Lily of the valley smells dewy, green and gently floral, with a cool water freshness and a soft sweet heart. It is the classic spring flower note, called muguet in French perfumery.
Convallaria majalis is a beautiful flower that yields no usable essential oil. The note is built entirely from synthetic molecules. The original workhorse was hydroxycitronellal, followed by Lilial and then Lyral, both of which are now restricted or banned under IFRA. Modern muguet accords use Florol, Mayol, Lilyflore and Muguet de Chantilly, carefully blended to reproduce the watery green-floral quality.
Lily of the valley is a heart note and the transparent soul of many feminine florals (Diorissimo, Muguet de Bois, Lily of the Valley by Penhaligon's). Perfumers use it to add springlike innocence to rose and jasmine blends, to lighten aldehydic florals, and to give a clean lift to modern soliflores. It pairs naturally with green leaves, rose, jasmine and white musk.
Lily of the valley performs best in spring and summer daywear.
