Shalimar Eau de Toilette

I've tried a few types of Shalimar, and the Eau de Toilette is my definitive version. I found a full bottle from the 80s and it's an interesting experience. The first whiff is not exactly pleasant. Unlike the modern EDP, the bergamot is gentle and pleasant but there's an overwhelming scent of baby wipes. It's not entirely clean and very powdery. But it's worth sticking through this phase. After about twenty minutes or so on my skin, a very pretty powdery vanilla starts to come forward, and then we gradually dry down into a creamy-iris-tonka-vanilla. From this point on, the fragrance is absolutely glorious. It's a work of art. It becomes a gentle scent quickly and is not as long lasting as the modern perfume formulation, and nor should it be. But it does last a good few hours. This fragrance is close to unisex, leaning just a little on the feminine side of it. As a man though, I quite enjoy it. Beware though: some people do recognize Shalimar.

Had to abandon my last bottle, and all my other treasures, when I fled the Battle of Khartoum. Maybe some RSF Janjaweed is enjoying it now. Before then, I'd always had it in my collection. With sometimes crippling synesthesia, it was the one fragrance I could wear with for any mood or color, even a black dress or deep in the blues. It's costly and scarce in Egypt, so I do without. But I dream about finding a bottle in a Cairo antique den, literally: it is a recurring image that appears in my head when I sleep. If anyone knows the shop, do point me there. I seems vain even to try to parse the notes when it's a creation of alchemy and genius. Bergamot, rose, jasmine, iris and vanilla, of course. But it's like asking what I'm tasting in an authentic vindaloo. Jacques Guerlain vanilla is the only vanilla I want outside the kitchen because, in Shalimar, it's self-actualized and knows its place. It would be my last meal on death row.

Opening is slightly Indolic but dries down into a warm powdery spiced vanilla scent. Definitely a bit dated and feminine leaning but solid overall 8.2/10

As a lover and owner of many great Guerlain fragrances, Tobacco Honey, SDV, Mon Guerlain Original and Intense I was sure that I was going to love Shalimar. Everyone talks about how it’s got the Guerlain Vanilla and I was excited about that. Now, I also understand that Shalimar is an oriental fragrance and no doubt strong, so I went with the EDT version. I can tell you with all honesty that upon first spray I though it smelled terrible. It LITERALLY smelled like someone took a huge hot shit in a tiny bathroom with no fan and used this as a room freshener spray on top of it. It smells like a blowout that someone poured Johnson’s baby powder all over the top of. It’s sour and animalic upon the opening and only gets better upon dry down. It was not at all my cup of tea at first but oddly, as it dried down and sat on my skin it somehow developed into a sweeter lovely fragrance. I definitely dont get any of the vanilla that everyone says is so present.

Down history lane #6 - Shalimar Much like other hobbies, perfumery has many “rabbit holes” that one can get lost in. I won’t go into detail because most enthusiasts are aware of them but one of the most important ones is Vintage perfumery. I too went down some of these rabbit holes and after “digging through the tunnels” for long enough, i’ve started noticing patterns. To my concern, at certain points i’ve felt like those tunnels start to lead towards the same few exits or “burrows”. I felt like the Tree of Perfumery has many branches but they eventually grow the same fruits. Vintage perfumery also shares the same fate, perhaps even more so then the other branches. Lets face it, most vintage perfumes are built upon similar “bases” and share many common building blocks hence why the “vintage tunnel” can get repetitive aswell. Having said that, i believe Vintage perfumery has an ace up its sleeve that makes it stand out from the others. That “ace” isn’t necessarily uniqueness, but historic significance and influence. These qualities are perhaps the only ones that don’t lose their value over time but grow instead. In my mind, few historic perfumes have as much significance as Shalimar has, especially in a day and age where Shalimar’s “offsprings” are more popular then ever. Released in 1925 by Jacques Guerlain, its more then just the most important creation of one of the most important houses that ever existed. Many trend-setting perfumes came and went but the influence of Shalimar only grew with the passing of time and its culmination doesn’t seem to have been reached yet. Im fortunate to have an EDT miniature dating from the 80’s of this legendary perfume in my collection. Shalimar to me smells like a combination of different things: There’s a vintage powderiness a-la Chanel No 5 and Habanita, a subtle dose of musky carnality with indoles and most importantly a softly sweet vanilla with a citrusy-lemony finish that sets it appart from trully vintage creations. I love duality in perfumes and the formula that im smelling has its fair share in multiple regards. Firstly, i cannot speak on how the modern formulas of Shalimar present themselves but the one i have feels like a mix of 70% vintage perfumery with 30% modern. Secondly, there’s duality in its nature itself because its oriental in conception but french in execution. It has that french suave feel juxtaposed with an oriental warmth and this makes me curious how the EDP behaves and wether it leans even more into the oriental side of things. Admitedly the EDT takes only baby steps into oriental perfumery. Lastly, i appreciate the fine woving of the softness and elegance with the gentle carnality. Going back to No.5 and Habanita, Shalimar strikes me as more unisex and again, more modern in aproach thanks to the vanilla and citrus. Its important for me to mention that the vanillic sweetness is subtle and tempered, a far cry from the thick and often overwhelming vanillas of today. Also, the carnal side of the perfume is less impactful as one might believe so it shouldn’t be a deterrent. I am not a vintage hunter by any means, my goal in this particular rabbit hole was to acquire a few miniatures of the most iconic creations. Still, i find myself drawn to vintage perfumery through the prism of scent aswell because there’s an underlining theme of groundedness and...”human-ness” present in many of them. Vintage perfumes often feel like they were made to be an extention of your skin and Shalimar also matches that description but the subtle signs and roots of modernity peek out, pointing the way at things to come.

I’m so very blessed to own a fab 3.3 bottle of Irissime by Jacques Fath as well as Shalimar EDT. Today while wearing Shalimar EDT (Iris forward) I had an epiphany, I refreshed my Shalimar, then sprayed two small spritzes of Irissime on my chest and blouse. Oh, My, Gorgeousness! What an amazing experience! I call it “Velours d’Iris” It’s velvety cool Iris from both fragrances with the rich warmth from the (vanilla-Tonka in Shalimar). Absolutely heavenly! I think I’ve at long last, found my signature scent!

Timeless perfume!!! My grandma wear it, my best friend wear

Vintage EDT review: As a dude, it applies more unisex than expected! Big warmth balanced by dry chord that's appropriately restrained. Very complex and nuanced. So much going on, while blending well. Soft, sun-warmed wood makes it glow. Love how vanilla initially struggles as it's easily too much. Eventually pairs in almost equal amounts with wet moss. Bright sweetness begins to lean feminine, but as a guy, I still love smelling on me. Musky mid continues to add tasteful balance. There's an alluring tang I'd amount to indolic flowers. But it's really not floral. More resinous honey. Getting wafts of dense vanilla dribbled in honey in a super alluring well. I've stayed away from gourmand, but this is addictively yummy. Soft floral begins to compliment gentle sweetness. Leather base adds heft that helps cross genders. Ok, final dry down settles too sweet for me as a guy, but very much enjoyed the opportunity to experience a classic! A fun, energetic dude could drive people crazy with it.

I like Shalimar EDP. However, this dry down has an ash tray, fecal, unplesant “carnation” type smell to it that is just not Working.

Gentle, vanillic powder and incense, fizzy citrus, and a touch of tobacco without smelling like an ashtray. The citrus notes are ever so slightly sweet, just how I like them. So sensual, elegant, and exotic! Compared to the EDP, this is more focused on the powdery elements of Shalimar in my opinion. It’s a bit less spicy and it doesn’t have the peculiar rubbery smell the EDP has. But I still like both pretty much equally.

I’m back because the nose is a miraculous thing. I’m getting the indolic smell now. It’s not like a pile of raw poop. It’s after being wiped but the diaper smell still lingers. Post wipe dookie diaper

The initial spray is an art nouveau makeup vanity in the 1920s, the middle is femme fatale, and the dry down is an old church. Top Shelf. Love ❤️

I tried this and the EDP version on my skin today. Nope, nope, nope! This smells like sour, indolic insect repellant. The indolic smell is really strong in this one. If you're a fan of poo, you're gonna like it. I don't.

I have sampled this on paper several times, but I still haven't dared to apply on my skin because this develops an intense smell of bug spray on the paper strip! I first thought the nozzle was maybe dirty, but I have sprayed this into the air many times, at several stores, and at first it's promising on the paper strip... but then it turns SUPER indolic - literally the aftersmell of a poo, has a lemongrass-like sourness, and astringent, bitter smell. It literally smells like bug repellent - not my version of a good time! Is this just how it is on paper, or do people smell the same thing and actually enjoy it???

sampling such a foundational fragrance as Shalimar is kind of a philosophically comical experience. Makes me think of the perfumers toiling in futility for the past century trying to reinvent the wheel that is a powdery floriental. They got it right the first time!!!

Like a careering carousel of all Guerlain's 'greatest hits' on your wrist..a first sniff..Jicky is there and then in creeps Habit Rouge and then -wait a minute- there's L'Heure Bleue and isn't that even Mitsouko waving at the back? When I was a child, at Christmas we used to buy the Radio Times Christmas special. I would feel a strange emotion with this television and radio guide. It always paraded the most familiar faces on the front covers and more within that even as a child I had the smug joy of believing these famous celebrities were my friends and my friends only and here they were -- in my living room. Revel in the smug joy of knowing all these Guerlain celebrities and having them all performing at the same time : a private showing, an ensemble theatre just for you.

Bought a vintage bottle of this a while back and initially didn’t like it, but decided to give it another go, so glad I did. Maybe it’s the change of season, but this time I can appreciate the sophistication of this scent, it’s Deep, dense, and thick. Comes off quite strong and definitely more suited to a cool winter night scent.

come off floral and strong, sillage is potent with one drop spread evenly on pulse points, floral, (old) and elegant dries into a pleasant powdery vanilla bergamot saves it from being too sweet and the iris comes through very nicely

If someone is not into collecting perfumes, Guerlain Shalimar EDT is pretty much the only fragrance you need. Any season, any occasion, any time of the day, any gender. Its readily available and is inexpensive ($50-$60 for 100ml) ^Free Palestine^

Starts off intimidating; almost amber-like in its aged sharpness and depth. Then, it becomes a refined blend of spicy vanilla with oriental flourishes. In my experience, Shalimar has the reputation it deserves. It stands tall with an aura of intrigue, mystique, and great exaltation. That said – the more I smell it, I actually can't decide if I love it for its complexity and depth, or hate it for being so headache-inducing. But who am I kidding? I'll be back for more...

I recently treated myself to a vintage version of Shalimar EdT - a 1978 bottle in the black-and-white zigzag box. Most of my collection consists of modern editions, with a few older bottles I acquired or received as gifts when they were new. But holding this one in my hands was different - it felt like holding a piece of history. After years of reading about vintage perfumes, their bottles, and the subtle changes they underwent over the decades, it was thrilling to finally turn theory into a tangible experience. I was slightly apprehensive about the authenticity of my find, but after carefully checking all the details and experiencing it firsthand, I’m confident it is genuine. The box is flawless, the liquid has retained its clarity, and the bottle and cap are free of scratches or damage. This perfume likely spent decades lying safely in someone’s orderly drawer, untouched. A recent Fragrantica article (https://www.fragrantica.com/news/Shalimar-Guerlain-A-100-Year-Old-Legend-Part-2-23930.html#cc326075) describes the 70s Shalimar, with the author sharing impressions that closely match mine. The main difference for me is that the bergamot isn’t particularly pronounced - there’s citrus, yes, but it comes across as subtle and demure. Naturally, every bottle will vary after nearly 50 years. What captivated me most is the perfume itself. The opening and settling phase reveal a distinct buttery note reminiscent of Millésime Tonka, though without its spiciness. Vanilla and Tonka form a delicate, harmonious synergy - rich and delicious without tipping into gourmand territory. An airy benzoine note floats above, with smoke kept gently in check, unlike some modern versions where it dominates. Orris lends a soft, powdery roundness, never suffocating, just perfectly balanced. The overall effect is uplifting and transparent - light yet undeniably luxurious. It’s ideal for those who find the EdP too heavy. While Shalimar retains its signature sweetness, it is never cloying; Tonka, vanilla, and even the incense create the timeless stage that makes Shalimar, well, Shalimar. Holding this perfume, I felt a connection across time - a fragment of 1978 preserved in pale golden liquid within its glass flacon. The best kind of magic potion, if you ask me!

I have the older golden package of Shalimar, and it's a good perfume, not extraordinary, but it has addictive quality, vintage creamy dark vanilla with spices. Color of the scent is brown, reminds me a bit of chocolate. Maybe the rating will be higher when some air enters the bottle, works sometimes even with vintages. 7.8/10

For me, it verges on unisex but only in a way that makes its femininity sexier. Classy as Chanel No. 5, but at least twice as sexy. If it were a little less feminine, I'd wear it almost as often as I wear Montana. As it is, I only really huff my bottle for comfort and wear it on an especially cold day, when the powder stays close to the skin, once a year or less. It is a masterpiece. Probably my favorite scent to smell on a woman. So, so, so into it. Formulation debate be damned. It's gorgeous. It's sexy. It's so effing awesome. Man, oh man, I love it.

Wearing this fragrance is like holding a seance with my beloved late grandmother. She used to wear it on special occasions, like taking me to the ballet when I was a child. Like her, it’s strong, unapologetically glamorous and utterly unique. A bewitching oriental fragrance of citrus, amber and vanillic smoke, creamy yet powdery. Now I’m in my forties I love it just as she did. True beauty is timeless.

Magnificent. You need a full bottle of it. Don't ask. Gives me a beautiful Middle Eastern vibe. One need some mood for it, def not for "unemotional" days. Juicy. I had quite a story with it. I see now it is a kinda behemoth of a perfume, but in my circle no one ever bear to think about fragrances - as those are far from an essential needs. Now I'm discovering this world and once I got a sample of Kashnoir. It has literally sent me flying the moment I sniffed it, I couldn't part with it and used that 2 ml by a week. I couldn't believe they made it themselves and that no one is talking about it, also I never smelled it on anyone, which was weird for me, as if I found a gem no one knows about. It was too good, so it should've been somewhere I believed, and it was times better what people wear usually for the same price, so I checked Fragrantica for a "reminds me of" section. That's where I've found Shalimar obv and everything took it's places. P.S. Kashnoir is a lighter and "colder" version of it, because of the lavender note I believe. Try it, if Shalimar is too offensive to you.

I have a bottle from the early 2000s; it’s no worse for wear, having aged gracefully as far as I can tell. Maybe it’s the megadose of bergamot that has kept the citrus notes from decaying, but even they remain in fresh, legible shape. Shalimar edt is softer in every dimension than the edp, needless to say, and its stages of development less distinct. It remains fairly linearly a “big, powdery amber,” with the vanilla becoming somewhat more prominent as it dries down; but, the vanilla never quite reaches the height, depth, drama, or creaminess of the edp concentration. Nor does the leather become as bitter and piercing. So, I’m familiar with the Guerlinade dna, differently though it is presented in Shalimar vs Mon Guerlain, for example, but, if this makes sense, there is a Guerlinade thread that I find to be particularly similar in both Shalimar edt and Mitsouko edt. A similar frequency or proportion. Both have the pleasant, leathery mustiness of antique books and the dusty, coziness of faded velvet, as well as a rich patchouli that is legibly woody while still being more refined than merely naturalistic. Very personally, they both remind me of my dad’s house with its scent of hearty home cooking (herbs de Provence?), and its revolving door of reclaimed furniture and strange knick-knacks which also have a lived-in scent of the hand-crafted past. But mostly, Shalimar edt strikes me with its abstractly powdery, pleasantly musty sweetness. Citrus, leather, amber, vanilla, powder — I admit I struggle to say something new, but the inarticulateness is all me, because I find Shalimar saying new things all the time; they’re just not the kind of things that are easy to distill and repeat.

Putrid stench like rubber absolutely diabolically disgusting.

Shalimar Eau de Toilette works better on my skin than the Eau de Parfum: the citrus notes in the EdT are more prominent and longer lasting, which I find work really well with the vanilla and tonka, and stop them becoming too sweet. Though I like the smokier, incense notes in the EdP, they are quite fleeting on my skin, and it quickly becomes little more than plain vanilla (I get very lttle smoke or woody notes in the EdT). The Eau de Parfum doesn't have any more longevity or strength on my skin than the EdT; just a different balance of notes - though both are unmistakably Shalimar. The extrait is richer and deeper than either, but, unfortunately also tends to quickly become little more than plain vanilla on my skin; only in the coldest days in winter do darker, smoky notes develop.

Just got a vintage (80s) EDT dabber in the mail today and I’m in love. This was my first experience with Lady Shalimar I was so scared it was going to smell like Tabu (no shade). Where Tabu is punk, Shalimar is ballet. What more can I say? {I will update when I’ve worn it more than 5 minutes.}

Shalimar EDT is possibly the most classic, elegant, magical perfume I have ever had the pleasure to smell. It really is a masterpiece. Its so comforting and sensual. The powdery floral, smoky incensey vanilla and sparkling bergamot is a symphony for the olfactive senses. I'm glad I chose this over the EDP as I feel it may have been too animalic and intense for me. This is still intense and has a presence but its still soft and envelopes you in its beautiful vintage powdery aura. Its remarkable. I have a 50ml bottle and already want a bigger backup bottle.