Lily of the Valley (1976)
by Penhaligon's

This is a very good Lily of the Valley scent: very accurate and pleasing. There is a fleeting citrus opening. The Penhaligon site characterizes this as a “sweet, fresh and graceful floral” with a “creamy white heart.” I can’t improve on that description. The muguet is aided and abetted by a charming jasmine note. The dry-down is charming, the florals persist and are supported by light moss and sandalwood. Yes, this is a floral scent, and it is sweet and lovely. As a man, I wouldn’t normally wear this sort of thing (though I’d enjoy it on a woman). But I just love the scent of Lily of the Valley flowers, so once in a while I might put a little on and have a whiff of spring. Those flowers are so lovely, so brief in their season.

Along with Bluebell, my two favorites of Penhaligon’s women’s scents. This, like Bluebell, is a true evocation of the flower. This Lily of the Valley is sweet, not sharp as other oil distillations of this flower can be. It is softened by rose, ylang ylang and jasmine. An excellent breath of spring.

9 notes:
Top: Bergamot, Lemon, Geranium
Middle: Lily of the Valley, Rose, Ylang Ylang, Jasmine
Base: Oakmoss, Sandalwood

Well, it smells like lily of the valley. Quite sheer and fresh, not as intoxicating as the actual flower. It does smell a bit artificial, but perhaps lily of the valley is just overused in different hygiene and skin products. But I think it has a certain "fresh" or "soft" quality that the actual flower lacks, a bit like they watered the actual scent down so it would be nonoffensive.

My middle name is Lillian, so i'm always keen to try a lily scent. I sprayed some of this on my wrist, sniffed: nothing. I waited for the dry-down, walked out of the shop and had another sniff: nothing. I walked down the street for a while and had yet another sniff - this time I could faintly smell something: a very pure, green, lily of the valley smell. It was charming and delicious and reminded me of the flower AND its natural surroundings: rivers, streams and a cool wooded glade. Lovely in fact - just very, VERY faint.
I will try it again, but I am still bemused by the weak strength of this scent.

This smells really similar to the natural flower. A cool, clean and noble lily of the valley scent. I in fact can't smell any other note, only lily of the valley. But for such a light and cool perfume it lasts very very long. Great quality!