With its bell-shaped buds that cascade up long green stalks, lilies of the valley are one of the most recognizable—and gorgeous—flowers. They also happen to smell absolutely heavenly. While jasmine and rose often come to mind when people think of floral scents, lily of the valley is an underrated perfume note that should not be slept on.
“Lily of the valley smells like spring and summer,” says Linda G. Levy, president of The Fragrance Foundation. “It stands apart for its freshness and hints of light sweetness. This floral is sophisticated, dreamy, and delicate.”
A sneak peek of the best lily of the valley perfumes:
The best lily of the valley perfumes feel so angelic. A single spritz can transport you to a blooming garden where fairies dance across every petal. Sounds dreamy, right? If you want to upgrade your perfume collection to include a lily of the valley scent—or two—you’re in the right place. The following 10 perfumes have all been tested and approved by ~moi~ and feel like a breath of fresh air.
Your warm-weather fragrance wardrobe won’t be complete without one of the best lily of the valley perfumes, below.
Tocca Giulietta Eau de Parfum
Tocca Giulietta Eau de Parfum
| Key notes | Green apple, lily of the valley, sandalwood |
| Sizes | 3.4, 1.7, 0.7, and 0.33 oz |
If I could bottle the feeling of the first day of spring—you know, the one where all the flowers finally bloom, and there’s an essence of joy in the air—it would smell just like Giulietta. This tickles my nose with hints of green apple and pink tulips on the opening, then softens with a blooming bouquet of lilies, iris, vanilla orchid, lilac, and heliotrope that lingers like a sunny whisper on skin.
Frederic Malle Synthetic Nature
| Key notes | Basil, lily of the valley, jasmine |
| Sizes | 3.4 and 1.7 oz |
What if you could combine the scent of fresh laundry with budding, aromatic greenery? Well, you’d get Synthetic Nature. A burst of basil, lily of the valley, and juicy blackcurrants awaken the senses to transport you directly into the middle of a summertime garden (at least, metaphorically). When I feel like I need to touch grass, this is exactly what I spritz to bring me back down to earth.
Donna Karan Cashmere Mist
Donna Karan Cashmere Mist
| Key notes | Lily of the valley, Moroccan jasmine, sandalwood |
| Sizes | 3.4 oz |
It’s not enough for your wedding day perfume to simply smell good—the bottle also needs to complement the vibes (you’ll look at the pictures for eternity, after all). The iconic Cashmere Mist from Donna Karan is the ~perfect~ nuptials scent, and the juice inside is just as pretty as the statuesque flacon. It smells dreamy and romantic with ethereal lily of the valley, sensual jasmine, and grounding sandalwood.
Dior Lucky
Dior Lucky
| Key notes | Lily of the valley, white flowers, ozonic notes |
| Sizes | 6.8, 3.4, and 1.7 oz |
Forget four leaf clovers—if you need a little extra luck in your life you should liberally spritz on Dior Lucky. Inspired by Christian Dior’s penchant for tucking embroidered lilies of the valley into his pockets for good luck, this scent wraps you in a veil of good fortune with a joy-inducing combination of lilies, rich white florals, and touch of ocean air.
House of BŌ Bombon
House of BŌ Bombon
| Key notes | Lychee, lily of the valley, caramel |
| Sizes | 2.5, 1.4, and 0.33 oz |
Lily of the valley takes on a whole new identity in Bombon, leaving behind its fresh innocence for something a bit more honeyed and seductive. This starts fresh and playfully spicy with the lilies and white saffron, but then becomes warm and enveloping thanks to rich caramel, fluffy marshmallow, and intoxicating cognac. My tip? Save this for a night when you want to take things to the next level with your crush.
Aerin Mediterranean Honeysuckle
| Key notes | Grapefruit, honeysuckle, lily of the valley |
| Sizes | 3.4 and 1.7 oz |
Your Euro summer can last all year long with Mediterranean Honeysuckle on your vanity. This bright citrusy-floral dances on skin just like how ocean water shimmers in the sun. A swirl of mandarin and grapefruit creates a bubbly opening before becoming warm and lush with the aroma of sun-drenched florals—you’ll catch hints of honeysuckle, lily of the valley, gardenia, and jasmine throughout the day.
Ascention Parfums Elorya Extrait de Parfum
Ascention Parfums Elorya Extrait de Parfum
| Key notes | Midnight currant, muguet, barrel-aged brandy |
| Sizes | 1.7 oz |
Looking at the notes list of Elorya, you might be a little confused as to why this made the list of the best lily of the valley perfumes, considering the floral is notably missing. Or is it? Muguet is the French name for the flower, and it grounds the this aura-enhancing scent. The deep fragrance invites you to step into your power with enlivening blend of dark fruits, a touch of almond, wispy lily of the valley, and warm sandalwood. The crystal in the bottle also serves a purpose: To help you become more magnetic with each spritz.
Maison Margiela Springtime in a Park Eau de Toilette
Maison Margiela Springtime in a Park Eau de Toilette
| Key notes | Pear, lily of the valley, musk |
| Sizes | 3.4 oz |
I’m not sure what’s more beautiful: This perfume’s dainty pink juice or the actual aroma. I become a blooming garden every time I mist myself in this vibrant scent. Juicy pear and bergamot give this an effervescent start, and as it wears, it turns soft and velvety with an enchanting mix of lily of the valley, rose, and jasmine before settling in a barely-there musky cloud.
Penhaligon’s Lily of the Valley
| Key notes | Bergamot, lily of the valley, sandalwood |
| Sizes | 3.4 oz |
Close your eyes as you spritz Penhaligon’s aptly named Lily of the Valley, and you’ll feel like you’re holding a bunch of the delightful flower in your hand. This evokes dewdrop-dusted florals at sunrise—it’s exactly what I imagine garden fairies would smell like.
Fresh Lily Jasmine Eau de Parfum
Fresh Lily Jasmine Eau de Parfum
| Key notes | Lavender, spring muguet, crystal moss |
| Sizes | 3.4 and 0.34 oz |
Lily of the valley and jasmine are a match made in heaven—which is abundantly clear in this scent from Fresh. The airy green aroma of the lilies perfectly complements the lush, seductive quality of jasmine for a head-turning perfume that’s balanced, ultra-feminine, and truly addictive.
FAQ
How is lily of the valley different from other white florals?
White floral notes in perfumery are known for their lush, sensual aromas, but lily of the valley is the odd one out. “Lily of the valley can be a bit more ethereal, while other white florals—like jasmine and gardenia—come on much stronger,” says Levy. The light note typically offers a tinge of brightness thanks to its citrus edge, whereas most white florals tend to smell creamier.
What notes pair best with lily of the valley?
Lily of the valley is very malleable and versatile. Levy says it blends well with a variety of notes—especially woody accords, like cedar and sandalwood, as well as sweeter aromas, including caramel and marshmallow—because it adds a bright freshness to perfume compositions. It also becomes “sublime and smooth” when mixed with other white florals.
Meet the expert:
- Linda G. Levy is the President of The Fragrance Foundation.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Mary Honkus is a contributing beauty editor for Cosmopolitan with eight years of experience researching, writing, and editing beauty stories, including analyzing fragrance trends and reviewing uber popular perfumes (like Burberry Goddess). She's an expert in all beauty categories, but has a soft spot for fragrance. For this story, she sifted through her collection of more than 600 perfumes to find the 10 best lily of the valley scents that are soft, fresh, and deeply romantic.
