I recently spotted Stella McCartney's new signature fragrance L.I.L.Y at the duty-free store. It will be launched in the UK in April (the US launch at Sephora will happen in September 2012.) L.I.L.Y was created in collaboration between McCartney and perfumer Jacques Cavallier. It is a modern green chypre with a dominant lily of the valley accord. The first thing that I noticed was an interesting salty note, which makes this fresh and radiant lily of the valley accord surprising. A note to self: to be revisited.
As McCartney explained to the Moodie report about the creation of L.I.L.Y:
“To bring in a more masculine, sensual element I started looking at moss, which I felt was the perfect complement. Then I found myself in Paris in the Autumn, during truffle season, and realised that was the final, darker, sexy element I’d been searching for.”
Cavallier added, “Perfumery is built on the art of contrasts. You need something black in order to make the white thing nice… Stella wanted a fragrance that redefined the extremely natural and fresh image of lily of the valley. To create more depth, we infused it with notes of truffle from the Perigord region of France, adding a diffuse, caressing texture.” Oak moss also features in the dry-down. “It was not easy to combine these ingredients but ultimately we succeeded. Stella is very demanding, but in a good way. She allows no compromises.”
I look forward to trying this one. The original Stella is a nice addition to my rose collection; layers well to bring out the amber. Dark mossy LOTV sounds very interesting!
Posted by: rosarita | January 26, 2012 at 06:23
As I love lily of the valley I should try this one too. Especially with this salty twist.
Posted by: civava | January 26, 2012 at 08:59
oh dear. I was hoping not to be tempted by this one. The salty lily you mention sound divine.
Posted by: Susan | January 26, 2012 at 09:34
I smelled it on the blotter at the duty free and had to toss it before boarding my flight. So, maybe I just never got there. It did not seem that dark, but the salty note is nice. Cavallier is a great perfumer, and he often pushes the envelope.
Posted by: Victoria | January 26, 2012 at 09:38
I also like the idea of contrasts. Salty and green is always better to me than sweet and pink. :)
Posted by: Victoria | January 26, 2012 at 09:41
I cannot wait to test it on skin when it finally launches in the US. They are making us wait till the fall!
Posted by: Victoria | January 26, 2012 at 09:41
That's a very pretty bottle in the picture. Was it as pretty in person? I will definitely try this when it comes out in the UK, the notes are intriguing. The original Stella doesn't work on me unfortunately, it is very vinegary.
Posted by: sunsetsong | January 26, 2012 at 16:39
I didn't like it as much as Stella's original. It felt a bit awkward in my hand, and the seam around the circle is very thick.The shape is striking though.
Posted by: Victoria | January 26, 2012 at 17:02
I wonder how this compares to Tauer's Carillon pour une Ange, another moss and LOTV scent. (Although "salty" makes me think they are very different.) I love the contrasts in that one. I hated it at first and now it's one of my favorites. I'll definitely be curious to try this one. I know it's a petty thing to gripe about, but I wish the bottle was less Avon.
Posted by: Miss Kitty | January 26, 2012 at 19:26
I haven't smelled Carillon pour un Ange, but I am willing to bet that they smell nothing alike. Andy's style is very different from anything that a big brand would launch (and it is a good thing too.)
I don't like the bottle either.
Posted by: Victoria | January 26, 2012 at 20:02
Looking forward to trying this. I'm attracted to soliflores because of their simplicity, and I'm a big fan of Stella, which I think is a really sophisticated rose soliflores. The LILY bottle isn't anything to write home about, where the Stella bottles are beautiful, IMO. But who cares, if the juice is worthy?
Posted by: Cathleen56 | January 28, 2012 at 19:03