L'Initial Eau de Parfum

So, Guerlain did it again. L'Initial has been officially discontinued in the U.S....again! First as Shalimar Parfum Initial and now as L'Initial. I go online to their site to purchase another bottle, and it's no longer on the site. I sent an email inquiring on the availability only to be given this bad news. I can't keep doing business with a company that I can't trust to keep products I use available. They're unreliable. This company discontinued other scents and make up I've used in the past. This is like being in an emotionally abusive relationship and being emotionally disappointed time and time again. Why do I say that? These types of items are very personal. People associate a scent with you. When people smell it, they think of you and becomes a part of you. Make up is very personal as well because these items are how you present yourself to the world. Particularly a woman and her lipstick. This is all part of a person's personal hygiene and grooming ritual. It's how you start your day. Then, have it all turned upside down because this company is more fickle than the masses are and discontinue a product without a care. Then try to push another product that doesn't even compare. Well, if they don't care, neither do I. I've decided I'm not going to continue doing business with this company because I flat out refuse to continue being hurt by a company that doesn't care about the impact they make with their customer when they make decisions like this. Done with that. Let's move on!

Yay! When I saw this, I said, “could it be true?” People here are saying it smells just like Shalimar Parfum Initial and it’s not exorbitantly expensive. So I took a chance and bought it on the Guerlain website. I think I got my signature scent back. Can’t wait to get it. Thank you Guerlain. Now, please don’t discontinue it this time. Edit to add: So this came in today. This was packaged beautifully by Guerlain! So now for the scent. About 99% of what it was as I remember it. Pretty much the same juice. Slight (very slight) difference, but that could be my own chemistry causing that. Longevity seems to be good too. I get whiffs of it in the dry down and it is the same as I remember it. So I’m very happy with this. I missed it so. About the name, I don’t care whether it’s called Shalimar Parfum Initial or L’initial. The same goes for the bottle. It’s the scent that I’m after. As long as I can have my scent, I’m happy. Now, let’s stop fussing over the marketing strategy and just enjoy the scent. That way, it’s a win/win. Guerlain can sell scents so they can make a profit to sustain themselves, their employees, and families, and people can enjoy those scents to their heart’s content.

L'initial is a beautiful fragrance. It starts with a harsh waxy citrus blast. The opening is a little awkward in my opinion and while the citrus fades into the mix, but after a few seconds it's a masterful blend that stays good through several phases and for double-digit hours. It's elegant and fluffy, unisex but toward feminine (and men like myself benefit from a gentle touch with perfumes like this). It has a smooth cosmetic smelling iris mixed with creamy vanilla and a hint of something almond-like and edible. It's approachable and comfortable. Great for any time, day or night, any season except maybe the hottest summer days. This bears a lot of similarities to classic Guerlains such as, of course, Shalimar but also some more modern ones like l'Homme Ideal EDP. Some major elements of the classic Guerlainade are all over this scent. However it stands as its own unique modern fragrance and can be worn by all ages, even confident people in their twenties. Truly deserving of Legendaires status

Oh gosh, this smells like my childhood toys! I got most of my toys from other people, whos kids grew up. I had some plushies smelled like that, and it might be whatever they use to emulate caramel here. Aside of this reminiscence of my past, the fragrance is magical. The body is so much Shalimar vibe, but gentler, the whole leather and balsamic aspect was removed and powderiness was enhanced. In this version, Shalimar is smooth vanilla-lemon powder. Cannot stop marveling at Guerlain perfumes. Even if the type of fragrance is not my cup of tea, I can appreciate how well it is made. The quality! I see this new design of legendaries as practical solution on cutting costs of production: infuriating plastic tops, ability to buy a fragrance only in 75 ml ver, extremely simplistic bottle... I mean, how ugly this new bottle looks compare to original Shalimar L`initial? But the quality of the fragrance is there. It is incredible, smooth.

I adore classic Shalimar as a smoky woody vanilla scent. I have never smelled the original L'initial, but I have decided to blind buy it because of iris wich I crave lately. It was a successful blind buy. I think this is gorgeous and unisex, quite close to Shalimar, but less woody, not leathery at all and sweeter, overall much more modern take on Shalimar DNA. It starts off with beautiful citruses, mostly sweet orange and mingles with slightly almond touch. I think that iris here is tricky... yes it is powdery no doubt, but I was able only once to get a whiff of clear iris. I must mention that "guerlinade" is pretty obvious here, I mean that Thierry Wasser very cleverly uses it throughout modern realeses like L'Homme Ideal, La Petite Robe Noire - (tonka, almonds, patchouli, amber).