In short: lily of the valley smells fresh, green and dewy, with a clean, slightly lemony sweetness. It is the smell of a shady spring garden in the morning.
What lily of the valley smells like
Lily of the valley is one of the cleanest floral scents. It is light and watery rather than heavy, with a green-stem freshness and a soft, honeyed sweetness. It often reads as elegant and a little old-fashioned, in the best way, and it is a common part of "clean laundry" and fresh soap scents.
Where it comes from
Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) is a small woodland plant with arching stems of tiny white bells. It is one of the "mute" flowers: its scent can't be captured by distillation or extraction in any useful amount. Every lily of the valley note is a recreation, built by perfumers from aroma molecules that smell fresh, green and floral.
The flower has a long history. In France it is given to friends and family on May 1st for good luck, and Christian Dior loved it so much that he built a perfume around it, Diorissimo, in 1956. Note that the plant itself is poisonous, so keep the real flowers away from children and pets. Our candles use fragrance oils with a lily of the valley accord.
How it is used
Lily of the valley is a heart note. It is used to bring freshness and light to floral blends, and it is a staple of spring and "clean" fragrances.
What it pairs with
- Lilac and honeysuckle, for a spring garden
- Jasmine and rose, for a fuller bouquet
- Lemon peel and green leaves, for extra freshness
- Soft musk and sandalwood, for a clean base
Our candles with lily of the valley
- Pemberley Gardens: lily of the valley, lilac, honeysuckle and jasmine, from Pride and Prejudice.
- First Flowers of Spring: lily of the valley, lilac, wisteria and violet.
- Good-Natured Jane: lily, hydrangea and cherry blossom with lemon peel.
- Bright-Eyed Lizzy: white florals and lily of the valley with lemon peel.
Common questions
Why is it called a "mute" flower? Because the flower's scent can't be extracted, perfumers have to recreate it from other materials.
Is lily of the valley the same as other lilies? No. Despite the name, it isn't a true lily, and it smells much greener and lighter than the heavy, spicy scent of an Easter or stargazer lily.
Explore more notes in our Fragrance Notes A to Z, or browse our Floral candles.