Reviews of Shalimar (1925)
by Guerlain

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

I want to call this a classic but in all honesty I can't. SHALIMAR goes beyond classic - it's 'legendary'. Many scents successfully evoke scenes, or fragments from splintered dreams. Only a handful tells a story. Shalimar's is an epic tale of everlasting love which knows no boundaries, transcending time and space, even human mortality. You may say such a glorification is only to be expected from a rabid fan of powdery vanilla scents but on the right person, the effect of this masterfully crafted scent is nothing short of spellbinding. Similar to how Shah Jahan's monumental Taj Mahal is revered by many in the world, I believe Guerlain's Shalimar deserves its place as one of the wonders of the fragrance world.

*This review is of the EDT*

Notes:
Top: Lemon, Bergamot
Middle: Jasmine, May rose
Base: Iris, Incense, Opoponax, Tonka Bean, Vanilla

I recently revisited this classic by J. Guerlain, who was inspired by the dedication and grief shown by Shah Jahan towards his wife when she died giving birth to their 14th (!!) child. Shah Jahan erected the glorius Taj Mahal in her memory, and the name Shalimar derives from the beautiful Shalimar Gardens (in Kashmir and Pakistan) which were made by Shah Jahan and frequented by his wife.

Shalimar is exultant, sensual, bewitching and sad. Refreshing lemon and the sweet and sour bergamot convey a feeling of excitement in the arms of your significant other. Moments later, lush notes of rose and jasmine bringforth a sensual and intimate feel to the moment. From here onwards, Shalimar showcases its most impressive aspects. As far as my nose is concerned, the masterfully blended incense note is the star of the composition. Shalimar is a powdery classic oriental except its not - i.e., it is powdery, but not overbearingly so. The base of vanilla and oppoponax, while lush and deep, is lifted to Mughal empire-like glorious heights by a thin layer of chilled roses, and a slightly bitter yet always consistent incense note which imparts a strange allure and sadness to the accord. None of these contrasting notes overpower each other - the construction is as solid as the 350 year old Taj Mahal itself. Like the Shah Jehan, there are no longevity issues here - you can expect upto 14 hours of pleasurable sillage from this Guerlain love potion.

Shalimar is a multifaceted classic. It reveals glorious layers of perfume delectation, and its "powdery accord" is one of the best I have encountered. Incense is brilliantly used, and to my nose Shalimar is easily unisex; if my review didnt convince you, then perhaps the Bat-signal like bottle should !

All hail Shah Jahan and his principal mausoleum !

Rating: 8.75/10.0

I would ask only to be one more here to say that this is IT! Frankly, why look for the new when this is eternal.

I found this smell completely intoxicating, nearly off putting, warm and complex. It is a strong, musty smell which seems to unravel. At first it smelled like someone's granny's closet, dust, bugspray and Cabbage Patch dolls. Then it turned into something warm and lilting and repetitive and intimate. I found it completely addictive.

When I first smelt it, it reminded me of 1920s ladies, my grandmother, old style. So I bought it but for years almost never wore it. It has this wonderful first powdery, then rich warm very unique scent. Really special and wonderful, but not for me - at least not for the next 30 years.

I wanted to love it! And what did I get: pure, unadulterated Peaceful Sleep (an insect repellant stick), a smell I've always found highly intrusive. Probably my worst perfume disappointment. And although I should give it another go, and will do so, I cannot but give it a thumbs down.
EDIT: Uhm, so yeah, I gave it another two goes. And now I see it's all about vanilla! The topnotes still rankle, I apparently dislike bergamot, but a bit later this is lovely and classy, warm and elegant. Not for date night, necessarily, but I'd say (and this is the EDT, dabbed on) an office classic. Not age bound, either.

Certainly timeless. When I tried this yesterday at the Guerlain boutique at Epcot, I thought that I was going to be smelling that cloying old women type fragrance that I all too often smell. This is an awesome women's fragrance and all of its derivatives as well.

I am saddened by the fact that so many young people now a days do not appreciate classic scents like Shalimar, Mitsouko, No 5 and so on because they are used to the huge bomb of completely synthetic fragrances sold at department stores. I myself am studying perfumery and have had a chance to enjoy the raw natural ingredients that were used in works of art like Shalimar. Perfume in general has turned from being artful to mass marketing of laboratory blends. Unfortunately, even works like Shalimar and other classics have suffered from changes do to modern developments and many of its components have been synthesized, but at least it is still the closest you can get to what a REAL perfume is all about at a department store. I myself am 26 years old and can definitely say that after learning so much about perfume and purchasing these beautiful classics (Shalimar is one of my favorites) it is very difficult for me to enjoy many of the modern scents made today (especially celebrity endorsed) as many of them smell cheap, completely synthetic, and do nothing for me. Even if you are young I definitely suggest that you try these classic scents, but give it time if your not used to it. They are very mystical and have a lot to offer. Enjoy!

Shalimar is a timeless wonder. I have smelled it on others, and taken an extra deep breath for it's beauty. To my nose, the modern formula smells like the scent used in disposable diapers. Sort of a light, powdery vanilla. Ew, gross! Fortunately, I did not stop my sample quest there. I obtained some mid 1960's vintage Shalimar Extrait and it has made all the difference! The scent of that 40year+ extrait is completely gorgeous! Rich, warm and intoxicating. I cannot imagine what has happened to the original over the years, if you ask me it is a crime! My thumb is turned upward - but for the original only.

Absoultely beautiful. The EdP is a deeply woody vanilla with touches of animalic qualities. Best oriental style perfume made. The EdT is not very good and is nowhere near the amazingness of the EdP.

I'm a dude and i love this stuff!!! Put it on, put me on ; )

I couldn't believe how much I HATED Shalimar. I love the "old lady" perfumes — especially Guerlains — and I expected to love this, but I could not get it off me soon enough. Overwhelming, cloying... yuck.

"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.

Shalimar is too much for me, a too dense and aggressive oriental with a very strong vanilla note. Real vanilla bean, granted, not some sweet and insipid fake vanilla, but still too much of it for my taste. It's the kind of scent that could easily give me a headache and make me feel as though I'm suffocating, despite smelling "good". There's something else beside the vanilla - perhaps a sandalwood note? - that I also perceive as too dry and harsh and aggressive. I can definitely see why this is worn by a lot of men - actually it reminds me quite a lot of M7. It gets a neutral thumb because I can appreciate it in theory, though I don't feel comfortable wearing it and probably wouldn't want to sit next to someone wearing it either. Though to just quickly catch a whiff of someone wearing it might be intriguing and alluring...

I seem to be one of the few that this fragrance also does not work on. I have tried on my skin three seperate occasions, hoping that something would allow it to smell as good as I know it should, but the opening and middle are absolutely horrible and dry down is simply to sweet on me. HOWEVER, after trying it on my skin, I decided instead I would dip a Q-tip into the sample and place it into a large red-wine glass, cover it and keep smelling while the notes developed, just to see if it was my skin or my nose that was the problem. Wow! I can see how this is so beloved now. And, the drydown as it is supposed to play out is absolutely heavenly. The spicy vanilla is to die for. If only it could work for me. At least this smelled better that Mitsouko on me...but not good enough to ever wear, I'm afraid.

Well, I am astonished at how much I don;t like Shalimar. I always though I would love it, as I respect Guerlain (often wear Vetiver), appreciate leathery/powdery (Cabochard), don't mind citrus ( wear Boucheron Homme to do dirty type housework) and sometimes love vanilla (eg in Dior Addict) though its done to death everywhere these days.

But Shalimar, after the gone-off baby powder smell, just seems confused and dull, as if I'd put some fridge cleaner in the vacuum bag.

When a scent becomes a classic, there's a reason. Heavenly, heady, sensuous, passionate. Most of all, distinctive. When someone near you is wearing Shalimar, you know what it is, you don't think, "Another sweet scent named after a pop star."

100 years old in 2025, and as beautiful as they come. You pay a premium for Guerlain’s commitment to natural materials, and worth every dollar. In my opinion you could dispense with the top altogether and get right to the ‘Guerlainade’, which on my skin takes about an hour. The body lotion gets there faster. After that it’s the moon.

Shalimar!!! Heard about it for decades, bought it for my wife but never even tried it on myself. I will never forget my first try this morning. One word: Heavenly. Shatters my gender biases for good.

Strongly evocative of Habit Rouge which i have been using for over 20 years. Must be the iris and vanilla common to Guerlains. The initial citrus notes stayed for a while then gave in to the warm iris and ambery vanilla drydown.

Shalimar has found a permanent home in my wardrobe.

Many thumbs way way up!

One of the most perfect fragrances in any and every form it is available in, period. I agree the scent is very unisex and is every bit as sexy on man as it is a woman. In fact, IMHO, it (in whichever form you like EDC, EDT, EDP, etc...) is simply a must have for EVERY collection.

5 stars

This is one of my all-time favourite fragrances. Strangely enough, while Shalimar can be feminine and delicate when worn by a woman, it has a powdery yet not too sweet amber note that makes it suitable for a man. When I wore it many years ago, all my coworkers thought it was a masculine fragrance. What makes a fragrance masculine or feminine can be so subjective. Is Shalimar old-fashioned? Yes, a little. But it is classy and distinctive.

One of my favourite scents ever. I still own the EDP version in old bottle - I prefer it to EDT. I love the way it develops to wrap you in a sweet, warm, feminine aura, although it stays close to my skin which I count as a plus too. Very sexy and classic scent with animalistic notes tamed by lots of sweet-but-never-dull vanilla. Definitely a must for fans of oriental and "Guerlinade" frangrances.

Yeah, boys, that's Shalimar that I'm wearing and I love it. I definitely get the bergamot top notes when I spray it on, sit, sniff, and savor. I use the EdT from the local chain drugstore and it sucks that it just don't last long enough on my skin. I am looking forward to beggaring myself, poor working slob that I am, to get the Extrait. Viva Guerlain for inventing this, and it truly is the standard that all orientals must measure up to. There wouldnt be any Angel without this stuff. Five stars!

I tested both the EDC and EDT. I wasn't too fond of the EDC, it was a little too powdery. However, the EDT on my wrist was amazing. At first, it was a little too feminine, it might have been the powdery iris heart, but once the base came through, it was amazing! The ambery dry down persisted 24 hours on my skin and was heavenly. I finally see what everyone is talking about.

I was buying something else at the Guerlain boutique when the associate decided to give me some samples. Shalimar was one of them, and just for kicks I decided to give this "woman's" scent a try. I cannot stop sniffing my arm! Help!!! This scent is gorgeous! I think this is much nicer on me than Habit Rouge, which I have been using as a vanilla scent, but HR is much sharper and loud. It is somewhat similar to Jicky (which I also love) but taken out of the countryside and put into the city, although my love affair with Jicky still continues. Shalimar results in something that is a little powdery on my skin, but also "dry" in the right amounts. I do not feel self conscious wearing this. I will buy this...for myself.

One of my all time favourites - I never tire of this one. I always imagine this on some exotic, dark beauty in some far away place - so I am not sure it really suits me (I am a very fair, mid 40s, quite shy lady who does not like to attract attention!) But I don't care - I love the vanilla drydown of this so much that I wear it often for dinners out with my partner, and sometimes just to enjoy when I am at home on my own. I have tried so many fragrances, but very few have the character and staying power and mystery of this one. An absolute classic!

EdT.

Shalimar is amazing, intoxicating fragrance than can be quite difficult to wear, though. A real "keep-your-head-up-on-special-occasion" fragrance. Evening wear only.

I have only tried EdT version, and I have worn it couple of times, but I didn`t feel myself comfortable during the times at all - to me it smelled very feminine after all, although it`s quite close for being a superb unisex creation. But yes, at least EdT isn`t appropriate for men, and that is naturally just my opinion....

Bergamot, rosewood, jasmin, iris, benzoin, opoponax, balsams, little bit civet thrown along. (it`s old news that Shalimar indeed has some civet)
Shalimar (EdT) is a massive oriental, feminine and highly intoxicating with saucy animal presence.

Be very, VERY easy on the trigger. 2 sprays is perfect.

Shalimar is currently my favourite winter fragrance, along with its cousin, Jean Desprez's Bal a Versailles. But I can only wear the EDP, which is more mellow, more leathery, and less sweet than the EDT.

I've been wearing Shalimar for a while now and I've been delaying the writing of this review because I wanted to say the right things. I'm still not sure about how to convey what I feel about this perfume but I'm going to try.
First of all, I'm very sensitive to scents, many give me headaches and I can absolutely not go to bed with any perfume on or it will get to my head and prevent me from sleeping. But during the day, I like to wear a bit, it just has to be carefully chosen, because my skin chemistry can reject many scents that are lovely on others.
Shalimar smells like lemon (this is the bergamot) and sugar (vanilla), very powedery (iris?) when sprayed on a tester. I love this scent whose composition is simple yet complex. I love this scent when sprayed on a tester because I get to smell all of the notes, I get to experience the shift from top notes to bottom ones and the whole drying down process. Alas, on my skin, I don't get to experience the whole complexity that makes the beauty of this scent. I think my nose got used to it because at first I would smell all the notes until the final dry down. However now, it simply smells like (a beautiful) powdery vanilla (still better than nothing). Sometimes I try forgetting it for a while because I hope that I will smell the whole composition, but it doesn't happen. A beautiful scent on so many people...I wish my skin was easier with perfumes! I have friends who can wear anything and even the most boring scents become lovely on them because their skin magnify them. I guess it's just my luck that my skin won't do justice to something so pure and beautiful as Shalimar.

Got a 1.7 oz EDT tester at Manhattan's 'fragrance district' for US$17. I absolutely adore this fragrance on my wife. Love how the fragrance unfolds. I wear one spray sometimes when I want vanilla and tonka. I do not get much of the stated bergamot top note. Shalimar just starts immediately with the opopanax on me, producing a powdery scent. Then the AMAZING vanilla and tonka notes develop. On my wife, the vanilla smells very comfortable. Great sillage but not cloying. I am going to buy a Shalimar parfum at the same store, I was given a US$32 quote for 3.4 oz! Thumbs way up.

I first sampled Shalimar back in the 80's and I adored it! I was a teenaged girl trying the expensive fragrances in Boots, back when they used to stock Guerlain, and I promised myself that someday I would purchase a bottle. I think it was the bottle design itself that drew my attention but the fragrance was amazing, to me it was ice cream floats but at the same time something terribly luxurious.

It took me twenty years to finally purchase that bottle, but I have no regrets as I've grown into it, I still adore Shalimar and on my skin the vanilla really comes through with the tang of bergamot peeping out. My husband also loves this fragrance and says it smells of summer evenings.
I have the EdT and I find this works well although I do have to spritz again around 5pm. I will try the EdP and extrait next time I'm near a Guerlain counter

1925!? And still so popular? Well it's sexy and magnificent so that might be why. I like the parfum extrait best, it makes me swoon, but I use the perfume and cologne versions too, for daytime. I like the incense and tobacco notes in the extrait version that are like the pure parfum version of Habanita but not as smoky or rich. The lemon makes Shalimar sparkle. Magic potion.

A true Guerlain classic. I find it to be extremely unisex, in that it is much less feminine than many of the popular offerings marketed to men in the past decade. Whether or not you wear it, it is an important milestone in perfumery and as such is "required sniffing" for any serious student of modern perfumery, just as Mozart string quartets should be required listening for all modern musicians or music lovers. The notes have been discussed ad nausium; just suffice it to say that this is an icon and is one of the most influential fragrances in history.

The bergamot, iris and opopanax opening is very promising but, at some point during its development, it all goes horribly wrong on my skin. Is it the opopanax, vanilla or simply my skin chemistry? I’ve given Shalimar many chances and have tried more than one of its many concentrations but it still smells horribly dated and musty on me regardless.

Oh, well...

I am a Guerlain girl and Shalimar is the reason. This is really a simple perfume, especially by today's standards. Citrus, spice, vanilla...and the Guerlain magic! I have searched for another like this, because Shalimar was a part of a sad time in my life. Samsara is nice but loud.(If I want a nice loud Shalimar, I reach for Giorgio's Red. It's nice and loud and inexpensive). I haven't tried Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan yet, but I bet that it is no Shalimar. So after many years of searching, it is back to Shalimar. The new reformulation is different than the original, not quite as rich yet somehow deeper.

My mother always disparaged Shalimar, as she felt its popularity unfairly eclipsed her own favorite scent, Guerlain's Chant d'Aromes. I always dismissed Shalimar becasue of this, and because of my mistaken belief that anything "old" was also "old laydish". I discovered Shalimar this year, and all I can say is wow! I was wrong. This is strong, heady stuff, but it smells so wonderfully dynamic and seductive on! The drydown is spicy and sophisticated, which is new for me, as I have mostly stayed with white florals in the past. As I look at the few notes that comprise Shalimar, I am amazed once more. What is it that gives it such drama? The opoponax, perhaps?

I am constantly mesmerized, stunned into a dreamy silence and alternatively tickled by this marvel.
1925!
What a beautiful and completely unreasonable, emotional blend of audacity, respect and disrespect....
I think if anyone has ever been in love they would love this.
Vanilla thrown into a plantation of iris and smoked with opoponax... and all with so much consummate balance and poise...
Poised and yet ready to tip over into a symphony...
...
I just sprayed myself after a shower and ... yeah, I suddenly think. It's not really that womanly... or feminine.
It's passion, sweetened, bottled up for lovers of both (or all) sexes.

A man could wear this for his woman (or his man) and still feel intense and true.

Chanel No. 5 may be the classic fragrance of fashion, but Shalimar is the quintessential fragrance of LOVE. Shalimar is probably the finest vanilla-based perfume of all time. I've never met anyone who doesn't find it to be dreamy and alluring; whether it conjures up Roaring 20s haute couture, 1950s glamour, or 21st century independence, it's one of the greatest perfumes ever concocted. Elegant, sensual, and unforgettable, Shalimar is the fragrance by which I rate any other romantic scent I wear. I like this best in parfum, but it's lovely in all concentrations. This is a scent of mystery and warmth. I've loved it for as long as I can remember, and it's an olfactory treasure. It's one of the finest, most beautiful, and deeply complex fragrances ever made.

Like luckylouie, I wear Shalimar to bed. I like the Milky Body Veil (lotion) best, although i have never had the pure extrait de parfum, which I am now putting my spare change into a coffee can for ;)

I jave read more than once tha Shalimar is best appreciated at a distance, which I believe. When I put my wrist to my nose, it smells of masking tape!

One of the greats.

I came to know Shalimar through my mother-in-law's wardrobe. I was in my early twenties. It fascinated me. I had mixed feelings about it. It's pungent (to my senses) opening gave way all too soon to a sweet powdery wave that stayed for a very long time. Old lady's? Sometimes I think YES! And then I am not so sure. I wore it for a long time, but stopped when it began to make my skin itchy and red. I think it is a little too heavy for me. It is chic, elegant, but it is also something that does not match my way of life. Perhaps is meant for a well-dressed lady in a cold weather. Very self confident and mysterious. Maybe driving a leather upholstered car. Not for a woman who longs for her weekend strolls along the beach while she drives to work early in the morning in capri pants and t-shirts, listening to Ventura Highway and Summer Breeze and Rain Must Fall, water still dripping from her hair, pearly pink foolproof lipstick hurriedly applied, looking forward for her first cup of coffee of the day. Anyway, for all the sophisticated ladies in this world, a thumbs up.

It is simple, with Shalimar...if you are woman enough to wear it, you will know. If you are a beautiful woman, do not wear Shalimar unless you want men dropping at your feet. It is that simple!

Shalimar is like coming home to me. I have many different perfumes, but when I want to feel soothed, sexy, and special, I wear Shalimar. It's warm richness, confidence, and distinctness is a little bit of heaven.

Guerlain's most famous perfume is named after the Shalimar Gardens in Lahore, modern day Pakistan, built by Mughal emporor Shah Jahan in 1641-1642, where he then walked with his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. Sadly, Mumtaz Mahal died in childbirth three years after the emporor's accession to the throne, and in her memory he built the mausoleum Taj Mahal at Agra in modern day India. In 1981, Shalimar Gardens was included as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Shalimar is one of the first perfumes to successfully incorporate large amounts of vanillin in its composition. The fragrance is said to be an accidental derivative of Jicky. The story goes that on receipt of the newly developed synthetic ingredient 'ethyl vanilla', Jaques Guerlain dropped some into a bottle of Jicky for no good reason and so the foundation of Shalimar was born. The scent of Shalimar is deep and velvetly black with notes of lemon hinted medicinal vanilla. Interestingly enough, Shalimar was actually created in 1921 despite only being launched in 1925. Raymond Guerlain designed the original 'fan-shaped bottle' for Shalimar for the Decorative Arts Exhibition in Paris in 1925, imitating an urn on a pedestal. Shalimar is still the flagship perfume of the House of Guerlain. In recent years, the bergamot top note has been made more dominating than in earlier formulations, giving the fragrance a less balsamic, more 'perfumey' initial impression. In 2007, Shalimar was redressed in a limited edition black glass bottle to celebrate the dark character of the fragrance.

This is my second time trying Shalimar.

The more I try it the more I appreciate it, but there are still some elements of the perfume that still make me wrinkle my nose a little bit.

This particular fragrance has a tendency to come on very strong when first sprayed, and it's full of heady greens. The vanilla slowly makes an appearance, but it starts to get a little powdery while retaining the bite without being overly cloying like most vanillas tend to do.

I'd have to say that I start liking it the best when it finally hits the base, and there's a nice stately mix of vanilla and powder. The green is still there, but this time it's not shouting to be noticed like it does at the opening.

In conclusion, I'd say that I like this perfume but I'm not in love with it like others are. I think it might take a couple more tries for me to truly appreciate it, but I think I might come around. Quite frankly, I think I might like it a bit more if there was a bit more of vanilla at the opening instead of intense greens.

I was so excited to try this after reading all the reviews here, but I was disappointed. It smelled very powdery, dry, and old lady-ish. I was so sad! I really wanted to like this, but it just reminds me of Chantilly - ew!

absolutely wonderful. Now that I am older I can wear this fragrance with much more appreciation than in my younger years. My boyfriend adores this scent. I find it sexy and elegant.

Incredibly sensual and I'm still surprised with its effects on both sexes. They love it, no matter what.

On par with a DaVinci. This is the Mona Lisa of scents.

Sexy but not sultry. Bright but not cheerful. Spicy but not piquant. Exotic but not outlandish. In a word: PERFECTION.

Truly proof positive that Guerlain's greatest strength is and has always been its masterful use of vanilla.

I can see Shalimar on just about any woman over 18, and I cannot imagine a world without it.

It can easily be a unisex frag, too, as I can personally attest. It's very spicy on my skin, and not at all cloying or overly sweet. I'd probably shy away from the eau de parfum or perfume, yes, but the edt suits me perfectly.

Get a bottle. Keep a bottle. Pass it on.

If you even remotely like vanlla and have not tried Shalimar you are missing one of the great fragrances of all time. It was difficult for me to wear this at first because the only person I know who wears it is my Moms best friend. It still brings back memories of my childhood when I smell it but they are wonderful memories. I always get compliments when I wear it and people are surprised when I tell them it's Shalimar. It never smells old fashioned to me just timeless and beautiful.

Everyone must sample this in the extrait form.

When my Nana died, which was a very tough time for me, coz we were quite close, everything was split up, and we all got to take one thing to cherish from her dresser.

Because it was under the supervision of my middle aunt, whose relationship is apparently irreconcilable with my mum, I said "...and I'll take this Shalimar for mum...", when I really took it for myself (I know, thats a terrible thing to do). My mum got other, more important and centimental objects, and when she found out I had the Shalimar extrait, she asked why I didn't tell her. So I came up with some cock-and-bull story about how "It reminded me so much of her...", when, it never did, coz she always wore Arpege, L'Air du Temps, Je Riviens, Aromatics Elixir or Chanel No. 5.

I know this sounds horrible, but I just wanted the Shalimar extrait for myself; it is incomparrible to all of diffusion strengths. In this form, it is creamy, voluptuous, oily, exotic and sensual, and lasts like that all day, and requires the tinyest dab on the neck.

It's great stuff, truly. And my girlfirend adored it on me (yup I'm a guy and I love Shalimar).

To me, the Cologne was substance-less, the EdT too powdery, dry and dusty, the EdP almost there, but not quite. The extrait really does it.

Creamy, sensual and velvety. I could smell the notes unravell themselves; first lemon, bergamot and Cedar; then Jasmind de Grass, Rose de Mai, dark spices, Orris, Tonka and patchouli; then, the aromatic incense, oppoponax, leather, musk, amber, ambergris, civet and Vanillin...

A beautiful fragrance, that everyone I know adores, especially in the extrait concentration.

The stuff of ancient Chinese poetry...

I cannot wear Shalimar. She opens beautifully, delicate, warm and airy all at once, then settles down to powder. I'm not a fan of the powdery fragrances; they smell like little old ladies to me, and this one becomes powdery on my skin almost instantly. If I put my nose to my wrist, I can detect lovely, warm vanilla with a rich layer of opoponax, but out where it can be smelled faintly by others in my personal space, it smells like somebodies nan. This will never be for me.

Shalimar was my big, big france-love during winter 2006-07. I have the EdT and the bodylotion, and both are absolutley wonderful. This is really a magic fragance! - But I reasently tried the EdP, and it doas not work at all on my skin! It first comes out smelling nothing but smoke, and after one hour it is nothing but sweet. - I might get the possibility to try the perfume soon, and I am really hoping it will work better on my skin than the EdP. The perfumes are supposed to be more gentle and more "round", and also closer to the skin compared to the EdP:s.

I just HAD to have this classic perfume in my collection. Today I managed to get a gorgeous shalimar gift set with a EDP, body mist and hair gel in a gorgeous make up bag.

Anyway, the EDP is just lovely! Definately has the 'lemon pie' thing happening that other reviewers have pointed to. This sits very well on my skin, i love the sweetness of the vanilla and the sharpness of the bergamot - work so well together once the bergamot top note settles a little and the vanilla comes through more.

Can't wait to add more classic Guerlain fragrances to my collection!

I've tried to wear it so many times, but have now given up. Hopefully a friend will tell me they like it one day & I can pass my bottle on.

I find it far to cloying and overwhelming and it's not my body chemistry, even sniffing the top of the bottle makes me want to gag.

The parfum is out-of-this-world. I never used to understand why people liked this fragrance--the EDT was lost on me soon after application. That was before the pure parfum graced me with its presence. Deep, deep vanilla. Smooth, extravagent vanilla. At the onset is a well-balanced citrus note. The sweet vanilla it is tempered by a woody, resinous note that brings it out of cookie land and clearly into the Oriental realm. The warmth is palpable. Yet that cold, bitter note stands like a stone in counterpoint to the rich sweetness. The drydown is pure, rich, creamy, and sweet, sinking deep into the skin. Opulent yet comfortable. This fragrance deserves its popularity.

Although I have never cared much for vanilla, esp. strong vanilla notes, I have always loved this fragrance, and have purchased it time and time again over the years. Besides Opium, it is the only other scent I've ever worn, where men have actually swooned when thay first smelled it! It is a deeply sensual and gorgeous oriental, and one that I pray will be around for many more years to come.

There must be something wrong with my body chemistry. I simply cannot wear this. I tried and ended up throwing away the sample I was given. there is something to heady, not to mention heavy about it.

I have waited a long time to review SHALIMAR, probably because I love it so much it is hard to know how to express that love. The smell puts some people off at first, I know. It's that big blast of Bergamot at the beginning. Bergamot is a citrusy note can almost burn, just like the real lemon or lime fruit oil can do if any of it happens to get in your eye. Combined with soft, sweet and powdery notes such as Iris, rose and vanilla, it can be shocking. But you can learn to love this contrast immensely. I now relish that initial sharp, burning citrus blast. Luckily for me, in Shalimar, the delightful tangy citrus top notes do not fade. We can continue to smell them throughout the wearing experience. Yet it does soften, becoming more like a lemon custard. And the vanilla note here is famous for coming from a synthetic source. But that needn't scare you in the least, because as any amateur chemist knows, all compounds, even 100% "natural" ones, are full of chemicals. Many natural substances are noxious and toxic, despite being completely "organic". That's just my little soapbox, no one should put this scent down for having synthetic components when they ar eso well done as in this case. The vanilla here is wonderful, rich, ornate and with the iris, forms a cloud upon which our lemon-lime, rose sweetened custard pie floats. Who on earth couldn't love this?

I love Shalimar on my Mom. On me....sometimes but....not the easiest to wear.
I appreciate it. I sometimes hate it on me.

This perfume is my sister's signature scent. No one ever recognizes it as Shalimar on her, as it is simply a lemon sugar cookie when she wears it. Warm lemon vanilla is a good thing, but Shalimar is far more complex on me a soft warm sexy spicy oriental. People think we are wearing two very different perfumes. For awhile I thought this was due to the fact that she was wearing the edt and I the perfume. but she also wears the pefume and the extrait, and we can share the same bottle and ...it still smells completely different on her... that simple lemon cookie.... and this goes against everything I have ever heard about Shalimar-- that it is linear, and smells e x a c t l y the same on every human being. Experts insist!
So, the upshot is, we both love Shalimar, and we see it as a more complex and mysterious scent.
It is in my top ten favorites, along with Habanita and Jicky. Thumbs way up on this one.

Shalimar's long-lasting success comes from its delicate balance of rich honey-vanilla sweetness with the lightness of angel wings. Neither too light nor too heavy but well balanced--good for expressing a woman's confidence and strength along with femininity and a hint of mysteriousness.

For me it's a good all-purpose everyday scent useful for both day and evening, and suitable for women of all ages. But then I usually inhabit the more sultry depths of the sensual world, and for me Shalimar is fairly light and cheerful. If you're not used to orientals you might find it a little deep. It's a great in-between scent.

A lovely oriental that is just a touch too soft on my skin. Although I have this in my fragrance wardrobe it is only because a friend keeps giving it to me and I don't have the heart to tell him that it isn't really a favourite.

Whilst on other people this is incredibly sexy, I just wear it to bed alone. The combination of vanilla and bergamot makes it a very soothing fragrance for anyone having difficulty getting to sleep.

My number one favorite. When I want to be mystique.
Its very strong, Sometimes it even makes my skin to burn. But I love it, and I use it very much.

Now this is what makes a scent a classic: best quality ingredients, simplicity, and master mixing. Not to forget the coolness factor that comes with owning a Guerlain.
Apart from the fact that it’s a Guerlain, and that it seems to have been slightly altered, it remains one amazing scent.
I loved it at first sniff. It’s very much a blast of fresh, luminous bergamot that has that soft iris middle to end in a gourmand way. What was said before it’s prety much what it is. I was very scared of this scent for many reasons : that it was too powdery, that it was a lemon cake, that it was too sweet at the bottom or too harsh at the top, that it’s sneaky, etc.
All of that I forgot the moment I tried it on my skin. Thank the perfume Gods I got the right skin for it. The bergamot part is the one I like the best and the one I never want it to end, but when the creamy-delicate and very charming middle came to show itself it was as if a cute,elegant lady winked at me, and then offered me a lemon cupcake at a Paris bistro. I was enticed, hooked, then subdued. It has a very good silage even at EDT, and on EDP or parfum it’s grand. The longevity is good too, but it never wins when compared with other guerlain scents such as Samsara wich lasts for days and days, forever and ever.
If that’s what a lemon cake smells like, that must have been the best lemon cake ever made.

Say what you will, but Shalimar is about first love. Or, to be more precise, Shalimar is about the frail, fantastical exaggerations of first love. Or, to be still more precise, Shalimar is about a mature lady's or gentleman's faded memories of that great and vast first love. Impossible fairy powder, insubstantial yet insistent, it occupies a point where the jubilant whisper of youth's endless horizons meets the enclosed formal gardens of sophistication and mannered regret. (de Charlus).

I tried to like this scent. Everything about it seemed so glamorous, from the bottle and the history, to the story of it's inspiration. But on me, it seemed too heavy, cloying, almost. I'm not sure why, as the notes seem lovely. But something about it made it a scrubber for me.

I have two very old large empty bottles of Shalimar that my Grandmother passed down. The labels are not in the best condition, but I would be willing to sell them. I used the fragrance alot when I was young and never thought to keep the bottles. I don't know how this works, but contact me by email if that how this works.

Netsy

a woman's classic.should worn by up to 30"s

Shalimar has always been my best friends only scent and so I have tried over and over to like it. It smells wonderful on her, but there is some note in it that smells too heavy or smoky on me. Then Shalimar Light came out and solved that problem. So I can respect the talent that went into creating this perfume, but will stick with the Shalimar Light.

Shalimar is sneaky. It settles in and becomes so sensual. It feels like it is nuzzling up to you, though you are barely aware of it. This is my numero uno scent.

My dad hates perfumes. Everytime my mom would come home from the mall, smelling of the latest scent, he would gripe about how she stank! Well, my mother was shocked when she came home smelling of Shalimar, and my dad asked her what she was wearing. He actually liked a perfume for once! My mom was amazed, and she bought some Shalimar. When they went to visit my dad's mother, my mom gave her a bottle of Shalimar, and she loved it too.

I have a feeling that the sandalwood triggers some kind of scent-memory in my dad and his mother. It might have something to do with the fact that they are from Thailand, and they burn a lot of sandalwood incense there. For me, Shalimar is just another perfume.

The opening notes smell like Vitalis to me. (Does anyone even know what Vitalis is anymore?) Vitalis is the hair grease my dad used to use. Sharp and green-smelling.

After that it smells like public bathroom freshener. Then maybe an hour later, it smells like a powdery chypre -- like baby powder. That's what it smells like on my skin, anyway.

Shalimar and I have a long history. When I was a little girl, the little bottles of Chanel No. 5, Shalimar, etc., that were on the ladies' dressers always enchanted me. My aunt and my mother would give me the empty bottles and I would display them on my dresser, smelling the empty bottles occasionally. One year when I was a teenager, my aunt decided to give up Shalimar for good, so she gave me a half-used bottle of EDT. I kept wearing it. Not all the time; just when I feel mature and sensual, like an archetypal woman. Last year she bought it again! Now we share her signature scent. It is timeless.

Top is a fresh green waft of cool lemon then spiced flowers, calming to reveal a delicate floral core with exotic complexity, still with echoes of green and a memory of citrus. Over time (even next day) diminishes to an intimate burnt vanilla ghost. Presence affirming without noise... sends me to another place though at the same time places me right in the here and now. Totally.

A fresh and acidulous top notes(it doesn't last very long).Opulent, sweet, powdery, classic, elegant and irrestible.My favorite Guerlain scent: "The home of love"!

It smells like something my grandmother would wear in the bottle and when you first put it on, but it immediately transforms into something very beautiful on my skin. It seems like more of a romantic fragrance than a casual/daytime. I'll wear it more in the cooler winter and fall months too.

A classic Oriental—luscious, elegant, and beautifully constructed. Opens strongly with bergamot and then quietly moves to a floral heart which is not very floral—it’s more powdery with a patchouli / jasmine / rose background. Wonderfully elegant dry down of ‘sweet’ and leather. Shalimar is subtle; it stays very close to the skin and has a brilliant progression of sensuous, sophisticated, harmonious accords. Perfectly named.

I believe that somehow the whole perfume movement has evolved since the time where this perfume was considered groundbreaking, its seems very primitive, nothing special at all. I only tried the EDT but it left me very unimpressed (especially due to all the love it gets). kinda makes me scared to try the rest of the line for fear of similar disappointments!

Question: was this reformulated? It smells different to me, less spicy, perhaps, than it did maybe 2 years ago. Is it just me???

Ah, Shalimar...as a younger bloke, smelling it for the first time reminded me of baby oil and talcum powder. Nothing remarkable to think otherwise other that it's a classic that every SA tried to sell me on occasions for my mother's birthday/Christmas present. Smelling it today and actually smelling it on my skin doesn't indicate a cross-gendered preference in scent at all. Since it seems to magnify certain basenotes in male oriental compositions today, there's even no mistaking that one or more of the same essences were combined in the classic Habit Rouge of the house. A masculine scent is subjective these days, and I have no fear of wearing Shalimar in the sense that it could be mistaken for an ultra feminine oriental.

Sadly my only gripe is that it doesn't carry the full longevity of the scent as with all scents produced these days. You just have to be happy that it's still around and that you perhaps carry the bottle with you to spray on yourself every 2-3 hours. Spraying it even on the warmest parts of my body still left the scent lacking severely after a couple of hours.

Unfortunately, there will always be the gender mindset, but for as long as Shalimar will be produced, I'll wear it, and my girlfriend will be forced to wear Kouros for men (haha), but ironically there wouldn't be anything wrong with the scenario. To each his own.

I appreciate this fragrance. I realize it's the quintessential Oriental, the grandparent of all Orientals, and I understand that many people really like it, and with good reason. I can't stand it, though. I don't know what part of it I don't like, but I find it instantly repellant. Perhaps it's that it smells "old" to me (my grandmother wore it, as did my mother and probably several aunties and teachers), but I like many older perfumes so I don't think that's entirely the issue. I love the bottle, I love the whole idea of this perfume, I love the classic quality of this, but... I don't like the perfume (and yes, I've tried). I wish I could love it, but I just can't tolerate it.

There's something about this perfume and me that do not click. I was really looking forward to smelling this, but maybe it's due to my young age that makes me not like something in here.I think it's the Iris. Normally I love the smell of fresh iris's but there is something weird and not really fresh in this scent. Smells kind of oriental and way to spicy for me.

simply a work of art in every sense ,deep oriental and unique ,sensual and it helps to dream about ancient eras and luxurious people

One of my staples. Sensual, yet ladylike. Best worn close to the heart on special occasions.

Although my history with Shalimar has not been as long or as colorful as some people on the board, I am very much looking forward to experiencing and building a life-long relationship with it. Shalimar is just a wonderful classy fragrance, truly eternal in my opinion... and in all honesty not everyone will be able to appreciate something like that... after all just look at how many people actually enjoy wearing Angel! Shalimar is sophisticated and well rounded... a scent in my opinion that goes well for any occasion if worn by the right person. I think it has to do a lot with the attitude of the woman wearing it. There is a certain depth with Shalimar that is unrivaled by other fragrances as well... This is probably what got me!!! I love how it goes on and how smoothly it lays on the skin. Personally I don't think it's too 'strong' or too anything for that matter. Shalimar is sublime and absolutely supreme!!! Guerlain is a genius!!!

Pure sophistication-- mouthwatering perfection-- in a beautiful, classic bottle. To me, the creation of a a lighter version of Shalimar is an indirect insult.. why water down something so unique in it's own right?

Ah, Shalimar, one of the great Orientals of old. I have this in a couple different concentrations. It starts with a wonderful and short lived citrus dominated top. And then segues into a rich, creamy and sweet base. It’s very well balanced and very well made. This is one of the first modern Orientals. Shalimar is very well made, and surprisingly chic for its age. Anyone looking to try it should try the Parfum; it is so vastly superior to any other concentration.

Shalimar is a fragrance that songs have been written about. It is timeless, never going out of style.

I happen to love vanilla and have read that most men are drawn to a vanilla based fragrance because it reminds them of home, love and security. Shalimar is all that and more.

Shalimar is a warm, romantic fragrance that lingers throughout the day. Every time I wear it I feel feminine.

Let me tell my story of how this perfume affects my life. I was given this perfume for my high school graduation by a family who let their young son pick out a perfume. Shalimar was that perfume. I was a very late bloomer - unibrow, braces. And as I began to bloom, sans braces, letting down my long dark brown hair, sophisticately fashionable, I wore this perfume and it was though I had an atmosphere that encapsulated me. After I finished college and began to teach and really bloomed as woman I met my future husband. When I wore Shalimar I think he went over the moon in love with me. To this day after 28 years of wonderful marriage and three awesome children, we have what we call a date night. I wear Shalimar only for those occasions. As my husband opens the door for me and then he gets in the car it never fails that he and I begin to be washed over in that atmosphere of love and we are carried away for the evening. As far as the scent I can only describe that though it has a rich but close to the body scent the ending fragrance is a vanilla that is not simple but mysterious. The wonderful thing about what Guerlain has accomplished is that this perfume never changes no matter where purchased. I can only say that this perfume has been a great gift and I look forward to the bass notes of the rest of my sweet marriage and life to be richer and deeper with Shalimar.
Lizz, 8/26/05

A well made fragrance that has endured the test of time. While not an exceptional fragrance, Shalimar is certainly a great one. It opens with a medley of bergamot and lemon, with bergamot's greenness keeping it from becoming too sour. The heart of jasmine and iris is quite sensual and and floral. The base is elegant, with sweet vanilla and warm smooth sandalwood with a touch of woody patchouli. Very very feminine, but sophisticated and lady-like. Shalimar accentuates the sweetness of a woman's mysterious allure. You will never know all her secrets, but somehow you like it that way...

Shalimar has quite spectacular staying power, with the very sensual and soothing vanilla and sandalwood drydown lasting overnight! Sillage is nice, and not overpowering. Lovely, elegant, and sensual, Shalimar is as romantic as the story behind its name, and is surely classic in every sense of the word.

I must be mellowing in my old age. For years I thought I disliked Shalimar. Not sure why, exactly, except that maybe I had smelled too many of the inferior Shalimar-wannabes through the years. I recall once, a few years back, spritzing on some Shalimar at a fragrance counter, then being sorry I had done so. However, last year I bought a small bottle (half ounce) of the EDT at a discount store. I couldn’t resist. It was only a few dollars, and Shalimar would make a nice addition to my little osmotheque, right?, and besides, I’ve always thought its bottle was beautiful. Of course, after I got home, I spritzed some on myself and once again dismissed it. Well, fast -forward a year+ later. I’ve grown very attached to Guerlain’s Apres L’Ondee and Mistouko, and so recently, once again, I decided to get out my little bottle of Shalimar and once again spritz it on. Those same opening notes that I don’t particularly care for came up to my nose—that vanilla that’s so strong it’s like someone poured a bottle of extract down your neck. A few minutes later I put my nose to my arm. Why, what was that? Could it be? Yes, it was. I could detect that famous Guerlain accord which marks the House’s classics. I sniffed again. Yes, definitely it was that unusually delightful base. I continued to track the drydown, and I’ll admit it’s all right. Hmmmmmm. I’m not saying I’ll wear Shalimar all the time. But I am saying that I’ve done an about face. It’s not Arpege, mind you, but it’s all right, just the same. Glad to get to know you, Shalimar. At last.

Now here is a fragrance! This one is totally magical, not overly floral, and to my mind totally unisex. Wonderful fragrance. Evokes a different era and smells rich, lush, and sophisticated. A true classic. If you like this one also try the (officially) unisex Eau Illuminee from Parfums Del Rae!

nah, this fragrance is somewhat passe. I smell it on old ladies.

This is one of the most beautiful woomen's fragrances ever made. A true masterpiece.
Sniffing it brings back so many memories of my childhood, my mother knows it's my favorite so she saves it for special occasions. She always wears it on my birthday :)
Truly gorgeous. Probably best for someone over 30, but I would truly appreciate a younger girl who could pull off Shalimar.

As far as I am concerned this is the most beautiful fragrance in the world. I know other men who have the same reaction to it, and in none of the cases is it because our mothers wore it -- none of them did. I know that it is considered "old" and "heavy" as if it were a dusty old old tea gown from Callot Soeurs or a Poiret "minaret" tunic, already demode when they were hidden in some great grandmother's steamer trunk for 75 years; but for me it's timeless magic is a masterpiece like the Taj Mahal or gowns by Vionnet, Fortuny or Mme.Gres.....How would you improve them? is Marc Jacobs an improvement over Jean Patou? for some I'm sure he is. Young and light is not in and of itself a virtue in my book.

My dad used to have a girlfriend that wore nothing but Shalimar. I always thought it the most feminine scent, but very understated. A true "ladies" fragrance.