Shalimar Parfum Initial

Parfum Initial behaves differently when sprayed into the air than it does when sprayed directly onto my skin. Regardless of how you use it, this fragrance opens with a citrus blast. PI when sprayed onto the skin: Parfum Inital can come across as intense/medicinal when first sprayed onto the skin, it has an almost tea tree essential oil quality to it to my nose. As the citruses & the vetiver settle, the florals at the heart start to come through & it transforms the scent info a citric/talcum powder/old-style cosmetic scent. Up close, Parfum Inital at this stage still smells a little astringent, dated, strange & unpleasant. **The key is to smell it from a distance** as after about 20 minutes of spraying the MUCH NEEDED vanilla, caramel & tonka start to show up to the party to smooth those rough edges out somewhat without making the fragrance sweet. When experienced this way Parfum Initial is a stunning, powdery cosmetic scent that I immediately associate with Guerlain. PI when sprayed into the air: The citruses are no way near as obtrusive when used this way, in fact, they’re quite refreshing. As the perfume settles onto my clothing I Immediately get a beautiful fresh zing of citrus instead of limes and oranges shoved up my nose & down my throat like when I spray this on my skin. The fragrance quickly changes into a more powdery/cosmetic fragrance & that is what persists. I get amazing wafts of this from time to time & I am really glad I gave Parfum Inital another try. It isn’t one of my usual choices of fragrance, I love sweet florals & fresh aquatic scents so I was a little surprised to find myself sniffing my clothes so often 😂 This fragrance is definitely for those who love citruses & powdery cosmetic smells but it is not a safe blind buy in my opinion because it may be problematic if you like to spray your perfumes onto your skin. If you can, I’d advise you to get a sample/decant before buying a full bottle & try spraying into the air and walking through it first. You’ll be stunned by how beautiful this is. That being said, Parfum Initial IS discontinued & L’initial has replaced it at a jaw dropping £205 for 125ml so if you are interested in Parfum Initial a decision needs to be made before prices sky rocket. The remake (L’initial) does not appear to be identical to Pafrum Initial though, the vetiver has gone as has the Jasmine from the heart, replaced? instead by Jasmine petal in the opening. It seems as though L’initial addresses the astringency of Parfum Initial which may have played a part in its sales figures however, the price tag of L’initial is definitely prohibitive so I don’t see this fragrance making Guerlain’s sales any better! Sadly, this version may quickly become discontinued too.

Oh my gosh. French perfumery at its finest. First off I adore the OG Shalimar and it will never be out of my collection so that is what drove me to this fragrance to try it. When I first tried Parfum Initial years ago I wasn't ready for the iris in this. But years later my tastes have evolved and I crave it and i'm in love with iris fragrances. I wanted to give this fragrance another chance to have it in my collection because everyone kept emphasizing that the iris in this is beautiful. I bit the bullet and finally got it for a good price. I figured if I love it I will get the new L'initial. Parfum Initial has to be one of the most beautiful Shalimar's I have ever tried. This is a gorgeous iris fragrance. A fresh effervescent citrus on the tops but not sharp and it's green. You can also smell the fresh vetiver in this and the vetiver from Guerlain always reminds me a bit of Mitsouko. But what really blooms is this lush powdery even slightly waxy iris. This is iris done right where it really does shine and not sit in the background. This is a wonderful entry fragrance into Shalimar. PI is Shalimar without the heavy leather & dense spices(though there is a slight spice in there) and vanilla but it smells suede like a bit. Like the leather is lighter and smoother. It's like having Eau de Shalimar and Regular Shalimar mixed in one because of the brightness of the citrus & suede in Eau without the vanilla and yet the DNA resemblance of the original Shalimar without it's daring darker notes. I love Anatole Lebreton's Incarnata for it's lush iris waxy lipstick fragrance along with Chanel No19 & Poudre for it's green iris. And Maison Lancomes Iris Dragee for it's sweeter powdered almond candy iris in the same realm as Chanel No19 Poudre. But now this is competing with them. I adore the original Shalimar but this creation is equally just as beautiful as the original. Parfum Initial is like a daytime Shalimar while the original is a daring evening fragrance meant to be intimate with. I can see why this was released because of the early 00's chypre phase with Miss Dior & Coco Mademoiselle. But had I been ready for this I would of reached for it more and bought back-up's. Hand's down. Now I want to get a bottle of the new L'initial just to collect it. Think Mon Guerlain pretty but with a lighter Shalimar edge. If you couldn't handle the original Shalimar this is the version to have to start your Shalimar journey. I was told this is the same as the new L'initial. I will compare them when I get the newer one and let you know to confirm but Parfum Initial is one of my top favorite purchases of the year. Just take my money Guerlain!

For me this was my very first 'grown up' perfume. I thought it would be easy to transition from light Victoria Secret and Bath & Body Works fragrance mists and body sprays to this more refined perfume house of Guerlain. I was already into florals and fruity florals or floral musks. So this was just heaven on me. The bottle is so cute like a 'pink Shalimar'. As it opens it is very Shalimar with the citrus top notes. Lemony, zesty. Bergamot orange. Bright and refreshing, sweet citrus. The Shalimar connection is later reaffirmed when you get to the vanilla dry down. But the heart of this scent is far more feminine floral than Shalimar which can be unisex smoky vanilla. This smells very pink and rosy, like a powdery pink powder puff in the vanity table of a ballerina. Sweet soft rose and jasmine in the middle stage. There is something subtle about it so despite the powder it never gets heavy or old lady ish. Smells like a young girl with powder and lipstick on. It has a cosmetics vibe and I go for those kind of scents. As the flowers of rose and jasmine begin to fade away, the vanilla comes through. It's not as dark and rich and smoky as the vanilla in Shalimar. It's sweet and gourmand vanilla, creamy and delicious like vanilla frosting on cake. There could be amber here but something about the dry down is delicious and light, not heavy at all. There is soft white musk. I don't detect any green notes or patchouli. It's like a soft musk and feeling the inside of a handbag made of leather. This feels like you are well dressed not necessarily formal but in a nice blouse and pencil skirt, like a very pretty feminine and elegant secretary. It's not sexy just a clean floral with a powdery body, very subtle and womanly. Smells great and good for wearing in semi formal clothing, a dress, a skirt. It's perfectly safe for office/work. But also on dates or to be with either your man or your girlfriends. The season to wear this is spring and summer and early fall. The sillage is not great it sits close to the skin and only someone you allow close to your skin can detect it. Longevity is also pretty poor at about 3 to 4 hours or less. But I really love this perfume. I wish they could still sell this mainstream but one has to find either the flankers or reformulation. The original first edition is best. You can still find authentic ones on ebay by sellers who have them.

What a great, unique fragrance! And its not a flanker as many could think. It's a perfume that has its own life and personality. The only great concern is that they discontinued it. A crime. Nothing like the original Shalimar (that is in my top 10 ten frags anyway) Shalimar Parfum Initial was created to please a younger audience, that's for sure, but not with the usual fruity floral berry mess! Here we have a completely different story. And a pleasant one. Beginnning: resinous, medicinal in the opening. A balsamic note, like coniphers give a hint of freshness. Then the classic Shalimar notes: vanilla, amber, and benzoin with a hint of jasmine. Powdery note, like orris. And this is the end of the Shalimar (original) phase. Some flowers - roses- some powderyness (=iris). The story continues with a caramelized note, gourmandish, vanilla-esque in a subtle way: I get a stunning Cuir beluga resemlance here! merging with some white musks. I'd call this phase "Narciso Rodriguez meets a subdued Angel". Bottom line: this is sexy. Seriously. The drydown is really getting you hooked. It's hot, and it's close to skin - not a sillage monster, but it's better this way in my opinion: you have to lean over to get a whiff, and I love when people come close to my neck and inhale...LoL Back in time I loved it so much upon 1st spraying I bought it on an impulse - after having it working on my skin for 30 minutes. It was love at first spritz and I knew it was the beginning of a romance. And I very rarely do that. I was so very happy with Shalimar Parfum Initial, and still am that I dare to call it my Signature fragrance for it mirrors well my personality. Absolutely feminine but not girlish in the least. Definitely a must try if you're lucky to find it. I will cherish my 2 remaining bottles as if they were the Pink Panther Diamond.

Discontinued but extremely popular fragrances always make me feel a little wary. I'm afraid to be sucked in by the hype and feel the need to buy an overpriced old bottle off ebay that isn't that great in the end. But of course, they also pique my curiosity. So I test them extra carefully. With Shalimar Parfum Initial, I was additionally hesitant because my mother wore Shalimar for decades. I love my mom and Shalimar is beautiful, but I find it weird to inherit your mother's old signature fragrance. Well, to make it short, the hype around this is justified, and while it shares some aspects with the original Shalimar, it's different enough to make it wearable for those who don't want to use the original for whatever reason. The opening is very waxy with lipstick-like iris, thick and creamy, with an underlying vanilla and the same beautiful sparkling bergamot you find in most Shalimar fragrances. The iris is so buttery, almost reminiscent of soft suede. As it dries down the fragrance becomes more powdery, sweeter and warmer. I don't find the caramel note dominating, this doesn't smell edible at all, it just softens the scent. I can also smell the patchouli and vetiver, both add depth and a hint of cool spiciness that keeps Parfum Initial from turning too sweet or one-dimensional. It's a dreamy, fluffy cloud of a vanilla and iris perfume and very typical for Guerlain. I knew I need this when I fell asleep after sampling and dreamt of buying a bottle. When I woke up the next day, I could still smell a light but distinctive skinscent on my arm. So sad this was discontinued. Now they brought it back under the name "L'Initial", but only as an expensive 125 ml bottle in the exclusive Les Parisiennes line. I think I'll rather try to get a partly used older bottle for a reasonable price.

What is it with these Guerlains that they just get better and better with time? Is it a settling down and maturing of ingredients or is it the slow realisation that another genius has sneaked up from behind, hello, I am a classic now, you better submit in awe. It must have been around 2013 or so that I casually sprayed the tester and took the strip with me inside a shopping bag. How very strange, I thought, they take the grand dame of Shalimar and try to fiddle with it? Are they jumping on the fruitchouli bandwaggon...It struck with as an odd mix of trendy and old worldly Guerlain-ish but I could not make sense of it. So I cannot say I was too keen on SPI as it would later be known. Perhaps I was still suffering from the Coco Mad olfactory overload that was sweeping London around the time. Anyway, a year later or so, I bought a small bottle and it became a like, but not a love. It is not a fragrance I reach for often. Today was one of these days, a snowy winter day in Germany where I live now. And I was uplifted, floating on a cloud of citrus and powdery, lipsticky goodness that never slips into vulgarity. In my home office day dream fantasy, I dreamt about having Tea at the Ritz, with a freshly powdered face, lipstick and wearing smart clothes and eating lovely cakes. And the piano played and conversation was civilised and delightfully careless. Sometimes, we only appreciate the true depth and value of an experience in hindsight. Shalimar Parfum Initial has become an elusive unicorn, a modern classic and holy grail for its aficionados. Treasure it while you can. Good things rarely last.

If I were Mr. Thierry Wasser, I might have referred to this page from time to time just to see how people respond to this masterpiece that has taken a lot of time, effort and mastery to be born and unjustly has been doomed to go down the path of elimination way too early than deserved. I would have smiled with the love shown to my creation and I would have wiped my tears, seeing how ladies sigh for having to say goodbye to this lovely gem. That's why I'm sending him a message from here. Mr. Wasser, Shalimar Parfum Initial for me is the extract of love, beauty, seduction, kindness, happiness, harmony and perfection blended masterfully with your magic hands and poured in a bottle. I could have lived happily with only this one scent for the rest of my life if I had to. I imagine myself swimming in this perfume, I imagine myself being in paradise and having wings with this perfume. This is the only perfume I have stocked up greedily so as to postpone the day I'd be without this masterpiece in my life. This is one of your greatest creations if not The Greatest. Shalimar Parfum Initial was your love letter sent to modern women and your artist soul has been succeeded to convey your feelings so beautifully and so masterfully. I'd be forever thankful to you for presenting your love to us and also for making my day more beautiful by wearing it. I know you are as sad as we are to see it go away, but let us just hope they would realize they have made a mistake and bring it back to us. Not everything is profit after all.

@ IngSoc274 I read your review of YSL Cinema earlier today; here's an extract: "This is my go to juice when I want to invite a chick to my pad. Women love this scent and this is like baby making juice in a bottle. I usually play Adele in the background when chicks come over, and display my recycling bins right at the entrance, in full view, and oh sweet baby Jaysus are they impressed. Works great on exotic foreign girls too, so don't worry if their immigration documentation is current or not, it's all good. This scent is a nice woody masculine scent, close to RL Polio pour homme. For American girls I pair this with pizza/merlot but for the foreign chicks I've found fried cous cous works better with carbonated bottled water. Guys, trust me this is a huge panty hose dropper and so be careful. Rating: A+ Longevity: All night long, we're talking performance here. Projection: 6 inches (I'm told that's about average; besides women say men worry more about that stuff than women do)." It was so ridiculous, I checked out the rest of your reviews and discovered that most of them have this theme - as does this review of PI. Presumably you are writing these "reviews" for your own entertainment; I doubt very much anyone else is entertained as you keep repeating the same thing over and over and over and over and over and over... This isn't funny; it is just tiresome, juvenile and boring - and potentially offensive. Please stop.

I got 2 bottles of almost full perfumes on ebay maybe 5 years, 1 was Shalimar Initial. I paid about $25 for both. The other bottle is Cartier Must, just fyi. Totally blind purchases. Can't remember last time I smelled the original Shalimar but many of my Mother's friends wore it back in the day. When I first sprayed this on I smelled a plastic type synthetic thing. Smells beautiful after that passed. I'm not great at picking out most notes and unable to compare to the original Shalimar. This has been in back of my closet and just recently have been going through my collection trying fragrances again. I do think that this is lovely. Smells floral, bit spicy, and elegant. It reminds me of something from my youth, not sure what but I really like it. It's discontinued now and pretty expensive but I'll keep looking for a deal on one. Also putting the original Shalimar on my "To Get" list. Thankfully, this bottle is almost full although it's not the large size, 1oz, maybe? I got a steal of a deal on this one. Want to check out the other Shalimars. I mostlay wear my signature, Fracas and a few others. Lot of my perfumes I'll wear at home and enjoy the changing notes. Been looking for classics from 40's and 50's most recently, trying to see what I haven't experienced yet. Not really impressed with many newer perfumes, ones I've tried seem boring. Thinking of joining a perfume monthly subscription and see how I like those.

This is so good! Iris and caramel are divine together. However, this is not sticky sweet. It's grown up, classy but not too serious either. I can not stop smelling my arm. It feels like sweet leather and makeup on me. There's something about this that seems late 80's glam rock to me. It smells like the time period felt to me as a child. The older girls with their shiny, brightly colored lips, big hair and leather jackets smelling of face powder, lipgloss, floral hairspray and sweet powerhouse 80's perfume. A couple of them smoking slim cigarettes. Their gaudy jewelry clanging together announcing their arrival. I was so sad to be a little girl and watched them with a mixture of jealousy and admiration wishing I could go with them. I watched them laugh too loud and the adults around me glance disapprovingly. They were everything I wanted to be. This is the happiness of youth and even a little raunchy and its sexy as Hell! ETA, I've had this on for a few hours now and the silage and longevity are incredible. It also doesn't change much after the first hour and I love this about it. It's still sweet leathery iris and caramel. Sexy powder! Makeup, leather and strong, joyful woman. It does feel animalic but nothing like the original. I find it so much more universally lovable than the original, new life into a very dated and difficult to wear perfume. I'm only sad I waited so long to try it.

I’ve had a bottle for a few years and use it sparingly as this gem is discontinued. The open is bright, citrusy, but in a subdued way. It is in no way sharp or harsh. After the initial burst of brightness this settles into a mildly powdery gourmand. The patchouli is there but not overpowering, so even a person who doesn’t typically go for patchouli scents would be able to wear this. I’m usually not a fan of rose in most perfumes, but this is so masterfully blended that I am not bothered at all by the rose. The jasmine, just like the rose is barely there, but these two florals help tame the sweetness of the caramel and vanilla. I typically only spray it once, and rarely need to reapply. If I wear it in the evening, the next morning it I’ll usually wake up to a faint powdered vanilla smell. This first time this happened it drove me crazy because I couldn’t figure out where the smell was coming from. It wasn’t until I got out of bed ans realized the smell was following me that I knew it was it was PI taunting me lol This has to be the most beautiful scent in my wardrobe and I am sad that it had been discontinued. L’initial is apparently a revival of PI but with double the price tag. I’ve yet to try it for fear of being disappointed. Ps. If anyone has a bottle they’d like to sell or exchange, you may send me a private message. I’m in Montreal and will pay for shipping.

Ok, so it's not *exactly* like Shalimar. Some of you people made it absolutely clear. It was also made clear that is wasn't supposed to be, it was meant to be a younger, fresher version. You wouldn't even judge the fragrance on its own. No! You had to beat it up screaming, "IT'S NOT SHALIMAR!!!!!" And trashed it, and trashed it, and trashed it some more so others won't bother to even give it a chance. Well now, the fragrance is discontinued. Now people such as myself who loved this beauty can't have it. ARE YOU HAPPY NOW??!!! Oh yeah, there are still bottles to be had online, IF they're authentic. Once those bottles start to dwindle down, prices will sky rocket. To say I'm angry is putting it mildly! I'm getting quite tired of discontinuation of fragrances. If it is not the IFRA, it's perfume snobs trash mouthing fragrances to discontinuation taking people's joy away. The cruelest and meanest thing you can do to a fellow perfumista. I could not wear the original Shalimar. I suppose those posting horrible reviews didn't think about that, did you? I could wear this. Well now, "MY" Shalimar is gone. So very glad you still have your original Shalimar and not have to feel disappointment as I (and others) feel. Please remember it's not all about you when posting reviews. [cries]

This is what Shalimar used to be with an injection of sweetness and femininity. Opening with a perfectly powdered iris, a shot of lovely sweet and smooth vanilla with a boost of tonka. The drydown allows the citrus to shine through, and the charming and grounding vanilla notes. This is not a childish or overly sweet cheap smelling gourmand like so many flooding the market. This is grown up and rich - with incredible projection and longevity. This is what I expect from Guerlain - a perfect blend of notes culminating in a fragrance I love to wear. It's scent lingers on linens and scarves - little reminders of the glorious scent worn yesterday, or the day before. Few scents are the perfect balance of sweet and earthy, creating an aura that draws people in - asking "what is that beautiful fragrance?". So, why is it a limited edition? Why has it disappeared? Guerlain must keep it's consumers happy with scents that really work and will fly from it's shelves. It is far better in my opinion than the current formulation of Shalimar EDP, and yet - it's gone. Poof - off in a puff of sweet floral powder. Such a shame. I have my backups, and will use sparingly so I will never be without. I can't imagine an evening of snuggling without this romantic beauty.

I love this fragrance so much I’ve started stocking up since it’s discontinued which I just don’t get. I love this scent on me it lasts and lasts. Also this fragrance once it dries down is like a work of art. It smells divine! It’s also one of the few with a patchouli note that I don’t mind at all. I’ve avoided patchouli like the plague since I thought it all smelled like the oil I wore in the 90’s well that’s not so at all as I enjoy Narciso scents that have it in it too. But this is my favorite scent and the perfume I would call my signature. It’s the first perfume that I crave to wear. If I’m not wearing this I don’t feel right and I think this is why it’s my number one scent. I really hope they bring this back I have 2 bottles saved but I know I need to get more. I’ve never smelled anything so good. I also love Shalimar and I see the similarities but love the differences. I think the caramel in this makes this so good, it’s sexy, it makes me feel like a woman or how a woman should smell. I adore this and hope one day they will bring this back. I get compliments on this as well. This perfume made me really love and get into Guerlain perfumes and I’m so happy I did!

I couldn’t agree more with the below reviewer. This was a great fragrance. Don’t like flankers? Don’t wear any. Wear your original and let others wear what suits them. Guerlain, please bring this back! Seriously, you go down the page, there are people who want this back. The ones whose chemistry couldn’t wear the original, this was their Shalimar. I’ve been heartbroken ever since this was discontinued! It just didn’t seem fair? Hooray for those who could wear the original without It smelling horribly on their skin, but why should this be taken away simply because the ones who could wear the original didn’t like it? People also didn’t go to the original like expected when this was discontinued because they CAN’T wear it. Personally, I can’t even wear the EDT of the original unless it cold outside. Anything warmer than 55° and it smells like burnt rubber. This, however was wonderful and it made me feel good wearing it. Many others felt the same way. Guerlain you want to widen your customer base? Bring this back and make it part of the Shalimar Garden again. I even just gave you a way to advertise this! Customers demand it and they’re the reason you have a business.

The PI edp and L'Eau edt are almost identical to my nose. Both are beautiful and graceful, well blended, and while they do drift toward slightly gourmand and fruity (respectively) territories, never stray from a very French perfume realm. The edt rests on a lighter base and is brighter and fresher- the edp is just a bit more concentrated with a sharper lemon opening and a salty caramel note with a bit of sliiiightly dirty musk that peeks through the creamy, sweet Earl Gray tea veil. I have blind bought both at bargain prices and I love the scent, but rest assured that one is as good as the other so if you're thinking of purchasing, grab whichever you can find while you can. I am so surprised that such a potential classic fragrance would have been discontinued! Double surprise when considering how pedestrian Guerlain's latest release (Mon Guerlain) was. Let's pray to the perfume gods that they will see the error of their ways and value quality at least as much as making a quick buck, and resurrect this beauty.

Parfum Initial is just iconic. As I am looking into niche more and in the process kind of abandoning designer houses I feel like this is one of those outstanding perfumes when talking designer. Citrus notes blend beautifully with iris, underneath a sultry yet not overwhelming base of dry caramel, vanilla & tonka bean. You've got your patchouli and vetiver giving off woodiness and just a tiny hint of earthiness. The latter works nicely with star player of this show - iris. As a huge iris fan it is most pleasing to smell that warmer, sweeter base next to a blast of iris powder, this makes a great contrast within the perfume itself, making the iris even more powdery, more tart, austere. It's what seperates this particular EDP from its flankers like l'Eau and Si Sensuelle, which to me, do not create such a big contrast on my skin. Go hard or go home. As a flanker to Shalimar this is one of the most successful flankers in flanker categories. To me, this might be even better than the original.

My first time with this house & from this shalimar line,i got a vial sample years ago&i didn't know any of the notes&got this because i was buying other perfumes&weird exp with a scent,after i smelled this it made me pause...it was so smooth&beautiful&flawless&what shocks me is its not even something id seek out&this is impressive because i have never forgot off 1 sample, how it smells,it gave me a calm&relaxing feel,like very therapeutic, just so comforting&gentle smooth yet there? Anyway when i went to find a bottle its not available sadly,i think once you exp guerlain lol it exposes how no one/other house, can create the smoothness like they do in their creations,they really know how to create &blend better than other perfumes like soothing its so well blended~ I would like them to relaunch this,it changed my opinion on everything my rookie ass in fragrance thought i knew haha,i have a list of different perfumes i want to try,i have a feeling i will be a guerlain gal for life💞

Guerlain is without a doubt my favourite brand, and my all-time favorite perfume is my beloved Shalimar Parfum Initial. I bought Shalimar Parfum Initial early on my “perfume journey” and nothing has ever surpassed it. It is 100% me - in a bottle - and everything I aspire to be. It’s a nod to Guerlain’s rich heritage, yet not exactly a vintage. To me, it smells feminine, glamorous, powdery, cosmetic, mysterious, reserved, sophisticated. Plus, she’s a beauty, the quintessential boudoir flacon 💗 Thierry Wasser is an artiste and a magician. What a special understanding he has of Guerlain’s history, and what utter beauty he has created in his time there. He is certainly the most recurring nose in my collection. Now relaunched as L’Initial, it is not 100% the same but very close and gorgeous still. It now lacks the vetiver note which I loved. And adds a powdery almond note that gives it a tad more sweetness. Nevertheless so so grateful that it’s for sale again 🙌🏼

This is beautiful. After my shower tonight I wanted to wear something that I haven’t worn in a while, and this caught my eye. I have to be honest. When I first got this, I was little disappointed that it wasn’t more like my first love from the Shalimar Initial line, L’eau, and I also didn’t like that it smelled very much like Shalimar EDP on first spray. But as soon as this dries down it becomes a soft citrus with a creamy vanilla and beautiful jasmine and rose fragrance. The earthy patchouli and vetiver grounds this fragrance and with the iris balances out the citrus and vanilla keeping it on the dry, powdery side. Just like its namesake, this is very much an adult womanly scent sharing a similar opening and seductive profile, but this veers off into a softer, more romantic direction. This is the lady after a night on the town, bathe and powdered and ready for bed in her prettiest negligee. Femininity in a bottle. Just lovely.