Violets of Malmaison

Violets and their scents were extremely popular during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, but they were especially loved during Napoleonic times. 

Josephine adored them. And although she was known for her love of roses, she also loved violets and planted masses of them in her flower beds at Malmaison. 

Our Violets of Malmaison bar brings back the beauty of the Malmaison gardens when the air was filled with the sweet scent of spring violets. 

The bar's lovely lather and its pure violet perfume combine to give you a truly delicious bathing experience, one that Josephine would have enjoyed.

Weight  7.65 oz /  216 grams

Ingredients

Olive oil, coconut oil, sodium hydroxide, water, babassu oil, cocoa butter, mango butter, shea butter, fragrance oil, argan oil, avocado oil, castor oil, vegan sugar, sweet almond oil, kaolin clay, titanium dioxide, sea salt, micas (mica, titanium dioxide, tin dioxide, chromium green oxide, iron oxide, and activated charcoal.)

History

Violets during the time of Napoleon were more than just an adored flower and scent.  

They were also a symbol of secret communication. 

After Napoleon's first abdication and during his exile in Elba, there began to be rumblings about his return.  The majority of the French did not appreciate the Bourbons being restored to the throne and they longed for their emperor.

And so they began to exchange allusions to violets in their conversation.  A simple question of "Do you like violets?" might elicit a response of "I like violets-they return in the spring."  Or even something more pointed as "just like violets, HE will return in the spring."  

Secret Bonapartists began to exchange a print which gave them hope and also served as a communication to other supporters of Napoleon.  It showed a bouquet of violets with silhouettes of the Emperor, the Empress and their son, the King of Rome, hidden among the leaves and blossoms.  

It's the same print that we use on our label for the Violets of Malmaison soap. (see below)

And if you are unfamiliar with rest of the story, yes, Napoleon did return to France in the spring--with the violets.