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.
Shalimar is a fragrance known to all, which celebrates eternal love and draws its inspiration from one of the most beautiful romances on the planet. A true best-seller for Guerlain, it already boasts numerous variations of its scent, such as Shalimar Eau Légère, Shalimar Initial, Shalimar Cologne and Shalimar Souffle de Parfum, to name but a few. In 2020, however, Guerlain decided to repeat the experience once again. This time, the house presents Shalimar Philtre de Parfum, intending to pour a few drops of voluptuousness into the autumn season. To leave behind the gray of winter, how about heading to India in our company? So, what about this new variation of the mythical Guerlain fragrance? Here is our review of Shalimar Philtre de Parfum.
Olfastory’s review
Shalimar Philtre de Parfum, a more powdery composition than before
Shalimar Philtre de Parfum takes up the DNA and history of the previous variations of Shalimar, while offering a genuine personality of its own. This latest interpretation of the iconic Shalimar, named Philtre de Parfum, aims to be more sensual, voluptuous and powdery than before. To achieve such a result, Thierry Wasser, official perfumer of the house of Guerlain, relied on iris.
It all begins with a fresh burst based on bergamot, a key element of the original Shalimar formula. Here, however, its tangy bitterness is given airiness by lemon, while offering an aromatic facet thanks to lavender. From there, the earthy, powdery notes of iris enter the scene. As in the past, Shalimar Philtre de Parfum relies on a floral heart of rose and jasmine. However, these flowers are more discreet than before, serving mainly to add texture to the whole. Little by little, the freshness of Shalimar Philtre de Parfum becomes warmer. The contrast present in this fragrance is very interesting. Animalic character is revealed with subtlety, in a breath of leather placed in the background. The powdery, animalic rose of Shalimar Philtre de Parfum can be sensed in the presence of Tolu balsam and benzoin. Vanilla is played here in overdose, while being enhanced with coumarin. Finally, the whole concludes with a woody base of patchouli, giving this fragrance exceptional longevity.
Guerlain's unchanged bottle
While, on the scent side, Shalimar Philtre de Parfum is a genuine surprise, on the design side, on the other hand, it remains very faithful to the first version of Shalimar. Note, however, that the magic still works and that Guerlain's fragrance has lost none of its splendor despite nearly a century of existence. Originally designed by Raymond Guerlain in collaboration with Baccarat, the Shalimar Philtre de Parfum bottle takes the form of a basin on a chiseled base, whose shape evokes the movement of water gushing from a fountain. This effect, moreover, is further reinforced by its blue cap. This too is a dive into history, since it evokes the fans that were very popular in the 1920s, the moment of Shalimar's historic release. The whole is also decorated with a very elegant gilded charm at its neck. The only real difference from its predecessors: Shalimar Philtre de Parfum now comes in a pale yellow shade, less amber than before.