Parfums de Marly Valaya vs. Delina: How These Popular Scents Compare

When it comes to the best perfume for women, there’s no shortage of fragrances that come to mind. Merit Beauty’s Retrospect L’Extrait. Diptyque. Houbigant Paris’s Quelques Fleurs (worn by Princess Diana on her wedding day, no less). And, of course, couture favorites like Chanel, Guerlain and Dior. In my years as a beauty writer (and perfume enthusiast), I’ve sniffed many perfumes—but none have had such a distinct impression as Parfums de Marly. The French luxury house is renowned for its 18th-century inspired design and opulence woven into every scent. I set out to test two of the brand’s most popular fragrances, and bring to you this Valaya vs. Delina review after a week and a half of spraying them daily. Here’s how they stack up—and which one is right for you.

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Parfums de Marly is a luxury French perfume house founded by Julien Sprecher. “I founded the Maison to express my own vision of modern Haute Parfumerie that disrupts the codes by taking inspiration freely from the spirit of 18th-century France,” he writes. The brand derives its name from the Château de Marly, a palace reserved for the French monarch’s inner sanctum, far from the pomp and tradition of Versailles, representing freedom and individuality. The logo also takes its inspiration from the 18th-century coat of arms. As someone who has sampled multiple fragrances, one thing I’ve found defines the profile of Parfums de Marly is a distinct powderiness, that lends a richness to the perfumes—don’t mistake them for stuffy.

I wore Delina and Valaya interchangeably over the course of a week and a half, spraying my wrists, neck and hair. While wearing each scent, I evaluated its longevity, strength, wearability and aesthetic.

Both perfumes have musk, fruit and citrus notes, but beyond Parfums de Marly’s M.O. (powder! powder! powder!), the two are quite different.

Valay’s use of white flowers, with mandarin in the top note and vetiver in the heart, makes it a fresher, sharper scent. Meanwhile, Delina has bonbon qualities thanks to the richness of vanilla in the heart note coupled with cashmeran and musk in the base.

I’ve tested my fair share of perfumes as a beauty writer. While Parfums de Marly is expensive (it outprices couture houses by a couple hundred dollars, minimum), I think there’s a lot to be said for longevity. This brand consistently outperforms others in this category, including my own signature scent, Diptyque’s Eau Rose. Valaya, in particular, lasted an incredible 14 hours—which included a lingering on my skin after I had gotten out of the shower.

Ultimately, you have to be on board with a strong musk profile in order for Parfums de Marly to be appealing. If that’s something you like in perfume, then Valaya is a great choice for white fruit and floral notes, while Delina is a grown-up take on candy couture. As for myself, I’ll personally be spritzing Valaya for every night out this summer.