Katrina Rosales
Shalimar is a popular perfume originally created by Jacques Guerlain in 1921 for French perfume and cosmetics house Guerlain. It has been in production continuously since 1925 and is currently a flagship product for Guerlain. Shalimar is considered an Oriental perfume, and its fragrance contains notes of bergamot, lemon, iris, jasmine, rose, patchouli, vetiver, opopanax, tonka bean, frankincense, sandalwood, musk, civet, ambergris, leather, and vanilla. While some people associate the scent of Shalimar with the 1960s and the smell of patchouli essential oils, others disagree, stating that it is smoother and richer than perfumes with a stronger patchouli smell.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Notes | Bergamot, lemon, iris, jasmine, rose, patchouli, vetiver, opopanax, tonka bean, frankincense, sandalwood, musk, civet, ambergris, leather, and vanilla |
| Created by | Jacques Guerlain |
| Year of creation | 1921 |
| Year of launch | 1925 |
| Inspired by | Mumtaz Mahal, the wife of Shah Jahan, Mughal emperor of India |
| Bottle designed by | Raymond Guerlain |
| Bottle design year | 1925 |
| Bottle design award | First prize at the Paris Decorative Arts Exhibition |
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What You'll Learn
Shalimar's scent profile
Shalimar, a perfume created by Jacques Guerlain in 1921, has been described as a masterpiece with a complex scent profile. It is considered an Oriental perfume, using "'Eastern' ingredients or styles".
The perfume contains a variety of notes, including bergamot, lemon, iris, jasmine, rose, patchouli, vetiver, opopanax, tonka bean, frankincense, sandalwood, musk, civet, ambergris, leather, and vanilla.
The initial scent is strong and citrusy, with a prominent smell of lemon and bergamot. As the perfume dries down, it develops a more incense-like aroma, with notes of patchouli, earthiness, and smoke. Some have compared the scent to that of a smoker's home, a French baroque ballroom, or a "rich woman's scent".
The perfume is long-lasting, with a strong sillage, and has been described as exotic, sensual, warm, and intoxicating. Shalimar is considered a classic, timeless fragrance and has been in continuous production since its release in 1925, becoming a flagship product for Guerlain.
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Patchouli notes in Shalimar
Shalimar is a perfume originally created by Jacques Guerlain in 1921 and has been in production continuously since 1925. Shalimar is considered an Oriental perfume and was the first Western fragrance to be so. The perfume contains a plethora of notes, including patchouli.
Patchouli is a base note in Shalimar, weaving up slowly from the base to fuse with the fragrance's other notes. It is a subtle note, not overpowering the senses, and is described as having an "earthy" quality. The patchouli in Shalimar is described as "inoffensive" and "gentle", with a dry quality.
The perfume is complex, with a strong opening and a dry, masculine quality. The patchouli note is one of many base notes, including incense, resins, vanilla, bergamot, and leather. The vanilla is a key note, paired with iris, and brings a sparkling opening to the scent. The perfume is warm, with a "powdery" smell, and is described as "unusual" and "unique".
Shalimar is an iconic fragrance, with a rich and mysterious base. It is a unique scent, with a dirty, almost indecent quality, and is considered a "living legend". The patchouli note adds to the overall exotic and sensual nature of the perfume.
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Shalimar's comparison to other perfumes
Shalimar, an iconic fragrance created in 1921, has been compared to several other perfumes. One user on Fragrantica notes that Shalimar Eau de Parfum has a similar scent to Chanel No. 5, particularly in the opening notes, with its strong, uplifting, energizing, peeled orange and citrus notes. However, they find Shalimar to be softer and slightly sweeter than Chanel No. 5. Shalimar is also said to have a powdery smell, reminiscent of clean baby powder, which some may associate with an older generation.
In terms of other comparisons, one Reddit user mentions that Jessica Simpson's Fancy Nights is a Shalimar clone, though others disagree, finding Fancy Nights to be drier, more masculine, and with a stronger patchouli scent. Shalimar is described as smoother, richer, and more complex in comparison.
Another user on Fragrantica mentions that Shalimar's opening scent is similar to that of Youth-Dew bath oil, though they find Youth-Dew to be more powerful. Shalimar is described as softer and slightly sweeter, with a strong "grandma" vibe in the opening notes.
Shalimar has also been contrasted with Occidental (Western) perfumes, which traditionally feature notes of oakmoss, lavender, florals, and animalics. For example, Le Male, a fougère, has a prominent lavender scent, which is absent in Shalimar. Similarly, Le Male and Eros incorporate spices like mint, cumin, caraway, and cinnamon, which are not found in Shalimar.
Overall, Shalimar is known for its unique, sensual, and exotic character, with a complex blend of notes, including citrus, incense, vanilla, musk, and patchouli.
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Shalimar's ingredients
Shalimar, a popular and iconic fragrance, contains a variety of ingredients that contribute to its unique and sensual scent. The perfume was created by Jacques Guerlain in 1921 and has been in continuous production since 1925. Here is a detailed breakdown of Shalimar's ingredients:
Top Notes:
The top notes of Shalimar include citruses such as bergamot, lemon, cedar, and mandarin orange. These ingredients provide a fresh and zesty aroma, creating a sparkling opening to the fragrance.
Middle Notes:
The middle notes of Shalimar are composed of iris, patchouli, vetiver, jasmine, and rose. These ingredients add depth and complexity to the scent, blending floral and earthy tones.
Base Notes:
The base notes of Shalimar are vanilla, incense, leather, opoponax, civet, sandalwood, tonka bean, and musk. These ingredients provide a warm, sensual, and long-lasting foundation to the fragrance.
Additional Ingredients:
In addition to the key notes, Shalimar also contains other ingredients such as alcohol, water, limonene, linalool, coumarin, and various colorants and emollients. These ingredients play a role in enhancing the fragrance, improving its performance, and ensuring its stability.
Shalimar's unique blend of ingredients has made it a beloved and iconic perfume for many decades, with its complex and sensual aroma captivating wearers and those around them. The combination of citrus, floral, earthy, and warm notes creates a sophisticated and unforgettable fragrance.
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Shalimar's history
Shalimar is a perfume originally created by Jacques Guerlain in 1921 for the French perfume and cosmetics house Guerlain. It was inspired by Mumtaz Mahal, the wife of Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor of India, for whom the Taj Mahal in Agra and the Shalimar Gardens in Lahore were built. Jacques Guerlain decided to name the perfume Shalimar, which means "temple of love" in Sanskrit, instead of the Taj Mahal because the Taj Mahal "marks the end of the story", and this love story "can never end".
The perfume was first created when Jacques Guerlain poured a bottle of ethylvanillin into a bottle of Jicky, a fragrance created by Guerlain in 1889, and then added eastern notes of opoponax, sandalwood, iris, benzoin, patchouli, incense, and tonka. However, another company claimed to already have a fragrance by the same name, so Guerlain was forced to rename the fragrance "No. 90" until a legal dispute over the name was settled. Shalimar was then re-released in 1925 at the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts, where its bottle designed by Raymond Guerlain won first prize. The bottle was inspired by the basins of the famous Shalimar Gardens and the ornamental fan stopper recalls the garden's eternally gushing water.
Since its creation, Shalimar has become one of the most popular and iconic fragrances of all time worldwide, with over 100 bottles being sold every hour. It has been described as a masterpiece and a living legend, with a unique, sensual, and unusual scent. Shalimar was the first Western "Oriental" fragrance, featuring a blend of flowers with essential oils from Asia. It has been said to be an intoxicating, yet subtly sensuous blend that is voluptuous and sensual, with a silky and regal scent.
In 1985, Shalimar was repackaged and presented in a Lucite box to commemorate the 60th anniversary of its original launch. In 2004, Guerlain issued Shalimar Light by perfumer Mathilde Laurent, which was later replaced by Eau de Shalimar in 2008. Shalimar continues to be a flagship product for Guerlain, with new variations of the scent being composed by perfumers to this day.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Shalimar perfume contains patchouli.
Shalimar is considered an Oriental perfume with notes of bergamot, lemon, iris, jasmine, rose, vetiver, opopanax, tonka bean, frankincense, sandalwood, musk, civet, ambergris, leather, and vanilla.
Oriental perfumes are those that use "'Eastern' ingredients or are in the style of the East". They typically have bases of resins, or "amber," which is a blend of vanilla, benzoin, and labdanum. They may also include perfumes with bases of incense, sandalwood, and patchouli.
Some similar perfumes to Shalimar include Chanel 5, Toujours Moi, and Fancy Nights, which is described as having a much stronger patchouli smell.
Shalimar has been mentioned in several novels, including "L'Indic" by Roger Borniche, "War Cry" by Wilbur Smith and David Churchill, "Angel of Baker Street" by Catherine Bell, "Greeks Bearing Gifts" by Philip Kerr, and "Lethal White" by Robert Galbraith. It has also been referenced in television shows such as "Love," "Person of Interest," "American Horror Story," and "Abbott Elementary."
