Shalimar Eau de Cologne

This is a wonderful version of Shalimar, and like a truly interesting perfume, full of contradictions. Like: This is probably the easiest version of Shalimar to wear. Yet it's full of leather, civet, resins, and practically devoid of anything soft or clean. This is the version of Shalimar that you could get away with at work, yet it is dense in aromatic notes that aren't poplular/crowd pleasing right now. The notes themselves are heavy and strong, but Shalimar EdC wears as a skin scent and lasts only 4 hours, even in vintage versions (to be fair, by definition, it's an Eau de Cologne.) My vintage bottle of EdC is lacking the classic Shalimar citrus topnotes. Rather the perfume dives RIGHT IN to a leathery, spicy, resinous, skanky (civet) incense heaven. This version seems to lack any florals to my nose, and I think of it as a heavy aromatic base perfume of leather, woods, incense, civet, spices, and resins. Now doesn't that sound overwhelming? It isn't. In fact like I said this is a skin scent that you can wear anywhere, and I am sorry that the summer is over, because this wears better in hotter weather than cooler. A hot weather version of Shalimar, imagine that. The truly thick, spicy leather with a drop of civet notes are the heart of the perfume, and as it wears, it calms down. The skank dims, the spices lessen, and what you're left with is a lovely vanilla leather sandalwood drydown. Vintage Shalimar EdC is all over ebay, the bigger bottles have the clear "Guerlain" inscribed cap, not the blue, and the tall ribbed cylindrical bottles are also vintage, along with the pocketwatch style dabber bottles. They can usually be found for $20 to 30 and seem to age well. The current EdC isn't bad, there's a brief citrus opening, it's a little more powdery, and the moood is lightened up considerably. An upside is that I do smell more of the floral aspect, rose and iris. It's recognizably Shalimar but the vintage cologne is so good, and so chock full of those spicy delicious resins and leather, and so inexpensive, that I would go for that instead.

At Long Last ~ I possess a bottle of this ethereal magic. As Yourfoxiness states, " I absolutely love this incarnation of Shalimar..." Couldn't have said it better, luv! Now I don't really have anything against the edt formulation ( apart from my odd sensation that it's bottle looks uneasily topheavy ), just a huge appreciation for THIS one. Hats off to the layout here at Fragrantica that has categorized the edc apart from the edt, as there really is a ( subtle ) difference. Some of us will notice this more than others due to the vagaries of personal chemistry --- but it's there. If you look at the note bars at the top, they are a Good representation of just what the differences are. My nose appreciates the slight spiciness in this more than the slightly rubber scent of the edt. I am currently wearing the edt on my right arm and edc on the left. Ahh! The edc lingered less on the rubber - like opening note and went for the heart. A very warm and happy heart. The edt took longer, but it's there now after an hour or so, and very nice it is. But.. somehow this is a trifle less warm and happy on my skin ~ cooler, perhaps. And the spicy quality is almost absent. I frankly do not generally invest in more expensive scents, as they seldom satisty the way my favorite drugstore beauties do. THIS ONE is worth the money!! Emeraude is not a substitute for Shalimar IMHO, just in the same general fragrance family. It would be hard for me to choose between them if I had to pick just one to own. Very Hard! To sum up, you could easily try this out by getting it at your local Walmart or Walgreens. Both have great return policies, so it's no - risk. The 2.5 oz bottle of edc costs between 45 to 48 dollars in my area, a decent luxury that even a penny pincher can save towards - or return if it just isn't your thing. But I'd rather have one bottle of this than about a hundred mochas or Starbuck specials...... WOW

Have you ever read other peoples' descriptions of their experiences online and thought, "Are we smelling completely different things?" 😂 That's been my experience with Shalimar for a while now. I just couldn't understand how everyone loved it so much! I gave it SO MANY chances, but I eventually had to admit that I just didn't like it. I knew that took down my perfumista cred several notches, but apparently I just wasn't sophisticated enough to appreciate the "mystery" and "complexity" of Shalimar... Turns out that the answer to my question was, "Yes!" I actually WAS smelling a completely different thing than everyone else--I was smelling a modern formulation. I finally got my hands on a vintage formula, and I cannot believe the difference!!!! Vintage Shalimar SINGS. I don't even want to write a description because it's so damn good I feel like I couldn't do it justice anyway. But, what's more than that, I don't really want to try and put words to my experience because I just want to enjoy the experience. If you want a detailed description, there are countless available. I just want to make two points. First, getting your hands on a vintage formula is non-negotiable. Don't be fooled by the modern bottles that say "Shalimar" on them. They're liars and fakes. The real Shalimar died a while ago and the only way to experience it now is to get an older bottle. Secondly, if you're like me and aren't a big fan of leather accords on yourself, don't be afraid of the strong leather here. This is not like any leather you've smelled in other perfumes. This is like some ethereal leather Aphrodite would wear on Mt Olympus or something 😂 Anyway, it's amazing. I can't recommend it enough ❤

LEMON-VANILLA & LEATHER. This feels personal; handed down - it's hard to describe - it just feels right. Lemon meringue, a barber's leather strop, vanilla, ancestors, Brill creme my grandfather put in his slicked back hair, bandaids, baby powder, baby cream (not wipes), a familiar soap...these are some of the association I get wearing this. With the first sprays, this seemed to be more of a citrus cologne, or a more lemon-y version of the original perhaps (before the bottle matures), with slightly shorter wearing time, but after the vanilla ages it's a VANILLA BOMB!!!!! This gets compliments. I agree with reviewer Rasputin1963 below, this is close to the EDP. I get about 4-5 hours of good projection, after which it becomes a skin scent for a few more hours (6-8 total). This reads unisex to me, maybe because, to the best of my knowledge, neither of my grandmothers wore it. It leans a little masculine before the vanilla ages, but then it leans feminine with the aged vanilla. This is one of the very few scents that transcend the 'best before' limits IMHO. There is a timelessness to it that keeps me coming back, unlike the many scents I once loved, but could not be paid to wear now. I wear this for myself, for others, to bed, out, or just whenever. But I'm more likely to wear it in summer and wear the EDP at other times of the year. I thought I preferred the EDP to the EDT, but I actually go back and forth, although I enjoy them all. I currently have 5 versions of Shalimar, which I'm not even sure makes me a collector considering the numbers that some people collect. Shalimar forever. Enjoy! 10/10.

For the opening, and only the opening does this smell like it's respective color. It's a tart, zingy, zesty citrus opening, and it's the sort that's perfect in the morning when you're groggy and trying to wake up fully. It of course settles and becomes so, so soft, and beautifully powdery...it's really lovely. The leather reveals itself early on, and immediately you can tell it's the leading note. I actually have never read the notes here, but it's such a clear, convincing leather without being overbearing, that I think it's actually quite a rare balance and done incredibly well here. This has a romantically oldschool tone, but not as strongly as original Shalimar (which I haven't smelled in years, but remember at least that much). As it dries on my skin, a licorice-y tone emerges along with the vanillic (true vanilla absolute smell, it smells like the real deal) leather, my mom confirmed this as well, though on her it smells nearly of patchouli with sandalwood. It's not very animalic, but it's not entirely "clean" smelling either, it's all just kind of gently in the background here. Even in colonge form, Shalimar is a fragrance of dimension, history and romance. It unfolds like a song, and I deeply enjoy the entire process. It's delightfully out of fashion (but are beautiful things ever, truly?), yet none of that matters in the slightest. Wearable art 🎨 ✨️

2020 formulation. The first spray of Shalimar Eau de Cologne is a bit much - fusty, powdery, aggressively retro, and more than a little reminiscent of baby wipes. Give it a minute, though, and a silky, smoky vanilla, brightened up with bergamot and sitting plush on a bed of soft leather and iris powder, surrounds you in the kind of aura that makes your life feel far more interesting than it actually is. If "smoky eye" had a smell, it would be Shalimar. The EdC is more approachable than the other concentrations, but it doesn't sacrifice quality - this is seriously good perfume, and it's more potent and long-lasting than you might expect from something with "eau de cologne" on its label. It's Shalimar, but with a relaxed demeanor and a lightness of touch that makes it perfect for casual wear and before-bed lounging. I get a few solid hours out of it before it's a skin scent, but woof, what a skin scent it is! Clarity and a (relative) lack of opulent sweetness steer this into unisex territory - fans of the original Dior Homme should feel right at home in Shalimar Eau de Cologne, as they're practically cousins. One final note: For what it's worth, this is the only version of Shalimar I own. I keep waffling over the extrait or eau de parfum, but I'm so satisfied with my EdC that I find it hard to talk myself into an upgrade. Yes, it's that good.

I own and wear many different perfumes, but if I had to choose just one, it would be Shalimar. I have bottles and bottles, including most of the flankers, ranging from vintage to current formulations—all of them fantastic. Not much more I can add to the pile of praise, but I do want to chime in on the current EDC, the bottle you can get at Walgreens for around $40, because it’s such a great bang for the buck—and the perfect introduction to Shalimar for those who might find the EDP or parfum too heavy or the EDT too sharp. My nose doesn’t detect the florals or smoke that distinguish regular Shalimar, just that famous wallop of bergamot, joined by lemon, orange, and cedar, and a seamless slide into a softened leather/incense/patchouli accord. I get very little vanilla, almost zero florals. The result is less va va voom vamp (the EDP, parfum) or cup cakey gourmand (Shalimar Light, Shalimar Ode à La Vanille), and more nautical and bracing, a "cologne" for well turned out young gentlemen, towheaded and bronze-skinned, moving through life with preppy aplomb. Since it’s an EDC (and probably also not the formulation into which Guerlain puts its most top-notch ingredients), it doesn’t last long, but at forty bucks for a nearly 2-ounce bottle, who cares. Keep it in your bag, spritz with abandon, and bask in the sunshine.

I'm wearing this today and am absolutely in love. I decided to go with the cheaper 'lighter' Shalimar to start with as I'd tested the edt and edp in store and detected a sharpness. I know, I know, I'm a chicken. But I wanted something that I could wear to the office and not offend my coworkers with (I have a coworker that HATES Mitsouko, so I'm Guerlain-shy at the office already!) This is so gorgeous...I'm not even sure what I can say that hasn't already been said. The opening is a bright, sweet citrus with the traditional "Guerlinade" accord that can be a turn off for some (personally, I love it). I *do* get hints of civet, which just makes this scent have more depth. I'm about 5 hours in and it's a warm smoky vanilla with some musk, benzoin, and opoponax to smooth it out. Those resins really give it a richness and a timelessness that I adore. I don't get any hints of patch with this one (which I was eagerly looking for, as I love patchouli), but that's ok because the smooth composition of this is just perfect as far as I'm concerned. Right now I'm in smoky powdery rich vanilla heaven. Now I'm considering checking out both the edt and edp on my skin again, to see if they are also worth owning. But considering how inexpensive, rich, and longlasting this edc is, I'd say this one was worth starting with. :D

Ah, Shalimar Eau de Cologne. This is a great value for those who already love Shalimar EDP but who do not want to commit to the price or the strength of the EDP. I cannot speak for the EDT, as I have not tried it, but this smells very similar to the 1-2 hour dry down mark of the EDP. What it lacks from the EDP is the depth of the vanilla. In the cologne, it is still there, but it is a whisper--and this isn't necessarily a bad thing. I also get incense smoke, resins, musk, woods, and soft enigmatic florals. This is still very much Shalimar to its core, but much more approachable in terms of both price and wearability. After the citrus opening, it seems to develop quite immediately and stays relatively stable throughout its lifespan. Shalimar is bewitching--it is pure magic in a bottle. It is the distillation of an enchantress' deepest dreams, desires, wishes. The Eau De Cologne is a softer and gentler kiss of that enchantress. The legacy of Shalimar endures after 100 years. There is a reason why it is considered the flagship fragrance of Guerlain. This is a masterpiece, a true work of genius that has been given many forms and variations throughout the years, but whose heart and soul remains one of the greatest achievements of art and humankind.

Shalimar Eau de Cologne is probably one of my favourite incarnations of the classic scent. Or, should I say, one of my favourite original versions of the scent. Shalimar EDC is, for all intents and purposes, one of the closest to the original versions that you're going to get. Both the EdT and the EdP are great in their own rights, but they've changed as they've become more popular with the younger crowd. The EDC still keeps that smooth bourbon vanilla, that dirty leather and the smooth citrus that reminds you perhaps of a cleaning product. This one is just the most sexual of the three, without a doubt. It beckons gentleman into it's quarters and seduces them, it dances around the gardens in white billowing gowns. It embodies the true spirit of Shalimar: sensuality, unabashed sexuality, the class to keep it only slightly showing but the allure to pull a man in. A man can wear this and, as a man, I still feel like this. Is that strange? Probably, but I don't care. It makes one feel like royalty, but also like a working class person who wants to go out and party. It's a flapper, it's a princess. It's dapper, it's priceless. One cannot describe the magic of this subdued beast.

Shalimar eau de cologne from 2019 opens quite sharp, with a screetchy lavender and detergent smell. It moves on to the kind of skanky and "dirty" note many of my favourite Guerlain's have for a moment (like Jicky and Vol de Nuit), which almost smells like bad breath. However, if you wait for just 10 minutes, the badness turns to wonder, when the full complexity of the smell opens up. I have never figuered out if the strange smelling openings of some of Guerlain's perfumes are there to make a contrast to the amazement that followes as the scent developes, but this is kind of how it works. The drydown is gorgeous, mainly smokey, with a hint of leather and vanilla powder, but never sweet and overpowering, not cloying like so many sickly sweet powder scents of today. I have the EdP in the bat wing bottle from 2010, a vintage 1991 EdT (according to the batch code checker), and the Ode de la Vanille from 2013, but the Eau de Cologne is the most easy one to wear. The vanilla/leather smoke in this version is heavenly! Like the inside of an exclusive handbag, whith the smell of cigarettes and powder filtering through a side pocket in the leather lining.

Shalimar is wildly popular. It's been around for a long, long time, actually in a few years' time it will celebrate its 100th birthday. It's a perfume for women...But I don't care about any of this. What I care about is the fragrance. And this fragrance is everything i love about fragrances. Wearing it is transcending. Having it is a must. Art at its best - evocative, beautiful, inspiring and above all human. Shalimar naturally enhances my skin smell, it never feels external, it becomes a part of me the moment i spray it. This fragrance capitalizes on all that is great in art - it's a mentor, no, a demiurge, an example to follow. To say that it skillfully plays with all that is beautiful about smell is an understatement. That citrusy-vanilla-animalic blend is exceptional. I love it in Jicky, I love it in Mouchoir de Monsieur, but them i wear when i feel dirty. In Shalimar it is pure, it is joyful, it's ...life. It is organic, Guerlain just captured it in all its beauty, and was kind enough to pass it to us. So the best i could do (besides giving my money, but that's not the point really) in return is this little humble eulogy of mine. *****

I own both this and Shalimar edp. I think both of them needs some time to get used to, and I am not always in the mood - but today I am. I bought the edp first, but since I heard that many concider the edc to be the closest to the old original I wanted to try this one too. Today I'm wearing one on each hand, to compare. They are very much alike, and I love them both! But I feel like the edp is stronger on the leather, and the edc is softer, much more vanillic. Real vanilla, best quality. The citrus shines in both: softer and mixed with the vanilla in edc, stronger and enhancing the leather together with the civet in edp. Of course there is civet in edc too, but this is when I feel the difference between them both. I don't really percieve much of any flowers at all, but of course they are there, but more to create the overall complexity, I should say. Not safe blindbuys, any of them! You really should try first, and see if it is your style. If I would repurchase only one of them, I think this one would be it. And I love this, more oldfashioned bottle, too! Both are very longlasting, by the way. And so, so sensual...

The sophisticated Eau de Cologne is my favourite interpretation of Shalimar so far. It's such a beautiful scent. The cologne begins with a fizzy citrus and soft pillows of powder, that reminds me of the tang of lemon sherbet on the tongue, and what I think is the combination of iris, lemon and vanilla. This morphs into a soft leather, that's slightly smoky from the incense and supported by a woodsy-musk background. This perfume is much more minimalist than Shalimar, which was too much for me, and here there is less powder, less balsams, less citrus and less vanilla. It has a classic, yet elegant feel; never too stuffy or old-fashioned, with a lighter and graceful sort of character. I find it charming and beautifully blended. I'm actually really surprised that I enjoyed this so much, as I'm not a Guerlain girl by any means, but this is the best Guerlain on my skin so far! I think that I prefer the lighter Guerlains. I could definitely see a mini in my future to experiment with and I also think that the vintage would be worthwhile seeking out. Soft to moderate sillage; longevity is for about 9-10 hours.

I own the bottle in the pic and wearing it today. It's not completely new to me, as i own both the current formulation of edt and the previous formulation of edp. I find it more similar to the edp than the edt, minus the longevity and the strong accent on the heavier notes (incense, amber, vanilla); it also lacks the animalic character i smell in the first phase of edp (i dont mind the bergamot, its like a 5 min kick, then the benzoin for another hour or so). Used 5 sprays in the morning (neck are and blouse) and i can still smell it 3h later and still kicking despite of it being a cologne (my vision of cologne longevity is 2-3 h so this beats it). Will probably use it heavily for daytime since its lighter and gives you the freedom of choosing something else for the evening; it doesn't offend anybody since it sits farily close to the skin so i would call it office friendly as well. Probably what i would reccomend to a shalimar newbie if a sample isn't avaiable because it's fairly cheap, it doesn't last an eternity and the prominent character of the original is on "light" mode.

This is a very beautiful - and very wearable - version of Shalimar. Unlike its stronger and denser counterparts, Shalimar Eau de Cologne is office friendly and very appropriate for warm summer days, because it is neither intrusive nor suffocating. All typical ingredients of Shalimar (leather, vanilla, incense, bergamot and iris) are still there, but in smaller quantities, and they are perfectly blended together. I used to have Shalimar EDP, but I had to save it for special occasions, because leather and smoke were very prominent in that version and they made it barely tolerable in closed spaces. Ultimately I had to sell it off, because those 'special occasions' were very rare (and they would be even rarer in this covid-plagued world). Unlike the EDP, Shalimar Eau de Cologne is transparent and ethereal, yet memorable and seductive. Although it's a cologne, it lasts a fair bit on my skin (5-6 hours easily) and projects beautifully. I think I've finally discovered 'my' Shalimar; I am committed to making this one a permanent addition to my perfume collection.

I remember I used up to three bottles of this many years ago before moving on to some other fragrances. I really, really, love this perfume! And to this day, still remember it with love, lol. It's so clean, soft, and powdery. But it doesn't smell like any cheap powder, this smells very subtle and fresh. This oriental fragrance is so different from what perfume industries offer nowadays! It smells so innocent and soft, in many ways. It surprised me this is so soft yet so long lasting on the skin! Definitely not like any other eau de cologne I have ever used before. I would literally wear this for a whole day, and even after a shower, the next day my neck would smell like a baby's skin. I really want to buy this and make it my staple scent again, but I have to save up! This perfume costs up to $90 per bottle! I know it's totally worth it because I guarantee you there won't be another person smelling like you in the entire town, but it's still very pricy. Definitely a UNIQUE scent. Check it out!

My mum has a vintage bottle of Shalimar EDC with the frosted white cap, which according to what I got from looking up online is from the release back in 1995. Shalimar is a perfect blend of woody, smokey and 'incensy' notes with a very citrusy opening. I don't know whether because of my nose or the fact that mine has aged, but I can't get any vanilla from the cologne. But even with the vanilla, I think this version of Shalimar could still be categorized as an unisex fragrance. It's so deep and luxurious, strong yet very sophisticated. The performance of this EDC version is a bit disappointing to me as it only last for 4hrs at most on my skin. But I'm happy with the mild silage since it doesn't make the fragrance feels overpowering at all. I love the dry down of this scent so much, it's a rich woody smell that is so soothing and pleasant. Shalimar is an iconic fragrance from the house of Guerlain and if you are a big fan of oriental perfumes, definitely give it a try.

This is my second version of Shalimar, after the eau de toilette, and I am so very taken with her! This version is much more citrus forward where the EDT blasts you with smoke and powdery incense straight away. It's very clean to me- actually, if you told me there is a popular citrus cleaner carrying this scent nowadays, I would definitely believe you.. she's giving freshly showered and body-powdered. I can catch a whiff of the incense, leather, and spices as the scent develops; they're certainly there, giving the citrus character, but never taking the spotlight. A woody, resinous, almost animalic vanilla takes over the dry down. Where I can see the "mature" descriptions in the loud and spicy EDT, this fragrance gives "vintage" vibes instead-- when I spray this I can totally envision a stylish young flapper girl enjoying it. She's like a more relaxed little sister to the EDT, equally beautiful and confident but not so in-your-face about it. Love her!

Since this has been discontinued, I just wanted to mention Calvin Klein Obsession for women - it's not exactly the same, but it's similar in some ways. It has a similar vibe. Beware though, Obsession is stronger than Shalimar EdC, where more than one spritz can really be overwhelming. The similarities concern the vanilla and smoky notes, as well as some of the spicy ones and the orange flower/citrus notes. I'm only mentioning this here, because Obsession is still available and it's a bargain perfume, so you might wanna check it out, if you miss this one. As to the question about Shalimar EdC being unisex or not: I'd say it depends on your preferences. I think anyone can wear anything, if they want to and there should be no shame in that at all. Personally, I prefer a scent like this on women, for a man this would be too sweet and strong on the vanilla for me to find it attractive, but like I said, it's a matter of personal taste. ;)