Shalimar Ode a la Vanille

Shalimar Ode a la Vanille Starts off bright almost sparkling, then smooths, warms, becoming sweeter. I find this wears closer to the body and lasts quite long. First spray is bright with a bit of citrus, powder, vanilla warping shapes and forms, and licorice? But not at all dark. The top notes settle and vanilla takes on the form of being thicker, a bit boozy, and very sweet, along with warm and glowing amber, and with even more powder. There is some spice/smoke but much less when compared to the original. With time, the vanilla becomes stronger and sweeter with deep warm amber still glowing. When you think there was no vanilla left, it keeps giving and could drown you in it. This becomes really gourmand-like at times, but ever changing like the weather. I imagine Ode a la Vanille as the weather in the Shalimar temple. It being mid-afternoon outisde. A bright beautiful day, a few clouds, Strong rays of golden sunlight shine on the temple. On this day, the incense and spices are put out and away, but there is still a trace left in the air. The day wans, the sun is setting, the sunlight is still fighting to shine, and actually becomes more vividly golden even behind clouds. The Shalimar temple and everything around is cast in gold. An outline of shalimar is seen against the sun as it sets further down. I so enjoy and appreciate this Shalimar Ode a la Vanille in my collection!

SHALIMAR ODE A LA VANILLE is the younger, rebellious sister of Shalimar. This young vixen does not powder herself as much as her older sister and she loves to sneak out late at night and ride until morning on the back of her boyfriend's motorcycle. She smells of the lemon sucker she carries between her glossy lips; the dark, vanilla liquor that she swigs and shares with her boyfriend; the leather, from riding on the back of her boyfriend's bike and holding onto his leather covered body; and the rubber, smoke and tar from the exhaust of the motorcycle that they rode without a care 'till dawn. And the warmth from the night air is still on her skin when she sneaks back into her bed in the morning, evading detection from her parents . . . But not from her older sister, Shalimar, who smiles sheepishly, because she knows that aroma all too well. . . If you enjoy Shalimar, you will enjoy SHALIMAR ODE A LA VANILLE. I find them to be very similar. But, the later is less powdery, more boozy, more leathery and smokier than the original. The vanilla is present but not as much as one would expect/hope from the name. The longevity is wonderful, more than 8+ hours and the sillage is radiant. I feel fortunate to have a bottle of this exceptional juice in my collection.

I could swear that I can smell something smokey and boozy in this. As a matter of fact... When my hubby and I were first dating, he used to smoke a pipe of tobacco out on the porch occasionally. Unfortunately my lungs were very sensitive from a case of pneumonia, so he had to stop, because even the lingering scent on his clothes would irritate my lungs. Ode de Vanille smells to me exactly like that sweet, smokey, smooth, vanilla-y scent that used to linger on his clothes and in his beard after he smoked some pipe tobacco. I don't think this is something I would personally wear, as it's not quite my style, but it's wonderful to get a whiff of and enjoy the scent from time to time. Might just go sneak a dab onto the hubby and see how it smells on him. ETA: Asked my hubby what kind of tobacco he used to get, he says it was unflavored cavendish. Had him smell my wrist, and he agreed it smelled like his pipe tobacco. Then I dabbed some on him and....it smells nothing at all like how it smells on me! Doesn't smell anything like pipe tobacco. I got a blast of strong resins and spices, no vanilla on him at all. Skin chemistry is an intriguing and mysterious thing.

Woah I accidentally bought/received this, thinking I was buying a cheap vintage Shalimar. I didn't even know this version existed, but I'm so glad I received this. It's Soo Beautiful! Ode a la Vanille is a smoother, more wearable version of Shalimar, but isn't sweetened like Soufflé (which I also love). It definitely feels like you're still wearing Shalimar, but with the gasoline note removed. I also agree with other commenters who said there are more notes in this than what is listed in the pyramid above. To me, I also detect citrus, bergamot, balsam, and amber. I love it. It leaves the loveliest, most beautiful scent trail, and I love catching whiffs of myself when I have this on. If it was more readily available, I'd wear this more than Shalimar EDP or EDT, as they can still be a bit challenging for me at times. But this, I'd wear all the freakin time. Such a happy accident, and I feel so lucky to have stumbled on it.

Well I am smitten! I am a fan of Shalimar, of Light/Legere and to Eau... So I had to try this one. At first without comparing, it seemed this was identical to reg Shalimar, but the vanilla nuance is there. Those who never liked Shalimar will probably not like this as they are very similar but where reg Shalimar has that waxy/gas note early on (which I love) but sometimes find it too serious for weekends, Ode skips over that note altogether. There is also the standard Shalimar powder notes missing and instead a slightly sweet low boozy (think diet SDV lol) tucked in Ode. Have had it now for a month and just loving Ode - easily wearing it to the office and on weekends and the drydown is sooo delicious much sweeter vanilla. But not petite fille or cupcake vanilla in any way. Will be getting a backup of this one for sure. Did I mention the bottle and box are gorgeous?