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.
Since 1925, the house of Guerlain has continuously enriched its fragrance catalog. However, it was also at that time that the house gave birth to one of its greatest perfumes: Shalimar. Possessing an oriental history and Western craftsmanship, this fragrance never ceases to fascinate. In 1922, it is once again enhanced with Guerlain's signature ingredient. This is how it becomes Shalimar Millésime Tonka. Here is our review on the subject.
Olfastory’s review
Guerlain's Shalimar Millésime Tonka, a historical rediscovery
Guerlain's Shalimar Millésime Tonka is a perfume that is very interesting from a historical standpoint. Indeed, it plunges us back into the rich heritage of the house of Guerlain. For nearly a century, Guerlain's Shalimar has remained the house's best seller. It is Guerlain's best-selling perfume in the world, and particularly in the United States. Incidentally, it recalls that it was introduced across the Atlantic by chance, thanks to Raymond Guerlain. He was crossing the ocean aboard the liner Normandie. His wife was wearing Shalimar. American women were utterly won over, and this is how the renown of this new scent quickly spread.
Moreover, Shalimar Millésime Tonka also plunges us back into an Indian legend dating from the seventeenth century. Let us recall: Guerlain's Shalimar was inspired by one of the most beautiful love stories of all time. It tells us the origins of the Taj Mahal, a mausoleum built in the gardens of Shalimar by Emperor Shah Jahan, in tribute to his beloved wife: Mumtaz Mahal.
Shalimar Millésime Tonka showcases an ingredient typical of the Guerlinade
If Shalimar Millésime Tonka is very interesting historically speaking, it is equally so in terms of its olfactory recipe. This composition owes its existence to perfumers Delphine Delk and Thierry Wasser. Together, they chose to pay tribute to one of the most cherished ingredients of the Guerlain family: tonka bean. Widely used in the famous Guerlinade, it is now accompanied by a vanilla tincture. This suave ingredient, incidentally, comes from the finest quality. Hand-worked, this vanilla is placed in an alcohol derived from organic farming, while itself coming from an organic partner plantation in Madagascar.
The timeless bottle of Guerlain's Shalimar Millésime Tonka
Lastly, Guerlain's Shalimar Millésime Tonka is an excellent occasion to rediscover Guerlain's timeless bottle, designed by Raymond Guerlain in collaboration with Baccarat. This glass jewel case won, in its time, first prize at the International Exhibition of Decorative Arts in Paris, in 1925. Its bluish cap recalls the water gushing from the fountains of the Shalimar gardens. Its amber color, meanwhile, perfectly echoes the warm fragrance it contains. The whole fits beautifully into an Art Deco world typical of the Roaring Twenties. Only the label of Guerlain's Shalimar Millésime Tonka changes. It is now tinted black, echoing its satin ribbon tied around its neck.