When I was in college, spring in Michigan was synonymous with breaking out my lily of the valley fragrances. I kind of got away from it with the heat of the deep south where spring lasts only about 10 minutes. Plus it just smelled too bright in the south, minus the brightness of a crisp spring day surrounded by the bright greens, real lily of the valley, tulips and other spring flora, and the scent of cold dirt blending with the fragrance....Never let anyone say: where we wear a fragrance and the climate we are in does not affect how it smells.
Diorissimo by Dior
What I used to wear the most for a lily of the valley fragrance is Diorissimo 
Introduced in 1956, Edmond Roudnitska was the nose. It is considered to be Floral - Fresh.
Top Notes: Greens, bergamot, calyx
Heart Notes: Lily of the Valley, jasmine, lilac, boronia, rosewood, ylang-ylang
Base Notes: Sandalwood, civet
On me, the greens and lily of the valley are far more prominant than any sandalwood, which I don't catch at all. In recent years, it has not been a scent I've worn, because it isn't a good fit for me any longer. On me, here and now, it seems to get brighter and stronger, not settling down.
Edmond Roudnitska described Diorissimo, saying, "This is a pure lily of the valley scent that also has the odor of the woods in which it is found and the indefinable atmosphere of springtime."
Woods of Windsor
By contrast, another fragrance lover passed Woods of Windsor to me that she wasn't wearing. I knew it would be lovely for spring.
It's notes are: Green Muguet, Jasmine, Rose, Orange Blossom and Citrus.
I wore it today, and even though it's been hours since I applied it, I still get momentary whiffs. To be on the safe side, I sprayed my leg, not my arm. I didn't want it around my face, in case it didn't match my mood or ended up being a scrubber. But it is quite lovely, and more wearable for me now, than Diorrisimo is.
Caron Muguet Du Bonheur
Then again, nothing beats Caron's Caron Muguet Du Bonheur with notes of:
Lavender, Jasmine, Rose, Carnation, Lily of the valley, Cedar, Tonka, Musk, Sandal...
Jasmine, Lilac, With Hints Of Musk.
It is said to honor the French tradition of offering sprigs of the bloom on the first of May.
Comparing it to the Windsor LotV, it is much sweeter at first application. Windsor in comparison, and only by comparison, picks up a sour (citrus) note, but now a couple of hours later, that part is much softer.
Likely if I still had Diorissimo, I would wear it to compare it also, because I'm in the mood for muguet.
So there you have it. Unbiased. Take your pick.
Do you like muguet? do you wear it?
Karin
Originally posted 2007-04-03 18:56:44.
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