Lily of the Valley Perfume: Clean, Green and Soapy

A lily of the valley perfume is what many people mean when they ask for something "clean": light, airy and green, with a soft sweetness that stops short of sugary. This guide explains what the note smells like, how it behaves in a composition and how it shows up in six Mykonos perfumes. We are an authorized Mykonos retailer for Europe; the notes and ratings below come from the brand's product data and handbook, and the rest is general perfumery background. For the wider clean effect, including laundry and soap, see our guide to perfume that smells clean.

What does lily of the valley smell like in perfume?

Think of three things at once. First, green: dewy stems and fresh leaves rather than petals. Second, clean: a soft, soapy-sweet floral that reads as freshly washed. Third, airy: it is a light note that lifts a composition instead of weighing it down. It is gentler than jasmine and far less creamy than tuberose, which is why it turns up so often in scents described as fresh, soft or elegant. Perfumers call the note muguet; in German it is Maiglöckchen and in Dutch lelietje-van-dalen.

Where does a lily of the valley note come from?

The flower itself gives no usable oil, so perfumers build the note from other materials. On a note list, "lily of the valley" therefore names a smell, not an ingredient, and two perfumes with the same word can feel quite different. What you can count on is the effect: green, clean and slightly soapy-sweet. Our fragrance notes glossary explains accords and other terms that appear on the same lists.

How does lily of the valley behave in a composition?

In the Mykonos range it is a heart note in 13 of the 14 perfumes that list it, and a top note in one, Mykonos Coconut Dreams. That fits its character: it freshens and lifts the middle of a scent. Its usual jobs:

• It freshens white florals. Beside jasmine it is the cooler, greener partner; see what jasmine smells like for the warmer side.
• It adds a clean, green note to fruit, citrus and herbs.
• With musk it gives the "just washed" feel; its soapy-sweet side also overlaps with powdery perfumes.

Lily of the valley perfume in the Mykonos range: six scents to try

Green and aromatic

Mykonos Constantine is the greenest. Lily of the valley sits in the heart with jasmine, lavender and artemisia, under cardamom, violet leaf, pineapple and mandarin orange, over amberwood, moss and white musk. Mykonos lists the accord as aromatic, green and floral, and the scent for spring and summer; it gives no sillage, projection or longevity rating. See the Mykonos Constantine review for the full wear.

Mykonos Glitch puts the same note into a fresh, spicy heart with lavender, artemisia, pink pepper, vanilla and dried jasmine, under bergamot, apple, grapefruit and charred pineapple, over patchouli, vanilla and musk. Mykonos lists it for summer and rates sillage and projection as strong.

Marine and citrus

Mykonos Reflection opens with grapefruit, ginger and bergamot, then sets lily of the valley with marine notes and cardamom, over musk, patchouli, amber and ambroxan. Mykonos lists the accord as citrus, fresh spicy and floral, and rates sillage and projection as moderate to strong. Our Mykonos Reflection review goes deeper, and fresh and aquatic fragrances compared shows the breezy end of the range.

Soft and fruity

Mykonos Silent Whisper is the gentle one: apple, honeydew and melon on top, lily of the valley and amber in the heart, vanilla and amber underneath. It is labelled feminine and listed for summer, with moderate to strong sillage and strong projection.

Creamy and tropical

Mykonos Luminos sets lily of the valley among white florals, rose, tuberose, orange blossom and vanilla, under apple and a banana accord, over amber, cashmere wood and edible notes. The result is a creamy floral, listed for spring and summer with strong sillage and projection.

Mykonos Coconut Dreams is the exception: lily of the valley is a top note here, beside coconut and aloe vera, over a heart of coconut cream, vanilla and sweet rice. It is a tropical gourmand in which the flower acts as a fresh, clean opening.

Lily of the valley perfumes at a glance

Longevity is Mykonos's own handbook rating; how long a scent lasts on you depends on skin and climate. All six are listed by Mykonos for summer, and the floral collection gathers the wider family.

How do you choose a lily of the valley perfume?

Start from the mood you want around the flower. For green and herbal, Constantine. For citrus and sea air, Reflection. For something soft and quiet, Silent Whisper. For creamy and bright, Luminos, and for a warm, sweet take, Coconut Dreams. Glitch is the pick if you want the note inside a fresh, spicy scent. Then give it time on skin, because lily of the valley is a heart note and shows itself after the opening.

Frequently asked questions

What does lily of the valley perfume smell like?

Clean, green, fresh and slightly soapy-sweet, light and airy rather than heavy.

Is muguet another word for lily of the valley?

Yes. Muguet is the French name, and perfumers use it as shorthand for the note. German calls it Maiglöckchen and Dutch lelietje-van-dalen.

Does lily of the valley smell like soap?

Often, in a soft and slightly sweet way. That soapy side is why the note appears in so many clean-smelling perfumes.

How many Mykonos perfumes have a lily of the valley note?

At least 14. In 13 of them it sits in the heart, and in Mykonos Coconut Dreams it is a top note.

Keep reading

• Perfume that smells clean: laundry, soap and six to try
• Jasmine perfume: what does jasmine smell like?
• Fresh and aquatic fragrances compared: nine ways to smell clean