Christeah Dupont, Point Ellice House Museum & Gardens
Violets were fashionable during the Victorian era for their delicate aroma, further popularized by Queen Victoria whose journals frequently repeat her adoration of the tiny blossoms. At the time, different meanings became associated with different flowers; violets signified faithfulness and modesty.
Due to its popularity, the violet was frequently used in perfumes and toiletries – fresh cut flowers were also tucked into hat brims or openly worn in button holes. There are numerous bottles of violet perfumes in the Point Ellice House collection; these were often imported from France where the blossoms were commercially grown during the height of their popularity in the latter half of the 19th century. There are a number of “Roger & Gallet” branded perfumes in our collection which makes one wonder if Kathleen or Caroline had a particular fondness for this specific scent. The soap brand “Pears” also had their own violet scented products, including “toilet powder” and their signature translucent bar soap.
It is also worth noting that fresh violets would have been on display in the rooms at Point Ellice House. In their greenhouse, the O’Reilly family grew ornamental plants and flowers, such as violets, for indoor decoration around the home.
