Violas or pansies. Which is superior?

I have a pot of little purple violas on the terrace outside my back door - they were blooming when I planted them in the autumn, the bloomed over Christmas, they were blooming when the snow started falling - they were buried under about 9" of thick snow for at least a week, probably more - when they emerged they looked very sorry for themselves, but 10 days after the snow had melted they were budding up and now their little faces are smiling up at me whenever I open the door  and the perfume .... it's wonderful, absolutely wonderful  - I love them, they beat pansies hands down 

Yep, Violas get the thumbs up from me every time, great plants. 

I love Violas, they always look so dainty. But, I like Pansies too, I have quite a few panies in my front garden and I must say in their defence that they flower their socks off every year, Even if they do go a bit leggy after a while I just cut them back and off they go again. Now Violas, I also have these in my front garden, and I have to say they look so sweet bobbing in the breeze and yes I have to agree Verdun they are more classy but I can't help it, I love them both

I like both.

violas get my vote.

Verdun wrote (see)

Hiya Dove, do you know what variety those violas are? I've grown many varieties over the years but never been aware of their scent. I'm quite tall so maybe I need to bend down more...ha ha. So, consensus is violas are the winners

I bought them from Notcutts, the label calls them Viola Violet Blue and says they were produced by http://www.farplants.co.uk but I can't find anything about them specifically on their website.  

The day I bought them I got home and I unloaded some stuff out of my car and then took a phone call - when I went back to the car the violas had been in the warm car in the sunshine for about 10 minutes - as I opened the door the perfume hit my senses - it was lovely - and even in the winter, if they get some warm sunshine on them and I bury my nose in the pot there's that beautiful scent again 

Viola for me too as they survive our harsh winters much better than namby pamby pansies.   I like the daintier flowers and markings too.

planted  up violas this year much better show and have survived the snow it was lovely to see them after the thaw get my vote

I think it depends on the situation planting, If you want strong large blooms then Pansies but for masses of smaller flowers then violas work a treat, I love them both, why not plant both.

Or what about Panolas - a cross of both plants http://www.panamseed.com/series_info.aspx?phid=046705326004702 

Did I read right, Panolas only flower for 5-7 days? (I assume thats per flower)

Hm, missed this, sorry Dave .... I think that 5-7 days refers to the plants all coming into bloom together, within a week of each other, if sown at the same time and under the same conditions - it's a piece of blurb for commercial growers.

Panolas bloom and bloom and bloom - they inherit that from the violas 

This is a US site, but gives a picture of the violet Dove mentions (I think). It mentions that it has a scent.

http://www.learn2grow.com/plants/viola-cornuta-rocky-violet-blue-rocky-series/