French Connection: Guerlain's New Scent Has A Certain Je Ne Sais Quoi

The fragrant-yet-subtle scent of lily-of-the-valley in Guerlain's Muguet signals that spring has finally sprung.

Guerlain Muguet
(Image credit: Courtesy of Guerlain)

It's well documented that French women have impeccably chic taste (hello Chanel and Balmain), stay annoyingly slim despite dining on a diet of baguette, brie, and wine, and of course, exude an effortlessly seductive femme fatale appeal. Turns out, they also have a nose for fine fragrance dating back to 1561, when King Charles IX began giving lily-of-the-valley flowers (called "muguet" in French) to the ladies of his court on May 1st as a symbol of love's good fortune, happiness, and prosperity (eventually making them a wedding day favorite for the likes of Grace Kelly, Carolyn Bessette, and the new Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton).

By the early 1900's, it was customary for men to wear a boutonniere of these sweet-scented, clochette-shaped flowers and offer their loved ones little bouquets in celebration of spring on the first of May. This tradition continues today, when the entire country is perfumed with the fresh, floral scent of lily-of-the-valley. In honor of this special event, Guerlain is re-releasing their limited edition (only 250 bottles made) Muguet Eau de Toilette, $580 — originally created in 1906 and revamped by Jean-Paul Guerlain in 2006 — featuring an exclusive extract of lily-of-the-valley complemented by alluring notes of jasmine, Turkish rose, lemon, and sandalwood — all packaged in a gorgeous glass bottle with a hand-crafted green lily-of-the-valley satin appliqué.

We're thinking this covetable fragrance is the ultimate gift for Mom —one that will make her smell (and feel) lovely all year long. Call the Guerlain Boutique at The Shoppes at the Palazzo, Las Vegas at 866-409-6110 to purchase.