Violette d'Alger (1936)

Launched in 1936, Violette d’Alger by Parfums Ciro carried a name that was at once exotic and evocative. Translated from French, Violette d’Alger means “Violet of Algiers” (pronounced as "vee-oh-LET dahl-ZHAY"). The name conjures images of delicate violet blooms growing under the bright North African sun, evoking a sense of romance, elegance, and distant lands. There is a wistful, almost cinematic quality to the name: it suggests springtime, dewy flowers, and a quiet refinement, transporting the wearer to a garden bathed in gentle light and fragrant with violet petals. For women of the 1930s, this name implied sophistication, worldly taste, and an appreciation for refined, luxurious pleasures.

The period in which Violette d’Alger was introduced was a fascinating era in perfumery and fashion. The mid-1930s, situated between the aftermath of the Great Depression and the approach of World War II, saw a desire for escapism, elegance, and glamour. Fashion was defined by sleek, elongated silhouettes, luxurious fabrics, and an air of understated opulence, and perfumery mirrored this trend. Women sought fragrances that expressed individuality and refinement while remaining accessible and wearable. In this context, a perfume named Violette d’Alger promised sophistication, floral freshness, and a subtle exoticism—qualities that aligned with contemporary desires for elegance tempered with imagination.

Classified as a floral aldehyde oriental for women, Violette d’Alger was described as “sophisticated, rich in zest, and the odor of spring violets, wistful and dewy.” Violet had long been a beloved fragrance note, popular throughout the 19th century and well into the early 20th. Most perfumeries offered their own interpretations, following established structures, with slight modifications to personalize the scent. Violette d’Alger stood out not because violet was unusual—it was a classic—but because Parfums Ciro combined it with aldehydes and subtle oriental elements, reflecting the modernizing trends of the 1930s. Early violet perfumes relied heavily on natural extracts, tinctures, and infusions, but by this time, synthetics and aroma chemicals were increasingly incorporated. These modern ingredients enhanced the vibrancy and longevity of the natural violet accord, allowing perfumers to produce a more consistent and luminous fragrance that maintained the delicate sweetness and powdery nuances while introducing sparkling, airy aldehydic highlights.

In comparison to other perfumes on the market, Violette d’Alger was both part of a continuing violet tradition and a subtle innovation. It respected the familiar structure of violet perfumes but imbued it with a contemporary sophistication and a hint of exotic allure, suggested by its Algerian reference. For the fashionable woman of the 1930s, the perfume represented a union of tradition and modernity: a familiar floral beloved by generations, yet refreshed with the daring and refinement that defined the period. It captured the era’s fascination with elegance, cosmopolitan sophistication, and the imaginative journeys that fragrances could offer, making it a memorable and evocative choice for women of its time.

Fragrance Composition:

So what does it smell like? Violette d'Alger is classified as a floral aldehyde oriental fragrance for women. It was described as "Sophisticated, rich in zest, and the odor of spring violets, wistful and dewy."

• Top notes: aldehyde C-12, bergamot, petitgrain, neroli, cassie, almond, violet leaf, Manila ylang ylang oil
• Middle notes: heliotropin, violet, ionone alpha, orris oil concrete, jasmine absolute, Bulgarian rose otto
• Base notes: clove oil, isosafrol, sandalwood, cedar, benzoin, musk, civet

Scent Profile:

Violette d’Alger opens with a sparkling, luminous bouquet, immediately announcing itself with aldehyde C-12, a synthetic molecule known for its effervescent, slightly fatty, waxy-luminous quality. On first breath, it imparts a sense of airy brightness, lifting the entire composition and giving the floral notes a radiant, almost dewy clarity. Layered atop this effervescence is Calabrian bergamot, its essential oils bursting with a sun-drenched citrus vibrancy unique to southern Italy, where the volcanic soil imparts slightly sweeter, more nuanced fruitiness. 

The top also carries petitgrain, derived from the leaves and twigs of the bitter orange tree, its green, slightly woody facets adding freshness and complexity. Neroli brings delicate floral citrus, its aroma rich in linalool and linalyl acetate, giving a sparkling, honeyed softness that contrasts beautifully with the more structured green notes. Cassie adds a subtle powdery sweetness reminiscent of mimosa, while almond contributes a warm, nutty nuance, rounded and comforting. 

The freshness of violet leaf, with its crisp, green, slightly watery aroma from ionones, balances the florals, and Manila ylang ylang oil, rich in linalool and benzenoids, adds a creamy, exotic sweetness, floral yet slightly fruity. Together, these top notes create an opening that is simultaneously bright, sophisticated, and evocative of springtime blooms kissed by sunlight.

The heart of Violette d’Alger unfolds into a luxurious floral bouquet, soft yet opulent. Heliotropin, a synthetic note that evokes the creamy sweetness of cherry blossom and vanilla-like nuances, harmonizes the florals while enhancing longevity. Violet brings its classic powdery, slightly green aroma, created by natural ionones, giving an unmistakable, wistful sweetness. Ionone alpha amplifies this powdery facet, heightening the violet’s elegance while introducing subtle woody undertones. 

Orris oil concrete, extracted from Tuscan iris roots, lends a refined, powdery, almost ethereal quality, its irones adding depth and complexity. Jasmine absolute offers rich, narcotic floral opulence, its benzyl acetate and indoles giving creamy, radiant sweetness that bridges the powdery florals with the spicier, warmer base. Finally, Bulgarian rose otto, revered for its exceptional richness and freshness, lends a rosy, slightly green lift, its citronellol and geraniol compounds contributing a living, breathing quality to the heart. The interplay of natural florals with synthetics like heliotropin ensures brightness, clarity, and harmony, preventing the bouquet from becoming overly heavy while retaining elegance.

The base is where Violette d’Alger deepens into warmth, sensuality, and understated exoticism. Clove oil from Madagascar, rich in eugenol, provides a spicy, aromatic lift with a soft sweetness, while isosafrol, a synthetic, intensifies its warmth and longevity without the harsher bite of raw clove. Sandalwood, sourced from India, brings creamy, balsamic richness, its santalol molecules offering a lingering, smooth warmth that anchors the perfume. 

Cedar, with its resinous, woody character, adds structure and dryness, complementing the warmth of sandalwood. Benzoin, a resin from Southeast Asia, introduces sweet, balsamic richness, softening the woodiness while enhancing depth. Musk imparts a delicate, velvety animalic undertone, and civet—used in trace, synthetic form—adds subtle sensuality and a naturalistic, lingering warmth. The result is a base that is creamy, spicy, and sophisticated, supporting the luminous floral heart while leaving a soft, seductive trail.

In totality, Violette d’Alger is a floral aldehyde oriental that balances sparkle and sophistication with warmth and sensuality. From the radiant, green-citrus-floral top, through the powdery, elegant heart, to the creamy, warm base, it evokes spring violets kissed by sunlight, touched with spice, and anchored in deep, lasting refinement. The thoughtful use of synthetics alongside high-quality natural extracts allows each note to shine, enhancing clarity, longevity, and complexity—capturing the elegance and modernity that defined Parfums Ciro in the 1930s.

 

The Winnipeg Tribune, 1938:

"CIRO'S FRENCH EAU DE COLOGNE. Including Doux Jasmin, Gardenia Sauvage, Reflections, Surrender, Camellia de Maroc, Violette D'Alger. Regular $1.50"

Paris Shopping Directory, 1945;

"Les Parfums de CIRO 4, PLACE VENDOME — TEL. OPERA 90-99 Parfums : Danger, Surrender, Réflexions, Chevalier de la Nuit, Doux Jasmin, Gardénia Sauvage, Rouge Po-Go, Caméllia du Maroc, Violette d'Alger."

Bottles:

Fate of the Fragrance:

The precise date of discontinuation for Violette d’Alger remains unknown, though evidence suggests it remained available to consumers at least until 1956. During this period, the perfume continued to embody the refined elegance and sophisticated floral charm that had defined it since its launch in 1936. Its presence on the market through the mid-1950s attests to its enduring appeal among women who appreciated its wistful, powdery violet character and modernized aldehydic-floral composition.

Parfums Ciro, the company behind this and other distinguished fragrances, ultimately ceased perfume production in 1961. The closure marked the end of an era for a house that had skillfully blended tradition and innovation, leaving behind a legacy of iconic perfumes, including Violette d’Alger, that continued to influence perfumery and inspire collectors and enthusiasts alike.