In perfumery, lily of the valley is the name of a light, fresh floral note, associated with a spring bouquet. It refers to the scent of Convallaria majalis flowers, but the scent of perfume can be recreated using the composition of many materials. Reproducing natural aromas is an important part of the history and craft of perfumery.
Characteristics and context
The note description does not indicate that flowers or plant extracts have been added to the bottle. Lily of the valley as a plant contains compounds that cannot be identified with a ready-made cosmetic composition or treated as an ingredient for independent consumption. In perfumes, a lily-of-the-valley note can convey an impression of purity and space. Its perception depends on the accompanying chords, and the actual list of ingredients remains as described in the INCI.
Meaning and application
Recreating the scent of a flower requires creative decisions: you can emphasize freshness, green tone, lightness or the impression of a moist bouquet. Two compositions called lily of the valley may therefore differ significantly. The perfumer's craft also involves matching such an accord to the remaining parts of the fragrance. The note is not a separate layer that can be simply taken out of the bottle and assessed independently of the entire recipe.
In practice
A distinction must be made between a fragrance inspired by a plant and the use of the plant itself. Fresh flowers, home extract and properly prepared cosmetics are not interchangeable materials. Lily of the valley is not used to prepare products for consumption. When choosing perfumes, you can compare their development on the skin and wait after the first application. Information about the note helps describe the style, but does not replace the label, warnings or instructions for use of a given cosmetic.