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).

I tried Shalimar Initial almost 10 years ago when I was in my 20s, but felt that it was too mature for me. I tried it again recently (the new version), and I think I’ve found my fall-winter signature! It’s sweet, powdery, thick and smooth, very sensual and luxurious with a satisfying gourmand nuance to it. Gorgeous scent, and that caramel in the base is just perfect...warm, decadent, buttery, and not too syrupy. Will work in any setting, but it feels like it’s geared more towards the 30+ crowd. I don’t know if it’s my nose, but it seems like this re-release is smoother and more ‘rounded’ than what I smelled back in 2014.

I got a small sample of this at Saks a few days ago. Smells exactly the same IMO as Parfum Initial except this is somewhat LESS syrupy to me. I don’t know about the vetiver in the original that everyone is mentioning but I also strongly prefer this version. (I sold my PI years ago as I found it too overbearing to wear, gorgeous as it was). This new juice is perfection. I’d say L’Initial is the most stunning caramel imaginable- this is a caramel fragrance to me. AMAZING longevity and evolves beautifully from beginning to ever loving end. FB and signature worthy. Will definitely purchase and may even get two to be safe.

This started life as a Shalimar flanker and with notes like patchouli, vanilla, iris and jasmine you'd think it's very similar, but it isn't. It's a brilliant perfume that stands on it's own. It's different, but as good as Shalimar (and that's the highest praise I can give because Shalimar is my all-time-favorite). The only thing where Shalimar beats it is longevity, but then again, Shalimar beats almost anything in that regard.

It's not quite the same as the original, a touch more powdery and - thank goodness - missing the overpowering sour note that turned me off of the original. I will never get rid of my OG bottle with the gorgeous tassel, and smell it occasionally for remembrance, but it's unwearable - multiple bottles, so I know it was the overall formula. This new one seems a lot better. I will have to test to be sure but so far I'm enjoying it.

Love. Like most Guerlains, smooth and well blended. A sweeter version of Shalimar with hints of almond that intermingle with the powdery iris and vanilla. The vetiver note is not in this version of L'Initial, which some miss, but I don't bc it went metallic on me. There is something a bit too astringent in the opening but it disappears quickly. Beautiful, sweet, not too strong, wearable year round.

Love! I had a small bottle of the shalimar parfum initial but that one was just ok to me. Due to the vetiver note being removed this version is warmer and suits me better! The dry down reminds me of the sweet creamy patchouli in Coromandel - heavenly! I think i have found my new signature :)

This is almost identical to the Shalimar Initial, but ... not the same. This doesn't have vetiver and that for me is a relief on my skin, this one becomes more feminine than the original and the drying is more vanilla. On my skin it is delicious and for me, better than the original.

Great winter staple which is office appropriate. The dry down reminds me of Imperial Leather soap, so a clean amber unisex scent. Opening is citrus and slightly medicinal but not overtly complex and I agree that all the challenging Shalimar notes are gone.

odeur sensuelle et discrète tout en ayant une très bonne tenue, pas agressif, à porter plutôt en automne; ressemble beaucoup à shalimar initial l'eau si sensuelle, je n ai pu sentir le shalimar initial donc pas possible de comparer. odeur cocooning

Beautiful, elegant, romantic. It is soft and a little bit sweet but not at all juvenile. The iris note is just gorgeous. Longevity is amazing, as is the case with Guerlain in general. L'initial would be a great fragrance for going on a date.

Nice sweet citrus opening. I also get a beautiful licorice/anise in the opening too (So does my mom!) even though it’s not on the notes. Beautiful vanilla and caramel at the base and of course the iris. I’m so happy I got this perfume!

A sweet, powdery dream of a fragrance. I LOVE IT! The bergamot is very prominent in the opening but it settles into the most gorgeous, ethereal sweet baby powder and vanilla. Definitely full bottle worthy.

Yes, it is 99% the same. I still have few drops of the old one, and the new one, and I cannot tell the difference smell wise. However, the old one had muuuuuch more longetivity.

Smells just like shalimar parfum initial, I’m in love it made me super nostalgic of a time in my life where i fell in love with this smell and thought it was so unique

Loving it. Citrus vanilla - reminds me of a carefree maiden who wanders in the flower field. Soft but deep. Balanced sweetness. Another masterpiece by Thierry Wasser.