Guerlain Shalimar Parfum Initial L'Eau

Opens with a sharp citrus blast before quickly settling into a soapy, slightly tart scent with hints of hyacinth. It dries down to a flat, soapy ash that clings to the skin until it eventually fades away. I didn't detect any of the listed vanilla notes. Very Shalimar-like, but not amazing.

This is a delicate reinterpretation of the iconic Shalimar, crafted for a softer and more modern appeal. It opens with a burst of bright citrus and fresh green notes, creating an airy and luminous introduction. The heart unfolds into a bouquet of gentle florals, enriched by the elegance of iris. As it settles, smooth vanilla and light musk bring warmth and comfort without overwhelming the senses. The result is an elegant yet effortless fragrance, perfectly suited for daytime sophistication. It’s an ideal choice for women who appreciate a softer, airy twist on a classic oriental perfume!!!!

The honest thing to do would be to just switch my little signature scent icon to this already — pretty sure I’ve worn it more often than anything else the past year or more. Mouthwatering citruses, pale watercolor florals, feather-soft patchouli: I can’t resist. This opens with juicy bergamot giving way to waxy iris, lemony rose, fresh neroli, and a powdery vanillic sweetness that gives all the florals a bubblegum tinge. I’ve heard many say this flanker has little to do with Shalimar, but I insist the dry down has reminders of early 2000s Shalimar edt laced throughout, evoking a softly spiced sugar cookie (brown-sugar benzoin?). What is unique to the Initial flankers vis-à-vis classic Shalimar edt or edp is clearly a Guerlain-style Egyptian musk in the base (see a similar musk in Idylle). Refined to the hilt, this is not your street vendor E. musk or as grungy as NR for her edt — it is pinkness with a fuzzy texture by way of grit. Good grief, this is so beautiful. I crave it all the time. I’ve often wondered if this smells like anything special in the wild, maybe just a dismissible pink lemonade cocktail with vanilla sugar-crystals on the rim, but I know and love every stage of its development (like the phantom sour cherry note that peeks out in the opening, the inexplicably anise-like treatment given to the florals, a creamy banana-like jasmine lurking somewhere in the mid notes), and will sorely miss my bottles when they run dry.

My mother has this. And I need to get me a bottle as well! I cannot put my finger on which season it belongs to or time of the day. This is THE signature scent. Perfect for everyday of the year. It’s a beautiful smell and I wish to have it someday as well. It smells clean, fresh, sweet and warm all at the same time..

Bright citruses, lightly sweet vanilla, fluffy slightly powdery iris, and maybe my skin just amps tonka, but there is a noticable smoky/tobacco background. It evokes lemon pound cake in a very exclusive smoking louge (I love it). Suitable for any season, day or night, ideally classy occasions.

A beautifully complex spring citrus floral garden with lots of vanilla - I can really enjoy this perfume however again I don't feel the shalimar dna! It is beautifully blended, guerlain is a pro with great ingredients and it smells expensive. But not shalimar for me. No gasoline, no dirty resins no powderiness. The iris is there, but not really in a boudour powdery way, more as part of a fresh flower garden. I find the lily of the valley and neroli especially prominent here, maybe because these two are rarely pronounced or even in shalimar, and they create a very dewy, green, fresh floral bouquet feel to this perfume. Very much a springy floral gourmand, and less oriental than most other shalimars, the lily of the valley will always be a provincial smell to me.

I appreciate the complexity of the original version of Shalimar, but I never really feel like wearing it. There is something in its composition that put me off a bit, it is a shame I know. I’m so glad I found Shalimar Parfum Initial L’Eau, it is different story with this one. It still carries Shalimar DNA for sure, but the iris note is more pronounce, less citrusy, less spicy and smoky compared to the og. Initial L’Eau is also more wearable especially in tropical weather like here in Indonesia. I love how refined and elegant this perfume behaves, still a statement but not intimidating.

Initially & NOW: A Shalimar for the ages... Opens with a signature Guerlain burst of citrus with multi-faceted bergamot, clean touches from neroli and a hint of powdery iris as it transitions to the floral heart. It's predominantly iris at the heart of a mixed floral bouquet with some lingering citrus, underpinned by Guerlain vanilla with some powderiness from tonka. The longer it dries down, the tonka brings out some near-cherry facets that enhance and sweeten the florals. As my 2012 bottle has aged (1Y02 Nov 2011), the citruses became less crisp though still present in blended form, and the juice has become a rich & vanillic citrus-amber, more similar to Shalimar EDC, with tea-rose coloured juice instead of pale pink. Initially (no pun intended) it was still Shalimar but with a sheer wash of modern chypre, along the lines of La Vie Est Belle Lancome or Coco Mademoiselle Chanel. But now, like a chameleon, she's evolved into the more timeless Shalimar style. What is this wizardry?....

Just fantastic! ❤️🎈❤️

Strong citrus opening which dries down to a powdery sweet musky/caramel? Scent. I don’t think it’s unusual. The opening and dry downs aren’t in harmony either. I have tried the original Shalimar and I can’t quite remember 100% what it smells like but from the memory I do have, they aren’t very similar. It’s fine, nothing amazing.

Signature scent worthy !

I have all three of the Initials - the EDP, the L'eau, and the Si Sensuelle. They are all quite similar, especially Si and L'eau. I would swear that Si has a patch note that adds a tough of earthiness. It also seems brighter. But L'eau is my favorite. It is just so delicate and floral, and the iris isn't powdery, or at least not terribly so. As a lover of iris in it's various forms, this is definitely among the smoothest. It really is an exquisite fragrance, beautiful and even sexy in its own way. I'm going to jump on the bandwagon of perfumistas who are heartbroken, even furious, the Guerlain just cast aside this incredible line of OG Shalimar flankers. I savor each spray of all of them like a long goodbye.

Really creamy powdery iris. Vintage esque, yes, but this is the (only) kind that I can actually wear, it's that boudoir type without the strong white florals or aldehydes. Not sure I could go through a full bottle but I'm starting to amass a large collection of make up bag feel samples which I can use when I am in the rare mood for this genre.

The smell of iris is dominant to my nose and i very much welcome it especially in the drydown. Smells classy and lasts a long time. A must have!

And this was how I verified that I cannot stand lily of the valley. Blind bought it as I couldn’t find a decant. I can’t see past the LOTV to judge it as I get nauseated and have to scrub. The original Initial works well with me and thankfully have a big bottle that I cherish.

I can smell the grapefruit, a slight dirty note. I wish I could smell the initial to compare. Overall refreshing and sexy.

If like me you are in the taboo minority who find Parfum Initial absolutely addictive, glorious, even... (quiet voice) potentially better than Shalimar- then this is the closest approximation you'll find. I could never bring myself to finish the supply of Initial I bought in 2011 because I am so in love with it; I've never found a scent that better suits my skin and, dare I say, even makes me feel sexy- if only to myself! So my bottle will probably forever remain 1/3 full. L'Eau is more or less the same scent, with the same bergamot-vanilla-melting-toffee alchemy going on, the same candied-ambery-skin feel, but much weaker, and I get a sharp, slightly dry smoky note too. This has none of the leathery-sandalwoody notes of Shalimar, and is all about the seared vanilla. The next best thing to Initial. Grab it now, before it disappears.

Very pleasant, beautiful, soft, and cozy. It reminds me of both Shalimar and Mon Guerlain, with an unexpected twist. It reminds me also of something else, pretty known for me, but I can't recall anything. I will eventually remember. I am lucky to put my hands on these, since I thought I will never have it.

Gifted to me by a very kind generous perfume-lover friend, amazing fragrance, easy to wear for all occasion Shalimar, my absolute Love

Brighter than SPI. More citrus, less caramel. I'm only comparing this to SPI, since its a flanker. None of the Initials are really that similar to "real" Shalimar- which for me is a positive! They are all, however, more interesting, more nuanced and better than any of the souffles.

I didn't think any in the Shalimar Line could smell better than the original but this one does. It is a absolutely beautiful scent that has delighted me to the point that I'am in love with it and went and bought one of the other last two bottles I could find which is worth every penny spent. It feels like I'am wearing wearing luxury for this is my first Parfum hence why it has more depth in its scent, This scent is soft yet has a power that lets everyone know its there in a sweet way. It's class in a bottle that has a lovely projection that last all day long for me. with only a couple of sprays. It is fresh with a light fruit scent with a creamy powdery background, not like those in traditional perfumes of today Then moves in a lovely scented floral bouquet that is just intoxicating, with a dry down of a creamy warm vanilla scent. So wish I could go to Macys and order this but can't so I feel so blessed with the 2 vintage bottles I now own, Just so lovely!

Being Shalimar Parfum Initial edp my favourite perfume of all times, although it's a unicorn today (stupidly discontinued and no bottles anywhere, i cherish my 2 last bottles like they were the Pink Panther Diamond!), I once purchased this lighter version and i did enjoy it very much. As others have said, it's way fresher and i recall having gone through the bottle during summer. Same feel as its older sibling, but the crisp freh notes are prominent making the fragrance airy. It's also way more fleeting (lower performance). To me, this was the wearable, fresher summer version of Shalimar Parfum Initial that I used to wear in fall winter uniquely (i find it too warm and not apt for summertime in Italy). Shame that this has been discontinued as well.

Question - Does anyone know why some versions of this have the "l'eau" on the bottle and some don't. I have this and the box and bottom of the bottle says L'eau but not the front, the tassel is pink. I'm seeing 2 different styles of this bottle and am very curious.

Amazing fragrance, love it:)

This is a more animalic version of Shalimar. Smells more dirty, the predominant citrus I'm getting is grapefruit at first spray which may be contributing to that impression.

How lucky I am to have received a bottle of this in a swap with a lovely and generous Fragrantician! I am powdery iris heaven, and as much as I love the original Initial, the L'eau takes it to a different level. My eyes roll back in ecstatic delight from beginning to end, which isn't terribly long. But since this is a L'eau, and an iris marvel, all is forgiven. It just means I can spray on more! It's ALL about iris and the famous Guerlain vanilla on my skin. I can detect the bergamot and other citrus in the initial phase, which combined with the Guerlainade pays proper tribute to the OG Shalimar, but it is so much softer and fluffier that it seems to lift me up on a cloud scented with iris! I am aware that this sounds like hyperbole and more like an advertisement than a proper review, but it's exactly how I experience it. It is one of my two favorite irises of all time - a spot previously reserved for No. 19 Poudre, but now shared by both. Silage and projection are both soft, but noticeable. This is a scent I will happily wear all year long, day and night! EDIT 10/7/22 Since I wrote this review 2 years ago, my collection has really grown, and I own and have experienced so many iris-centric fragrances that I can no longer say with 100% certain which one is my favorite. I still love L'eau and Poudre, but there are several that share top billing for me.

Soft lipstick-iris with sparkling citrusses on a bed of Guerlain vanilla, rounded with a warm jasmine. The bergamot of the original Shalimar is very recognizable in this, but the grapefruit and orange are noticeable, too. I'm surprised the jasmine isn't higher in the voted notes pyramid, I can smell it quite clearly and it lends the perfume a feminine sensuality. I don't smell any of the other additional floral notes though. Compared to Parfum Initial EDP, I find this less waxy, more citrus-focused and more vanillic. As the name suggests it's also lighter. If Shalimar Parfum Initial is a fluffy cloud, L'Eau is a fine mist. Interestingly I get more of the original Shalimar from this than from Initial, even though it's so light and modern that no one who can't wear Shalimar needs to be afraid of it. The drydown isn't as heavy on the iris as it is with Initial, and the warm, powdery vanilla seems almost balsamic to me, it reminds me of a trace of Shalimar on a scarf. I like Parfum Initial a tad more than L'Eau, it's more unique and special, but this is also great.

the initial spray bursts forth with an odd plastic smell that i couldnt work out where it was coming from but quickly settled into a lovely powdery iris, a touch of musky sweetness ,light and airy and not in your face. so its a great achievement for guerlain, not to be heavy handed. IMO, this could be a safe blind buy ,ladies..

I usually stay away from fragrances that need a whole genealogical tree to show you where they are coming from, but this flanker descendant of a flanker descendant of Regina in Excelsis Shalimar The Great, is a darling. If you like bergamot. A lot. Or powdery green fragrances. I drink Earl Grey with lemon and Iris is my favourite flower so it’s a curtsy from me.

Apropos of the reviews below, I've come to realise I love powdery scents. Whenever I see a complaint about baby powder, I'm there. L'instant, L'instant Magic, Fendi Furiosa, Opium, bring it! This one is really soft, citrusy, floral and powdery. Very 'meet the parents' appropriate. The citrus here is soft and sweet and doesn't punch you in the face, but it's clearly Shalimar's baby sister. And like all Guerlain's, it's quality. I'm on the lookout for the Parfum Initial for a good price and found this really cheap, so why not? I'm not disappointed. I can't wear Shalimar year round and I'll miss it too much. This will do nicely.