Lily-of-the-Valley

What it is

Lily-of-the-valley is Convallaria majalis, a perennial native from Europe to the Caucasus.

In perfumery it is usually called muguet, and it is one of the clearest examples of a famous floral note that is primarily a reconstructed accord rather than a natural flower extract.

Why it is reconstructed

The fresh flower does not provide a commercially viable traditional essential oil or absolute that captures the familiar bloom.

Perfumers therefore build muguet from synthetic floral materials chosen to reproduce its fresh, green, dewy character.

What to notice

A lily-of-the-valley accord can suggest:

• cool white flowers
• morning dew
• green stems
• soft soapiness
• transparent sweetness
• fresh spring air
• a faint powdery finish

It is typically cleaner and more transparent than jasmine, tuberose or gardenia.

Historical formulas versus modern formulas

Some historically important muguet molecules have faced modern safety restrictions or reformulation pressure, so a contemporary muguet accord may be built differently from a mid-century one.

For this library, the category represents the muguet effect, not one fixed formula.