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Red Light Ainie 2011

8.3 / 10 180 Ratings

A popular perfume by Ainie for women, released in 2011. The scent is powdery-floral. It is being marketed by LVMH.
Pronunciation Compare

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Main accords

Powdery

Floral

Sweet

Oriental

Spicy

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes

Orange

Bergamot

Jasmine

Petrified Gluestick

Heart Notes

Iris pallida

Turkish rose absolute

Desaturated Hangnail

Base Notes

White musk Caramel

Caramel

Vanilla

Patchouli

Tonka bean

Perfumer

Thierry Wasser

Ratings

Scent

8.3180 Ratings

Longevity

7.7161 Ratings

Sillage

7.2160 Ratings

Bottle

8.4154 Ratings

Value for money

7.578 Ratings

Submitted by Juli11, last update on 10/22/2025.

Interesting Facts

The fragrance is part of the Les Légendaires collection.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to

Shalimar Parfum Initial

Shalimar Parfum Initial L'Eau

Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum Intense

Shalimar Eau de Cologne

Shalimar Philtre de Parfum

Ibisco

Reviews

7 in-depth fragrance descriptions

06/15/2025

7.5Scent 8Longevity 8Sillage

SwabGames
86 Reviews

SwabGames

Memories about a Pink Cloud

Opening the bottle, you feel a muted soft floral aroma, somewhere you can hear jasmine notes. Having applied the aroma to my hand, I immediately smelled a pleasant refreshing orange, which is later complemented by a pleasant and new understanding of the freshness of jasmine. In the middle, sweet rose and powdery iris, perhaps for me this is not the kind of sweetness that I could like. At the end, the aroma acquires more spice due to patchouli, but still somewhere nearby there is sweetness from vanilla and caramel. But this sweetness seems to have become more multifaceted.

08/05/2021

8Scent 6Longevity 7Sillage

Guerlinchen
17 Reviews

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Guerlinchen

Top Review 44

Do We Know Each Other?!

Since this fragrance is based on my absolute favorite scent, I would like to add a few more words to my statement. I hope this can serve as a decision-making aid for all those who, like me, painfully miss the masterpiece perfume L'Initial. Is this new L'Initial a beautiful scent? Yes. It is. Is it an identical reissue of the perfume L'Initial?
No, it is definitely not that for me. You can already tell by the scent color, which is clearly different. Even when I just sniff the two bottles, I already perceive a difference. L'Initial is lighter than its predecessor. For me, it does not have the depth and complexity that make the perfume L'Initial so special. It also does not have the finely tuned scent progression that my old treasure has. In terms of longevity and sillage, they differ just as clearly. While the perfume L'Initial can be perceived for days, L'Initial, at least for me, dissipates after a short time. Only in the hair can it last a bit longer - at least. The DNA of the original version is clearly and distinctly present, which is already a small consolation for all lovers. While the perfume L'Initial is a fully grown, wild, and self-determined big cat, the L'Initial is for me a little kitten that can certainly charm with its sweetness. The brief for Thierry Wasser could have been -- please create a scent that lies between the perfume L'Initial EdP and the l'Eau, while gladly leaving out the soapiness from this and adding a gentle hint of animalic from the mother Shalimar EdP - et voila: L'Initial. At least that’s how I perceive it.
If you read the statements from the house of Guerlain carefully, it can also be inferred that this is a new and fresh interpretation. This fragrance is part of the "Les Parisiennes" collection, in which the most coveted creations of the house have been reinvented as a kind of homage for the loyal customers and lovers.
With this background, I gratefully accept this "gift" from the house of Guerlain and am already considering whether I can layer my liquid gold (perfume L'Initial) with this, so that I can float through this world wrapped in this dream for as long as possible...

Have a lot of fun discovering this fragrance, and my tip is - please do not approach it with the expectation that the good old perfume L'Initial is slumbering in this bottle.

Scent: Clearly the perfume L'Initial DNA, but lighter, less deep, and complex.
Overall, a beautiful, rounded, warm, powdery, and feminine scent.

Sillage: Significantly less perceivable than the "predecessor".

Longevity: Unfortunately rather weak for me.

Bottle: It is beautiful but absolutely no comparison to the wonderful artwork of the perfume L'Initial.

Price: Could be a bit too high for my taste...

03/27/2021

8Scent 8Longevity 7Sillage

Serenissima
1217 Reviews

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Serenissima

Top Review 14

sweet and trendy

The tonka bean is truly a trend product. Just twenty years ago, it was a hidden gem in fragrance blends; it was even worn strung as a necklace.
I never would have thought back then that it would one day embark on its triumphant journey through the world of perfume.
It seemed so exotic!
And of course, you can't overlook it with Guerlain: "The Trend is a Friend!", as Uli Hoeneß famously said.

It also appears in "L'Initial" accompanied by warm, cozy vanilla; both can hardly wait for their time to shine: they want their moment right away!
And they get it!
"L'Initial" thus begins with the finale before the first notes of the introduction are played.
A bit of an upside-down world - but why not?
Bergamot appears cheerfully chatting with orange; both make themselves comfortable on the soft bed of the bold fragrance monsters and bring their own freshness.
Aromatic jasmine corresponds very well with the existing mixture, and the same goes for rose and lily.
The ladies don't hold back; after all, they are the classic beauties of the floral world! "Oh, let them be!" they seem to think as they exude their feminine, warm scents.
However, vanilla and tonka bean are ultimately supported by white musk and caramel:
For me, it becomes a bit too much: too powdery, too sweet, a little too sticky!
Even a good dose of spicy, golden-brown patchouli can't change that.
(How about a few drops of sandalwood oil? A bit of "bite" might have done "L'Initial" some good!)

But it's nice, this little cuddle toy: it spreads warmth and kindness and envelops generously!
Those who like it can settle into this feel-good oasis for a few hours and forget the time!
A bowl of sweets would go quite well with it!

Those who wish can make a statement with this: "L'Initial" is certainly not a bad signature!
It leaves fragrant traces and won't be forgotten anytime soon.

07/06/2021

10Scent 9Longevity 7Sillage

Tanith
37 Reviews

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Tanith

Very helpful Review 18

If Coco Mademoiselle Were a Guerlain

...then it would be L'initial.
Coco Mademoiselle Intense and this little gem evoke the same feelings in me: girlish but not too young, very well-groomed and floral, without becoming musty and super trendy. What is surprising is that both are quite "traditional" (fragrance) houses. The modern twist, this slightly playful and light yet "memorable" uniqueness appeals to me immensely. I would recognize this scent anywhere. On any woman (or man!), no matter where. I feel the same way about Mademoiselle; it always draws me in magically. Both are like ruffled dresses with biker boots, chic but not too ladylike, somehow lively. And yet not fleeting.
Of course, the fragrances differ quite a bit in their composition: L'initial is extremely powdery, just a bit orangey, and the caramel replaces the patchouli. A bit like a pink powder puff sitting between sweet treats and high-quality cosmetics. Incredibly long-lasting!

Ah, I am just very happy that this fragrance is available again. Nothing is as sad in the world of fragrance as the love for an extinct composition. But for now, we are well taken care of.

03/25/2021

9.5Scent 7Longevity 7Sillage

VegaOcean
155 Reviews

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VegaOcean

Top Review 14

Shalimar Sisterhood or simply Best of Guerlain Reloaded?

For the professionals among you:
You mix Shalimar EdP with the first (or second, but not the third) Dior Homme Intense and add a bit of orange-caramel on top. Done! A great iris unisex oriental-gourmand. Any questions?

Now let's move on to the non-professionals and semi-professionals here at Parfumo (that’s me):
When you first sniff it, you think of powdery iris, but you are surprised when you look at the note list of the formulation. No iris? Emulated iris? How does that work? Or what am I missing?
(Update: It works. Vega has learned that bleached iris = Iris pallida. Applause! 10 years testing perfumes and not knowing that? I despise myself...)
Powdery, soft, fluffy, lilac iris sugar mist. Carried by salty caramel and orange syrup.
Sweet, yes. But never disgustingly sweet. Beautifully warm and bright musk powder. Vanilla and floral oriental tones. A cuddler. A unisex seducer. A non-binary work of art made from everything Guerlain could still find in the Hall of Fame. United. Refined. Gold-plated in the bee bottle. An Initial scent. A deep DNA confession of the Guerlain brand. That’s how I perceive the whole thing.
One should like it sweet and powdery/woody. Radiance and longevity are good but never disturbingly enormous. Not a loudmouth. A noble poet and an eternal romantic. A companion for everyone. That’s L’initial.
I love wearing it. Again and again. Everywhere.

Seen and purchased at the Guerlain counter Hamburg/Alsterhaus. Also available online.

More reviews

Statements

54 short views on the fragrance

Sweetsmell75

5 years ago

9.5Scent 8Longevity 7Sillage

For me, "Shalimar Parfum Initial"
... with a trimmed top note :)
For everyone missing their Initial ..
here it is again :)
*Powder dream*

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Guerlinchen

4 years ago

8Scent 6Longevity 7Sillage

Tears are flowing - first from joy! L'Initial is back! Then from sadness - no, it's not. Just a shadow of its former self, where is the depth, H+S gone?!

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Bastian

5 years ago

8Scent 8Longevity 7Sillage

Thierry Wasser has created a lovely floral scent here, accompanied by a subtle woodiness. It's not sweet..
Well done

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Yatagan

5 years ago

7.5Scent 7Longevity 7Sillage

Powdery musky floral notes with juicy fruity accents hidden underneath - and a hint of bergamot in the distance.

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FioreMarina

5 years ago

9.5Scent 8Longevity 7Sillage

A symphonic interplay of orange, iris, and tonka, fruity, powdery, with a soft base - floating elegance, one word: perfection.

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CharlAmbre

2 years ago

8Scent 8Longevity 7Sillage

The lovely mature iris just came fresh from the invigorating bergamot bath and now rests on clean, soft wood in a patchouli bed.

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Pluto

5 years ago

8Scent 8Longevity 7Sillage

A new flanker of Shalimar, just without Shalimar in the name. Nice, but nothing new, sisterhood...

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Ergoproxy

5 years ago

7.5Scent 7Longevity 5Sillage

Powdery iris is dominant, a spicy sweetness wafts beneath, while a hint of citrus floats above. It's good, but something's missing for me.

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Tabla

5 years ago

8.5Scent 7Longevity 7Sillage

Shalimar Parfum Initial light. Feminine, not dry, not too sweet. It leaves an incredibly beautiful iris-focused floral-fresh powdery veil.

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ParfumAholic

5 years ago

10Scent 9Longevity 7Sillage

Apart from the fresher top notes, it's 1:1 SPI in terms of iris powderiness, vanilla with citrus sprinkles & this amazing scent melt. Thank you, Thierry.

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