Like the world of fashion, perfumery evolves year after year, revealing new trends. Nevertheless, certain pieces remain timeless and manage to endure through the ages without ever losing any of their prestige. This longevity is the mark of the greatest exceptional fragrances. At Guerlain, this one is called Shalimar. Created in 1925, this feminine fragrance is once again coming to the forefront. This time, it is enhanced with a signature ingredient of the house, tonka bean: here is Shalimar Millésime Tonka.
It was by drawing inspiration from an Indian legend that the house of Guerlain gave birth to one of its greatest perfumes, in 1925. However, Shalimar remains the best-selling feminine fragrance in Guerlain's entire catalog. A true historical dive into the Roaring Twenties, this fragrance for women is once again brought to the fore in 2022, enriched with an ingredient played in overdose: tonka bean. With Shalimar Millésime Tonka, the house of Guerlain gives birth to a great vintage of perfumery. Let us see, then, what this exceptional recipe is composed of.
Tonka bean, star of Guerlain's Shalimar Millésime Tonka
With Shalimar Millésime Tonka, and as the name of this perfume suggests, the house of Guerlain chose to showcase tonka bean. Indeed, it has always been highly prized by Guerlain's perfumers. It is a signature ingredient of the iconic Guerlinade, which here releases many different facets. In turn, tonka bean appears warm, rounded, or more balsamic. For many perfumers, tonka bean is a fragrance in its own right. Rich in multiple facets, it takes on accents of salted butter caramel or creamier chocolate. For Shalimar Millésime Tonka, the house of Guerlain chose a tonka bean of exceptional quality. Used in overdose, it accentuates the most sensual aspect of this cult perfume, raising it to the rank of a great vintage of perfumery.
Vanilla, another central ingredient of Shalimar Millésime Tonka
In addition to tonka bean, Guerlain's Shalimar Millésime Tonka also contains vanilla. Here again, the quality of this raw material is unquestionable. Guerlain has set its sights on pods harvested in Madagascar, from a certified organic partner plantation. These pods are freshly hand-harvested and placed in organic alcohol for several months. This allows them to release the full subtlety of their aromas. The result is a suave and sensuous fragrance, sometimes chocolatey or more leathery.
What are the other raw materials contained in Shalimar Millésime Tonka?
Naturally, the house of Guerlain did not settle for just these two ingredients when reinterpreting one of the greatest perfumes in its history. Shalimar Millésime Tonka first releases a fresh breath of bergamot paired with the roundness of almond. The whole is intoxicated with rum, before evolving toward a more floral heart. A romantic rose absolute mingles with the opulence of sambac jasmine, while a more powdery iris reinforces the elegance of the whole. The tonka bean-vanilla duo appears only in the base notes of this recipe.
But who better than Delphine Delk to talk about Shalimar Millésime Tonka? Tonka bean is a marvel of nature, she says. This delectable little bean smells of powdery almond, caramel, chocolate; a true delight. In Shalimar, it defines the perfume as much as vanilla does. Magnifying it was, for me, an obvious choice.