Muguet Fleuri

Fresh, Dewy, Lily of the Valley Soliflore This is an olfactive portrait of a bed of lily-of-the-valleys covered in the fresh morning dew of spring as a warm light dances through the trees. The fragrance lives up to its namesake and unabashedly proclaims the splendor of the queen flower of perfumery (assuming Rose is the king). I picture a dainty fairy prancing on the leaves while using the bells as cups and drinking the morning dew. This gives enchanted wild garden vibes. It is the scent to complete a flowy olive jacquard satin midi dress with lace trim. If it were a painting it would be Spring by Alphonse Mucha. It also reminds me of The Lily of the Valley illustration and poem by Cicely Mary Barker Gentle fairies, hush your singing: Can you hear my white bells ringing, Ringing as from far away? Who can tell me what they say? Little snowy bells out-springing From the stem and softly ringing— Tell they of a country where Everything is good and fair? Lovely, lovely things for L! Lilac, Lavender as well; And, more sweet than rhyming tells, Lily-of-the-Valley’s bells. I do love a good soliflore, and while other notes are present, Lily of the Valley is the clear focus and star here. Flowers produce as many as 100 different scent molecules and are, on their own, very complex scent profiles. Modern perfumery prefers to inundate our senses with large full bouquets of flowers, which ironically muddies beautifully complex floral fragrances into a barely discernable "floral cloud." While I do enjoy a good floral bouquet scent, I love the simplistic joy and grandeur of this perfume. This makes me feel dreamy and whimsical. If you can't tell, I really like this, but I only wish the longevity was a bit better. I layer this with some lilac essential and jojoba oil, and the lilac blends beautifully, while the oil helps increase the longevity of this. Sillage: 4/5 Projection: 4/5 Longevity: 2.5/5 Scent: 5/5 Leans feminine

After hearing Jeff and Jane Dashley of the fantastic podcast Fragraphilia express their appreciation for Muguet Fleuri, I had a hunch that I'd like it a lot. Many of you already know that I am very fond of Oriza L. Legrand and I felt there was room for just one more. I felt like wearing a lily of the valley fragrance in July might be like listening to Christmas music in February: a bit of a pang in the gut that a holiday had just recently passed and that it just wouldn't feel right. Really, that is absolute nonsense, though, as wearing it on a hot day gave me a renewed appreciation for this classic accord, not to mention that this approach has an aqueous, cooling sensation perfect for the summer swelter. As someone who was raised with these flowers blooming in our yard every May, I know what it should smell like, and Muguet Fleuri is affirmatively lily of the valley among fresh-cut green grass and budding trees after a light shower. There is also the dewy garden effect that pleases me to no end. I am amused by the other reviews that appear to be written by those who may not be acquainted with the perfume of this flower, and even suggest that this is a "fantasy note", which I rather associate with those notes for flowers or other matter than doesn't have a scent in reality. On the contrary, those who know muguet are aware that there is very much a real and unforgettable scent to these flowers. They do in fact have qualities that are soapy (mostly due to its association with muguet accords used in fine soaps), waxy, rosy, pear-like, bitter, and so forth. Lily of the Valley lovers, do take note! It is a celestial joy.

This lily of the valley, the second in my LOTV sampling journey after vintage Diorissimo, is a beauty that pulls at my heartstrings. While vintage Diorissimo seems to be the gold standard for LOTV amongst reviewers, Muguet Fleuri can certainly hold its own in this realm. I find Muguet Fleuri such a brilliant interpretation of this seemingly delicate white flower. I say seemingly as I smell -- as well as the crisp, fresh, white baubled blossoms -- a vein of mischievous green that lends itself to the poisonous nature of the LOTV plant. Crunchy green violet leaves with a pithy lemon note, bitter and acerbic; bright without being sour, traded out for classic aldehyde to deliver a natural feel; a little redolent of a drop of civet. Galbanum and oakmoss preserve elements of a classic prototype, yet Muguet Fleuri retains a somewhat minimalist structure, and far from the screechy, synthetic one-note air freshener type lily of the valley scents. Into the drydown, a slight creaminess evolves, ever so subtly suggesting a single greenish-white velvety petal of an Easter lily. Angelica brings a hint of musky sweet spiciness. I quite prefer this over Diorissimo, only for its lack of lilac (I do love lilac but prefer my LOTV without it), and it's updated, natural presentation. I believe Muguet Fleuri to be the modern day standard for muguet soliflores.

A glorious realistic bouquet of lily of the valley. I own a full bottle and I treasure it because it's such a beautiful pristine smell. I often like to combine it with Tourterelles de Zelmis, a very pretty realistic red rose scent from Oriza. This combo somehow makes me feel so ethereal, like I belong in a painting. This is probably what I would wear if I ever get married (considering I don't change my mind by then!). I believe Muguet Fleuri is quite underrated and it is most certainly the best lily of the valley fragrance out there. It does not smell soapy on my skin and it lasts about 5 or 6 hours. The projection is mid but not weak. A win! EDIT: Alright now that I have a beautiful bouquet in front of me I can compare to the fragrance... I'd say the real thing is greener, fresher and lighter than OL's Muguet Fleuri. But delicious nonetheless!

This scent is magical but it does break my heart a little, as it doesn't last very long. Upon first trying this I thought that I had found 'the one' perfume. It is a quite realistic, green and sparkling lily of the valley with a trail of bubbling floral sweetness. The sweetness is slightly fruity, like pear or pear blossom. I can picture myself standing in a spring forest during that time of spring when it all returns to life, when the spring flowers bloom, shorter than the summer flowers, but much more intensily, while sipping on a glass of fruity cider and just observing it all. The perfume can take you there, something only a few perfumes can achieve. It is a magnificent floral, so pretty, so charming.