Shalimar (for women)
Designer: Guerlain Olfactive Group: Oriental Floral
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Video
middle notes
base notes
Shalimar was created by Jacques Guerlain in 1925, as a tribute to the legendary love story between Emperor SHAHJAHAN and his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Before he became emperor his name was Prince Khurram. According to the legend, twenty- year-old Prince Khurram met a young girl, named Arjumand Banu at the bazaar where her family worked. Mesmerized by her beauty, after becoming emperor, he made her his wife as Mumtaz Mahal, meaning the "Jewel of the Palace". After the wedding ,the prince and Mumtaz were inseparable, in war and in peace. She had given 13 children to Shahjahan and died during the birth of their 14th child at the age of 39. Her death devastated Shah Jahan and had built Taj Mahal in memory of his wife and their undying love.
Shalimar is named after ‘The Gardens of Shalimar’.It was Mumtaz’s favorite garden. Shalimar is one of the best selling perfumes ever and its magic is undeniable.
Perfume is composed of citrus notes; lemon and bergamot, jasmine, may rose, opoponax, Tonka bean, vanilla, iris, Peru balsam and gray amber. Coolness of the citrus notes leads to floral heart ending with a warm and luxurious trail.
Here you can watch an advertising video for Shalimar by Guerlain.
Shalimar Black Limited Christmas Edition was introduced in 2007 as limited Christmas edition bottle of this classic fragrance. The perfume composition remains the same, available in parfum and eau de parfum concentrations, in a mysterious, black bottle.
More about this edition read in the news section.
Fragrance Notes
top notesShalimar Fragrance Reviews:
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How can you not love this?An ultimate classic you never get tired of.
Starts with a citrus-vanilla mix and turns out to a powdery vanilla smell,i like wearing it at wintertime.I wore to new years eve once with matching bodylotion,its just great.
Starts with a citrus-vanilla mix and turns out to a powdery vanilla smell,i like wearing it at wintertime.I wore to new years eve once with matching bodylotion,its just great.
06/21/09 14:01:19
The Shalimar is great, i'm wearing it now.. at first sniff there's a touch of something like styrax, something resiny, and then it goes into pure baby powder and vanilla, then a mixture of the greenish styrax, baby powder and vanilla... With out wanting to upset anyone, as a mother who breastfed for two years, I detect something very similar to breastmilk in here too. A lovely balance of the coolness and warmth. It's very soothing. My boyfriend loves it. He's definitely smelling my neck when we hug, which is great as our 4 year anniversary is coming up!
It's very appropriate for the young wife of Shah Jahan who inspired it... she had 14 children with him... so it's lovely for a woman with children, to smell beautiful, and timeless, and have her motherhood in no way detract from but only enhance her beauty. I think thats something which is missing as an idea in modern culture... the timeless ness, beauty, and personality of a family woman. This perfume is not about raw sex appeal. It's about love, and the whole person.
Definitely a keeper for me, and I think might even subconsciously encourage my partner to think about more children to add to our little family of two adults, one child and a very pretty cat.
It's very appropriate for the young wife of Shah Jahan who inspired it... she had 14 children with him... so it's lovely for a woman with children, to smell beautiful, and timeless, and have her motherhood in no way detract from but only enhance her beauty. I think thats something which is missing as an idea in modern culture... the timeless ness, beauty, and personality of a family woman. This perfume is not about raw sex appeal. It's about love, and the whole person.
Definitely a keeper for me, and I think might even subconsciously encourage my partner to think about more children to add to our little family of two adults, one child and a very pretty cat.
06/10/09 04:03:46
I began wearing Shalimar perfume 44 years ago when i was 16 and confiscated my mother's beautiful bottle.
.
On me i have *never* noticed strong citrus or vanilla notes. Instead, it is a rich, dark fragrance of the woody and incensey base notes lightened somewhat by the florals. This is the Oriental against which i compare all others - and few are its equal.
.
Alas my ancient perfume bottle has only a tiny amount of oxidized oil left in it. I tried it on recently and it just didn't smell the same until i warmed it up well, and then it smelled like the Shalimar i adore.
.
Now i need a new bottle, but i've heard rumors that it is now only a shadow of its former self. Is this true? A real tragedy if it is. Or perhaps some have just mistaken one of the eaux de toilette or legere versions for the genuine perfume.
.
On me i have *never* noticed strong citrus or vanilla notes. Instead, it is a rich, dark fragrance of the woody and incensey base notes lightened somewhat by the florals. This is the Oriental against which i compare all others - and few are its equal.
.
Alas my ancient perfume bottle has only a tiny amount of oxidized oil left in it. I tried it on recently and it just didn't smell the same until i warmed it up well, and then it smelled like the Shalimar i adore.
.
Now i need a new bottle, but i've heard rumors that it is now only a shadow of its former self. Is this true? A real tragedy if it is. Or perhaps some have just mistaken one of the eaux de toilette or legere versions for the genuine perfume.
06/09/09 16:08:12
This one takes some getting used to. I've only tried this fragrance in its EDT and pure extrait form, and the difference between the two is a pretty big leap.
The EDT smells, to my nose, of band aids and baby powder - at first. After about 30 minutes or so, I'm surprised to find that that warm, buttery vanilla wafting through the air around me is the same perfume that smelled of the stuff found in a medicine cabinet, earlier. The dry-down of Shalimar is beautiful and if you can stick around for the first several minutes while this formulation develops, you're in for a treat that is worth the wait.
As for the extrait, well, if you can afford it, it's worth its weight in gold. You can knock twenty minutes off the clock in the time it takes to develop, and the sweet, spicy, vanilla dry-down is amplified by about a thousand.
I have yet to try the EDP version, as perfume stores tend to have only the EDT available to test, but I expect it to be somewhere in between the other two formulations. There are a whole lot of notes here and the only thing I can say for sure is that the dry-down is heavenly; it brings to mind the happiness of holidays, the luxury of extravagant desserts, and the richness of the color gold.
As its taken me some time to discover, Guerlain's parfums are not merely cosmetic accessories, but rather works of art, and they need time to bloom on the skin. The notes will develop and tell a story along the way, if you're careful not to judge a book by it's cover, or rather, the perfume by it's first impression after spraying. It seems to me that the perfumers at Guerlain don't really put much effort into top-notes; they instead seem to focus on creating lovely perfumes that will transform and exceed their first impressions. If the top-notes aren't appealing, it's worth a few patient moments of endurance if it leads to something beautiful and unexpected, as this one does. Good things come to those who wait.
The EDT smells, to my nose, of band aids and baby powder - at first. After about 30 minutes or so, I'm surprised to find that that warm, buttery vanilla wafting through the air around me is the same perfume that smelled of the stuff found in a medicine cabinet, earlier. The dry-down of Shalimar is beautiful and if you can stick around for the first several minutes while this formulation develops, you're in for a treat that is worth the wait.
As for the extrait, well, if you can afford it, it's worth its weight in gold. You can knock twenty minutes off the clock in the time it takes to develop, and the sweet, spicy, vanilla dry-down is amplified by about a thousand.
I have yet to try the EDP version, as perfume stores tend to have only the EDT available to test, but I expect it to be somewhere in between the other two formulations. There are a whole lot of notes here and the only thing I can say for sure is that the dry-down is heavenly; it brings to mind the happiness of holidays, the luxury of extravagant desserts, and the richness of the color gold.
As its taken me some time to discover, Guerlain's parfums are not merely cosmetic accessories, but rather works of art, and they need time to bloom on the skin. The notes will develop and tell a story along the way, if you're careful not to judge a book by it's cover, or rather, the perfume by it's first impression after spraying. It seems to me that the perfumers at Guerlain don't really put much effort into top-notes; they instead seem to focus on creating lovely perfumes that will transform and exceed their first impressions. If the top-notes aren't appealing, it's worth a few patient moments of endurance if it leads to something beautiful and unexpected, as this one does. Good things come to those who wait.
06/08/09 22:47:26
Shalimar is a rich decadent velvet. A walk in an Indian spice market. Smoky, with a slightly floral centre, and smooth guerlinade base. The topnote of bergamot lends a fleeting freshness to this elegant classic oriental perfume, before opening out to a rich incense-like powdery woody spicy vanilla.
Beautiful for winter or evening wear but can easily be worn during the summer or daytime if used with a light hand.
There is a touch of leather in the base which gives a sexy animalic feeling to this fragrance.
Men seem to love this as has already been mentioned, and it is extremely longwearing with a smooth composition and gentle meandering drydown.
Men could easily wear this one too IMO.
A favourite to be sure.
Beautiful for winter or evening wear but can easily be worn during the summer or daytime if used with a light hand.
There is a touch of leather in the base which gives a sexy animalic feeling to this fragrance.
Men seem to love this as has already been mentioned, and it is extremely longwearing with a smooth composition and gentle meandering drydown.
Men could easily wear this one too IMO.
A favourite to be sure.
06/03/09 18:05:49
I am 56 years old and as a child/teenager hated vanilla! My mother used to give me awful tasting vanilla pudding and ice cream. Then in the mid 70's my boyfriend (husband to be) bought me a bottle of Shalimar. I took one sniff and was hooked on the vanilla. It was a wonderful aroma .. the sort you can never get enough of. I am so glad it is back I keep meaning to get some. But I wonder if it smells the same as in the old days? I must find a shop where I cn try them out.
05/28/09 08:21:23
Shalimar is for me a mythical scent of daydreaming of long journeys in eastern lands, a strong imagery for a slightly unsocial clumsy romantic teenager who spent lot of time alone... This is my feeling for Shalimar because of memories. I fell in love with the perfumed cards into magazines, the scent was just amazing! it was the time when Shalimar was marketed by the lady with a black hat in the "armenian" church. Such a strong mysterious, bold and powerful female vision! then I managed to buy a small 30ml bottle of Parfum de Toilette, a dream come true like a previous reviewer wrote. Anyway it didn't work well with my chemistry, not even my appearance at that time. Shalimar stayed there like a small golden hidden treasure. I still own that bottle and the juice inside has only got better. Actually I need to say that both Shalimar and Samsara (my fave!) smell different in modern bottles than they did back in time, let's say 15 years ago. what happened?
I have a pale olive, cold Mediterranean skin for reference and since then Shalimar worked better. Many years have passed and I'm a different person. Still Shalimar is not totally me. It's something I'm used to smell, but on me is not a happy smell or doesn't make me feel happy. I wear the EdP and it changes a lot according to days. It goes from harsh citrus start+sexy refined vanilla to old stuff grandfather's wool sweater smell to masculin after-shave! Sometimes harsh and sour, sometimes mellow. I agree that this could be the scent of love as long as it works for you, otherwise it could be the smell of sadness.
Guerlains classics are the real stuff compared to new releseas, still they can be heavy to carry around on your body, they can be stiff and very serious, making you look serious.
I would see these fragrances on exuberant young elegant ladies, more then mature women.
If Shalimar doesn't work right with your chemistry you will smell gross, like old powdered ladies or baby diapers! Unfortunately many people insist in wearing it all the time just to say they're wearing Shalimar and feel classy.
I have a pale olive, cold Mediterranean skin for reference and since then Shalimar worked better. Many years have passed and I'm a different person. Still Shalimar is not totally me. It's something I'm used to smell, but on me is not a happy smell or doesn't make me feel happy. I wear the EdP and it changes a lot according to days. It goes from harsh citrus start+sexy refined vanilla to old stuff grandfather's wool sweater smell to masculin after-shave! Sometimes harsh and sour, sometimes mellow. I agree that this could be the scent of love as long as it works for you, otherwise it could be the smell of sadness.
Guerlains classics are the real stuff compared to new releseas, still they can be heavy to carry around on your body, they can be stiff and very serious, making you look serious.
I would see these fragrances on exuberant young elegant ladies, more then mature women.
If Shalimar doesn't work right with your chemistry you will smell gross, like old powdered ladies or baby diapers! Unfortunately many people insist in wearing it all the time just to say they're wearing Shalimar and feel classy.
05/18/09 03:33:33
I was intrigued by this story, and decided to up the suggestions to try Shalimar...so this weekend I did.
I like heavier smells, so I thought that I might love this. But it wasn't exactly love. At least, not yet. Right now it's still like.
It's a very unique scent; deep & dark but with hint (a small hint) of sweetness. It's somewhat of a mystery to me because of it's dark facade. I get the feeling that there's more to its story than just the obvious. You have to read between the lines and find that hidden being---the being that's more than just deep and dark, but actually quite lovely and sweet. It's just shy in that aspect. However, the initial scent is not at all shy. It's not as strong as Mitsouko (IMHO) to me, but strong in its own way.
I agree. It's a classic alright. Definitely not for someone who likes overly sweet fragrances. This perfume requires someone with more of a strong sense of being. In my opinion, you must be confident when wearing it or else it won't fit you well. But don't be afraid to try it. You might even gain confidence by doing so. Just be patient with it. In time it will open up and allow you to witness how feminine and soft it is.
I like heavier smells, so I thought that I might love this. But it wasn't exactly love. At least, not yet. Right now it's still like.
It's a very unique scent; deep & dark but with hint (a small hint) of sweetness. It's somewhat of a mystery to me because of it's dark facade. I get the feeling that there's more to its story than just the obvious. You have to read between the lines and find that hidden being---the being that's more than just deep and dark, but actually quite lovely and sweet. It's just shy in that aspect. However, the initial scent is not at all shy. It's not as strong as Mitsouko (IMHO) to me, but strong in its own way.
I agree. It's a classic alright. Definitely not for someone who likes overly sweet fragrances. This perfume requires someone with more of a strong sense of being. In my opinion, you must be confident when wearing it or else it won't fit you well. But don't be afraid to try it. You might even gain confidence by doing so. Just be patient with it. In time it will open up and allow you to witness how feminine and soft it is.
05/11/09 14:05:14
After all the good apeciation this fragance got I wanted to see for myself if it really lives up the high expectations!
And yes I belive it does and just the thought of reviewing this masterpiece makes me nervous!
It's sophisticated, glam , dark , moody all emotion to me.
For me the great appeal were the first notes, very sharp yet not heavy at all...light almost , a contradiction to what I expected, opening the gates of the Orient ..the spices apear much later...it smells a bit pepperminty to me, then more and more oriental , layers of crushed flowers with spices in between.The most dominant notes are intens, strong and forcefull.
Then when you're getting slowlly accustomed to the perfume...bang it hits you with all the true power of the East Indies-that make your head spin-the aftermath resulting in a sandalwoody-incense burning smell( for me too strong)-and still persisting after some hours-a true classic that introduces you gradually into the misterious world of the Orient!
And yes I belive it does and just the thought of reviewing this masterpiece makes me nervous!
It's sophisticated, glam , dark , moody all emotion to me.
For me the great appeal were the first notes, very sharp yet not heavy at all...light almost , a contradiction to what I expected, opening the gates of the Orient ..the spices apear much later...it smells a bit pepperminty to me, then more and more oriental , layers of crushed flowers with spices in between.The most dominant notes are intens, strong and forcefull.
Then when you're getting slowlly accustomed to the perfume...bang it hits you with all the true power of the East Indies-that make your head spin-the aftermath resulting in a sandalwoody-incense burning smell( for me too strong)-and still persisting after some hours-a true classic that introduces you gradually into the misterious world of the Orient!
05/11/09 09:53:54
Such beautiful bottle, such interesting story, such wonderful mystery. Yet it feels old lady like, I don't mind but this is the wrong way.
05/08/09 16:53:38
I've decided to give it a second try as I have learned that most Guerlain fragrances need time to develop and I was truly intrigued by this amazing story here,Taj Mahal, love, death.
Anyway, the opening is still almost unbearable to me, so sharp citrus cedar that it tells my nose to move back, but after like a half an hour it changes to something like old wood, leather and spices, something still sharp but I want to explore my wrist for it's intriguing!
The best part, believe it or not, comes only after two hours (some fragrances are all gone by the time I get the best of Shalimar :)
The final best part is elegant and warm , more incense, woody scent is less dominant and a bit of vanilla leather. It is still distinct and comes to my nose in warm waves but much more calm, not so aggressive like the opening.
I guess my story here can be summarized metaphorically as a fight of Shalimar ingredients about a dominance on the stage. They seem to push each other around trying to grab the microphone and sing the story of a tragic love.
Very intriguing fragrance, classy and unusual.
I'm thinking of getting a small bottle for special occasions only since it's too sophisticated to wear it on an ordinary day.
Definitely one of a kind.
Everyone who thinks she hates Shalimar see what I have learned since my first review :)
Anyway, the opening is still almost unbearable to me, so sharp citrus cedar that it tells my nose to move back, but after like a half an hour it changes to something like old wood, leather and spices, something still sharp but I want to explore my wrist for it's intriguing!
The best part, believe it or not, comes only after two hours (some fragrances are all gone by the time I get the best of Shalimar :)
The final best part is elegant and warm , more incense, woody scent is less dominant and a bit of vanilla leather. It is still distinct and comes to my nose in warm waves but much more calm, not so aggressive like the opening.
I guess my story here can be summarized metaphorically as a fight of Shalimar ingredients about a dominance on the stage. They seem to push each other around trying to grab the microphone and sing the story of a tragic love.
Very intriguing fragrance, classy and unusual.
I'm thinking of getting a small bottle for special occasions only since it's too sophisticated to wear it on an ordinary day.
Definitely one of a kind.
Everyone who thinks she hates Shalimar see what I have learned since my first review :)
05/03/09 12:45:56
As soon as I smelled this, I had a flashback of old ladies hugging me at church when I went as a child. It's a very old-fashioned scent. But that aside, it must smell different on different people because one woman I know wears it and it smells great on her, very rich and sweet.
05/02/09 20:52:02
Finally!~I tried this perfume on my skin. What can I say? It's very citrusy with cedar at first (almost like 'lemon' candy but there's not just lemon smell, there's various kind of citruses. The top notes gives out really impression of word 'oriental'. It's oriental, it's name is Shalimar (great name!), it's bottle and juice color fits the perfume perfectly. It can even without doubt worn by a man. (Hello, Robert :D) It's serious, it's sensual, also has some 'creamy' feeling to it, that's what I think of top notes. But later, you get treated with heart notes too. I can feel vetiver, rose and iris and incense and something spicy as well. It's so stunning! Then there's something woody and leather too - it is a perfume I'd love to wear in any age. Also it has the feeling that it was created a long time ago, but it's never outdated. I love it so much! I can imagine wearing it in September or October, it reminds me of beautiful time when leaves are colorful -red and yellow- and are falling down making circles on their way to ground. It reminds me of how wonderful it's to take a walk in the Old Riga and visit some shops you can imagine not much people know about them, this perfume is so comforting and really wonderful.
04/17/09 07:34:32
The bottle gives me the image of royalty, after reading the story above it makes sense. BUT..this was awful on me a medicine like smell of strong a vicks like essence. Don't know where I got this scent but it was terrible on me. Great lasting power because I could not get it out of my nose and off my wrist. I was so wanting more out of this, the reviews were so nice of this and all I got was a medicine scent. Very disappointing!
04/10/09 11:11:54
I tried Shalimar recently and had a really not nice experience with it. It's way too strong for me and too old fashioned. Maybe it's my skin chemistry but it's really highly unpleasant, but it's lasting power is remarkable, could not get rid of it. Bottles on the other hand are gorgeous.
04/09/09 10:57:33
"You know, when I use vanilla, I make Crème caramel, whereas Jacques Guerlain creates Shalimar." These humble words from Ernest Beaux, the creator of Chanel No.5, sum up what is a delightful olfactory experience for the layman using this excellent fragrance. There is less of a floral presence than I had anticipated, and the sweetness is powdery and beautifully subtle. The interplay between the basic components works very well, and it projects a finely balanced accord that is both refined and elegant. It is very easy to see why this is a benchmark fragrance.
04/03/09 14:38:01
got a tester today.
what can I say-this perfume is for those who can wait.
it takes a looot of time to develop!
The first notes are so strong, almost unbearable, too cedary and woody and there is one other note I cannot identify that is distracting at the beginning. However with time Shalimar reviels its powdery, musky, warm sensuality, it settels on you as it reacts with you skin:)
I can compare Shalimar with an evening dress, not a cocktail one, but a full evening gown:) its difficult to wear, but sometimes you want big time!
would definitely reccomend to test for all the perfume lovers:)
what can I say-this perfume is for those who can wait.
it takes a looot of time to develop!
The first notes are so strong, almost unbearable, too cedary and woody and there is one other note I cannot identify that is distracting at the beginning. However with time Shalimar reviels its powdery, musky, warm sensuality, it settels on you as it reacts with you skin:)
I can compare Shalimar with an evening dress, not a cocktail one, but a full evening gown:) its difficult to wear, but sometimes you want big time!
would definitely reccomend to test for all the perfume lovers:)
03/19/09 04:32:33
I'm so surprised at how much I don't like this. Some of my favourite perfumes are Guerlain (Vetiver) 'powdery' (Cabochard), vanilla-ey (Dior Addict) or even Citrussy (Boucheron, which I wear to do dirty housework or gardening- times when it suits to smell a bit like disinfectant!). But this- the EdT with an hour to develop-strikes me as hard edged baby powder going nowhere.
03/08/09 23:12:39
Got my Shalimar today with the loyal customer’s discount, so… let’s begin the story.
Years ago, when I was a girl I went to the perfume shop and saw THE BOTTLE! I didn’t dare to test it – how could I touch something that beautiful! That night I couldn’t sleep. Next day I went to the shop once more. So there I was standing and looking at my bottle, when a nice lady came to me and asked if she could help me. I said, that I would like to test perfume in the beautiful bottle. You mean Shalimar? – she asked me. Shalimar? What a beautiful name! – I thought. Yes, please! She sprayed some perfume on the blotter and gave it to me. Do you like it? – she asked.
Did I like it? I didn’t really know, I still don’t… but I promised myself, that someday I will own it, I will be the one, who owns THE BOTTLE!
So, here I am with my own Shalimar, not in classic pure perfume bottle, that I love so much (it’s not available in my country anymore), but with a simple EDP bottle, having that strange happy-sad feeling, you usually have, when you got something you were dreaming of for a long time.
If you ask me about the scent, it’s not quite the way I remembered it. But I love it anyway. No, I LOVE IT!
P.S. Sorry for taking your time and space with my post, but I just needed to tell my story, who could else than you, dear perfume addicts, could understand me?
Years ago, when I was a girl I went to the perfume shop and saw THE BOTTLE! I didn’t dare to test it – how could I touch something that beautiful! That night I couldn’t sleep. Next day I went to the shop once more. So there I was standing and looking at my bottle, when a nice lady came to me and asked if she could help me. I said, that I would like to test perfume in the beautiful bottle. You mean Shalimar? – she asked me. Shalimar? What a beautiful name! – I thought. Yes, please! She sprayed some perfume on the blotter and gave it to me. Do you like it? – she asked.
Did I like it? I didn’t really know, I still don’t… but I promised myself, that someday I will own it, I will be the one, who owns THE BOTTLE!
So, here I am with my own Shalimar, not in classic pure perfume bottle, that I love so much (it’s not available in my country anymore), but with a simple EDP bottle, having that strange happy-sad feeling, you usually have, when you got something you were dreaming of for a long time.
If you ask me about the scent, it’s not quite the way I remembered it. But I love it anyway. No, I LOVE IT!
P.S. Sorry for taking your time and space with my post, but I just needed to tell my story, who could else than you, dear perfume addicts, could understand me?
02/02/09 12:46:13
This has the most beautiful dry-down of any floral oriental I've tested recently! Although chocolate isn't listed in the notes, I got a white chocolate mixed in with the vanilla and musk. It was heavenly.
BUT...I hated the first half an hour. I almost had to do a scrub-down. I've never liked lemony scents, and I can only rarely tolerate citrus scents in general. The opening notes of this perfume were not only very, very lemony...they were very, very strong! I applied a small amount from a vial, came downstairs, and within ten seconds (still being about ten feet away), my fiancee said, "Are you testing ANOTHER perfume?" He didn't want to get anywhere close to my arm to test it. I told him to be patient and give it awhile to settle! :)
So...I'm still trying to decide if I should buy it. I feel that it requires a spot, but I just don't know how often I'll wear it. I need to think about this one.
BUT...I hated the first half an hour. I almost had to do a scrub-down. I've never liked lemony scents, and I can only rarely tolerate citrus scents in general. The opening notes of this perfume were not only very, very lemony...they were very, very strong! I applied a small amount from a vial, came downstairs, and within ten seconds (still being about ten feet away), my fiancee said, "Are you testing ANOTHER perfume?" He didn't want to get anywhere close to my arm to test it. I told him to be patient and give it awhile to settle! :)
So...I'm still trying to decide if I should buy it. I feel that it requires a spot, but I just don't know how often I'll wear it. I need to think about this one.
01/03/09 09:36:46
I unfairly avoided this scent because my mother always complained about that "horrible old Shalimar" that could be found in great abundance, and felt that Shalimar's popularity somehow undercut her own favorite Guerlain scent Chant d'Aromes, which was almost impossible to find. I finally tried Shalimar a while back, and I must say, I like it. I would have hated the strong, old-fashioned floral opening when I was younger, but now I find it heady and intoxicating. The real magic of Shalimar, though, is in its glorious vanilla base, which is so warm and golden, it fairly glows.
12/27/08 18:09:43
I always imagine Shalimar on a beautiful, sultry, dark lady in some exotic, faraway place, so I am not sure that it suits me (I am blonde, plumpish and mid-40s). But I don't care - I love it and wear it anyway. It is rather strong at first, but soon dries down to that lovely, classic, velvety, vanilla base which has made it so famous. In no way could I associate this with old ladies - it is far too sultry and sexy. An absolute classic!
12/19/08 16:05:52
This doesn't work on me at all and never has. The soft, delicious vanilla I first get dries down to a murky, musty powdery mess that I think is what many are referring to as "Old lady" scent. It's a note that many old fashioned perfumes have and when they go wrong, they can go so very wrong. I'm happy so many can wear this scent, but I'm not one of them.
12/14/08 14:22:41
Was given Shalimar as a gift. Not my thing AT ALL!! Way too strong and "old lady" (I don't mean to insult anyone, but I think you know what I mean)smelling for me:( I much prefer a fresh, beachy scent.
12/12/08 15:56:24
Shalimar is a classy wonderful fragrance. Love the vanilla powdery drydown. Is a must to try for vanilla lovers. One to enjoy on a cold winters day,or anytime as a matter of fact.
12/11/08 16:46:02
Most straight men wouldn't wear this, but I love orientals, and this is the classic. Yeah, it's girly, but I get compliments from ladies when I wear it and I'm not sure that they know what I'm wearing. My long suffering buddies usually just groan and say "Whatever makes you happy, Bob". I love this stuff, from the bergamot top (which I sniff at before going out like a furtive basehead) to the vanillic drydown. I can't wait until I can afford the pure perfume and layer it with the EdP/T at which point my friends will probably hit me with a tranquilizer dart and throw me into perfume rehab. I love it...
12/11/08 15:40:46
Shalimar is my warm scarf for cold winter days. I love the smell of sugared lemon, powdered with a lot of vanilla. This scent is so calming, although it changes, depending on my mood, once it is sparkling and teasing, once it is sensual and passionate, very, very deep.
11/16/08 01:47:20
my favourite oriental scent...it so calming and beautiful...very full and with a strong character...extremely powdery (very much like Felce Azzura powder), but more subtle and smokey kind of perfume...very longlasting and great for cold winter nights since when you put it on you almost have the feeling you have your little private heater...
11/13/08 23:22:44
Shalimar is the scent I try to love because I love great perfume (and for the most part, love Guerlain perfumes), but am instead intimidated by. Perhaps my ambivalence toward the scent can be traced to the fact that I do not usually care for big, whopping vanilla scents. Granted, the vanilla in Shalimar is high grade. One cannot fault also, the interplay of citrus and amber, which gives the scent, alternately, both lift and heft. So maybe it all boils down to this: perhaps I am just not woman enough to pull this one off. In either case, I remain hopelessly in limbo with Shalimar.
11/13/08 23:19:42
love this classic one.
I wore this at my wedding .Brings back memories.
love the smell of vanilla and sandalwood .
I wore this at my wedding .Brings back memories.
love the smell of vanilla and sandalwood .
11/13/08 19:20:14
for occasionnal ! very powdery and strong vanilla, sexy fragrance...
11/10/08 18:19:11
the best perfume ever.i have 2007 winter edition and i wish i had the original bottle coz it looks nicer to me than this one i have.i smell a lot of citruses in the opening along then with flowery and woody notes ,i can imagine that on some skins might be a dangerous combination but if ur patient and wait for the dry down u have the most pleasant surprise,an oriental vanilla scent and so long lasting,incredible,i think it s the most long lasting perfume i ve ever smelled.SO NICE !! it s one of the special perfumes in my wardrobe and of course i apply it when i want to feel different and sexy. although it s an old scent it s a classic and i don t think it will ever get too old for any period of time.
11/09/08 05:22:43
Brilliant. One of the great classics. The eternal oriental-type fragrance for evening wear. Extravagant, sensuous.
Why bother about anything else, any other perfume, if it is seduction and orientalism you are looking for.
Too bad that I'm a bit too young for wearing it...but I will buy it when I'm more mature... haha.
Why bother about anything else, any other perfume, if it is seduction and orientalism you are looking for.
Too bad that I'm a bit too young for wearing it...but I will buy it when I'm more mature... haha.
11/09/08 04:21:47
Powdery and very strong vanilla smell.. But still too masculine in my opinion. Maybe because of leather. Too much use of leather makes me sick so I cannot love this classic on myself because of this..
11/04/08 07:39:18
very feminine scent many years ago my most favorite then they restyled the fragrance and it is just not the shalimar I used so many bottles of I still have some bottles now empty saved
10/17/08 02:21:12
Absolutely beautiful, from the beginning to the end.I love it. It was a present from a dear friend who knows me very well and has a good taste in everything. I was at first hesitant, because back then I enjoyed more fresh,lemony fragrances, but the time proved me wrong. I always get a lots of compliments wearing Shalimar. It also has a wonderful dry down that reminds me of Indian sweets - lots of cardamom :)
10/08/08 16:12:08
To me it smells a little strong at first but then it turns to a powdery smell. It fades to a soft sweet sophisticated scent. A real classic in my collection. Reminds me of the little black dress, every woman should have one. This fragrance is one that will live forever as one of the most classic beautiful scents out there. When I wear it, it gives me a still picture in my mind of a moment in time when I was happy and full of joy.
10/06/08 06:01:13
I don't feel harmony in both "Shalimar" and "Shalimar Legere" - for me it feels like a permanent struggle of opposite notes. Citrus notes are too aggressive against too prominent sweetness of vanilla, and there is nothing between.
10/05/08 08:46:56
Rich rather than sweet - I always associate it with Christmas, partly because that was when I was first given some as a teenager. When I used first it, I was struck by how complex and multi-layered it was, when compared to younger,teenage perfumes I was used to. Given that it is such a famous classic, you expect it to be more upfront and obviously delicious at first sniff, like No 5, and it can seem a bit underwhelming - I expected to be more 'immediate' in its appeal. But it does develop an all enveloping, multi-layered warmth once it has been on your skin which last for hours and hours. And many men who like it never forget it - more than once, complete strangers have spoken to me to say something like - "What is that perfume? My girlfriend used to wear that, but I forget its' name - but I recognized it as soon as I smelled it on you. I want to buy some for my wife/girlfriend...."
10/05/08 08:32:55
As many others have noticed this one is a developer. When I put it one for the first time all I´ve got was a flat, medicalsmelling and in a way dusty citrus. To bad I thought, it dosn´t work at all with my chemistry... Still it wasn´t bad enough to go and wash off, only a bit boring and disapointing.
But... oh my... after about an hour or so! It comes out as an amazingly, warm and comfortable oriental. It feel likes it makes my skin glow. Sensual, classic and in my opionion not all dated.
But... oh my... after about an hour or so! It comes out as an amazingly, warm and comfortable oriental. It feel likes it makes my skin glow. Sensual, classic and in my opionion not all dated.
09/22/08 04:09:53
I don't get it -- I own it, but can not understand why so many like it. I know it is a classic, but pewey on me! Maybe I got an old bottle? I picked it up at a discount store.
09/21/08 16:39:25
My first perfume.I gained an extra confidence while wearing it.Woody, Smokey and dangerously alluring.One of the top classics.
08/27/08 14:26:57
In my childhood, the local department store had Shalimar display. Each time we passed thru, I would stop and dab the body lotion on the inside of my forearm. My olfactory memories of Shalimar are so strong, I can see and hear the store now, 30 years later. I always bought the lotion, the perfume and cologne were unpleasant for the first several hours. I agree with benzippo and wildflower that cologne smells like bug spray! But oh!!! the warm, sweet, delicious fragrance of the lotion and parfum.
08/09/08 09:53:16
Years ago, when I was first sprayed on it, I was immediately put-off as it really smelt like insecticide spray.
Revisited this recently, and do now understand why it is such a great perfume.
The dry down is simply marvellous...
Revisited this recently, and do now understand why it is such a great perfume.
The dry down is simply marvellous...
07/14/08 04:10:39
The top and middlenotes smells kind of bugpoison on my skin for 2 hours, not the way you couldnt bare it, its just not nice.
But wow!
the basenote is heaven, worth the hidious half moscitopoison/half sweet perfume smell, worth waiting for. That warm vanilla-sandalwood smell makes me sniff my arm constantly while wearing it.
Im loving it!!
But wow!
the basenote is heaven, worth the hidious half moscitopoison/half sweet perfume smell, worth waiting for. That warm vanilla-sandalwood smell makes me sniff my arm constantly while wearing it.
Im loving it!!
07/04/08 14:46:13
This is my signature scent. It's a definite classic, and it attracts men with all that vanilla. ;)
Very, very alluring and feminine.
Very, very alluring and feminine.
06/23/08 07:22:20
So powerfully sexy, on me I get a beautiful powdery mix of lemony musk, it's almost smoky. It's a wonderful classic, and it kicks Chanel No 5 to the dirt. For me, this one is an occasional wear, for special nights.
06/06/08 08:13:09
I was given a 3 piece Shalimar set years ago which included the perfume, silky body lotion and the bath powder. At first I didn't really care for the scent. Then I finally wore it, I received so many compliments. I layered it after my shower with 1st powder, lotion & perfume. Then to refresh the scent I just used the silky body lotion on my hands. The lotion is as good as the perfume.
Don't judge Shalimar by your sample stick...Shalimar must be worn close to the heart. ;) I always get compliments from people when wearing Shalimar.
Don't judge Shalimar by your sample stick...Shalimar must be worn close to the heart. ;) I always get compliments from people when wearing Shalimar.
01/16/08 09:54:12
In the parfum, deep dark softness of vanilla and resins, nearly leathery, with flowers softly shining through. In the other forms, succulent bergamot/citrusy top, warm vanilla underpinnings. Very sensual for such a classic!
10/31/07 17:41:07
So feminine, woody powdery, it changes on your skin in warm waves.
08/31/07 14:28:53
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