Shalimar Souffle de Parfum

My great grandma made the most perfect lemon meringue pie, then my mother made it, and now I make it. A hand -rolled butter crust, fresh juice and zest of lemon, ephemeral whipped egg-whites, only a hint of sweetness floating above the bright, zesty lemon aroma. I envision this pie displayed proudly alongside fragrant, fresh jasmine flowers grown in my great grandmother's famous South Oregon garden. Now the daydream shifts and I'm at an intimate luncheon for sophisticated, cosmopolitan ladies. These ladies are not the temperamental, modern, working class, Irish immigrant ladies of my family. No, these ladies are the kind that you read about in Edith Wharton novels. Their corsets cinched, their padded derrieres perched precipitously on tiny cafe chairs. They are powdery, wealthy, influential, and judgmental. It's Summer, but they're not breaking a sweat. The room is cool and controlled; they can afford all the amenities that allow them to avoid the worst pains of Summer. Another broad-chested matron arrives, her pert and smiling daughter trailing behind, all well-considered smiles and airy, Summery skirts. This daughter. This daughter is no rebel. This daughter knows the rules and has chosen to play by them. There will be no dangerous liasions with unsuitable men, no adoption of new and controversial ideas and causes, and certainly no useless education for her. She understands the rarefied beauty of the world she was born into, and intends to take her place in it without drama or personal revolution. Our matrons are universally approving and delighted by her; perfectly charming, gentle, and pleasing. She offers just the kind of freshness and joie de vivre they crave and expect of a young lady of her breeding and status. They interview this new addition to their circle as they delicately nibble on petite lemon & vanilla powdered sugar teacakes. They apprise our young lady over soft explosions of powdered sugar puffing out from each cookie upon first bite. No discussion is necessary, our matrons instantly recognize our young lady as one of them; the essence of their hopes and dreams for their legacy in the next generation. This fragrance is not me, nor any version of me I've ever been. I've never met a Summer fragrance that was. Still, for all that this fragrance does not feel like me, or any woman I know, I thoroughly enjoy her company on a hot Summer day. Our young lady is transported from another, more genteel time and place; an unlikely friend to accompany me in a scented Summer reverie.

Incredibly whimsical, something that Galadriel or the White Queen in Alice in wonderland would smell like! So melancholic... It's possesses a fluffy and airy quality to it whilst maintaining a cold, distant and an aloof stance. Definitely unique to what is currently on the market and in my humble opinion 100x times better than anything that the new L'ART & LA MATIÈRE collection has to offer in terms of quality and versatility. The citrus in this isn't sparkling but muted and fleeting making way for the jasmine and orange blossom which isn't grapey but quite delicate, soon the powdery vanilla appears intertwined with the white musk which is incredibly elevating. Longevity is okay, it's quite strong in the beginning (a little soapy) and its sillage is quite vast depending on the room you're in but that all dials down and it becomes a musky, powdery, vanilla, that sits close to the skin which think suits it quite well since its named 'Souffle' meaning breath. 20 or so minutes after the initial spray I can smell this dewiness like that of rain on a spring day or after a thunderstorm (on skin), this is truly sublime 😫 I must say, in the opening it bares a similarity to Coco Noir and I think that's thanks to the bergamot however both have this cold/emotionless and somewhat stoic overtone to them that I adore and search for in a fragrance. Though noting like the original Shalimar or Shalimar Millésime Vanilla Planifolia so it can stand alone, it doesn't need to grab anyones attention as the magic lies in subtlety asserting itself whilst you move about. I love to wear this during the midsummer, spring and early autumn whilst I water my garden during golden hour and the wind is gently pushing up against my body blowing wafts of this up into the air, it's truly magical and effervescent. Can't say enough good things about it, definitely a love and I don't think you'd come across a lot of people wearing this so it's safe to say you'd be one of a kind. I wore this in Hong Kong in early 2016 and it reminds me of the misty clouds billowing down from Victoria Peak. Aside from its sister flankers this is 100% unique, there is truly nothing else out there that has the same effect let alone scent wise. I have an old soul so this speaks to me and it connects with me. Thierry Wasser truly worked his magic on this as creating something so unique with a number of facets without it being gaudy is hard to accomplish, literally a master at his craft.

I tested this scent on paper at the beginning of last December, and thought this is the most elegant scent I smelled-indeed the only scent lives up to my beloved Allure. I detected the Allure vibe right away. Lemony vanilla softened with gorgeous white flowers. Pure elegance, I made the wish of buying this classy scent one day. Two weeks later all parfumes got a good sale; I went ahead and bought a bottle on the last week of December:). Then I could test the scent on my skin. My initial reaction was a bit disappointing because I felt that the scent is lemony on paper but vanillish on my skin. For some reason I was attracted to the soft lemon smell when I first sniffed this scent; felt “fooled” by my skin chemisty. I experimented with the scent. I mixed it with L occitane Lemon Verbana deodorant and also with the citrus fruits peel oil of Tisserand ( both mixtures are blends of high quality brands and my Shalimar). I could get the level of lemon smell that satisfied me. I was so disappointed that I even considered selling my bottle, thinking that Souffle is not my scent. I am glad that I did not do so. I wore it everyday for a month, learned Shalimar Souffle, and came to realize that the amount of lemon is just right. It is the creation of M. Thierry Wasser of Guerlain after all:) This is very elegant, classy scent. Soft and lovely but expensive- one of the most expensive on the mainstream (excluding niche brands). I do not know the original Shalimar because we dont have in my country. I will test it as soon as I can travel abroad. As I mentioned Shalimar Souffle is on par with Allure, Shalimar is lemon vanilla, Allure EDP is peach-tangerine vanilla. I truly love both of them. As others I thought Souffle refers to desert, but later learned it means breath in French, not desert:). However one can still view this Shalimar flanker as a desert of a very high level Chef, very expensive desert. I actually learned to prepare Lemon Curd after getting my Souffle:). I am into lemon nowadays. I am very glad that I have this beauty in my collection, I recommend that you give a try. Now I look forward to testing the new Shalimar flanker, the one with the lavender note. Edit March 22: I was wrong on mixing it with citrus to make it sharper. I wore this scent, and in the course of time I fell in love again and again. Wonderful smell:)

I have to admit, every single day I have to stop myself for always reaching for Shalimar Souflee. I’m a little obsessed! I purchased this as a blind buy, because of all the descriptions as lemon vanilla cake or cookies, but I really paid close attention to those reviewers who pointed out that yes-it’s like a lemon vanilla cake, but without a lot of sugar. There is a review below by India Oceane which really spoke to me and I think it’s a spot on description of what you can envision with this scent. I LOVE lemon and vanilla, but despise when it’s too sweet. I like boozy vanillas and tart lemon. Think of a glass of bourbon with a vanilla bean in it and a twist of lemon. That’s my thing! I was not taken by surprise fortunately by how unsweetened this fragrance really is and quite pleasantly surprised by how much I love it! I do really understand though how people are mixing up soufflé and souffle because of the similarities of the word and the dessert being an “airy” sort of confection. I do get a lot of lemon right at the top with this. As it dries down I start getting some vanilla and the mandarin. After a bit more time, now I am getting even more of the vanilla but now the mandarin is settling into a beautiful orange blossom. Almost the perfect orange blossom scent that is very elusive to me. In the far dry down a lot of the lemon and citrus fades and you are left with the musk, vanilla and jasmine. It’s begins to get a bit powdery, but to me it’s almost like a cosmetic powder (which I love) and definitely not a talcum powder or baby powder. The sillage on this is impressive, but not a knockout. Longevity is great, I can still smell this on me (mostly vanilla by the end) almost 12 hours later snd still on my clothes the next day. But despite the citrus notes, and the strongish longevity and sillage, this is still so airy, so classy and so beautifully soft. ETA 4/4/2021: wore this today, Easter Sunday, which was a cool but sunny early spring day. This scent was absolutely perfect in this weather. The cool breeze carried the fresh/floral lemon scent and the bright sun warmed the skin and brought forward the vanilla and orange blossom. I’m am officially obsessed!

It is indeed different from all the other Shalimars , but as genny17 already said it does have a Guerlain stamp , a signature that hints towards Shalimar, but only vaguely . Its sophisticated and has something classy about it yet it's very young and sweet. The sweetness I love in this, its fluffy , airy sweet , soufflé is the perfect name for it. This is great for summer yet I think nice and cozy for cold days as well. I smell "sweet fluffiness" or feathery sweetness but I can't pinpoint this, it's very different but in a extremely positive way . I only just received it and I am only wearing it for two hours now , I will report back tomorrow on better details. So far I totally love it !!! Update, I agree with finanna( a reviewer ) that it does fall abit flat and that the opening is definitely the nicer part of this fragrance. The dry down is not very complex and has not that much grounding as I would want it to have. Update; I just read someone calling it a thin tangerine fizz and I have to agree, I feel it lacks something, its nice indeed but thin in the end ,lacks complexity , I still prefer l'eau de Shalimar ! And I do think people need to realize that perfumes are changing, it still has a classic vibe but yes its nothing like the original, and why should it be ??? Our children are nothing like our grandparents were , or are they? People these days don't want to smell like in the 20 s , they don't dress like that nor act like that , so why smell like that? Fashion and Styles change ! So getting with the time is not always bad , and if it is not for you than stick with the classic version. I like both. I am happy to say. I like old things and new things. Same with times , love the old world but also like the modern world. Why all the complaints?

Ethereal, Delicate & FLUFFY SOUFFLE of Tahitian Vanilla, White-Musk & Shalimar... With only a faint reminder of the original, this beauty opens with a citrus burst of lemon supported by multi-faceted bergamot, that deepens into a white floral heart of orange-blossom & jasmine sambac with powdery, sweet & soft-spicy nuances, all resting on a rich vanilla-musk base. Overall I get a bergamot opening for a jasmine-sambac & vanilla scent with faint nods to the original Shalimar. The jasmine here is unbelievably good with a lightweight feel. This was love at first scent for me. 10/10. Contrast to Shalimar EDT Guerlain: These are very different. Shalimar EDT is a much bolder citrus-amber with more forward iris & bergamot. However, Shalimar Souffle gains more similarities to Shalimar EDT the longer it ages. Shalimar EDT outperforms. Overall: Performance is average or slightly below average, but improves to above average with dark storage after first sprays. This is the perfect scent for just a faint hint of a vintage favourite, recognized only by those who know the original well. It's a love for me. 10/10. Enjoy! Update 10/25/24: This has aged beautifully, and I wanna say more like the og Shalimar now, although at most still a "souffle" of the og. Light and fluffy white musk, lemon-y-vanilla & bergamot along with the Guerlainade. There may be a touch of iris in here as part of the Guerlainade. There's also a fresh, nearly aquatic facet that may be the bergamot. Overall the sillage is present but ethereal, delicate & mysterious; longevity has improved (still detect it the next day on skin, hair & clothes). Some reminders for me of Toujours Moi Dana as well, but this is less powdery and more fluffy. Still love it.

I wanted this immediately when it came out, after kicking myself for missing the Iris flanker that sounded dreamy ;; It was well worth the blind buy! The opening is a burst of citrus, musk, and a hint of jasmine.. Almost evocative of orange rinds? Its a bit sharp, and when I haven't worn it in a while, I find myself questioning why I loved it so much based on the first sniff LOL But it just needs a few minutes to settle and work its magic! The vanilla comes in stronger as it dries down, and it all melts into this divine sweetness that isn't sugary or powdery.. Everything blends together beautifully! It gets creamier and softer the longer I wear it~ It hits that sweet spot between not being too mature or childish! Its fluffy and airy like a whisper, deserving of the name Souffle ♡ Delicate, comforting, and sophisticated~ It is more of a skin scent, don't expect huge projection! But as I move, it'll gently waft and I'll get a sudden whiff of it through the day ^^/ It seems to last all day on me! It's a beautiful fall and winter scent, but I've worn it in spring too ^^/ It was my favorite cold weather scent last year and I couldn't stop reaching for it! More refined than Dolce & Gabbana Devotion!! Devotion is a little more synthetic (in comparison) and is much louder on my skin, and Shalimar Souffle is more like a vanilla forward than it is citrusy♡ Edit: a Sephora employee snuck me a ton of extra samples without telling me, and I got followed around the store by someone else while wearing this >< Definitely *not* the attention I want in public, but that probably speaks to how amazing this scent is for me!! ^^;

I'm a huge hypocrite, because I'm always complaining about vanilla being in everything lately. This is insanely vanilla (vanilla being the entire cornerstone of this fragrance); yet I adore this. I also love the vanilla in Mon Guerlain exponentially more than I do in other fragrances (a richly perfect ice-creamy vanilla). So maybe I just enjoy Guerlain's vanilla more than other brands. It's soft, powdery, pillowy and sweetly refined without feeling syrupy or thick...it's on another level. I get the vanilla (obviously haha), from opening to drydown. But it's surrounded by light citrus and amplified with a SUPER soft and feminine musk. I expected this to be somewhat sensual, but I'm left with something surprisingly superior; a magnificently comforting scent that makes me feel surrounded in a soft cloud. I ranked this as being more of a winter scent, as I can't imagine wearing this anywhere more preferable than indoors in my pajamas while the weather is awful outside. That, of course, may seem like an insult to some who maintain that this is too special to use so casually, but I want to sit with this to myself and burrow up in it...alone. As an anxious introvert; this comes as highest praise 💙 I have a large 10ml decant and will probably turn to this at least a few times during this outbreak season, it soothes me, at least somewhat (hope all are doing well and finding comfort in these times)!

This was a blind buy for me and I’m very glad I took the risk. The opening had me nervous, as it’s sharp citrus with lemon and bergamot that borders on overwhelming. Luckily, this doesn’t last long. The vanilla and jasmine sambac really shine through the development and dry down. Although not a gourmand, I find it to be slightly sweet, but done in a sophisticated way. Comforting, airy, feminine, and elegant. While this is a more mature fragrance imo, I don’t find it be “old lady” or dusty whatsoever. That said, I don’t see teenagers being drawn to this. For reference, I am 28. The musk is subtle to me and not overpowering. Overall this is a win. The performance is solid and lasts on skin for a good while (7+ hours), I even smelled it slightly on my wrists after a shower. At the dry down it is a lovely, slightly powdery, vanilla skin scent. I get some faint caramel as well. I will note that the citrus notes are much more apparent on clothes and I don’t get the vanilla, so it’s not a love for me on clothes. Perhaps it’s skin chemistry that brings out the vanilla. It is a beautiful and classy scent that is distinctly Guerlain. Update: I enjoy this so much. It took a few days to fully appreciate it. I even enjoy the opening now and don’t find it to be sharp, but invigorating. I find it to be a truly lovely, lemony, vanilla concoction that I reach for frequently.

I recently bought this perfume, and I’m honestly mad at myself for missing out on something this beautiful for so long. I blind bought it, trusting my feelings, and from the very first spray, I was mesmerized. It felt like I somehow already knew where this fragrance was going, how it would evolve. At that moment, I knew I was exactly where I was supposed to be, like I had found something that truly belonged to me. The opening starts with lemon and mandarin, making you feel as if you’ve just dived into cool waters. For a brief moment, it even reminded me of Chanel Coco Noir. Soon after, I get delicate jasmine and orange blossom resting on a base that reminds me of that beautiful vanilla in Guerlain Shalimar. These florals are never dominant. They touch the composition in the most delicate way. And then comes that beautiful vanilla... Don’t think of a vanilla like Kayali Vanilla 28. The vanilla in Shalimar Souffle is powdery and delicate. It settles onto your skin the way a silk dress touches your body. Soft, delicate, and almost weightless. On my skin, it lasted around 6 to 7 hours, although the projection was not amazing, around an arm’s length. But honestly, I wouldn’t expect strong projection from a fragrance like this. Although it feels like a fragrance you could wear in any season, I already know I’ll especially enjoy it in summer. In one word: Obsessed!

This scent struck me as gourmand, exactly like a lemon pastry containing vanilla, the first time I wore it. I waited until now to review it so I could examine some of the notes that develop. The opening still strikes me as positively edible. After a little while, maybe 20 minutes, I started to think it has some light green notes. I think that's the bergamot and orange flower combining. I just got a whiff of Souffle mixing with espresso, and that was surprisingly delicious. The musk is so nicely balanced with the other notes that I forget it's separate from them. I'm also delighted with how the vanilla blends with the citrus; when I try to do that with essential oils or perfume oils, it always smells like an Creamcicle. This is much more refined. I find it far more feminine than unisex, but I'd want to smell it on a few men before declaring it inappropriate for them. The lightly bitter notes that come through, plus the richness of the vanilla and the musk, could work very well for the right men. I originally thought this would not be strong enough to stand up to cold weather, but now I think I'll try it all year. I'd wear it day or night, too. It's also a scent that I might wear, in small amounts, at cafes and restaurants, because it interfered in the best way possible with the smell of coffee. It's gourmand enough to be nice in a variety of settings.

From a performance standpoint, this is the worst. Doesn’t last long, projects mildly. But let me put this out there. It is not a gourmand scent by any means. The vanilla here is dry, earthy and realistic. The smell you get when you scrape a vanilla pod, as opposed to the creamy baked good type of vanilla extract smell. It’s citrusy facets (predominantly lemon) endures throughout the wear time (which is max an hour!) I low-key regret getting this. It stays true to the name though. A breath of Shalimar, last as long as a breath too! Would’ve loved this if it lasted longer coz I love the scent profile. No, I adore the scent profile. It just doesn’t last long enough to even appreciate the changing phases of it... EDIT: It has been 4 months since I purchased this! Hold on to your seats, as this one needs to macerate! After it sat in my declutter pile for about two weeks, I gave it another go. Now, it is soft, powdery and beeeeautiful vanilla with lemon! Still not gourmand, but the longevity has improved so very much! So has the projection!! It lasts about 8 hours on my skin when it is not moisturised and way longer (haven't kept track after I lost count after about 9.5 hours) when I do apply moisturiser!) I cannot believe I almost got rid of this! It is STUNNING! I am eyeing the Intense version :p

A very aromatic citrus vanilla is what I'm smelling. A hint of vanilla here. A hint of lemon there. A bit of sweetness here. A little hit of jasmine there. That Guerlain vanilla can be smelled so distinctively even in this very simple yet elegant as fuck perfume. I feel like I need to get off the couch and at least put on some mascara and lip gloss. It's so aromatic too. I keep trying to breathe in more and more like I'm just getting a little bit of something but this delicate lady does not impose. Its almost like your own skin if it smelled like shalimar if that makes sense. And I keep trying to smell more but she won't let me she just hints at something. If perfumes had personality this one would be enigmatic. She's a bit light on her feet. Fleeting. Hard to catch but manages to still be there hours later too. This is how I imagine Tinkerbell smells. Because I keep thinking, what was THAT I just smelled? Then another whiff and I get the HINT of the perfume again. Very good naming. Breath of Shalimar. It is like a perfume's perfume. She is not in your face she is fluffy and airy and all around you yet by far from being overpowering yet most definitely there. This is such interesting performance. I've never had a perfume play peekaboo before.

VioletEyes and ChellyBelle84: very well put!! I really agree with you, that we should let everyone love the perfume they do love. If we let that be the case, then we will everyone have room to be individual and not walking around all smelling the same and looking the same. I tried a sample of this, which I love. Of course it is very different from the original Shalimar. But it is equally classy, I think. To me, this is a ”clean” scent, somehow reminding me of clean laundry. I love the musc, I love the soft flowers, I love the vanilla, which I don’t read as a sweet vanilla at all. It’s an airy fragrance - unoffending, discreet enough to be a signature or wearing very often and in all surroundings. I own the original Shalimar, and I like it a lot, and some days or nights I love it, but it is for certain occasions for me - not at all this versatile. Happy I own that classic, though, I wanted to begin with that one when I was buying something from the line, to get an idea of it and then being able to compare with flankers, as well as with other older fragrances. So then, this is a modern one, but I hope they will let it stay available for good, to be a classic as well. I will buy it when I’ve got money to do so.

I usually don't write reviews but I am on this site, almost everyday. As a perfume addict, I tried this one when I was walking at Macys and saw this gorgeous color in a familiar bottle. What is this? The new Souffle according to the sales lady who seems to be obsessed in to selling me Boucheron. Of course I tried to ignore her, until I finally said, I would like to try this Souffle Shalimar if you wouldn't mind?" She gave me one paper tester, a generous act I thought. I sprayed this blue liquid, and WOW! very gourmandy orange, lime/lemon followed by sweetness and warmth. I was intrigued, so I sprayed it on my arm. I wouldn't' really spray a perfume on my body unless I like it. This one is very soft citrus, not overly sweet, no burnt custard here but more like a freshly baked LEMON MERINGUE PIE!! Yes! That's what I smelled. When it dried down, I get whiffs of Angelique Noir and Iris Ganache from the exclusifs line! The perfume lasted till the next day, the silage is powerful as that of a Guerlain. This is NOT Shalimar, this needs to have a name of its own. I love the scent especially now that it is winter. The scent is inoffensive and very yummy. 1 spray, and I was thinking of dessert. I might buy this :-)

I just received this today as a blind buy and I was definitely surprised. I personally don’t understand why quite a few reviews state that this is sweet and creamy and bordering gourmand..I don’t even get a whisper of that from this fragrance. It’s smells very mature and definitely gives that confident woman-in-charge vibe like I should be wearing pearls, a skirt suit w pantyhose, silk blouse and a tight chignon. The lemon is a bit too spicy and sharp for my liking so I’m not sure if I’m going to keep it. Again, this is not bad at all, just not what I expected or typically wear. UPDATE: it has been a day since I wrote that and I regret it! You know how sometimes you don’t know what you need until it’s just staring right at you? That’s what happened here. This fragrance is like red wine: you have to let it breathe before you pour a glass to let the flavors develop (although I’m sure all of us have skipped that step before). It’s amazing what 24hrs did to this. The screechy lemon that I spoke of is completely gone and what’s left is a lovely elegant scent with a dry sweetness that feels luxurious. It makes me feel powerful, sexy and cozy at the same time. 100% a keeper.

Apparently I put my review in the intense version hahaha so fixing it now, and put it here. Oooh finally a Shalimar that works for me. It smells better on my skin than on the paper! The strong lemon punch of the original is dialed down. I smell lemony fresh citrus first, not sharp but juicy. Then after 2 minutes, it's rounded by sweet floral notes. Vanilla is still in the background, the sweet floral stays prominent for now. Enjoying this middle phase. It's ethereal and pretty but great sillage. I can smell myself in this pretty cloud of lemony sweet flowers with a touch of spice. This is not oriental gourmand, but definitely oriental floral. So beautiful! Happy to find this in a duty free! PS: this is so devastatingly mesmerising! I love it so much and going to buy a backup bottle immediately. It's rainy season where I am right now, and Souffle is just perfect for the season! Curious to try this in the heat. I think this is an absolute masterpiece! I'm swooning in ecstasy everytime I catch a whiff of it. I'd really like to try L'Initial and if possible other flankers. Standing ovation to Guerlain!!

Shalimar Souffle was the first Shalimar in my collection. I had tested Shalimar EDP at the department store, but found it to be too challenging and quickly scrubbed it. Hearing that Souffle wasn’t similar to the OG I figured I’d give it a go (baby steps), but of course that meant I had to blind buy. I do in fact love it, but I love the Intense version a bit more. I won’t say much about Souffle smell, sillage, and longevity because there are so many varied reviews and I have already reviewed it before. You just really need to try it for yourself. Here’s where this review might be unique. I recently decided to take a chance on Shalimar EDT. From first spray I was reminded of Shalimar Souffle! They are not the same by any means, but I smell a common DNA. I now completely dismiss all the reviews that dismiss Shalimar Souffle as a member of the Shalimar line. It’s a true flanker in my eyes. So, if you are like me and need to take baby steps in order to appreciate Shalimar, I recommend starting with Souffle knowing that it is a flanker with a bit of the OG artfully woven inside it.

A beautiful, classy fragrance, Shalimar de Souffle does not smell like a typical citrus of today. It opens with a smooth lemon, like limoncello or lemon cookie. The opening lemon is actually present for the duration of the scent, although subdued. Vanilla is the star here, it isn't a sweet vanilla, its intense, almost floral. On my skin I can smell layers of scent, lemon, white florals, a hint of musk, all tied with a silk cream colored ribbon of deep vanilla. This is a fragrance for a power lunch with the boss, the black tie museum event, a trip to the opera or theater. Its a classy scent that maybe too strong for everyday wear and too distracting to be a "sexy" scent. Shalimar de Souffle would be a very unique signature scent. Sprayed in large quantities, it takes on a almost rootbeer like feeling. The sillage isn't huge, some on close by can smell it but you won't be killing anyone. The longevity is excellent and I could smell it on my skin for 8 hours. Scent 10/10, Sillage 6/10, Longevity 8/10 Overall 9/10.

This is a beauty! The lemon here is less citrus and more gourmand - something I find incredibly delicious, comforting, and somehow nostalgic. On my skin, I get a gorgeous spicy, warm vanilla wrapped in a sugary lemon pastry cloud. It is rich yet fluffy and airy; gourmand, but not cloyingly so. This is "signature scent" worthy and totally unique to my collection. If you are curious about how it compares to the Intense version, here is my take: I think Shalimar Souffle Intense is aptly named - to me, this is a deeper, richer version of the original. I pick up more of that spicy vanilla note in the Intense, and less of the light and airy lemon which is present in the original. While I really enjoy both, if I was pressed to choose one, I think I would go for the original simply because I am more drawn to that delicious fluffy lemon note. You really can't go wrong with either of these, in my opinion! I am eager to try layering the original and intense versions. I think that might just be the perfect combination. :)