Why lily of the valley perfumes are beautiful for wedding season and beyond

Next to versatile roses and intoxicating jasmines, lily of the valley is one of the most important florals in perfumery. The scent of this delicate woodland flower, with its small, milky white pendants, has been used in fragrances for decades, but it was arguably Dior’s Diorrissimo (created by Edward Roudnitska in 1955) that put it on the map. Known for being Christian Dior’s favourite flower, fresh sprigs of lily of the valley were once sewn into the lining of his gowns so audiences got a whiff of the scent as the models graced his runways.

Historically, lily of the valley—also known as muguet—is an emblem of purity, rebirth and joy. The flower was gifted to Charles XI in France on May 1st 1561, a tradition he continued with the ladies of the court year-after-year. Royal brides including Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and Grace Kelly all had muguets in their wedding bouquets (which no doubt smelt as beautiful as it looked) while Princesses Kate and Diana also opted for lily of the valley scents as their wedding fragrances. But in perfumery, lily of the valley notes are never obtained from the real flower as the oil produced smells nothing like its petals. "While every perfume house has its own methods and processes, at Acqua di Parma we always believe in allowing our products' essence to shine through. In the case of the lily of the valley, as it is not possible to extract its essence, it is up to one's mastery in recreating the flower's scent," explains Paola Paganini, product development and innovation manager at Acqua di Parma.

The romance around lily of the valley and its sweet, lemon-tinged scent makes it a dreamy option not just for brides, but for wedding guests too and this decade sees plenty of launches breathing new life into this classic note by way of breezy, fresh compositions that are anything but stifling.

"It is a perfectly balanced floral scent that radiates in verdant clarity and velvet softness. A powerful and joyful reawakening," describes Paganini.

13 beautiful lily of the valley fragrances that deserve a spot on your dressing table:

Aerin Mediterranean Honeysuckle Eau de Parfum

The bouquet of gardenia, jasmine and lily of the valley will take you straight to Mediterranean beaches. It's a sunny composition perfect for sweltering hot weather thanks as the addition of refreshing citruses which keep this scent from being a floral overload.

Gucci The Alchemist's Garden Tears From The Moon Eau de Parfum

 

Under the discerning nose of perfumer Alberto Morillas, lily of the valley leans into its animalic side in this refreshing white floral composition. Top notes of fluffy peonies keep this scent feeling cool and elegant—perfect for summer.

Loewe Aire Anthesis Eau de Parfum

Loewe's perfumer Nuria Cruelles has perfected the art of creating holiday-ready scents. Aire Anthesis is a breezy take on lily of the valley grounded with amber and dewy roses. An easy spritz to pair with a floaty kaftan.

Floris Lily Eau de Parfum

 

Trust heritage brand Floris to concoct a lily of the valley scent that's utterly elegant and understated. Inspired by the flower buds rather than lilies in full bloom, this gentle scent also has musky undertones that sit nicely on skin.

Acqua Di Parma Acqua di Parma Lily of the Valley Eau de Parfum

 

An airy white floral composition shot through with shimmering light thanks to top notes of grapefruit and bergamot. It's the broderie anglaise of lily of the valleys, perfect for the warm weather.

Dior Diorissimo Eau de Toilette

Imagine burying your face in basketful of freshly-picked lily of the valley on a sunny day and you get the iconic Diorissimo. It boasts impressive longevity too, lingering on skin for hours on end.

Cartier Pur Muguet Eau de Toilette

 

Cartier's Pur Muguet is the first blooms of lilies in spring, seen through a rain-speckled windowpane. It's dewy and fresh, with green notes cutting through the floral to keep it modern.

Byredo Inflorescence Eau de Parfum

Byredo describes Inflorescence as "a floral scent capturing the strength and delicacy of wild garden blossoms". We say, this is one of the easiest floral scents to wear, especially if you usually find scents with jasmine, rose and lilies too heady. Subtle hints of verdant green stems and leaves makes it the ideal warm weather fragrance.

Frédéric Malle Synthetic Jungle Eau de Parfum

While others are keen to spotlight 'natural' ingredients, revered perfume houses and perfumers understand the importance of high quality synthetics. Not only do synthetics allow for imaginative compositions, there's also environmental benefits to using them instead of rare (and often unsustainable) natural ingredients. Ever the trailblazer, Frederic Malle puts synthetics in the limelight with Synthetic Jungle. It's unapologetically green and lush, with the lightest touch of lily of the valley to balance the aromatic basil and patchouli dry-down.

Penhaligon's Lily Of The Valley Eau de Toilette

 

If it's a refined white floral you're after, look no further. Penhaligon's take on lily of the valley is steeped in nostalgia and romance, with gleaming notes of bergamot peeking through. We imagine this is what Daphne Bridgerton smells like on her wedding day.

Maison Margiel Replica Springtime in a Park Eau de Toilette

 

Picture a languorous spring afternoon spent reading amongst the blossoming flowers in Regent's Park. This is exactly that, bottled. It's youthful and cheering, with hints of sweet, juicy pear on a bed of cottony musks.

Tocca Giuletta Eau de Parfum

 

Giuletta's a people-pleaser, and she's proud of it. It's everything you want in a summer scent: pleasant, lightweight, and crisp. The handy little bottle makes it a great on-the-go perfume for midday spritzes too.

Molton Brown Lily & Magnolia Blossom Eau de Parfum

 

Inspired by the bucolic Cornish landscape, Lily & Magnolia Blossom is joyful and enveloping, with creamy petals floating on a base of warm sandalwood. Nothing too heavy here, as white tea keeps it grounded and sophisticated.

 

This article was first published on harpersbazaar.com/uk in May 2024. 

Feature image credit: Hearst 

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