Viola Vs Violet

My mother in law has been looking for old fashioned voilets for ages but can only find violas in the nurseries and garden centres round us. Is this the same thing nowadays?? I would love to be able to go back to her with an answer!

I have wild violets growing in my garden, and they are definitely not the same as violas! For one thing they do actually smell....well of violets! Perhaps try a specialist nursery for wild plants?