Shalimar Ode a la Vanille Sur la route de Madagascar

Mexique VS Madagaskar Mexique: 1. Top: more fruity 2. Base: vanilla ice cream 3. Resemblance to the original EDP: 7.8/10 4. Mexique Longevity: 6-8 hours; original's longevity: 10 hours Madagaskar: 1. Top: less animalic and citrusy than the original 2. Base: more vanillic, almost similar to the original 3. Resemblance to the original EDP: 8.5/10 4. Longevity: 4-5 hours I prefer Madagaskar as a guy, it's more masculine and you get a constant blast of 'Shalimar vanilla' from the beginning to the end - almost linear, but good. The longevity is actually not good but still it's a beautiful Shalimar flanker. I can't get enough of this. For women, I am sure all Shalimar lovers will love Mexique. It's like your late night guilty pleasure snack. And yes, the "fat" and "carbs" in Mexique stay longer in your body. -AB-

I'm very sentimental about Shalimar. I've been to see the sun rise over the fragile and beautiful Taj Mahal. I can't honestly say it makes me think of India. I'm half Indian and for me the sounds and smells of India are quite a cacophony. Shalimar is the first grown up scent my Gran gave me in my early 20s. That was back in the 80s. I can in my imagination still smell it's rich and decadent intensity. This is the closest to capturing that beautiful scent. The Shalimar edp they sell today is but a sad shadow of the true scent. This has a citrus/resin/vanilla opening. Warm, intense and a little sweet. I can't pick out the iris. It's so well blended. The leather is pretty low key in this. It has the depth I remember from decades a go. Good longevity and sillage.

My taste in fragrances developed a lot, last year, when it was released as a limeted edition I had the chance to sample it and I was impressed, but I couldn't appreciate it, as much as I do now but lucky managed to find a bottle recently. Shalimar Madagscar opens with a blast of bergamot, it calms down, but you'll get the most mouthwatering combination of citruses and vanilla there is accompanied by Tonka, a gorgous powdery Iris, smokey leather and balmy, woody notes. I love it! The image that comes to mind is a dark red plush, fluffy and cozy in an elegant, old opera house. It's warm and inviting, complete strangers complimented on it while shopping, this doesn't happen a lot, so I guess it's big compliment to Thierry Wassers creation.

I'm in love! This is my first 'Shalimar'... and now I want more. I had tested it before, didn't like it then, I thought it smelled too 'mature' or 'old'. Now I just can't get enough of it. Citrusy, fresh, then powdery dust with clouds of vanilla-scented smoke... Super classy, yet complex! Very interesting. Longevity & sillage are a great bonus. A true 'comfort' scent (albeit a winter one). I'm aware it's a limited edition, but I find it not TOO different from the original Shalimar, perhaps a bit smoother/creamier in terms of the vanilla. Not necessarily 'sweeter'. I'll probably get the original when I'm done with my current bottle or when it's sold out in stores.

I need to stop falling in love with discontinued beauties! When you wear this for date night it will follow you to work in the morning. It has that familiar Shalimar opening but less medicinal and with more leather. It is also less powdery. The Madagascar vanilla is heavenly. Not a sweet perfume, it is more of a vanilla amber while still being Shalimar. My virtually anosmic husband not only notices this one, but compliments it! If you see it, get it; and if you don’t like it, give it to me!