Violets in the Victorian Age

During the nineteenth century, violets were highly valued plants in Europe, especially in the courts of Napoleon III and Queen Victoria. Many new varieties were introduced, and some even won awards at events organised by the Royal Horticultural Society. In nineteenth-century English literature, violets were frequently mentioned, and they were grown outdoors or in greenhouses and sold on the streets of major cities. The French Riviera was a perfect location for cultivating violets because of the mild climate and soil. When Queen Victoria chose to spend part of her year there, the region became a popular holiday destination for the European aristocracy. The Grasse perfume industry used essential oils extracted from plants grown in the area, including violets, to make perfumes and other personal hygiene products. The Victorian language of flowers also gave violets a symbolic meaning related to discretion and humility. At the dawn of the Victorian Age, as society underwent significant changes, violets began to lose their cultural relevance.