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Dept of Meh—current Shalimar EdT

post #1 of 12
1/3/13 at 7:09pm
Thread Starter 
So, I was in Macy's today and decided to replenish my Shalimar body lotion. Took a spritz of the EdT in tester, in the newer more sculpted bat bottle; EdP was not available to test. Gawd, this stuff is bland. Lemon dominates, and the burnt rubber is nearly expunged. Up until now, I felt Shalimar endured IFRA, LVMH, in all their acronymic acrimony; now, I feel it has succumbed. I thought Shalimar was indestructible. I'm wrong. {sigh}
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post #2 of 12
1/3/13 at 10:45pm
Don't let it sit there alone in the 'meh' department... put the current EDP next to it.
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post #3 of 12
1/3/13 at 11:23pm
Thread Starter 
I might have to hit another dept store to sample the EdP. I still have some EdT that is about 5 years old as well as extrait that is about 4 years old. Lotion is good enough for what it does; it has always been more lemony than EdT, EdP, or extrait.
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post #4 of 12
1/4/13 at 12:39am
The bagwing version is an abomination!
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post #5 of 12
1/4/13 at 1:11am
If you're familiar with the vintage, the current version is indeed unacceptable. Jacques Guerlain must be rolling in his grave.
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post #6 of 12
1/4/13 at 1:14am
Skip the current EdP and go straight to Ode a la Vanille, blahblahblah Madagascar. That's the only Shalimar currently in production that is worth buying. Well, Eau de Shalimar is not bad as a summery Shal.
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post #7 of 12
1/6/13 at 2:49am
Not only Shalimar, all of the Guerlain classics have been butchered.
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post #8 of 12
1/6/13 at 3:00am
Quote:
Originally Posted by David Ruskin View Post

Not only Shalimar, all of the Guerlain classics have been butchered.

The only Guerlains I care for today are Jicky Extrait and EdP, Mouchoir de Monsieur, Vol de Nuit Extrait, Sous le Vent (said to be out of production already) and Vega from the vintage collection (Il etait une fois). Mitsouko Extrait is fairly good, too IMO, but it is a lesser Guerlain for me anyway (blasphemy, I know ).
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post #9 of 12
1/6/13 at 3:45am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Larimar View Post

The only Guerlains I care for today are Jicky Extrait and EdP, Mouchoir de Monsieur, Vol de Nuit Extrait, Sous le Vent (said to be out of production already) and Vega from the vintage collection (Il etait une fois). Mitsouko Extrait is fairly good, too IMO, but it is a lesser Guerlain for me anyway (blasphemy, I know ).

I agree. I'd add to that list Habit Rouge, which I think is still good in all formulations, the eaux fraiches, and Derby.

As I've said elsewhere, I hold a faint hope that this Ode a la Vanille is a test run for a Shalimar reformulation. It would be a fantastic modernization of the house's flagship. I'd love to see Wasser make an extrait, EdT and EdC based on this composition. This more than anything has convinced me that he can do justice to the masterpieces in the back catalog.
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post #10 of 12
1/6/13 at 7:01am
Modernise if you must, but please keep the original too (or as close as is humanly possible). I have some Habit Rouge from the 90s, there is no comparison with the current version.
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post #11 of 12
1/6/13 at 10:04am
Thread Starter 
rubegon, thanks for suggestion re: Ode a la Vanille, I'll have to scope that out.

Another thought: vintage sealed disc bottles of EdC are all over ebay and not outrageously priced. Thoughts?
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post #12 of 12
1/6/13 at 10:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by David Ruskin View Post

Modernise if you must, but please keep the original too (or as close as is humanly possible). I have some Habit Rouge from the 90s, there is no comparison with the current version.

I have it too - it's probably my favorite vintage - as well as the older EdT and EdC going back to the 60s. There is a comparison. The modern is not as good, but there are times that I prefer its sleeker, cleaner feel to the richer vintage juice. The EdP and extrait are also worthwhile variations in my opinion.

Quote:
Originally Posted by jujy54 View Post

rubegon, thanks for suggestion re: Ode a la Vanille, I'll have to scope that out.

Another thought: vintage sealed disc bottles of EdC are all over ebay and not outrageously priced. Thoughts?

This stuff is fantastic. If you have problems with longevity, this probably won't last long on you, but the scent is beautiful. It's a bargain most of the time. Only buy bottles that are sealed and that have been stored in box, though. I've had bad luck with unboxed ones.
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