Shalimar (1925)
by Guerlain

I really do not need a sample of vintage Shalimar to conjure up the scent of it . It is all stored in my brain so very well from the countless childish sprays I took from department stores as a teenager. Marilyn Monroe books and Shalimar perfume reign as memories from being a teen... If only I knew what I sprayed carelessly on my skin then would be vintage gold today !
The vintage perfume was thick thick sweet exotic smoke that clung to everything and I did not like that much . Today's formula is lighter, a little fresher ,less sweet. For me ,this is better but I wish the old Shalimar was still in production - maybe I would be more appreciative now with my 39 year old nose !
The parfum extrait is the best, followed by the EDP and lastly the EDT .

I don’t have much to add to the discussion where this classic is concerned. All I care to do is draw attention to the brilliant treatment of opoponax. Much has been said regarding the unique quality of Guerlain’s vanilla, displayed most prominently in Shalimar and Jicky, but for me the enigmatic, spicy-sweet, resinous quality of opoponax is equally responsible for Shalimar’s allure. The interplay of vanilla and opoponax established in Shalimar’s base notes still resonates in compositions as recent as Diptyque’s Eau Lente and Nicolaï’s Maharadjah, but I have yet to experience an interpretation that trumps the original’s exquisite balance. I wonder if it’s even possible to fully comprehend the oriental fragrance genre without becoming familiar with Guerlain’s enduring paragon.

My first sniff at Shalimar was "eewww...insecticide.. bugspray" due to the lemony bergamot top notes. Kind of disappointed. Dismissed it and left the bottle on my PC table. Determined to figure out why this perfume achieved its legendary status, I sniffed the perfume occasionally, partly also wondering if i bought a fake item (as i bought it on ebay). Then one day, after about 2 weeks, something strange happened - I could not stop sniffing it!! Did guerlain put cocaine in it?? Not only do i find the bugspray top notes addictive, I also adore the vanilla, incense, spice combination drydown. i have since bought a few versions, including the extrait. One word - Heavenly!! But somehow, I do not like the latest version (whereby the bottle is fatter/stouter). Something in the latest formulation just does not go down well with me. Wonder if there are others out there who feel the same?

I love Shalimar, it's one of the best of the classics, exceptionally wearable today, beautifully warm, soft and feminine. I tried the Perfume, the edp and the edt version as well. The Perfume is pure heaven, I can't say more on that. EDP is the most wearable version in my opinion, unfortunatelly, it's not available in my country anymore. So I had to purchase the edt which is way sharper, more citrusy at the beginning, not as beautifully soft and feminine as the edp but it's also very nice, specially when it warms up on the skin and is worn for a few hours. Since I "have to" use this version I make the best out of it and spray a few hours earlier to let it warm up till I go out.

[Erases former review.] I've grown up. Shalimar is all wonder and magic.

I had to stop wearing Shalimar for a while as I could no longer smell it on my skin. Wore it again 2 days ago and caught a flash of it on my scarf. It is Beautiful! there is nothing more that I can add. A comforting womanly scent which no other perfume will ever offer.