Shalimar Philtre De Parfum, the new release from Guerlain. A true symbol of the 1920s and an undisputed best-seller of the Guerlain house, Shalimar ranks among the most beautiful fragrances on the planet. Initially created by Jacques Guerlain, it is an essence known to women all over the world, paying tribute to the strength of eternal love.
Guerlain's Shalimar is a fragrance that needs no introduction, its renown having traveled the world. Famous for nearly a century, it is considered the absolute best-seller of Jacques Guerlain. Paying tribute to a magnificent love story, it evokes all the splendor of the Taj Mahal, while delivering a sulfurous and seductive breath. In 2020, it reinvents itself and becomes Shalimar Philtre de Parfum. In terms of scent, it takes on a new face, more sensual and powdery than before. Just as captivating as the legendary Shalimar, this new Philtre de Parfum installment aims to be just as timeless, a wish that is also reflected in the visual of its bottle. So, what about its bottle?
An evocation of the Shalimar gardens
To better understand the aesthetics of the Shalimar Philtre de Parfum bottle, it is essential to know the original story that inspired this fragrance. It all began in the seventeenth century, in the Shalimar gardens. It was there that Emperor Shah Jahan lived a passionate love for his companion Mumtaz Mahal. Unfortunately, while giving birth to one of their children, she died. The emperor was then utterly devastated by grief, but he nevertheless decided to use his last strength to have a mausoleum built in honor of his beloved. Now famous throughout the world, the monument in question is called the Taj Mahal. It is precisely from the Shalimar gardens that the silhouette of the Shalimar Philtre de Parfum bottle draws its inspiration. Here, its basin on a chiseled base evokes the shape of water gushing from a fountain. Indeed, this legendary place is surrounded by water. Moreover, this is precisely why this glass structure is topped with a small blue cap. The whole is also decorated with a gilded charm, attached to its neck by a small black leather cord, and bearing Guerlain's initials.
The color contrast carried by the Shalimar Philtre de Parfum bottle
In terms of color, Shalimar Philtre de Parfum appears lighter than before. Indeed, in its original 1925 version, its juice is amber, almost like molten gold. Now, it is lighter and comes in a new pale yellow shade, evocative of its new powdery freshness. This is in total contrast with its darker cap. Thus, between its crystalline base and its bluish top, Shalimar Philtre de Parfum offers a splendid interplay of light and shadow. Yet the harmony is perfect, and its modernity has managed to stand the test of time without aging a single day.
Shalimar Philtre de Parfum, a dive into the heart of the Roaring Twenties
Finally, let us recall that the shape of the Shalimar Philtre de Parfum bottle owes its existence to Raymond Guerlain, who crafted it in collaboration with the house of Baccarat. This bottle indeed earned it the first prize at the 1925 Paris International Exhibition of Decorative Arts. Fully rooted in the style of its era, it is a nod to French craftsmanship. Its cap, meanwhile, forms a small fan reminiscent of an iconic piece of the feminine wardrobe of the 1920s.