OK - I'm really testing it now. I'll type my impressions as I go.
This is unexpected. Maybe it's the grapefruit? It does a remarkable job of recreating the initial impression that vintage Shalimar makes when first applied. A bit of bitter smokiness - that kerosene sting. I'm not comparing this to the vintage side-by-side, but it seems like a very convincing image of the opening of a vintage Shalimar but constructed with different ingredients. I love this. If that was the intention, I am impressed. This is Wasser? If so, his best work to my nose yet.
After that impressive start, it mellows out and quiets down. The vanilla starts to come forward, and overall it's much less fortissimo. It still has that vintagey accord buried in there, but the illusion starts to break down a bit. The opening would perhaps have had me doubting myself if I didn't know what I was sniffing - this is not like that. It's getting lighter and it's not as extravagantly floral or resinous as the vintage juice. Still very nice though.
OK - I'm not going to wait around for it to develop more, but maybe I'll come back and update if anyone's interested.
furrypine - this is a new version, subtitled "Sur la Route de Madagascar" and has been formulated with a newly-sourced vanilla from, as you might guess, Madagascar (I think in addition to the standard smoky synthetic vanilla that Shalimar is famous for). I think it is another limited edition - if I recall correctly, it was labeled as such at the shop.
