milica Report post Posted December 18, 2008 (edited) Imperial violet softened by wisteria and chrysanthemum, but edged with the regal iciness of delphinium. Started off like a nice floral, and in 5 minutes became all violet soapy, like some soaps that my grandma used to have 20 years ago in her closets. Big no, swap. Edited December 18, 2008 by milica Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Suu4LC Report post Posted February 5, 2009 Very nice violet scent in the imp. A more floral violet and less candied violet than some of the other bpal violets i've tried. Oh yes, this is a beautiful, soft violet. Gorgeous! Sweet, but not sugary-very classy and not old grandma-ish to my nose at all! Overall, I really enjoyed this blend. I'm not sure I would pick it up, but it is an excellent violet blend and I would recommend all violet lovers check it out! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CynicalPink Report post Posted March 6, 2009 Imp: Pretty. Very dainty Wet: Very purple-y. Wisteria is so soft and pretty, and with the violet it's a very fluffy, dainty scent Dry: Classy. Still a soft, spring-y purple to me Overall: I like it. A delicate and dainty scent like this is nice on the right day. I'm hanging on to the imp for now to see if it gets any love Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stellans Report post Posted March 25, 2009 (edited) This scent is rightfully named for a queen, and especially one of Shakespeare's tragic queens at that. The violet note in this blend is not the sweet sugarine violet of the Carnaval Diabolique Twins, nor the somnolent violet of Nocturne. This is the feminine violet of a powerful female. It's fantastic, and I'm finding the other notes listed for this blend are all subordinate to this power feminine violet... I want to wear my <a href="http://stores.channeladvisor.com/Holyclothing/Items/h332700?sck=10557884&caSKU=h332700&caTitle=Alyssa%20Gothic%20Bell%20Sleeve%20Empire%20Butterfly%20Dress%203X" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">long purple Holy Clothing dress</a>, and my black boots so I can take long, powerful strides. I want to wear my large-brimmed purple hat, and my dark sunglasses. I want to stare down a rude sales associate, and laugh as I saunter away. Rawr. Edited April 6, 2011 by stellans Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
angelicruin Report post Posted May 18, 2009 Sniffing the imp, it's violets. On my skin, initially all violets. As it dries, I pick up more of the chrysanthemum and wisteria. A little too floral concentrated for my taste. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Victory Report post Posted July 4, 2009 When I first saw the note list, I thought "grandmother." I don't know which of those notes made me think old lady, but that was my preconception. So I tested this oil with not a little apprehension, especially since I haven't had a fantastic experience with violet. As soon as I put the oil on, I smelled something that made me think of lilacs, but not lilacs themselves. I didn't have the note list with me, so I wandered around the day wondering what it was, since I only remembered delphinium and violet. I sniffed the delphinium I had bought my mother, but that had no scent. Just now I'm looking at the notes and it must be wisteria. (Now that I think of it, yes, I remember wisteria from Purple Phoenix.) The wisteria gives the scent a gray-purple feel. There's also something in there that has a real warmth, somehow almost an edible warmth. In the end, there is almost a powdered aspect. It doesn't smell like powder, maybe more like flowers that have dried and been broken into pieces. I was pleasantly surprised by the Queen. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sarajane Report post Posted July 26, 2009 A beautiful violet. I would call this a "soft floral", but it's not really. It's a floral for a strong woman. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Leopard403 Report post Posted July 28, 2009 Usually I have a hard time with violets; they somehow turn slightly metallic and ozone-y on my skin. But Queen Gertrude is a pleasant surprise, in that it is soft, powdery violets on a background of white florals. Very wearable, but only when you want people to notice that you are wearing perfume. And a little dab will do ya; this stuff is strong! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HKB Report post Posted August 9, 2009 There's a sweet watery floral in this that I like, the violet? But it's on a bed of generic powdery florals. Not very strong, and a bit boring to my nose. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
topazphoenix Report post Posted August 18, 2009 I like this one. Violet and wisteria is a good combination. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redderz Report post Posted August 31, 2009 In the imp: Violets. Reminds me a lot of Purple Phoenix. It has two of the same notes. Wet: Yes, this is still PP, but without the grapes. It's very violet! Dry: I think I'll stick to PP, but it is quite nice. Floral and sweet. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ouch! Report post Posted September 17, 2009 Thank you lab from the frimp of Queen Gertrude! I'm not a lover of floral so..not a massive fan of this. This is a translucent violet, very faint...very delicate. Would suit someone older (And not because of the whole..floral/granny thing) I just think of someone quite refined wearing it. I can smell the Chrysanthemum only a little bit and I'm not really sure what Delphinum smells like. It's not an in your face floral at all, it's subtle and light. Off to the swaps pile. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
voorishsign Report post Posted September 24, 2009 (edited) "O Hamlet, speak no more: Thou turn'st my very eyes into my soul, And there I see such black and grained spots As will not leave their tinct." - William Shakespeare, Hamlet Got this as a frimp - it's too feminine for me to use, but I like to try all frimps I get out of general principle just to train my nose a little. This is an interesting floral - it's very mature, refined and delicate, and not as sweet and playful as most florals, but rather authorative. It certainly fits a queen - it would probably do well in a professional environment since this is also a very understated, quiet and dry scent. Edited September 27, 2009 by voorishsign Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Veronica Report post Posted October 2, 2009 Sweet, warm straight-out violet (maybe a hint of chrysanthemum that's adding to the warmth), pretty but just not for me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sirensea Report post Posted December 17, 2009 Very soft, pretty and feminine. It'd be the perfect scent for a summer wedding. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hmelt004 Report post Posted March 21, 2010 Queen G is my holy grail of florals. I usually hate florals, but I was going through all the Illyria oils because I'm obsessed with Shakespeare and I found...her. Regal, icy, maybe. Soft and sweet and gorgeous, definitely. This oil began my love of violets. If you also love violets, but want something stronger and sweeter, try Violet Ray, in the Steamworks section. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Venneh Report post Posted March 29, 2010 (edited) Definitely an initial violet, with a sharpness from the chrysanthemums, and the wisteria and delphinium lending a lighter edge to this. On my skin, it's seeming to be violets and chrysanthemums at first, we'll see if the wisteria and delphinium come out at all. Ends up being a nice, light floral, going to give it a further skin test. On the full skin test, I'm getting an icy violet and wisteria, with chrysanthemums and delphinium supporting. Looking like another bottle. A nice, subtle, unusual floral, definitely going on my bottle list. Edited March 31, 2010 by Venneh Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ModderRhu Report post Posted April 26, 2010 Queen Gertrude This smells just like Violet Ray on me! It's a little fresher, but otherwise identical. Staying power is not as good as Violet Ray. My skin amps the violet in this blend and I can't smell any of the other flowers. Oh well. It's fresh and clean and has a decent throw. 3 out of 5 *This was frimped to me from the Lab! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Reedsong Report post Posted April 26, 2010 Queen Gertrude is perfumey sweet and brings to mind a lovely meeting between C. Howard's violet candies and Crabtree & Evelyn's wisteria perfume. It's antique, faint like the breath from a flower garden, and dignified without seeming stuffy or decayed. This fragrance wafts pleasingly from my wrists every few minutes; it's strong enough to satisfy my senses, but light and fresh enough to suit a professional, solemn, or other kind of occasion in which a heavy or sexy oil wouldn't be appropriate. This is a must-try for flower lovers, especially if you like the fragrance of violet flowers but find (as I do) that many violet perfumes turn to soap or powder on your skin; the delphinium and wisteria in Queen Gertrude bring out the beautiful, subtle nuances of the violet and keep the soap smell away. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
raisin Report post Posted April 29, 2010 I love the way this one starts out, because I get very fresh violets. (Though it actually reminds me a lot of actual, still-on-the-bush lilacs as well.) If only this was the scent that stuck around, but unfortunately, after only a minute or two, this fades and softens into something a bit more powdery and traditionally floral. It's not bad, exactly (I don't get soap or old lady), but it's just really not my thing. Alas. I really wanted to like one of the Hamlet gals! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Saya Report post Posted May 15, 2010 Fresh, light violets. I'm not getting much else from this blend. It's nice, but there are other violet scents I prefer. Pass. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
moon_lemming Report post Posted May 30, 2010 Oh, hai, laundry detergent! Not bad, as far as laundry detergent goes, but still not something I'll wear. I would totally buy Queen Gertrude-scented detergent, though. Or maybe dryer sheets. (Sorry I can't be more specific, but I'm horrible with florals, especially the ones that run to detergent or soap.) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Acushla Report post Posted June 13, 2010 Out of the bottle: Very perfumey, in a department-store kind of way. There's that sharp headacheyness lurking in the background that I know will come out if I sniff too much. Upon application: This turns very "old" on me. It's comforting in the sense that it smells like something my mom would wear, but I'm afraid it's just too strong for my taste. Off into the swap pile. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
meredevachon Report post Posted July 9, 2010 Frimp from the Lab. I don't generally wear a lot of florals, although I do okay with blends that include a floral or two (or three on rare occasions) along with other notes I like better. So I'm not very good at picking out specific floral notes. In the imp: Floral. Yeah, that's as specific as I can get. Wet: Cool, pale florals. Sweet but not cloying. Dry: It smells like some floral lotion I got as a present from a relative who didn't know me all that well. Still cool and pale and floral, and so not me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gin Report post Posted April 6, 2011 So violetty! I can't remember another BPAL that had such a strong violet note. In the back, there's a spicy note that could well be the mums, or it could just be more violet. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites