from a candle like this, trim the wick, burn it long enough to melt the whole top layer and keep it off drafty windowsills.
I like anthousa violet black currant as a fragrance for people who normally avoid violet, since the fruit makes it far lighter than a typical violet candle.
I like anthousa violet black currant for people who normally avoid violet, since the fruit makes it far lighter.
Reusing the glass
The frosted Italian glass tumbler washes out with soap and water, so it can live a second life as a bud vase or a votive holder. I like to cut a few stems of something small and put them in it on a windowsill.
Wait until the wax has cooled and hardened, then wipe out any residue. Never pour hot wax down a drain.
The bright pattern on the packaging is part of the appeal. It sits happily on a shelf, which makes the candle a good gift for someone who likes color. Pair it with a bunch of fresh flowers from the market and you have a present that looks as good as it smells.
Anthousa violet black currant looks as good as it smells, with bold packaging that suits a bright shelf.
A gift of anthousa violet black currant pairs well with a bunch of fresh flowers.
Enjoying a limited edition
Limited fragrances tend to stay around for a year or two, so if you love one, buy a backup. I would rather have a spare candle on the shelf than regret it later.
For a related violet scent from another maker, read Votivo Rush of Rose and Morning Violet, and for a flower-lover’s guide to a different bloom, see Peony Fragrances.
If you want to know more about the plant itself, the Wikipedia article on the genus Viola explains the violet family.
Enjoy it while it is here.
Because the scent is limited, it is worth smelling in person when you can. Fruity florals can shift once they warm up, and the violet may grow louder or softer than you expect. Give it a few minutes before you decide.
Sip a cup of tea, burn a candle, and let the fruity violet do its work. A limited fragrance like anthousa violet black currant deserves at least one slow evening.
Sip tea, burn a candle, and give anthousa violet black currant one slow evening before the limited run ends.
Anthousa violet black currant is limited, so buy a spare.
Header photo: Nanda93, Wikimedia Commons (Public domain).
