The edp “Shalimar” is the best example for the powerful and dominant thumbprint of Guerlain’s perfumers. It’s actually like opium. At first, it appears like fog and then it literally covers you until you fall into a dream world. As I once said, Guerlain’s perfumes aren’t made for the conventional taste. They always keep their balance between an established luxury brand and their anti-mainstream concept.
Shalimar reminds of the Thierry Mugler’s “Angel”, an air filled with different scents around Christmas time. The first impression is massive and is lead by unusual spices (e.g. tonka beans and pimento, which can be normally found in the production of ginger bread). Well, I can smell myrrh, incense, vanilla, Muscat and moss. Crazy, isn’t it?
However, creating contemplation is not Shalimar’s aim. The fragrance appears more aggressive, crisp and spunky than soothing and relaxing. The strong aroma scents keep their balance on the skin. Eventually, a symbiosis of the tonka beans and vanilla is dominating the fragrance.
Shalimar is a fragrance, which, for me, counts among men’s perfumes because of its masculine features even though it’s sold as a women’s perfume. Nevertheless, I would choose Shalimar for special occasions which require self-confidence, uniqueness, strength and self-assertion.
Apart from this, I really like the flacon. Only the flacon of “Fleur de Shalimar” can top it.
Head note: Fresh blossoms, bergamot
Heart note: Irid, jasmine, rose
Base note: Vanilla, irid, opoponax, tonka bean
Image source: http://www.parfumo.de/Parfums/Guerlain/Shalimar and http://www.selfridges.com/
