Shalimar Eau de Parfum

Revisiting Shalimar Shalimar evokes highly pleasurable memories for me. Its scent is simply deliciously decadent and devious. Guerlain designed this perfume to be just that. It is supposed to be a woman's scent. I don't entirely agree. It's for those who know who they are and when to indulge by wearing an unforgettable fragrance. It's a perfume that evokes the idea of the human body as a source of pleasure mixed with sweetness. Its dry down won't assault the senses with an overpowering floral scent or cloying musk, but rather entices with an intriguing blend of naughty and nice. It belongs to a faraway time and place, perhaps in the setting of One Thousand and One Nights, where the air is filled with the scent of incense burning somewhere in the night and the bodies are adorned with fragrances. Created in 1921, it has withstood the test of time. Shalimar should never be confused with any popular designer fragrance or used as an everyday scent. It is far more powerful than the hype surrounding today's fragrances and the sales they generate through magazine and television advertisements. It opens with a powdery scent, reminiscent of baby powder. As the initial sense of awe transforms into joy, the senses are enticed by further radiant blossoms and spices, accompanied by an impressive vanilla scent. This fragrance represents the quintessence of the Guerlinade, a characteristic that I discern in numerous other Guerlain fragrances. This vanilla is seductive and warm yet not overly sweet. A subtle hint of animality accompanies it, lending the whole fragrance a spicy edge without ever becoming intrusive. Yet this hint is clearly perceptible. This slightly rugged scratchiness is provided by a resinous note. It is brilliantly achieved. Contrasting notes should always work together effectively and expressively in a fragrance like this one. The scent is kept exciting by this, and it is prevented from becoming banal. Then it develops into an amazingly smoky, incense-like, leathery, Tonka bean delight. I'm always amazed by the way it develops. Finally, it settles on an incense and woody note. I just love it. I want to keep it ready and available at all times. It never fails to surprise me, and I'm even more delighted by how well it blends with my wife's skin. There's no doubt why this scent is so iconic, well-known and universally loved. It can only be described as a work of art. Fact: The word 'Shalimar' is Persian for 'the purest of all human pleasures'. It is also the name of an Indian garden that the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan enlarged for his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The mausoleum he built for her after her death, the Taj Mahal, is a symbol of the magnificent splendour of the Orient today. The name 'Shalimar' thus evokes great love and beauty, conjuring up an image of the Orient. The "Oriental" perfume family has a benchmark fragrance in the form of Shalimar, which is widely considered iconic. Rumour: A not very credible rumour is that Jacques Guerlain created the fragrance by accident when he added too much vanillin while mixing Jicky. Opinion on Guerlain's Shalimar: Just go and grab one flask for yourself. If you already have one, get a backup bottle. Price is no excuse because it's not overly expensive. Gender issues? Come on... Perfumes have no gender. Is it good enough for a blind buy? Yes, it is! Music: Norah Jones - Come Away With Me

PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS GOOD, DO NOT TEST SHALIMAR IF YOU HAVE NOT PROPERLY PREPARED YOURSELF! This is directed to the harsh, almost violent anti-Shalimar reviews that are peppered in among the adoring, gushy, positive reviews here. It almost seems like nonsense to review Shalimar, but I feel like more than a fragrance review, it is essential to tell my experience. Once upon a time, not too long ago, I was a fragrance newbie. I loved light, sweet fragrances and anything with any silage whatsoever was "too much." Now that I look back I realize that I was culturally acclimated to believing that strong silage was a sign of age (not in a good way) or cheapness. Interestingly, I thought that high quality fragrances were subtle and watery. But then I "accidentally" met Shalimar Parfum Initial. I had smelled Shalimar at Sephora (I believe it was only the EDT at the time), and I almost retched right in the store. But being the collector I am, I thought I "needed" to have at least one form of this fragrance, so I did some research and decided that at the price I got it for and with the reviews, PI was the way to go . . . and boy, was it! I adored PI, mostly after I started getting rave compliments from people. It wasn't the initial top notes, but the drydown that was so stunning. And I thought "why not get right to the drydown," but realized that the top notes were essential or you'd have just a powdery, vanilla scent like so many others. As time has passed, I determined to try the hated Shalimar again, partially because of the rave reviews for its leather note. I gingerly sprayed a test strip, and let it dry down before carefully sniffing. Okay. There's my beloved leather! I can now put this in the "like" category. But then I got a decant of the EDT, and after avoiding it for several months, I started to spray a teeny bit here and there. Usually before a shower or before bed. I started to notice the development from one moment to the next, and was startled at how amazingly complex this scent was. Much more than any other scent I had tried (or probably more than any I've tried to this date), this fragrance continued to morph and change and wrap around me like gorgeous (and sometimes "stanky" in a good way) sparkling, seductive, serpents (ok, stupid analogy, but I had to use all "Ss" for effect). By the time I tried the EDP again, I was already in love. Now I don't wear the EDP yet, and don't know that I ever would. It's stunning, but almost like you don't wear your fine china. This one is a masterpiece to be admired, not for casual wear (for me). But all the other Shalimars are fair game. So please, please, PLEASE! For your own sake, do NOT spray this on, sniff, cough, and then write scathing reviews after disposing of what you consider to be toxic waste. This is art! And it's gorgeous to myself, who was once a hater. If you have not learned to love civet, oakmoss, aldehydes and other "big-girl" notes, start with some of the easier flankers. Souffle, PI (any of them, but especially Si Sensuelle), and Eau de Shalimar are a much better way to start. These are all beautiful granddaughters of the Grand Dame herself. As a perfume lover, you owe it to yourself to learn how to understand this one.

Ever since i was a child, i’ve had a habit of not enjoying being put onto things. Wether it be music, shows, food, games, products WHATEVER ELSE i always preferred to discover things on my own. Whenever i keep hearing people talk about something, i subconsciously try to avoid it. Its a terrible habit and i dont ever want to come off as pretentious, but it almost feels like its a core part of myself... And the same applied to Shalimar. My first classic guerlain was l’heure bleue, and i thought ‘why would i try l’heure bleue’s more popular more beloved more iconic sister? If everyone loves it, it must smell boring!’ And i was so wrong... Honestly there is nothing new to be said about shalimar. It really is the most beautiful amber of all time. It ticks every box, i have never smelled anything this layered. And i dont think i will. How can a perfume be so sparkly and dark at the sams time? The beloved bergamot opening is so wonderful and immediately backed up by deep and rich resins. After a few hours i smell a huge dose of realistic jasmine, combined with the resins, which creates an indian incense feel. Its not just jasmine + incense however, theres constantly much more going on with shalimar. And thats the beauty of it. You never know which layer it will reveal to you. Which makes it even harder to write a review and describe it online. Adjectives come in really handy here... it is extremely sensual, extremely sparkly, extremely rich, very powdery, opulent, dominating, warm, leathery and smoky. Truly the only smoky fragrance i like, probably because it doesnt smell like straight up ashtray or campfire And that is another part of shalimars beauty. The only obvious notes in it are bergamot and vanilla. Everything else is complex and ambiguous, not in a ‘modern perfume unconvincing thin synthetics’ way but an unfathomable, abstract and artistic way. It truly is its own thing. Many people of my generation would consider this way too heavy, which is strange to me because nothing overwhelms me more than that le labo ambroxan or whatever uninspired sterile stuff they wear. I really want to study the psychology behind this, is the lack of exposure to nature and sensuality the reason for so many artificial and metallic smelling perfumes nowadays? This generation is indeed the most disconnected from interpersonal relationships, maybe that is a contributing factor to the rise of such impersonal and meaningless perfumes. Or maybe i just dont see the meaning in them and my nose is broken... Shalimar is full of character and personality, it really is almost its own genre for me... l’heure bleue is still my personal favorite because it feels more like “me” but shalimar is a close second. And comparison is the thief of joy anyway so i wont try to explain why which one is better than the other.. Anyways please at least try out this perfume. It doesnt fit everyones vibe but its still a work of art you can admire every time u smell it in a store

I smelled Shalimar for the first time ever a couple of days ago. There's a local perfume shop right across where I live, I've always wanted to go there but I, as a fairly socially awkward person, avoided it. That's until I took a peek inside and saw they had some Guerlain classics I've always wanted to sniff. The owner of the shop is an older woman, she greeted me very warmly. I got to it and sniffed all the fragrances I've always wanted, but there was one missing, and that was Shalimar. Thinking this yet again wasn't my time for that, I was going to thank the lady and leave. But that's when she approached me and asked me if I personally liked Guerlain. We started chatting about our shared interest in perfumery for a bit, until I took a chance and asked ''Do you have Shalimar?'' Her face lit up and she said ''No not here, but I'll go check in the back for you.'' I waited until she came back with a bottle of this beautiful perfume and sprayed it on paper for me to sample. Then she told me: the bottle wasn't from the shop, it was her own bottle. Vintage. From her personal collection. I was so, so happy really I can hardly describe it. I guess she saw that on my face and asked if I wanted to sample on skin, took my arm, and sprayed my wrist. We kept talking. About perfumes she had on her shop, national brands, her own life and customers, along other things for quite a while. It got dark outside, and she gave me some sample decants to take home and we both thanked each other for the quality time together, and headed home. I really can't describe how happy I was. This lady was so kind to me, and I don't even know her name! At least yet. Shalimar is, honestly, everything I hoped it was. The reviews made no exaggeration, it's incredible. The citrus opening, the flowers enveloping the citrus, the vanilla and incense dry down that smells divine. I went to sleep, and after I woke up, the incense and leathery notes on my wrist were still there. I would call it a masterpiece, but I feel like my youth and little experience in this fragrance world doesn't make me worthy of that yet. What I can say for sure is, it's ageless. Timeless. I don't normally share my age online, I'm a young adult. My age still ends in teen. I love Shalimar. The lady I talked to, a much older woman than me, said that was her go-to scent most of her life, and that she treasures the current bottle she has. She loves Shalimar. We both love Shalimar. I'm not sure why this made me quite emotional I confess. Maybe the kindness of the lady, maybe the perfume itself owning up to all my naïve expectations, maybe the feeling of connection with other women throughout time because of love for a particular perfume. Maybe all of it. Maybe something more. I just know it did. I will treasure that day, that lady, and this perfume on my mind for as long as I can. Until one day, another young girl might ask me ''Do you have Shalimar?''

My Grandmother, a beautiful and elegant lady spent most of her working adult life behind the Perfume Counter at Famous Barr in St. Louis. To many, she was known as the "Perfume Lady". To me, she was my "Mimi", and I owe my love of finer fragrance all to her. We lost her nearly two years ago. It was heartbreaking to say "goodbye", and I am so grateful that I had the chance to laugh with her just one last time before she took her next step in this amazing journey. It was her dying wish that we all take a little something (or things) from her home by which we could remember and cherish her--and enjoy. The day of her funeral was mostly a haze. It was February in St. Louis, frigid, cold, yet hopeful. We honored her in a spirit of joy and laughter. I wore Neela Vermeire's Mohur. I knew Mimi would approve. My mom told me that I smelled "lovely", and took me in her arms and cried. My Great Aunts remembered with pride Mimi's Lunch with Elizabeth Taylor--not on one, but TWO occasions. It seems that she had sold the most White Diamonds AND Passion in the City, and that was her prize. Getting back on track--Shalimar. Where does this fit in? For Birthdays and Holidays, Mimi always gifted my Mom with Shalimar. She had all of the concentrations, Extrait in the gorgeous, small Baccarat bottle. So heady and luscious. I remember Mom telling me the difference between the concentrations, and smelling them all back to back as a child, all the way to the Eau de Cologne, with its conical top. I was hooked. After the funeral, we all went to Mimi's house, the home she worked hard to build and pay for, for so many years. There were no reminders to take off our shoes, or not to run by the stairs, in case we might fall down. No gentle voice reminding us to stay away from her succculents, lest the spines "jump out at us" and stick us. Just silence and reverence for a life well lived. I stepped into her bedroom, and on her night stand, I beheld her SOLE bottle of perfume displayed. A gold Guerlain atomizer. I picked it up, opened the lid and smelled the incense and leather, the vanilla and musk. I was home. Tears fell from my eyes, and I knew what gift Mimi wanted me to have. I treasure this bottle. When I want to feel close to her, I indulge myself, tenderly kiss the bottle that her hands held and again I feel her presence nearby. This is the beauty and magic of Shalimar for me. A fragrance of unparalleled beauty and refinement, just like my Mimi.

Few fragrances have stunned me like “Shalimar” did. I have to admit the pungent opening scared me at first. I thought it was some twisted joke and could not believe this was a women's perfume. Once it settles, the scent is gorgeous. Be patient and open-minded and you will be in for a real treat! To me, the vetiver makes the opening so pungent despite being a middle note. However, it quickly fades away and the remaining scent is still strong but much more balanced. The strongest accord is composed of beautifully made citrusy notes. Powdery iris and leather soften the fragrance and give it a unique creamy, soapy quality. A smoky, warm and intoxicating note of incense and some woody notes complete the fragrance. The light vanilla manages to slice through these heavy notes while the jasmine and rose are quite distant (I cannot smell them at all). “Shalimar” is not that expensive for what it offers and you totally get your money's worth. Even a smaller bottle will last you plenty of time. Do NOT overspray this! 3 sprays will suffice! I learnt this the hard way. The bottle looks beautiful in my collection. The blue stopper and the golden juice fit together so well. "Shalimar" is not appropriate for everyday use. If it were, I would have gone through my 30 ml bottle. It should be worn to serious events and places that require dressing up. A few examples off the top of my head: - ball/prom - one's own wedding - going to the theater or opera - going to an expensive restaurant - a job interview. I would wear it to my prom if I were to have one now. For now, I have to satisfy my need for “Shalimar” by sniffing the stopper. It is strong and polarizing. People will probably hate you if you wear it to the office. Its personality is bold which means it is not for people who hate being noticed. If you appreciate these qualities in a fragrance, “Shalimar” is a great candidate! It is just as relevant as it was 40 years ago. It has stood the test of time. I have not had the chance to try the vintage formulations but the one currently offered is mind-blowing. One may love it or hate it, but it is impossible to be indifferent to it. This masterpiece should be produced for as long as possible. I may give it a rare 10/10 for blowing my mind.

I started sampling perfumes in the early 2010s, but I didn’t get around to sniffing Shalimar until a few years ago. I wish I hadn’t waited that long. Smelling Shalimar for the first time is like doing your first wine pairing at a fancy restaurant. You thought you understand how wine and food could complement each other, but then the meal unlocks a whole new level of possibilities. Flavors harmonize like the music of the spheres. That’s what smelling Shalimar feels like. You can make out the citrus and the vanilla, but they vibrate together and create something completely new. Because it’s a scent that’s all about its totality, the experience of wearing it is hard to describe. The citrus has a slightly shrill edge, almost like window cleaner. But everything else in the composition — the vanilla, musk, and leather notes — is soft and yielding. There’s a yin-yang quality to it. Strong but smooth, mysterious but direct. Despite my love for the scent (and for Habit Rouge, originally created for men who liked the scent of Shalimar on their wives), I don’t wear this scent out of the house very often. It’s beautiful and — like all my favorite perfumes — creates an itch that only this specific scent can scratch. But it doesn’t feel like “me” somehow. It’s not how I’d represent myself to others, even though it’s stunning. So, who do I imagine wearing this? Two very different images come to mind. First, a very put-together grandmother. A Nana whose makeup is always perfectly applied and who buys designer suits on trips to France. But despite her elegance, she’s not pretentious or aloof. She’s honest with herself about what gives her pleasure. She still remembers how to flirt. She still knows how to live. The second image that comes to mind is totally different. I see a 30-something ceramicist alone in her studio, maybe in clay-stained overalls with her hair up in a lopsided bun. Throughout the day, she sniffs her wrist, for hits of artistic inspiration and pleasure. The common link between the two images, I think, is that this is a scent for people who feel at home in their bodies. This isn’t an abstract, intellectual, bookish scent. This is a scent for people who love being in the world. It’s elegant but embodied. 10/10

Shalimar Forever... Named after the "Gardens of Shalimar" in the Taj Mahal, built to commemorate the lost love and soulmate of Shah Jahan (not to mention his wife and mother of their 14 children), this scent lives up to its legendary dedication, as attested to by the fact that it's been popular since its first release in 1925. Before I knew anything about the backstory I already loved this and made it my signature scent because it feels personal to me; handed down from the line of women in my family. It feels like a familiar spirit in a way. It's a vintage citrus-vanilla & amber-leather par excellence, but some of the associations I get wearing it are: aged vanilla, a leather apron, lemon curd, the inside of a vintage handbag, ancestors, the slicked back & glossy hair of a man in a tuxedo, baby powder, soap.... After the vanilla ages it's a VANILLA BOMB!!!!! This is one of the very few scents that transcend the 'best before' limits. There is a timelessness to it that keeps me coming back. I currently have 6 versions of Shalimar, which I'm not even sure makes me a collector considering the numbers that some people collect. Opens with a citrus-amber burst of bergamot, citrus & cedar but already the Guerlainade is present underneath that smells to me like a blend of bergamot-iris-leather and a beautifully aged vanilla. Alongside there's a vein of antique powderiness that reminds me of the inside of a vintage leather handbag. The longer this ages, the more beautiful the vanilla becomes. It's a love for me, and I'll always want it in my collection. 10/10. Contrast to Shalimar EDT Guerlain: Both have the Shalimar & Guerlain DNA, but the EDP has amber, warm-spicy & animalic touches more forward, while the EDT has bergamot, iris & fresh-spicy touches more forward. The EDP is a little richer and more leather-y, while the EDT is more bergamot-iris forward. Contrast to Shalimar EDC Guerlain: Again, both have the Shalimar & Guerlain DNA, but the EDC has a lemon-y citrus-vanilla more forward, while the EDP is richer and more resinous & leather forward.

Shalimar is a psychological masterpiece. It demands a specific posture, an inner strength, a certain way of inhabiting oneself. It is the scent of magnificence - a woman in a long black gown, or a man in a perfectly tailored suit and tie. It is not a matter of gender, but of presence. An aura so majestic it creates distance, a regal barrier between the wearer and the world. The opening is almost paradoxical: a sharp, generous burst of bergamot — used in excess, as Jacques Guerlain intended - that bright, bitter citrus overdose simultaneously lightening and announcing the gravity of what is to come. The heart arrives like a slow revelation - iris, jasmine, rose - but not in the soft, approachable way of a floral. Here they are warm, powdery, carnal. The iris in particular wraps the florals in something between silk and skin, giving the composition an almost bodily intimacy before the base has even fully spoken. And then the base. This is where Shalimar becomes Shalimar. Vanilla - not simply vanilla, but ethylvanillin, the synthetic molecule Jacques Guerlain was among the first to dare use in excess, three times more powerful than the natural material - fused with opoponax, tonka bean, incense, and the ghost of civet. Its indecency. Its intelligence. Its refusal to be merely beautiful. I guess Shalimar is not meant for every stage of life. It requires emotional and olfactory maturity, the kind that comes with experience, confidence, and self-possession - the kind that knows how to carry a scent that carries you back. It is sexy, animalic, and intimidatingly beautiful. The kind of beauty that fascinates as much as it unsettles. Calling it a masterpiece feels almost reductive. Shalimar invented the oriental amber as a category, and everything that followed owes it a debt it will never fully repay.

i turned 24 this year, and ive been wearing shalimar EDP since 2022 since i was 21 years old. this is my favorite perfume ever hands down. on my friends it smells powdery and grandma-ish, and they say it reeks of civet and stay far away. not me tho. on my skin, shalimar smells like a decadent, yet powdery bergamot pastry dipped in amber and incensed leather. my friends ask me, how the hell does this smell so different on you? i have people smelling from across the room and asking, who's wearing that perfume? its shalimar yall. when shalimar picks her people, she is not picking the people wearing clean florals and BBW/Victoria's secret. trust me, i love a good cheap bbw VS spray as much as the next person. but shalimar? she IS me -- smoked citrus leathery incense from beginning to end of each spray and use -- deepening to a slightly sweet and velvet smooth ambery bergamot vanilla after 3-4 hours, lasting until the day after. shes layered and very intense when you compare them to modern day bangers, and i would not recommend shalimar to the average perfume fan. nor do i recommend her to the average amber enjoyer. you gotta test shalimar, give it a good couple sprays and experience it for a full day before making your opinion. she is beautiful and i will always have a bottle of her in my collection. for reference, my body chemistry when wearing perfumes displays the following: white florals smell stark-white and tend to be very shampooey and soapy, very sharp. but ambers, musks, and citruses become smooth and deepen, sometimes becoming sweeter. leather and smoke become more rounded and velvety on me, which is why i think shalimar fits me perfectly. if your body chemistry does the same, i heavily recommend trying this EDP.

The Grande Dame herself. Full disclosure, ambery orientals are not typically my preferred scent profile, so I had to sit with this one for a bit to understand it and then appreciate it. I highly recommend this approach, by the way - please don’t just sniff the atomizer or spray it on a test strip. Spray it on your skin, give it some time and sniff throughout the drydown because it absolutely DOES evolve with your personal skin chemistry. Just like you wouldn’t gulp down a fine wine, this is also not a fragrance for quick sniffing. Anyway, here are my thoughts on this as someone who does not have a highly attuned nose yet. The opening on me was bright and heavy on the citrus, which I found surprising. It then dries down into an amber incense-y fragrance, and thankfully not too smoky which I was worried about. It’s overall elegant, classic, and sophisticated while still having a certain comforting quality to me. I can definitely see how this would be a more challenging, “dated” scent profile for modern sensibilities. But after coming to fully appreciate it, I think it is still wearable and still has a place. The complexity, subtlety, and elegance make the rest of my perfumes seem like loud sugar bombs in comparison! This is in a class by itself. Definitely a scent for elegant and dressy special occasions, but I have also found myself loving this as a daytime fragrance on cold fall and winter days. Apparently this was the “bad girl” perfume of the 1920s, and I do think it still has a certain vintage subtle sexiness about it. It has a very “old Hollywood” aura to me. I could easily picture the screen sirens of yore wearing this. I think everyone should try this once.

******Update from 12/21/25****** So like Id said a couple weeks ago when I first purchased/tried Shalimar edp, it smells sublime! Its more "modern" than Id emagined it'd be, yet still classic, VERY unisex, opens with a smooth Bergamot and begins to get a bit powdery (not too powdery imo, just right) with beautiful hints of smokey vanilla as it dries down along with resins (GORGEOUS!!) What Im sorta surprised about is the performance. While it is a long-lasting scent, its definately NOT as "Bombastic" as I thought itd be. Many YouTube reviewers warn that only 2 spritzes are needed of this beauty so that others around us are not "Offended", and again, while its a strong performer, I think that those reviewers may be referring to older formulations bc imo and depending on the occasion Id need atleast betwern 4 and 6 spritzes to carry me through the day and without offending those around me. Also, I like to test longevity by doing 2 spritzes on my moisturized arm before bed to see if I can still smell it in the morning and Shalimar edp unfortunately did NOT survive on my skin that long, not even slightly. Now again, Ive only had my brand-new bottle for around 2 weeks so it may just need more time to "Maturate" which is why I didnt want to immediately mention the performance initially, so we'll see ehat happens. As for.now Im getting 6 to 7 hours on skin and all day on clothes with atleast 4 spritzes on my shirt. Still tho, while I am just a bit dissapointed with the performance, I am SO GLAD that Ive FINALLY pulled the trigger on this true masterpiece. The house of Guerlain is quickly becoming one of my faves next to Serge Lutens. A 10 outta 10 fragrance!

Shalimar is difficult to review, I've tried a few times and scrapped them all. The lore, significance, and cultural magnitude of this perfume cannot be overstated. And, it's deserving of it all. Well, to begin (yet again), I should mention that this is surprisingly herbaceous as it opens and until an hour or more after application. The rosemary smells like sage to me, and is particularly noticeable in the heat. Sometimes I enjoy it. But sometimes, it's overly bitter alongside the citrus. Sometimes the bracing green is too much, but other times, it's what I crave. In all honesty I never smell iris in here, though I detect jasmine at times. Yes...there's florals. They're rather dry, but Shalimar never registers as a "floral" composition to my nose. They're there for structure and accent, but they're not the highlight. As this dries, it becomes magical (and I don't say that flippantly, or in a cliché way), there *is* something truly exceptional about Shalimar. And, this is why I've scrapped 3 reviews, because it defies explanations. The beauty of the warm animalics alongside the resins, the richness of the vanilla, and the peppery-ness of the patchouli is timelessly gorgeous. It's highly evocative. This perfume is orchestral, and there's really no other way that feels like a suitable description. You can nitpick all of the components as you could instruments, but it's better to refrain from that mentality, and to rather allow it to present itself as a whole.

Shalimar is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, and to this day most perfumes pale in comparison to such a creation. This intensely sensual masterpiece was named after the Gardens of Shalimar, built by the last Mogul of India in dedication to the love of his life; a beautifully touching story of adoration. I think what often puts people off Shalimar is the opening, we are all too guilty of dismissing a perfume over its opening, and Shalimar is a tough one to accept - but there is beauty in it. This is because of its outrageous use of bergamot, originally over 30% of the formula was just bergamot, this makes it absurdly bitter, sharp and rindy for the first few minutes. This sharpness does persist as it transforms into something more dry and smoky, and after an hour into its life is pretty much gone. At this point, I’m in heaven. The vanilla and coumarin begin to emerge which are velvety smooth, creamy and almost custardy, and yet it never becomes too sweet thanks to the smoky veil of opoponax and the dry mustiness of vague animalics. It absolutely smells old school, but never outdated. Legend has it, that Shalimar was created with one flick of the wrist - as Jacques Guerlain poured some ethyl vanillin into the formula for Jicky; who knows how true this is. However there are some similarities, in its use of citrus contrasted by a dry, musty and vanillic base. This is a must-have for anyone serious about perfume, and any lover of vanilla.

this scent is INCREDIBLE!!! shalimar opens woody, but never offensively or abrasively so - it's extremely well blended. woody notes are Really good when they're good, but they are so strong that they often have the capacity to take over the whole scent entirely. this doesn't happen with shalimar. the cedar and sandalwood work together to keep it nice and warm in the also very pleasantly citrus-y opening. they compliment each other in a way i wasn't expecting. it is proudly a vanilla scent the whole way through, as well. it's sweet and tastefully smoky and bright all at the same time. the vanilla is so cheerful and lovely and RICH. a luxurious, hot, mouthwatering kind of vanilla. this scent is never particularly sharp in the nose. it's smooth and inviting the entire time. you could spend an hour just sitting there with your nose to the nozzle, picking out the notes one by one. everything is in such harmony. after it dries down - about 2 hours on my skin - i swear it smells like a vanilla-flavoured dark soda. it's so wild, and so good!! of course, i firmly believe that any scent can be worn by anyone, regardless of sex or gender, but if you're a gentleman and still a bit nervous about trying perfumes that are historically marketed "for women", shalimar is a very safe bet. it's strong as much as it is seductive and sweet, and too beautiful to lock yourself out of experiencing because of something so silly as gender norms!

I love Shalimar. I purchased Mon Guerlain first and within one day, decided to purchase Shalimar. It’s exactly what I was looking for... I wanted a fragrance that smells like incense and this is spot on. It opens with a smell of mandarin orange, incense, and smoke and then fades to a lovely incense smell similar to Nag Champa. I can’t stop smelling my wrist and can’t wait to spray it all over LOL, but I know a little goes a long way with Shalimar. It’s such a beautiful vanilla incense perfume. I don’t smell anything off-putting like other reviewers have mentioned. The only reason I didn’t purchase this months ago was because of reviews discussing foul odors like rubber tires, gasoline, bitterness and urine. The fragrance on my skin is sweet, not bitter. I didn’t smell anything foul- just beautiful incense and vanilla. The initial orange and smoke notes faded within a few minutes. This is a perfectly blended, unique masterpiece fragrance. My other favorites are Chanel 5, Coco Noir, and 17. And I love Mon Guerlain, as well. Others I very much like are Issey Miyake, Donna Karan, and Dior Pure Poison. Chanel and Guerlain are my favorite houses so far. I find their fragrances the most unique and complex. They are very special and I notice a difference when I wear them. They are more than just a perfume like Dior Pure Poison, which I appreciate but it’s more of a generic perfume to me having worn Chanel and Guerlain.

I'm a man, and I've been wearing this. Is one of those classics that you easily will grow to love. For people around me, it's always somewhat of a suprise to find me wearing something like this. As a man, the trick is to layer it with a simple masculine scent to strengthen the base notes. The top notes are something a man can wear as-is. Spicy and slightly sweet. I find it quite oriental in nature. It is not simply a bright citrus lemon, but a deeper tone. A floral note is clearly present with some robust and woody undertones. It is not fluffy, airy or too light, but a deep scent. The drydown and base notes last very long. After 1+ hours it settles down into a feminine and soft aroma with some powdery and floral notes, with some noticeable natural vanilla in it. This is the point at which, as a man, I need to layer it to make it masculine or more unisex. (I use a simple vetiver fragrance to layer it: a good option is mens Guerlain Vétiver edT; anything with vetivers in it). So, in summary: A somewhat complex fragrance, but the basic impression is even throughout. It is recognizable and somewhat familiar. It's something any sophisticated man or a woman can own. Easy to layer with some other scents. Makes an impression on people around at any stage of wearing. But if you are a man, wearing it individually, alone is a bit too feminine in its base notes.

I have been on my fragrance journey for a few months. I have little experience and I like many different types of scents. This is one of the best fragrances I have ever come across! This is really potent! It scared me when I sprayed it for the first time. The opening is harsh, pungent and extremely masculine. It only takes a couple minutes to discover the beauty of the fragrance. It is intoxicating, smoky, soapy and luxurious. It is incredibly complex. These qualities make it instantly recognizable and unforgettable. I always knew I would love it. I am a 22-year-old male and I find it very versatile. Great unisex perfume. It reminds me of "Zino Davidoff" in a way. I would absolutely pay full price for a bottle. The longevity blew me away! I used my usual 5 to 7 sprays which was a mistake. I did not expect to be able to smell it 10 hours later! And it was still a strong scent that had barely faded. An incredibly beautiful and unique fragrance that lasts the entire day. The bottle is a masterpiece on its own. This is a prime example of why I do not care about what sex a fragrance is marketed towards. I think it would be great for confident guys. You should test it before making a purchase. It is very different and not universally appealing. Personally, I am beyond impressed!

I’m a college professor, and my niche is in aging and the end of life. My students all know about my perfume hobby, as I always spritz the papers and assignments I hand out. It’s even included in an “about me” part of my syllabi. (I think I’ve converted a few to becoming fragrance enthusiasts too!) Today we went to a nursing home for a “meet your neighbors” roundtable so my students could get a glimpse into the lived experiences of elderly community members. I overheard one of my students talking to a lady in her 80s, telling her that their professor likes perfume. I walked over, asking the resident if she too shared the hobby. She nodded, but due to cognitive impairment or social anxiety, had difficulty conversing with me. I asked about Chanel N°5. She balked at the suggestion. “What about Shalimar?” And with that, her eyes lit up, her head nodded, her mouth whispered, “Shalimarrrrrrrrrr...” My eyes, too, light up to Shalimar. And my new friend has a mini bottle coming her way on our next visit. Shalimar is an all-time classic. Perhaps the sexiest scent ever. May the vanilla, leather, citrus, incense, smoke—and yes, even the civet—seduce you too. Disregard age; throw out gender. Shalimar doesn’t exist for those boxes. It’s transcendent.

the perfect fragrance to wear while dancing the tango with a cigarette dangling out of your mouth. who isn't very interested in being proper if not shalimar? like cigarette smoke enveloping a socialite in pre-wartime ethos - suffragettes, the last breaths of the gilded age, (early) 1930s berlin - the sweetness of the amber, the lasciviousness of the animalics, the rawness of the leather, and the brightness of the citrus in the opening all persist stubbornly on the skin in a way that simultaneously makes me feel my most authentic and my most connected with the past. where some may find this dated in a way that is unpalatable - and, indeed, shalimar tends to be a bit powdery and a little too animalic for modern sensibilities - i find that the vintage - or, rather, antique, as she is 100 years old this year! - qualities harken back to the decadence of times gone by, even in the face of - or despite - the tragedies that befell prior to or following them. it reminds me of the laughter in between the tears, of the lines on my grandmother's face where smiles once were. even the urn-shaped bottle speaks to this mindset, for inside every single urn - even this one - rests dormant and rarified an entire lifetime of stories and memories! <3