By 21lakesclose
United Kingdom 
can you please tell me if you can still buy a old fashion violet,with a beautiful perfume smell.
my elderly mother-in-law was telling me about the smell,yet when i try to find out any information about them,up pops viola flowers.Are we talking about the same plant,because my viola have'nt a perfume smell coming from them.
thank you so much for telling me about buying seeds to grow the voilets.
thank you also for the offer for some from your own garden.
if you live in guildford area yes please.
thank you for the advice to look for viola odorate
i will try that also.
thank you all for the advise given.
i would just like to sayhow grateful i am for all your comments posted to my question.
found some seed from chilton seeds
13 Jun, 2011
Answers
I think your mother in law was talking about sweet violets, which are a lot bigger than the little dog violets that are a lot more common. I've only seen sweet violets growing wild once, and that was on the cliffs at Exmouth - an unlikely situation! To help you find the right ones look for Viola Odorata. There are several cultivated varieties.
13 Jun, 2011
Look for heirloom varieties of Viola odorata, though. Many of the modern, large flowered kinds have much less scent.
14 Jun, 2011
My friend bought me 3 different varieties of Parma violets that can be used in cooking. They have a lovely smell. You could look on the following link. But note these plants are not hardy. Thay may have the ones your MIL told you about, which may be hardy.
http://www.grovesnurseries.co.uk/categories/Parma--6303.aspx
14 Jun, 2011
I have wild viola odorata growing in my garden and the scent is pretty but not overly strong.
14 Jun, 2011
Previous question
Hello 21lakesclose,
We have some violets in our garden, not violas (which I think are the ones that look like mini-pansies??) they are growing under the hedge, are very tiny plants really and do have a nice scent.
I'm wondering if you would have more luck growing some from seed - try asking the seed companies for advice. If you lived not far from me I could happily dig some up and bring them to you! But I don't know which area of the UK you're in. Please don't write your exact address on your reply, unless you put it in a personal message (PM) back to me. Also it's probably a bit too warm for moving plants around at present. Autumn will be better.
13 Jun, 2011