Shalimar Millésime Tonka

So very, very beautiful. I just got a little sample dabber with my purchase of a larger decant of Shalimar Millésime Iris, and I wish I had bought a larger decant of the Millésime Tonka and ignored the Iris flanker altogether. I can actually smell *more* iris in this one than the supposedly iris-centric flanker, where the iris just comes off like fresh donuts, likely on account of the orris root, or iris butter. Surprisingly, this Shalimar is distinctly less gourmandish, despite ramping up the tonka. In contrast to Shalimar MI, Shalimar MT is still recognizably Shalimar, and not just at the tail end of the drydown. It smells slightly lighter and airier than OG Shalimar, in a way that makes me wonder if there is heliotrope, even though I don't think it is listed. It does have a bit of a boozy quality, but I find that to be true of very good vanillas (in their "bean" form, not just extract). I will indulge in a full bottle one day! Update: Or perhaps not. This was a limited edition, and alas, it appears to be sold out on the Guerlain website. Not going to pay a premium on eBay, so I will just have to make the most of the few dozen drops that remain! Lesson learned: don't sleep on those limited-edition Shalimars if you like them. Too bad I don't like the SMI flanker nearly as much; that one is still available. Update: The peerless Sarah of SarahsPerfume on Etsy is hooking me up with a larger decant. She provides such a wonderful service, and I highly, highly recommend her wonderful business if you would like to sample perfumes before spending lots of money on a bottle you might not end up liking enough to wear regularly. Everything I have ever ordered from her was wonderful, and she seems to be able to predict, like some kind of perfume psychic, what you might like after you order a couple of things. She is obviously doing this for the love of fragrance because her prices are beyond reasonable, and the customer service is extraordinary. I don't know her in real life, and I'm certainly not getting a commission--just recommending a decanter who is fast, generous, and obviously in possession of exquisite taste! Update: The Dua brand dupe for this, Royal Tonka, is surprisingly great. I don't understand the down votes at all. I currently have the OG Millésime Tonka on my right arm and the Dua dupe on my left, and I can't tell them apart once the drydown begins. Anyway, I know dupes are bad form, but for a discontinued fragrance, it beats paying insane eBay prices for perfumes of questionable provenance. At least if you hate it, you're not out all that much money. Update: I still love beyond all measure, but husband thinks I just smell like a clean baby when I'm wearing it. I looked up the notes for Johnsons Baby Powder, original formulation, and indeed they seem to be identical to those of SMT. It got me wondering if maybe the chemists copied the DNA of Shalimar, one of the most popular fragrances after 1925, but I'm confining this thought to speculation right now and not going down any research rabbit holes. Still, I see why he would think I smell like baby powder. I find it clean, cozy, and comforting, but perhaps unsexy? Then again, I would find it disturbing in the extreme if my husband found the scent of baby powder sexy, especially in light of horrific recent headlines. To me this still smells like the sublimation of tonka, a whispery powdery marzipan iris, essentially heaven itself. I will be very sad when my SMT runs out, even though I have other Shalimar flankers I love almost as much, not to mention my serviceable dupe by Dua, Royal Tonka. But this one--this one. So good.

Shalimar for holiday season 🎃🎄🎆 Probably this is the most exciting writing for me amongst my recent posts this year. It's because I will talking about a fragrance that originally borned almost 100 years ago, claimed to be the pioneer of oriental perfume. The original Shalimar maintains it's classic status and still available to date. It has to be an amazing perfume to be able to withstand the test of time. Unfortunately the OG is not suited for my taste and character. Not until now because I finally found the one that works best for me 🧡🤎. Shalimar Millésime Tonka is the newest flanker just released in 2022 that I find so beautiful because it is interpreted in a very modern way and steer the character of the OG to a totally different direction. A very serious and formal Shalimar is now a happy and playful one whilst still maintaining it's confidence. Main highlight in this one is combination of fresh juicy citrus with bitter almond and tonka bean that has balance amount of sweetness and caramelized quality. It is so delicious almost delectable but the experience didn't stop there. It goes beyond the gourmand territory because of the added layer of original Shalimar's identity. The OG's DNA is still present in a very subtle manner acting as a complementary mix just perfect to elevate the experience. The leathery and powdery aspects blended so seamlessly for a fragrance connoisseur enjoyment to wear and appreciate. Few hours later Guerlain's Madagascar vanilla trademark starts to emerge beautifully accompanied with the highest quality of resinous amber accord comparable with my favorite amber fragrance which is Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier Ambre Précieux. The whole wearing experience makes this fragrance a multi-faceted perfume with seamless progression. As a comparison it's like wearing Xerjoff Lyra with a tiny drop of the original Shalimar in the beginning and then followed by Frederic Malle Musc Ravageur plus Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier Ambre Précieux all together in a very harmonious blend. Interestingly this fragrance morph quite differently in warmer weather. The animalic leathery aspect is more noticeable and the resinous quality is stronger too. For me this is a huge plus meaning I can enjoy it all year long. I highly recommend this to everyone who loves Shalimar and also who does not because it hits the right spot in between. The only suggestion I can add to this already stunning release is an Extrait version or more concentrated juice. It will then be a perfect fit to my taste as a masterpiece oriental delight (perhaps Guerlain will release an upgraded version some day 🤞✨). Thank you for reading and I'm hoping this is helpful for your online purchase decision since it's availability is exclusive and also limited. Enjoy!! #vscentorientreview

Excellent flanker. Like a REALLY excellent flanker. IMO, a good flanker has just enough of the original to get a sense of it, those that are very familiar with the scent should recognize they are related. But they should not be so similar that it would be redundant to have both. Not something that is trying to ‘replace’ or be better than the OG, just something that takes inspiration from it. It should be be able to stand on its own two feet. Millesime Tonka hits that sweet spot. And it’s been the only Shalimar flanker that I’ve enjoyed. It’s a tonka lovers delight On my skin I get very little citrus in the opening. Mostly bitter almond and lots of it. Strong, but I’m liking it. There is that ‘rubbery/leather’ scent that I’ve always liked in the original, but like bitter almond, that fades out quickly and then just hits the right leather and almond feel. I completely agree with the previous review mentioning the almonds seem to turn into marzipan. Absolutely delicious. It shifts towards more of a nutty Tonka base within 15 minutes or so. And the overdose of Tonka is wonderful- smooth powdery Tonka dust, a little cocoa and almost tobacco like, it’s so very warm. And that leather? Well now it’s a nice soft suede. The vanilla is outstanding, which is to be expected from Guerlain. There’s a sense of caramel in here that is very well balanced, never getting too sweet, just adding depth. That vanilla-caramel-tonka is incredibly creamy but so well behaved! The only floral note I can detect is the iris with the other usual Shalimar florals far in the back. The iris really helps keep that sweetness in check. And after four or five wearings I’m starting to detect hints of incense. Not overpowering, but it’s there. All in all it is a rich, nutty, smooth, gourmand-ish scent, that somehow manages to not be too heavy, with that classic Shalimar amber base. It could easily be worn by any gender. Why oh why didn’t this come in a bigger bottle? I’m kicking myself for not ordering an extra one and it sold out on the US site in less than a day. This would honestly be my signature scent in the cooler months. And I’ve never had, nor wanted, a signature scent with the amount of fragrances that I adore up on the shelf. As it is, with my husband and I using and loving it as much as we are, this little 50ml bottle is going to be empty in the next few months. Edit: For anyone interested, I see comparisons of this scent to Tonka Imperiale. I don’t get that at all. TI is exceptional but highlights the significantly sweeter and more heavy side of Tonka, whereas this flanker is dry and airy. Especially when comparing them side by side. Cuir Beluga on the other hand? Yes. Not identical at all but the soft and cozy sueded vanilla in CB is very similar to what you get in MT.

9/28/2022 Edit This is not Tonka Imperiale. I have both bottle types (newer one is a small 10 ml) and Feve, not close. So I'd sample first if your looking for that profile, lol. I'm editing again because I'm getting more Shalimar in the last few wearings. Creamy~ creamy~ creamy, but you will not get away from Shalimar. Last years vanilla centric release is a lot less challenging and easier for those who find Shalimar hard to love.This one, the tonka just goes almondy and creamy. I can't say creamy enough, lol. It's a lovely edition to the ranks, maybe next year they'll highlight the Iris. One can hope. OG review; How it smells to me, it's a creamy almond Shalimar with a very light leather. Not an animalic leather, just an almost suede feel to the scent. I do get how someone got chocolate cake, but I think that is a facet of the tonka. I didn't get any of the bright top notes of og Shalimar, at all, not yet anyway. I will note that with lasts years release I didn't get any leather or much lemony iris at first and 6 months later, I get those notes in addition to the gorgeous vanilla. It doesn't smell like Tonka Imperiale to me. Not even close, my bottle is old though, I guess I can check it against a newer sample and see, but I'm still not sure my it will change my perception. TI has a different spice profile. My over all impression is a creamy almond, light velvety feel like a suede, with a slightly sweet vanillic tonka facet that goes a bit (tiny) chocolate ~ like a good vanilla can smell like chocolate sometimes ~ with the Shalimar DNA. Overall, I'm glad I purchased bc I love Shalimar in all its iterations, but it may not be every ones cuppa. The scent will probably evolve over time like most do, so I'm looking forward to that as well. I am surprised that it isn't as powdery as I thought it would be (beyond the usual Shalimar powdery) with the extra tonka, but the almond is just creamy and velvety (maybe that's a suede leather note?) I don't think it's gourmand at all, even with the prominent almond. I sprayed 2 sprays on the back of my hand about 4 hours ago and it's still going strong, but my husband doesn't smell it unless I put it close to his nose. Edited to add: I am catching a citrus whiff now, but not sure if it's bergamot or the iris. Sometimes I interpret Iris in perfumes like my garden Iris' that have a lemony scent to them.

I was excited to try this limited edition of Shalimar, and I ended up falling in love with it, so much so that I bought a back-up bottle. Shalimar is the original and best of the classic orientals, and I have various vintage iterations in my collection, mostly miniatures. While it is objectively excellent, it is heavy and vintage in style - not the easiest scent for a young woman to wear today. I have tried modern flankers like Soufflé and Le Parfum Initial, and while they are great, SMT is the first Shalimar flanker that I truly adore. The Shalimar DNA is certainly intact here, and as the name suggests, the tonka bean note is placed centre stage. It is a slightly gourmand variation thanks to the soft almond note, and is well-blended throughout. Warm and cosy, it is the equivalent to swaddling oneself in a cashmere jumper. This has been my Christmas 2022 perfume, hopefully evoking memories for me in the future. I have received many compliments, and one relative mistook it for CK Obsession (fair!). SMT opens with warm almond, more hazy and heliotrope-like than sweet marzipan. Bergamot adds fleeting citric freshness, and soft, powdery florals creep in. Iris is most evident, with muted powdery rose complementing it beautifully. Clean, powdery jasmine remains in the background, rounding out the bouquet. Soft tonka bean adds warm spice to the base, slowly becoming more prominent as it develops. Vanilla completes the Guerlinade accord, adding soft, powdery sweetness to the base. Smooth and dry, SMT is not syrupy at all, instead it features the perfect amount of delicious muted sweetness. There is a soft sweet hint of amber as it fades, becoming a vanilla-tonka bean skin scent. Sillage is moderate and longevity is long-lasting. As well as the obvious, SMT reminds me in parts of various scents: Dior Fève Délicieux (tonka bean-dominant, but sweeter and more gourmand than SMT); Frédéric Malle L'Eau d'Hiver (cosy, non-gourmand heliotrope-almond) and Guerlain Cuir Beluga (Guerlinade plus powdery vanilla), while paying homage to the great Shalimar. A beautiful, modern take on a classic, this is Shalimar for a new generation. A personal favourite. 5/5.