The first of May is “Le Temps du Muguet” ~ The Time of the Lily of the Valley. All over France, in tiny flower stalls, and in grand fleuristes alike, Lily of the Valley is queen of the flowers for the day.
Children take to the woods to gather small sprigs, or ‘brins’ of these flowers and to exchange these as tokens of friendship and good luck. For it is said that these flowers not only signify the arrival of spring, but “Porte Bonheur” – bring good luck!
The delicate green floral notes of these woodland flowers have long been appreciated by the perfume industry. Coty’s
Muguet des Bois was first launched in 1941. Then there is Caron’s
Muguet Du Bonheur, and Molinard has a Lily of the Valley scent in its
Les Fleurs de Provence range. In 2009 Guerlain introduced
Muguet, with the intent of releasing an annual Muguet perfume each April 30th. (Sadly there will be no release this year.) The daughter of Annick Goutal, Camille, created a limited edition called
Le Muguet. This was the first time Camille had produced a fragrance without the assistance of her late mother. Van Cleef and Arpels has
Muguet Blanc. Others with Lily of the Valley inspired scents include Crabtree and Evelyn, L’Erbolario, Taylor of London, Penhaglion and Floris. Woods of Windsor claim that the recipe for their fragrance comes from 18th century recipe books found in their attic.
"Le Muguet du Métro" by Robert Doisneau
(Photograph, Collection the Auckland Museum)
I associate the scent of Muguet, with the childhood memory of my mother wearing Yardley of London’s Lily of the Valley toilet water. Ironically, my first overseas home was located on Chemin des Muguets (Way of the Lily of the Valley) in Genève, Switzerland. Hence the inspiration for the name of my blog.
Avec
Bonheur,
Marjorie
P.S. This posting is dedicated to my sweet perfumer friend, Ashley ~ the only nose I 'noz.'
The only perfume I wear is Diorissimo, which is also a Lily of the Valley scent. Sadly, the "geniuses" at Dior recently decided to change the formula in an effort to "make it more up to date". I tried it this week and am so sad to say it is just not the same. I am now on the hunt for a replacement. Do you like Caron's, Muguet Du Bonheur?
ReplyDeleteHello Pamela-
ReplyDeleteLovely to hear from you. Too bad about Diorissimo. Sorry, I have not tested Muguet du Bonheur, but I have heard good reports about it.
Avec Bonheur,
Marjorie
Hi, I love your blog & also the tradition of the muguet on the first of May . I have just posted a small piece about it on my blog. I hope you won't mind, I have added a link to you. Merci .
ReplyDeleteLovely, lovely post. Thanks for an ethereal start to my Friday.
ReplyDeleteLovely,...a favorite scent and most definitely a favorite flower. I wish it was more abundant in California.
ReplyDeleteI just loved this from the posters to that adorable picture in the metro. I love Muguets too although we can't get them here, I am happy to celebrate their existance through you!
ReplyDeleteMaryanne xo
hello. thanks for stopping by my blog. I enjoy yours very much. though I am allergic to scents I do love the flowers
ReplyDeleteHow lovely Marjorie
ReplyDeleteLily of the Valley always reminds me of my childhood.. grandmother and mother... and a softer time...It is also my birth/flower being a May baby...
Happy Le Temps du Muguet .. xxx Julie
Have a nice 1st May!
ReplyDeleteVal
Dear Marjorie,
ReplyDeleteI have quite a few favourite flowers (it's impossible to only have one !!) and, Lily of the Valley is one of them.
It reminds me of when I was a child. When we used to go to chrurch as children, we always had a buttonhole of flowers and in May, it was ALWAYS Lily of the Valley. ... and that's the one that stays in my memory. My mum would pick them from the garden and make my sister and I little buttonholes. A beautiful flower and a beautiful name for a blog. XXXX
Makes me think of my lovely aunt Helen, she always wore these beautiful fragrances. Happy memories.
ReplyDeleteFun stuff!
ReplyDelete