20 Classic Fragrances That Include Kate Middleton's Favorite Flower
Slightly sweet and softly floral, lily of the valley has been a mainstay fragrance note for decades. A favorite scent of Christian Dior, it gained popularity in the 1950s thanks to the house’s Diorissimo scent. Today, notes of the flower can still be detected in several of Dior’s most-loved fragrances (some of which are among the most popular perfumes of all time).
Like many trends first set by Christian Dior, the floral scent’s popularity endures to this day. "[Lily of the Valley] evokes a day of simple pleasure, much like the first warm spring day,” says Steve Mormoris, CEO and founder of Scent Beauty.
What Does Lily of the Valley Smell Like?
Not to be confused with the standard lily, it grows in the springtime in white bell-shaped buds along a long, green stalk. "Lily of the valley, or muguet in French, has a lilting, sweet scent imbued with dew that is alternately sweet and green,” explains Mormoris. "It has a strong association with the emergence of spring and with new beginnings. It is remarkably feminine in character and has an enduring classicism without being old-fashioned.” (Fun fact: Kate Middleton had lily of the valley in her wedding bouquet for her wedding to Prince William.)
Kate Middleton with her lily of the valley wedding bouquet in April 2011.
What Scents Go With Lily of the Valley?
Often found as a base note in floral fragrances, lily of the valley plays well with woody notes like sandalwood, patchouli, and vetiver, as well as green notes such as herbs and foliage. According to Mormoris, these pairings "accentuate its sweetness without being cloying.”
Intrigued? We don’t blame you. Here, we searched high and low for 22 of the best lily of the valley fragrances to help you find your perfect scent for this season and beyond.
1. Dior Diorissimo Eau de Parfum
The fragrance that started it all. It was discontinued for a time but relaunched in 2009, to the delight of LOTV lovers everywhere.
Customer Review: "This is one of my favorites. Light, fresh, and classy. Makes me feel good day and night."
2. Chloé Eau de Parfum Spray
Chloé's signature scent blends lily of the valley with rose, amber, and pink peony.
Customer Review: "This is an absolutely beautiful fragrance that lasts and lasts. It is so feminine, so fresh, and very unique. As soon as I tried a sample in the store, I had to buy it. Now it is my signature scent, and I absolutely adore it. It is also the only fragrance I've purchased in the last few years that honestly does stay with you all day. You definitely get your money's worth with this perfume. If you love feeling girly and sexy, check out Chloe."
3. Maison Margiela Replica Lazy Sunday Morning
Meant to resemble the smell of bed linens on a Sunday morning, this features earthy white musk.
Customer Review: "I usually like sweetest gourmand fragrances, so I was kinda surprised how much I liked this fresh, clean floral scent! I think I'm going to buy the big bottle."
4. Dior Addict Eau Fraîche
This fresh twist on Dior Addict blends floral (lily of the valley and freesia) with fruity (bergamot, grapefruit, and orange).
Customer Review: "Lots of compliments on this, and it is definitely my FAVORITE scent on myself. There is something almost peppery about it, but mostly light floral notes. Really balanced. Fresh and sexy."
5. Donna Karan Cashmere Mist
The floral notes mix with bergamot and sandalwood for a balance of light and warmth. Donna Karan's namesake brand may be no more, but there's a reason this best-selling scent lives on.
Customer Review: "This is absolutely my favorite fragrance! It is perfect for both casual and high-fashion events. Sophisticated elegance! LOVE IT!"
6. Philosophy Falling in Love
Vanilla, blackberry, and lily of the valley all play a role here, but nothing overpowers or competes for center stage.
Customer Review: "I have loved this light and fruity-floral scent for over a decade. It’s layerable, not too heavy, and I feel feminine wearing it."
7. Kate Spade New York Walk on Air
This floral confection has just about every spring flower in the garden, plus a touch of neroli and bergamot, which add depth and warmth.
Customer Review: "Beautiful scent. Not overpowering. And excellent price."
8. Yves Saint Laurent Opium
An iconic scent since 1977, Opium is the ultimate blend of floral and spicy, with notes of lily of the valley and rose, as well as clove, coriander, and tangerine.
Customer Review: "Opium has been one of my favorite scents since I was a young girl! My stepmom wore it, and after searching for the right scent, I went back to my childhood and remembered how I loved this because of the way it resembles natural oils. I don’t get headaches from Opium, and it goes well with my chemistry! It has a very sweet musk smell that goes perfectly with my chemistry."
9. Kilian Vodka on the Rocks
The darkly sweet combination of lily of the valley, cardamom, and oakmoss is sure to make a major statement.
Customer Review: "I absolutely love this smell. I would highly recommend this for anyone that wants to smell good all day. It has a clean/fresh smell that lasts all day."
10. Byredo Inflorescence
For true floral lovers, this luxe fragrance is like a spring bouquet in a bottle without being too heavy.
Customer Review: "This is the lightest of florals. It’s uplifting and pretty, smelling of little white flowers on a spring day. Refreshing and simple. It can be layered with other scents without competing too hard. Ideal for daytime use when you want to feel and look joyful and feminine."
11. Bond No. 9 New York Scent of Peace
Lily of the valley superfans love this fresh fragrance, which also boasts grapefruit and musk.
12. Esscentials Spring! Fragrance Mist
Not only does this softly floral scent scream "spring!” (it’s in the name, after all), but the bottle was also designed to be reused as a vase once emptied.
Customer Review: "This is a beautiful natural scent. You can smell the Neroli. It comes in a lovely and easy to spray bottle. I have had many compliments. It doesn't smell like all of the other perfumes and sprays."
13. Bulgari Rose Goldea Blossom Delight
Papaya is an unexpected element with classic rose and jasmine in this elegant scent.
Customer Review: "Such a beautiful scent with rose very lightly coming through. Highly recommend. I can’t wait to put this on now as my new perfume."
14. Miu Miu L'Eau Bleue
Akigalawood—a cousin of patchouli—pairs nicely with lily of the valley in this eye-catching blue bottle.
Customer Review: "The quality of the perfume and scent is amazing!"
15. Aerin Mediterranean Honeysuckle
Honeysuckle may be the star in this transporting blend, but lily of the valley, gardenia, and jasmine add to the floral bouquet.
Customer Review: "I bought this after choosing it as a sample with an order; as the most expensive perfume I now own, I had to talk myself into it over a few months (and waited for a sale that applied). I absolutely love the scent. It's light, it doesn't overwhelm, and it seems to stay pretty well. I wore it to a wedding with a '20s theme, and it just felt like the perfect 'accessory' to complete my experience...the flapper dress, the smokey eyes, and the perfect romantic scent."
16. Jo Malone Wild Bluebell Cologne
Bluebell and lily of the valley aren’t just similar-looking flowers—they also play well together. Light and fresh, it’s great if you like to reapply your fragrance throughout the day.
Customer Review: "One of the best of all time. So subtle and nuanced, yet stays on the body all day. A unique floral scent that wraps you up and isn’t too overpowering. Smells like a rainy day in the garden. Timeless, classy, sophisticated but still inviting."
17. Acqua Di Parma Colonia Essenza
One spritz of this blend of rosemary, lemon, grapefruit, clove, and lily of the valley, and you’ll feel as if you’ve been transported to Italy.
Customer Review: "I am in love with this fragrance and line of parfumerie. Been wearing it for 5+ years and never grow tired of it!"
18. Dior Miss Dior
Originally a 1947 Christian Dior scent, Miss Dior was reinterpreted in 2021 with a floral, spicy formulation. True to form, it maintained the lily of the valley note.
Customer Review: "Such a lovely, beautiful scent. It’s very feminine and just smells so wonderful. It lasts a respectable amount of time which is always nice."
19. The 7 Virtues Blackberry Lily
This scent starts out fruity—with notes of blackberry and cassis—and opens into a sweet, floral base. Not only that, but it has a higher concentration of fragrance oils than most traditional perfumes to help it last longer.
Customer Review: "I love the smell. It's definitely a summer-friendly scent! I've gotten a lot of compliments."
20. Penhaligon's Lily of the Valley
First formulated in 1976, this classic fragrance from the UK perfumery Penhaligon is like taking a walk through an English garden at the start of spring.
Customer Review: "Lily of the Valley and white florals are the star of this show, but it’s well-balanced with the sandalwood and almost mossy base. I was hoping the bergamot would make the scent a bit brighter and youthful; instead the overall experience comes across as mature, but in a classic, nostalgic way rather than cloying or dusty. I absolutely loved layering it with Luna (which is still my favorite). This is definitely worth a try for anyone looking for the ever-elusive lily of the valley note."
This article was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
Lindy Segal is a freelance writer, editor, and content strategist based in New York City. She's originally from Atlanta, but she's sorry to report she doesn't have an accent. However, she does still have her taste for carbohydrates, love of losing sports teams, and fear of driving during rush hour. She's been in editorial for over eight years as a social media manager and writer covering beauty, fashion, and lifestyle at Glamour and People. Most recently, she was the women's editor at Express. These days, in addition to Who What Wear, you can see her byline at places like Harper's Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Ipsy, and WeWork. Both a skincare obsessive and a minimalist, she keeps her routine short, sweet, and effective—and she doesn't go a day without sunscreen. She's also deeply passionate about sustainability, and she strives to recommend products she truly believes are worth the investment. When she's not writing about the best and brightest beauty finds, she can usually be found hunting for vintage and secondhand treasures, attempting to find zen at a yoga class, bingeing Bon Appétit YouTube videos, or napping under her weighted blanket.
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