A staple of French perfumery and loaded with history, lily-of-the-valley is an overlooked note in modern fragrances. The best perfumes with lily of the valley are floral, fresh, feminine, and very much in vogue right now.
The association with ‘classic’ fragrances from yesteryear, for all their glamour, are considered dated and therefore reserved for mature women. However, this is changing, and lily-of-the-valley is on the up once more.
- What Does Lily Of The Valley Smell Like?
- What Scents Go Well With Lily Of The Valley?
- Best Perfumes With Lily Of The Valley
- 1. Guerlain Idylle Eau de Parfum
- 2. Giorgio Armani Privé Les Eaux Jasmin Kusamono Eau de Toilette
- 3. Victoria's Secret First Love Eau de Parfum Eau de Parfum
- 4. Replica Springtime in a Park Eau de Toilette
- 5. Dior Lucky Eau de Parfum
- 6. L'Artisan Parfumeur Champ de Fleurs Eau de Cologne
- 7. MIU MIU L’eau Bleue Eau de Parfum
- 8. Byredo Inflorescence Eau de Parfum
- Ingrid’s Top Pick
- Conclusion
What Does Lily Of The Valley Smell Like?
The smell of lily of the valley is an au natural, powdery, slightly sweet and green springtime floral scent that is beautifully feminine, delicate and clean.
What Scents Go Well With Lily Of The Valley?
Due to its fresh floral nature, the note of lily of the valley goes well with complimenting florals such as jasmine, rose, peony and freesia. Patchouli, woody and musk notes also work well to add a little depth.
Best Perfumes With Lily Of The Valley
The best perfumes with lily of the valley are beautifully floral, clean and fresh. Here are 8 springtime lily of the valley perfumes every girl should consider.
1. Guerlain Idylle Eau de Parfum
Review
Infused with the casual sensuality that is a staple of Guerlain fashion and fragrance, Idylle is a surprisingly subtle yet complex scent that was launched in 2021.
A floral opening of lily-of-the-valley, peony, freesia, and white lily is clean and oh-so feminine. Rose in the heart soon blooms, supported by sweet jasmine.
Patchouli and white musk give the blend some depth and lend the dry down a rich and smoky finish. Settles to a duet of lily-of-the-valley and rose with musky edges.
Top Notes:
Lily Of The Valley, Peony, Freesia, White Lily
Mid Notes:
Jasmine, Bulgarian Rose
Base Notes:
Patchouli, White Musks
Seasons & Longevity
This relatively light floral fragrance fares best during spring and summer daytime. However, I also like it for autumn evenings, especially when paired with a sweet or nutty body cream to create a slightly more robust scent.
You can expect around 4+ hours of wear from this perfume, which is relatively good considering its mostly floral note profile. The main benefit of this fragrance is the musk does an excellent job keeping it going.
2. Giorgio Armani Privé Les Eaux Jasmin Kusamono Eau de Toilette
Review
Bright and fresh, Armani Jasmin Kusamono is a white floral fragrance with green and aquatic edges that makes me think of late springtime by the sea. Launched in 2020.
Opening with Nashi pear and hints of pink pepper, Jasmin Kusamono is sweet, juicy, and slightly spicy. Lily-of-the-valley, orange blossom, and jasmine inject classic floral elegance.
The base of cedar and sandalwood is simple, and it provides a discreet foundation, allowing the notes to linger. Settles to a pretty lily-of-the-valley/pear combo with a touch of jasmine.
Top Notes:
Nashi Pear, Pink Pepper
Mid Notes:
Lily-Of-The-Valley, Orange Blossom, Jasmine Sambac
Base Notes:
Cedar, Sandalwood
Seasons & Longevity
This spring and summer perfume is ideal for anything outdoors, such as picnics, sunny walks, and of course.. alfresco lunches with a glass of something nice.
You won’t get a full day from one application, but you should get 3 to 4 hours with respectable sillage and projection.
3. Victoria’s Secret First Love Eau de Parfum Eau de Parfum
Review
Though primarily a lingerie brand, Victoria’s Secret perfumes and not forgetting their Victoria’s Secret body mists have been increasingly successful. First Love is one of the lighter options in their collection.
The top note is violet leaf, making the opening bright and fresh rather than overly sweet. A heart of lily-of-the-valley blooms slowly to provide a little more depth and traditional floral sweetness.
An exotic, musky base gives First Love a gentle and feminine finish as the dry-down begins. Finishes as a clean yet powdery, pretty white floral fragrance with a sensual side.
As you might expect from Victoria’s Secret, this is a boudoir scent but a little lighter. To my nose, it’s more Chanel like in its delivery and similar to Chanel Chance Eau Tendre EDP.
Top Notes:
Violet Leaf
Mid Notes:
Lily-of-the-Valley
Base Notes:
Musk
Seasons & Longevity
Ideal for springtime wear and summer evenings when the heat has started to fade. It would make a romantic fragrance for both a first date or your weekly date night.
This scent benefits from decent staying power despite its simplicity – expect 4 to 5 hours of wear from one application.
4. Replica Springtime in a Park Eau de Toilette
Review
A part of the ‘REPLICA’ collection, Springtime in a Park has become somewhat of a cult classic. A traditional white floral scent without the dated feel. If you want something that blends floral sweetness with sweet juicy fruits, this is the right choice!
Pear, bergamot, and blackcurrant top notes make the opening wave juicy and sweet with a tangy edge. Lily-of-the-valley dominates the heart, supported by rose and jasmine.
Finally, you are swept away by the sweet and musky base notes of vanilla, musk, and ambroxan. The result is a delicate, complex, and utterly addictive fruity floral scent.
Top Notes:
Pear Accord, Bergamot Essence, Blackcurrant Accord
Mid Notes:
Lily-of-the-Valley Accord, Jasmine Grandiflorum Absolute, Rose Damascena Absolute
Base Notes:
Musks, Vanilla Accord, Ambrox
Seasons & Longevity
As you might imagine, this is an ideal spring and summer perfume that is great for daytime wear. Think romantic walks, fancy lunches, out and about.
One of the drawbacks I found is that this fragrance is not that strong. Expect 3 to 4 hours after application with reasonable sillage and projection.
5. Dior Lucky Eau de Parfum
Review
Despite its incredibly simple profile, Dior Lucky Eau de Parfum exudes sophistication and beauty – which is no less than we would expect from Dior.
Lily-of-the-valley proudly announces Lucky with the semi-sweet and powdery scent commonly associated with vintage make-up products.
This is quickly tempered by white flowers in the heart notes and then elevated by nose-tingling ozonic notes in the base. If you love Apogee by Louis Vuitton but not the price tag, Dior Lucky will be perfect for you.
Top Notes:
Ozonic notes
Mid Notes:
Lily-of-the-Valley
Base Notes:
White Flowers
Seasons & Longevity
Ideal for spring and summer days, this is not a hugely durable or strong fragrance, but it is very Dior and feels wonderful while it’s on you.
The main drawback of this fragrance is its performance. Expect 2 to 3 hours of wear from Lucky before it becomes a skin scent, although you will find that heat can bring it to life once more!
6. L’Artisan Parfumeur Champ de Fleurs Eau de Cologne
Review
A less well-known perfume house than others on this list, L’Artisan Parfumer is nonetheless a name to be reckoned with. The brand teamed up with perfumer genius Anne Flipo for this beautiful 2018 scent.
Top notes of pear and grapefruit make Champ de Fleurs’s’ opening sweet and fresh, giving it a juicy edge. Jasmine and a generous dose of lily-of-the-valley bloom effortlessly in the heart.
The base of this scent is made up of notes of musk, white cedar, and amber, providing a warm and resinous finish. Settles to a simply delightful white floral fragrance with clean citrus and musk.
Top Notes:
Grapefruit, Pear
Mid Notes:
Jasmine, Lily-of-the-Valley
Base Notes:
Musk, White Cedar, Amber
Seasons & Longevity
Perfect for spring and summer days, Champ de Fleurs also works well as a fragrant pick-me-up, setting you up for your entire day.
Expect 4 hours of wear from one application, but be wary of the sharp opening at the first application. The delicate nature of many of the ingredients means that it fares best in mild weather.
7. MIU MIU L’eau Bleue Eau de Parfum
Review
The first fragrance from Miu Miu (2016), L’Eau Bleue, is a stunning floral bouquet in a dainty blue bottle. If you want a springtime scent distilled into liquid form, look no further!
Lily-of-the-valley opens this scent entirely on its own. It is powerful but soft, with no harsh edges and a powdery undertone. Soon, the heart notes of jasmine, wild rose, and honeysuckle unfold but never dominate.
This scent becomes fresher, greener, and takes on a creamy undertone as it evolves. The woody and musky base make it a little more durable than it might otherwise be.
Top Notes:
Lily-of-the-Valley
Mid Notes:
Jasmine, Wild Rose, Green notes, White Flowers, Honeysuckle
Base Notes:
Akigalawood, White Musk
Seasons & Longevity
Wear in spring and summer for the best effect, especially in the daytime when the heat will let the scents really bloom and come into their own.
You can expect 5 to 6 hours of wear from this scent. One benefit is the projection is quite powerful, especially at first.
8. Byredo Inflorescence Eau de Parfum
Review
Byredo is renowned for making unusual and powerful fragrances that create a new experience from otherwise traditional notes. Inflorescence is no exception to this rule.
Top notes of pink freesia and rose petals make the opening soft and sweet. The inherent fresh/powdery heart of lily-of-the-valley meets the slightly zesty scent of magnolia.
Fresh jasmine creates the base of Inflorescence, making the dry down very fresh and sweet. Attention-grabbing yet straightforward, this is surprisingly robust… for a floral blend.
Top Notes:
Pink Freesia, Rose Petals
Mid Notes:
Lily of the Valley, Magnolia
Base Notes:
Fresh Jasmine
Seasons & Longevity
This is an elegant spring/summer daytime fragrance that is incredibly versatile. Wear it to the office, shopping trips, lunches and even wedding receptions.
The lack of traditional base notes impacts its longevity. While this is the perfect scent for a spring day, you may need to overspray or apply it to clothing (watch for staining). Expect to reapply after 3 hours.
Ingrid’s Top Pick
Guerlain Idylle Eau de Parfum
Guerlain Idylle Eau de Parfum is my top pick as best lily of the valley perfume. I chose it because the lily-of-the-valley is beautifully clean and feminine, peony and freesia add complexity, plus the musk dry-down is classy.
Conclusion
These perfumes are some of my all-time favourites. Some have that classic ‘vintage make-up’ smell that many people associate with lily of the valley, while others are a little more modern in their scent profile. Either way, there is a lily of the valley here for every girl, occasion, and mood.
Love white florals? Then don’t forget to check out my article on the 6 best smelling perfumes with neroli.
