Happy May Day! Celebrate with Guerlain's Muguet

Happy May Day - the day of maypoles and lilies of the valley - a holiday in some countries. We are celebrating with a glorious day, but no holiday.

Guerlain celebrates May Day each year (almost) with a new version of its Muguet fragrance. This year's version is gorgeous.

On May 1,1561, King Charles IX of France received a lily of the valley as a lucky charm. He decided to offer the flower to the ladies of his court each year, and as a result, it is now custom to give a lily of the valley, the symbol of springtime, on May 1.

To honor this rite of the season, Guerlain offers its own lily of the valley fragrance, Muguet ($575), once a year for a limited time - officially starting on May 1 and selling until they are sold out until the next year. Guerlain Muguet 2013 is a limited edition of only 1,349 numbered pieces worldwide. Mine is numbered.

Originated by Jean-Paul Guerlain, Muguet is offered as a token of luck, the promise of making the most of each moment. Lively, green, and capricious, this fragrance heralds the arrival of spring.

The notes are luscious. Every year, there are slight differences in the formulation, although I can always recognize the fragrance as Guerlain's Muguet. Thierry Wasser created the 2013 version.

• Top notes: Bright green notes of lily of the valley
• Heart and base notes: Lilac, rose, and jasmine

Each year, a new bottle design is created. Muguet 2013 is presented in the quadrilobé bottle, a design which dates from 1908, this time embellished with a delicately embossed paper image created by Créanog, a creative studio specializing in paper sculptures. The finishing touches are a spring green thread circling the neck of the bottle, which is embellished with a gold Guerlain seal.

This year's version is crisp and fresh. I'm wearing it as I write - my tribute to May Day. The best place to find the 2013 version is at the Guerlain boutiques. You can also find it at Bergdorf Goodman and select Neiman Marcus stores in the U.S. and Harrods in the U.K.

Photos courtesy of principality-hutt-river.com and Guerlain