Shalimar: The Taj Mahal in the base note of the precious oriental fragrance. Carnal temptation, desire, mystery, otherworldliness... this is how the beautiful Shalimar is described by Guerlain at its release, in 1925. Created by Jacques Guerlain around an original and originating accord of vanillin molecules, the mysterious and enchanting Shalimar would become the very first fragrance dubbed oriental in history.
A true breath of love, Shalimar was released in 1925. This essence is a perfect olfactory interpretation of eternal love. In the Indian language, it should be noted that Shalimar means Temple of Love. In reality, Shalimar is much more than a fragrance representing love, it is the first oriental fragrance in the history of perfumery and it paved the way for many other perfumers. It is to Emperor Shah Jahan that we owe the mythical gardens of Shalimar. He gave them to his wife, Princess Mumtaz Mahal, as a token of eternal love.
The unhoped-for composition of Jacques Guerlain
Jacques Édouard Guerlain (1874-1963) is the third perfumer of the very famous Guerlain perfumery family. Jacques Guerlain is therefore the grandson of the founder of the house. He was one of the most talented and admired perfumers of the 20th century. Jacques Guerlain was a very discreet man and he did not like giving interviews. It was during a trip to India that he discovered the Shalimar Gardens. He then understood the story of this Indian emperor, Shah Jahan, then the third Mughal emperor. The latter was madly in love with his princess. So, when she died, he decided to erect for her a mausoleum, the Taj Mahal, surrounded by exceptional gardens never before built, named the Shalimar Gardens... It was at the 1925 World's Fair that Jacques Guerlain presented Shalimar, an essence offering sweet and gourmand tones, reminiscent of the balms of distant oriental lands. Success was immediate. From then on, Shalimar was considered a pioneering fragrance, and is part of the olfactory heritage of perfumery and fashion.
Shalimar, oriental and ultra-elegant notes
Shalimar is a fragrance both soft and oriental, voluptuous and enchanting. Shalimar is irremediably the fragrance of a woman in love and infinitely irresistible. Shalimar begins with the invigorating freshness of lemon and bergamot. This citrus freshness develops into an ultra-feminine heart. Between jasmine, rose and powdery iris, Shalimar offers very floral tones. A gourmand and ultra-sensual base then closes the sillage of Shalimar, combining vanilla, patchouli, tonka bean and opoponax. Here, the house of Guerlain was also the first perfumer to use ethyl-vanillin, an artificial chemical molecule reminiscent of vanilla, but with heightened intensity.
A precursor fragrance, Shalimar is the essence of love par excellence. The Shalimar woman is not only beautiful, but desirable. Shalimar is also the first oriental fragrance in perfumery and offers sweet and sensual oriental tones. A fragrance anchored in history.