Shalimar Guerlain 1986 Eau de Parfum

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Ranked 4 in Women's Perfume

8.0 / 10 1382 Ratings

A popular perfume by Guerlain for women, released in 1986. The scent is oriental-spicy. Projection and longevity are above-average. It is being marketed by LVMH.
Pronunciation

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Main accords

Oriental

Spicy

Powdery

Smoky

Sweet

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes

Bergamot

Blossoms

Heart Notes

Iris

Jasmine

Rose

Base Notes

Vanilla

Balsamic notes

Tonka bean

Perfumer

Jacques Guerlain

Videos

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Ratings

Scent

8.01382 Ratings

Longevity

8.71052 Ratings

Sillage

8.11016 Ratings

Bottle

8.91081 Ratings

Value for money

8.0302 Ratings

Submitted by DonVanVliet, last update on 21.04.2024.

Interesting Facts

The Persian word Shalimar means "The purest of all human pleasures" It is the name of an Indian garden which was extended by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved main wife Mumtaz Mahal. After her death he erected the famous Taj Mahal mausoleum which today symbolizes the dazzling grandeur of the orient. Thus, the name Shalimar invokes love, beauty and a perception of the orient. Shalimar is regarded as an iconic oriental fragrance. According to the often told - but not very reliable - legend Jacques Guerlain accidentially added too much vanillin when blending a batch of Jicky. It smelled unexpectedly good.

Variant of the fragrance concentration

This is a variant of the perfume Shalimar (Eau de Toilette) by Guerlain, which differs in concentration.

Reviews

49 in-depth fragrance descriptions

09/07/2018

10
Bottle 7
Sillage 7
Longevity 10
Scent

GitaOgg
1 Review

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GitaOgg

Top Review 71

The other day at the neurologist

"Good day, Mrs. Ogg."

"Good day, Doctor."

"Do you know why you're here?"

"No."

"Your social environment is very concerned about you. Your relatives fear that you have some adjustment problems and are not quite up to standard."

"Oh?"

"Yes, look... i was told you leave the house one day in old chucks, shredded jeans, leather jacket and black nail polish and the next you go out in boots, a lace dress and cashmere coat."

"Yeah?"

"Mrs. Ogg, this doesn't add up! You should decide on a style, otherwise you never know which drawer you belong in. And that's not all! Your family thinks you're always a little extreme... Smokey eyes in the early morning only partially match your terribly messy bun on the head."

"Aha... and where exactly is my problem now?"

"Your problem? Mrs. Ogg, you are a business economist and - especially at your age - should not appear in Chucks or with Smokey Eyes in the company. That's completely out of place... The crowning glory, however, is your fragrance! What were you thinking? Couldn't decide whether you should have a warm vanilla perfume or a harsh citrus scent, could you? Frankincense and myrrh are also included, which are far too many corners and edges for everyday life - everything creaks and smokes. And first of all this sillage, they just can't get past you. Discreet restraint would be much more appropriate in your position... what the hell is that perfume anyway?"

"This is Shalimar."

"Shalimar? But Mrs. Ogg! You know there are three things a lady can NEVER do!"

"Yeah, I know that."

"Well then! Then I'm sure you know what I'm suggesting and what you need to change in the future, don't you?"

"I think so... i should learn to tango."

10/03/2018

10
Bottle 8
Sillage 8
Longevity 10
Scent

SchatzSucher
107 Reviews

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SchatzSucher

Top Review 48

You don't wear Shalimar, Shalimar wears you!

On warm, spicy, oriental and vanilla wings directly into the scented sky... ...

Shalimar is one of those great fragrances that makes the wearer pause in awe for a moment. The prelude is splendid and opulent, with luxuriant floral splendour, the most tangy citrus fruits and a bitter, smoky and resinous tone, all swinging up to a true intoxication.
This is unbelievably delicious and when the initial awe turns into joy, after a short time more bright and radiant flowers and spices tempt you, accompanied by a wonderful vanilla. A vanilla that is probably the epitome of the much-described guerlinade, which I recognize in so many guerlain scents. This vanilla is seductive, warm, flattering and not exorbitantly sweet.
There is a certain hint of animalism to accompany this and give the whole a certain piquant fine spice, but without slipping into the all too violent. But this breath is clearly perceptible.
A resinous clay provides for this slight abrupt scratchiness. But this was a great success, because I think that in an effective and expressive fragrance even opposing notes should play together, so that the fragrance remains exciting and does not slip into banality.
Shalimar is definitely not a quiet scent, he is present, he is noticeable together with the wearer, he surrounds him like an elaborately worked cape incl. long train.

I like to be carried by Shalimar into the scented sky, the initial awe has turned into great enthusiasm. Meanwhile, I am no longer afraid to access fragrances that have actually been designed for ladies. In the course of time one realizes that this more or less strict classification can be disregarded. Especially with the rather strong and spicy fragrances.
And I'm glad I accessed it.
Shalimar is certainly not easily accessible, but if you give the fragrance some time and get involved with it, you will be richly rewarded. Even with a wonderfully long endurance.
This makes the fragrance very suitable for the cold season (although I have to admit that I have worn Shalimar before in summer). But sparingly dosed, of course...) and for evenings. The grand entrance is guaranteed. Shalimar appears so to speak still before the wearer, because he radiates very well.

One can rightly call Shalimar a classic, which has had a firm place for over 90 years. The term "oriental" is perfectly implemented here. In addition there is the beautiful bottle, which fits very well to this masterpiece.
I own the current version, but I also know an earlier one. The current one may be a bit more tamed and smoother, but it's still quite a force.
I can only advise everyone to test Shalimar at least once. Even if you don't like it, you should let yourself be carried away by the great classics into the scented sky!

05/19/2021

8
Bottle 8
Sillage 9
Longevity 9
Scent

Rosie88
100 Reviews

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Rosie88

Top Review 41

Shalimar then and now....

I am just very happy to be able to make a comparison of the Shalimar today and "back then"...
By "back then" I mean a version that was on the market in about 1995.

-What has changed in this time?

-Is Shalimar still like back then?
-Is it worthwhile to look for a vintage flacon and spend his hard-earned money for it?

I would like to let you participate in my test and the resulting sensations. Maybe someone among us fragrance crazy so interested in it like me ;-) hahaha

Otherwise considers my Kommi gladly as "further mustard to a classic" ;-)

I have both versions aufgesprüft - one left and one right - so I can effectively and directly compare what's going on:

Shalimar on the left (today's version) starts with a fresh tangy bergamot.
The bergamot is very intense, demanding and engaging....

In Shalimar right (vintage), the bergamot is also fresh-tangy, but on me - accompanied by a tickling spiciness - that I can't find in today's version like that...

In today's version (left) the fresh bergamot warps a little faster than in the vintage version (right) I find. For this I think to recognize that with the today's version (left) faster something flowery comes in addition and displaces the bergamot somewhat...

In the vintage version (right), I don't find such a clear florality after the opening, but rather a direct transition into the wonderfully resinous-balsamic "main act"....
(there comes briefly an association of cherries - for whatever reason (?) - but that quickly disappears again)...

Slowly, the great resinous-balsamic side of Shalimar comes out in today's version (left), too, which I love so much.... wonderful, intense, lascivious, hypnotic.... Fantastic!

So both versions stay for a decent while, although I personally find that the balsamic-resinous thing I love so much comes across much stronger and more intense in the vintage version (right) than in the contemporary version (left).
In today's version (left), the deliciously balsamic resinous is somewhat ensnared by a gentle florality - which in and of itself is not to devalue - but hald simply different, as in the vintage version (right).

I think here it's just a matter of taste, whether you prefer more & more intense balsamic resinous, or you like it better when something floral still resonates...

I really like both versions, although the vintage version (on the right) gives me a bit more heart palpitations because of the more intense balsamic-resinous "main act"....

For me, then, neither version changes too much.... both remain wonderfully-delicious and absolutely unsweet balsamic-smooth.... to snuggle in....

Hold do they at me both pretty identically long, which I find really great :-)

Now to my questions, which I had asked at the beginning:
-What has changed in this time?
I would argue that, for example, purely because of the regulations of IFRA today, many fragrances no longer smell the same as they used to. Possibly formerly used fragrances are now no longer allowed, no longer available or are perhaps now synthetically replicated...?
This is however a topic for itself and was already discussed in numerous entries in the forum, with which I would not like to go into it here further.
What I would like to say, however, is that even if Shalimar has changed over time - the original DNA is definitely still there and is in no way inferior to the vintage version.
The new version is for me a little "calmer", less wild and more floral, than the vintage version.
Radiance and durability they both have - there is nothing lost in my opinion...

-Is Shalimar still like back then?
This question has also cleared up for me immediately.
DNA is there. But there are differences in any case...

-Is it worth it to look for a vintage flacon and spend his hard-earned money for it?
Well, that is then probably very dependent on the taste of the person....
If I would find a vintage version at a "pleasant" price, I would probably buy it, yes.... But then I wouldn't necessarily want to spend too high a price on the vintage version either...
Everyone as he likes, as the saying goes :-)

I hope that I could give the one or the other - who is interested in the topic - a good insight into my feeling :-)

On other sensations I would be very curious :-)

10/16/2021

8
Bottle 10
Sillage 10
Longevity 8
Scent

GirlofNow
111 Reviews

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GirlofNow

Top Review 46

My new start fragrance:) Thanks Grandpa!

Shalimar I associate with the Christmas season, a warm / loving hug and the feeling to be safe:))
Why is that... Well last year I got to know this beauty:D
Since then, this fragrance has a very important but also precious place in my heart, because I got Shalimar last year from my grandfather as a gift and the 3.days before Weihanchten.
We have watched on this day together films (My grandfather loves good but also especially humor full films;)) )
Also we listened to the newest as well as some older Monsta X songs, in short I LOVE, LOVE this boygroup and he finds the music of Monsta X also (Luckily) very good as well as well made;DD
I could rave about this group forever, but it's about Shalimar and not Monsta X:D
Deliciously we also cooked together.
After watching movies, eating and listening to music, my grandfather suddenly became very serious and had tears in his eyes, which admittedly made me very insecure because my grandfather is a very emotional person but since we laughed together all day it was a bit of a shock to me when I saw tears in his eyes.
I asked him carefully if everything was okay, he said he was glad that I had survived all the operations well...
I knew he was always worried about me but not that it made him so emotional.
I hugged him and tried to hold back the tears because I didn't want him to cry anymore.... (I don't like it at all, now not in bad senses to see others crying as I then also get very emotional especially I can stand it less to see my grandfather or my mother crying.)
We calmed down and I said to him that there are worse situations or even interventions and I have come to terms with it and am satisfied that it gets better:))
Then he said he wanted to give me a certain gift a little longer but was not sure if I would tolerate it because of the medication To be honest I would never have thought that it is a perfume but just as little I was aware of what sweetheart he meant.
I could tolerate after the operations by the strong painkillers almost a year no strong fragrances but thank God this lasted only until then, until I have discontinued the drugs When my grandfather gave the box into my hands I was speechless! And again I had tears in the eyes and did not want to believe it because it was really an unexpected surprise and even before Christmas!
I pressed my grandfather very hard and thanked me 100 times with him:))
He said he was not sure if I would like it because, I have never worn such a fragrance in this direction I was blissfully happy about this treasure and could not have imagined a more beautiful!:))
I am very, very well in the clear that such fragrances or better gifts are not self-evident but my grandfather said it was a gift or better said a fragrance that should always remind me that I can make with the fragrance a new start in a life which hopefully in the future no more operations needed!:))
And that is exactly why this fragrance has become so valuable but also important to me because it is my new start fragrance!:))
I try to describe Shalimar as accurately as possible, hopefully I do not disappoint the big Shalimar fans among you;)
The fragrance...
Is in any case very, very, very intense!
If you like it intense but not extreme (so I mean overdosed) then please do not wear more than 2.Sprüher on otherwise it can lead very quickly to headaches!
I speak from experience! Shalimar is from the head to the heart note very balsamic and smoky with a slight citrus impact Rose I smell now personally not out but jasmine gives the whole this wild, sensual and feminine;))
The vanilla of Guerlain is not of this world!
Whether now with Mon Guerlain (intense), La petite robe noir or even now with Shalimar it is a crowning glory in itself!
Creamy, dense, full-bodied, noble and what can I say indescribably beautiful!
The vanilla I smell out with Shalimar is not only creamy but also very spicy and aromatic.
It reminds me very much of a vanilla pastry with citrus filling and over it is sprinkled neat cinnamon.
Tonka bean gives the fragrance a light pleasant powdery warm note that invites you to cuddle.:)
I personally appreciate this fragrance very much it is my new start but also motivation fragrance!

Because I got it from the most important person because I have in my life next to my mother!:)) Thank you grandpa!:))
Appreciate your loved ones especially your grandparents and parents!

05/29/2021

8
Scent

Aliven
7 Reviews

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Aliven

Top Review 38

Just fine...!

Just imagine, there is a place you know where, there they give you a smile and so.
Just good, at Mc Donalds it's just good... especially with grandma!

If you've got pictures in front of you now, you're smiling a little, at least silently to yourself, aren't you?
And who now thinks "is she crazy?"
Yes, is first of all right and is but, probably, simply also still too young.

Sleeping at grandma's on Friday nights.
Saturday morning with her into town.
To the boring big market, with way too many people.
Sometimes, actually always - but we tell no one, it went afterwards still to Karstadt in the toy department...
hach, mermaid Barbie with the turquoise fin skirt...

And then just Mc Donalds and its junior cone, which usually closed things out.

Why am I telling you this?
Well, either I sit today in the marketing department of the golden M's or I have spilled at that time, the perfume sample slipped to me by the saleswoman, in the sweet little bottle, of which grandma has re-bought the big bottle, on the brown plastic tray lined with paper advertising.

The fries have never been so inedible, because I actually gave them another quick taste.

And today, my goodness, actually over 30 years later, I'm that girl for a second every time I run into a woman wearing Shalimar.
Or when I walk past a toy department and sometimes still feel drawn to all the brightly colored packaging.
And when looking at the bronze fish embedded in the ground, in the city centre.

At the one bench by the water, our "one more ice cream" bench I no longer like to sit on but always stop short, put my hand on the old wood and look once into the distance.

And actually at that one fast food restaurant too. Always.
Well, so simple it is then just sometimes, if one can allow it then and also likes.

The perfume, the scent is great.
I really like its power!
But I couldn't wear it, because it already belongs to someone else.

And, I miss you grandma.

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