Shalimar Ode a la Vanille Sur la Route du Mexique

My grandmother wore Shalimar religiously. I still remember sneaking up to her dressing table in her room and spraying just a tiny drop on my wrist, thinking that she wouldn't notice. I recall feeling so sophisticated and beautiful, so ladylike, just like she was. I can't say that I actually *appreciated* the scent, it was obviously too grown up for me, but I knew I loved how it made me feel. One of the first things I bought with my first paycheck was a tiiiiiiiny bottle of Shalimar, but I still found it hard to wear in public, thinking it gave off the impression that I was in over my head. Fast forward 15 years, and I got a wild hair up my ass and blind bought this bottle the second I heard about it. For a week I panicked, thinking Holy Mother of GOD, I just wasted so much money for a fragrance that's just going to sit there as an ode to my lovely departed Grandmother, that I'll never be able to confidently wear this. Well, I couldn't have been more wrong. Either I grew up enough to truly appreciate and WEAR a Shalimar without it wearing me, or this one is kinder and gentler. The vanilla is SO gorgeous and warm, and my skin just eats up the balsamic notes to turn it into something creamy and delicious. This could easily be my signature if I weren't so damn stingy with it. My favorite way to wear it? In stilettos, a lace bra, and seamed thigh highs, in bed in the middle of the day. Sexy doesn't begin to cover this. This is not your grandmother's Shalimar... Or maybe Grandma was more of a vixen than we'd like to imagine!!

Let me start by saying that I truly, really admire Shalimar but despite my conscious efforts I cannot weat it; too smokey, leathery, animalic, diva-esque. Well, maybe someday... If the above mentioned aspects are what you appreciate in Shalimar you might find Mexique almost unremarkable. I get a dose of citrus in the opening but it's not piercing, more lemon than bergamot. And quite a bit of incense which calms down towards the drydown. Other than that there are not many surprises; Mexique is mainly Shalimar's base minus the animalic aspects, sprinkled with bitter cocoa powder. I don't get caramel in the traditional creamy way, it's brown sugar just before burning. A gourmand-ish take but wouldn't really call it sweet overall. Sillage and longevity are lower than the original, it lacks in the head-turning factor but gains in wearability and it's still unmistakably Shalimar. This edition would be great on a chilly fall day. Edit: Almost a year later I have come to adore the original Shalimar too and believe that Mexique was the stepping stone although it still remains a favourite. To me it smells like mixing the Incense - Citrus of Shalimar and the Cocoa - Iris accord of Dior Homme Intense with a big scoop of fine vanilla ice cream. And that's simply adorable.

I am little bit heartbroken over this beautiful, beautiful fragrance...I think I am somewhat anosmic to it! :( I have not had the experience before but have read others' comments on anosmia on fragrantica...I can smell it when I first spray it, and then if I sniff my wrist directly it's there, or I may get little hints wafting up as time passes but it's more as if I have the general knowledge that the perfume is there rather than a dynamic experience with its presence, if that makes sense. :( My nose does not know it! It's a new bottle for me, and a blind buy based on the wonderful reviews. I do love what I sniff from the bottle, and love the bits that I can grasp on me (SUCH a beautiful vanilla), but they are elusive! I wore it two days in a row and the first day I thought I oversprayed and perhaps wore out my nose, so the second day I only gave maybe three soft sprays (also lower on my body so it would waft up). No difference from day one to day two! I'll definitely keep working with this beauty (cooler temps, etc) - please think good thoughts for my nose and this fume! :)

Shalimar is the framework, but SOalVSlRdM is transformed into an exotic Aztec ceremonial perfume, far from Paris settings! Thanks to my Fragrantica fragrance fairy, I was able to try this in my quest to find Guerlain perfumes that work on my skin. She has amazing taste, and this one is a keeper! I am finally in love with a Guerlain! This has a sharp bright opening, smells like citrus, although there is no mention of it in the notes. Then you can smell the Shalimar lineage. SOalVSlRdM quickly dries down to a warm, cozy accord, flush with vanilla and a blend of colorful notes like chocolate and caramel. A metamorphosis through incense occurs, that keeps it from being foody. Changes it into a blend that is both familiar and foreign. Incense adds to the warmth, elevates the exotic. The whole is sunny, dynamic, sexy - delightful! Expansive sillage, excellent longevity. Needs a nickname though! Mexi? Edit - this really is a pleasure to wear for me. The vanilla is top notch, the incense a smooth smoky trail of exotic beauty. It has a shimmering quality. Just love it!

I bought this scent last summer and couldn't help noticing it loves warm weather. It opens gloriously, like a peacock opening its tail. I love the original Shalimar and own it in several concentrations, and while the Initial sisters were good scents but far from the original, this one stays true to the spirit of Shalimar. On my skin the opening stays true to the original- bitter bergamot, incense and powder, but it dissipates quickly and the dark,dry vanilla kicks in. This is vanilla with teeth. Imagine Aztec sacrifice, Jaguar warriors and magnificent head pieces. The chocolate is bitter and raw, unsweetened and dry as dust. Yet the composition is not dry in itself, but artfully blended and smooth as silk. Is it held together by santalwood? I detect a faint whisper, then it disappears. On my skin the original Shalimar is mainly about leather and incense, while the vanilla stays in the background. This version not only amplifies the role of vanilla, it also adds another face to the mysterious empress. She has put on a mask- the face of Coatlicue, the goddess.

Ode Mexique was a real surprise to me, because after reading several reviews, I was thinking this would be pretty similar to last years Ode Madagascar. But I've been proven wrong: Ode Mexique is really different. Mexique starts with a blast of fruits, where both the original Shalimar as well as last years Madagascar start with a big citrus. But the main difference appears after that. During the dry down I experienced 'Mexy' as a rich vanilla fragrance, chewy and dark, whereas 'Maddy' is more true to the original with her powdery and sexy vanilla. Personally, Mexique smells more modern and with an inheritance to Spiritueuse Double Vanille or Tonka Imperiale, than to Shalimar. It has the caramel, tonka and the rich vanilla. I don't smell any cocoa, and just a hint of powder. I doubt if I could tell this a Shalimar flanker when tested blindly. I miss the depth and the dirty sexiness from the original in this, but for a vanilla fragrance this is truly beautiful. It certainly smells like a Guerlain!

The sample that i received from a wonderful fragrantica member , says that it is this Shalimar. But what I'm smelling is different from these reveiws. To my nose it opens with a delicious lemon and cream pie and leather. After 30 minutes the leather gets stronger and the lemon takes a back seat, i smell oppoponax and vanilla. Finally at the end for the last few hours it smells exactly like Prada amber. Im in love with this fragrance and i hope that i bought this one. I won an eBay auction and so excited for it to get here. When i first started my fragrance journey into less mainstream and more unique perfumes i didn't like the original Shalimar. Time has went on and my nose has grown;) to love heavier,darker,resinous, strange scents. I feel in love with every Shalimar flanker I've tested and now after loving and craving this fragrace i want to revisit the original; i have a feeling i will adore it now! To bad these unique and wondrous scents are discounted:(

At first spritz I was all, "Whoa! What is that? Burnt rubber from a blown out tire?" It was too strong, too spicy, too much incense. Then I waited patiently and only about a half hour later I was rewarded for my patience with a lessening of the incense and a delicately sweet vanilla courtesy of the caramel with a little chocolate note right there at the drydown. I was looking for a nice incense note and it looks like I've finally found it! My goodness but this is lovely. It is perfect for this cold weather and might even become my signature autumn fragrance while it's still too warm to wear my winter selections. I wonder how the compares to the Madagascar which is MUCH harder to find because if they are entirely different then it would be well worth it to add both to my collection. :) P.S. I layered this lovely with a little Kenzo Elephant and mama mia! I smell perfectly scented with oriental spices! What a beautiful marriage!!

This is exactly what I was hoping Parfum Initial would smell like, before it came out (announced as "Shalimar for young ladies" (then instead, they released for me unwearable powdery sweet anise with marshmallow). The first time I tested Mexico with classical EDP, I was disappointed, because in comparison with the racy EDP I could barely smell it. The typical striking features of the classic - bitter bergamot, antique dank incense and juicy lemons - were tamed with smooth vanilla. There really are plum, chocolate or caramel hints - as parts of soft vanilla sweetness. In my opinion, Shalimar is the king of all perfumes. Mystical, it represents the great ancient world. It's flawless, mature and honorable perfume, a gem. Mexico smells like the best of the EDP - the dry down. Finer, drier, less "shrill". Beauty. I call this modern Shalimar.

Edit: I have tried Ode a la Vanille two days ago. It's delicious. I love it. It differs though from the original Shalimar. Actually, both are pretty distinctive fragrances. The main note is (of course) vanilla, but not in an overwhelming way. Though the notes of the perfume are strong, Ode a la Vanille is not a heavy fragrance. I believe that the caramel, the tonka bean and the chocolate are the main accords next to the vanilla. They make the perfume warm and balmy. Definitely one of my next purchase! *** It sounds just perfect for vanilla, sweet/oriental fragrance lovers! I must try this one very soon. So far, Thierry Wasser's creation were just perfect to my taste (Guerlain: Aqua Allegoria Lys Soleia, Flora Nymphea, La Petite Robe Noire, Lancome : Hypnose...). I am convinced that I won't be disappointed nor that time.

I wanted to love Shalimar, but on me it is far too smoky and very little else. Nice smoky, like a good quality cigar - but it makes me cough and I can't wear it, not even the Parfum Initial variant. But Shalimar crossed with vanilla and spices? Yes please! It opens a bit too sharp and citrus for my taste, but if I hold my breath for the first 10 minutes it soon calms down. Then we are into the good bit - vanilla, but not too sweet. Spicy, smoky and complex enough for an older woman (I'm over 40, so I'm not wearing sugary vanillas anymore). I do need to refresh it if I'm going out in the evening, but I wear this day and night and I love it! I'm on the hunt for all the other Shalimar Vanille flankers.

Like most Shalimars, this version is a chameleon. Opens with bright lemon that quickly dissipates into petrol. The petrol stage is my least favorite--fascinating, but not nice to smell. Patience is required for wearing this, because it does eventually turn sweet again. I smell the lemon again and dark vanilla, but the scent is softer than I was anticipating. I suppose this is great for people who love Shalimar and want to try every version possible, but I don't think it's different enough from the original to warrant hunting down and purchasing for the price it's going for if you aren't obsessed with the line. At least try to sample first!

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. -AB-

This is incredible!! Even people who do not normally like Shalimar might like this. It is a slightly more mellow version of the original without losing the heart of what is Shalimar. The leather note is really downplayed so for people who do not like the leather bite, please try Mexique! Smoke is lighter, too. It is a little sweeter than the original....touch of caramel....less citrus...it is warm and cozy and not quite as overwhelming as the original. I love the original but I think this could be my great Shalimar love. Thank you Verena for allowing me to try this!! I can not recommend this highly enough! What a beauty!

I tried this and the original on each wrist. I was surprised how very similar they are, but I noticed slight differences in the dry down. Shalimar turned into a huge sillage monster, (which I love) with a slightly sweeter vanilla. Compared to Mexique, I might even call the original a little fluffier, poofier, sparkling? Mexique's was warmer, smokier, very smooth - like a smooth brandy or rye (I don't drink those often so I don't know which is actually smoother ;)). Mexique's sillage wasn't quite as pronounced as the originals it stayed closer to me. I did get more vanilla, but it was indeed a smoked vanilla.

I was never a fan of original Shalimar but this one... I can't get enough of it <3 . It starts with a lemon, some bitter lemon, and afterwards vanilla. And that is all i can smell. But it's beauuuuuutiful. Only thing i do not quite like is that it is short lived :( only few hours, at least on me. I mean, i can still smell it (it's been about 4 hours) only i have to put my wrist right up my nose. You know, like when you'r smelling hand creme. I wish it was stronger for a longer time. I guess this bottle will not last very long, and i was really hoping it will. It smells like some fine vanilla-lemon cake :D

Smells absolutely wonderful! However it's so similar to original Shalimar that I won't be hunting for a 2nd bottle (my bottle is now 1/3 full), I find that pointless for the price. OG Shalimar is my favorite fragrance out of the thousands I've tried so of course I love this version too. Less citrus, focuses more on musty warm vanilla and opoponax. I LOVE opoponax! The chocolate is just a hint. I've never smelled gasoline from any Shalimar but I know some do. I just get a cozy warm yummy scent bubble. Medium projection, perfect for fall and winter daytime. For nights I prefer the vintage parfum.

This is a really lovely Shalimar. It's pure vanilla incense (I have a Japanese vanilla incense that I use and this smells exactly like it). As with all Shalimar's, it's best to wear this when it's "safe." By safe I mean: not too hot outside, not in a bad mood or prone to headaches that day (scent has associations, so if you wear it under negative conditions you're likely to equate the two). I actually learned that lesson the hard way. I haven't smelled the other vanilla versions of Shalimar, but would love to. (I have a 5.5ml decant of this).

I agree 100% with Shoshi's review below. I wore this on my left arm and Shalimar EdT on my right to compare them. To me they were almost identical with the Ode being slightly sharper and more citric, and the original smoother and a more balanced blend. Unfortunately, I didn't smell any chocolate or caramel, and the vanilla was buried in the incense. I wanted a huge Ode to Vanilla! The longevity was also equal to the EdT. I have yet to find a Shalimar flanker better than the original, I should probably stop trying!

Oooooh this Guerlain gives me butterflies in my stomach! I like this more than the current Shalimar EDP because of the added hint of sweetness. It definitely has the same DNA though. This is good for colder evenings of which we have many over here. I can see why many see this as 'mature' although I hate that word, it's different from modern offerings, it doesn't scream young and fresh, but boy does it smell sultry and good!! Not suitable for the office, save this for grand soirees!