Caron released Muguet du Bonheur in 1952 to honor the traditional French practice of presenting sprigs or bouquets of muguet (lily of the valley) as a good luck token on May Day. The fragrance was developed by Caron perfumer Michel Morsetti, and has notes of lily of the valley, lilac, jasmine, magnolia, pear, heliotrope and musk.

Muguet du Bonheur opens on a slightly sharp lily of the valley. There is a murmur of green in the background, and a very brief flash of lilac early on. It is clean at the outset, and as it continues to develop on the skin it gets softer and soapier, and the lily of the valley gradually cedes position to a more blended floral highlighted by jasmine.

It is a beautiful fragrance, spring-like and ethereal, and well worth a try if you like lily of the valley. Not being overly fond of soapy perfumes, I prefer Christian Dior's Diorissimo, which has more sparkle and bite. Either fragrance would qualify as elegant, but when worn next to each other, the Muguet du Bonheur smells pretty; the Diorissimo, with its more pronounced animalic notes, smells sexy.

Muguet du Bonheur is available in Eau de Toilette and Parfum, and both versions can be readily found online at the fragrance discounters. At one time an Eau de Parfum was also available but I don't see it online so perhaps it has been discontinued.

Note: image via Parfum de Pub.