Castelbel – Lily of the Valley

“Le Muguet”

I really like this soap a lot—it's one of my very favorites, lately. They were not afraid to put the fragrance right up front, with this one. It's one of those giant, ten ounce bars of lily-white soap from the Portuguese beauty product giant, Castelbel—yes, one of those for your half-bathroom—but I've been using it in this shower, this summer, and it's giving me fond and comforting memories. If you were to go to a crowded church and sit right next to an older, well-dressed woman, this is likely what you would smell. Some old-time, rich lady perfume—something that makes Chanel seem modern. I know some people despise this grandma perfume, but I love it. It's definitely, unapologetically floral—I can't say for sure if it approximates actual lily of the valley flowers, but I'll just imagine it does. It reminds me of how a flower shop smells, or how the van would smell when I used to deliver flowers (one of the better jobs, at times, I've ever had). The packaging of this is really nice, too—the heavy paper is totally covered with detailed, artist's rendering of little, white lily of the valley bells. This one also has lasted forever. Every once in awhile I'll go into the bathroom and just inhale its fragrance and just be intoxicated by nostalgia. I may as well admit, floral fragrances are my favorite. I guess that makes sense, because I love flowers, just about more than anything. I love flowers more than money, (most) people, travel, success, sex, adulation, movies, beer, and pizza, even. I almost love flowers as much as coffee.

Soap Review No. 100