Kerbside Violet is a quiet but surprisingly persistent floral that doesn’t try for nostalgia, glamour, or romance, nor drowning it at birth in gallons of fruity syrup. You can still see flowers among the shiny wet metal and a feeling of chewing daisy stems, but it’s far, far more green than purple. There’s definitely pavement in the background here, rather than the damp earthiness of CB I Hate perfume’s Violet Empire, or the drifting around dewy gardens in floaty dresses of Après l’Ondée.

And there are absolutely no tiny packets of chalky sweets or powder puffs tucked into the cliche of granny’s handbag here.

It’s a small, slightly odd wonder that is remarkably easy to wear.

I don’t think I had realised quite how many Lush/Gorilla Perfumes manage to hit that balance for me–like Smell of Weather Turning, Breath of God, Tank Battle, Death and Decay, and Road from Damascus.

originally posted 30 March 2019