Shalimar 1986 Eau de Parfum

Shalimar (Eau de Parfum) by Guerlain
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Ranked 5 in Women's Perfume
8.0 / 10 1495 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
Sweet
Smoky

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes Top Notes
BergamotBergamot BlossomsBlossoms
Heart Notes Heart Notes
IrisIris JasmineJasmine RoseRose
Base Notes Base Notes
VanillaVanilla Balsamic notesBalsamic notes Tonka beanTonka bean

Perfumer

Videos
Ratings
Scent
8.01495 Ratings
Longevity
8.61151 Ratings
Sillage
8.11117 Ratings
Bottle
8.91184 Ratings
Value for money
7.9400 Ratings
Submitted by DonVanVliet, last update on 02/14/2025.
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.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to
Shalimar (Eau de Toilette) by Guerlain
Shalimar Eau de Toilette
Shalimar (Extrait) by Guerlain
Shalimar Extrait
Shalimar Ode à la Vanille - Sur la route du Mexique by Guerlain
Shalimar Ode à la Vanille - Sur la route du Mexique
Shalimar Fourreau du Soir by Guerlain
Shalimar Fourreau du Soir
Shalimar (Eau de Cologne) by Guerlain
Shalimar Eau de Cologne
Emeraude (Parfum) by Coty
Emeraude Parfum

Reviews

59 in-depth fragrance descriptions
10
Bottle
10
Sillage
10
Longevity
10
Scent
Sorceress

213 Reviews
Sorceress
Sorceress
Top Review 11  
Can You Accept The Responsibility Of Wearing Shalimar?
Shalimar evokes such pleasurable memories for me. And it's scent is so deliciously decadently devious. Guerlain designed this perfume to be that way. It is a woman's scent. It is for those who know they are a woman, when they want to be a woman and when they luxuriate in being the woman they are. Because it is a perfume that brings to mind the human body as a pleasurable thing mixed with sweetness. For me, it's dry down won't attack with any sick sweet cloying floral scent or overpowering muskiness either, but rather, entice with a suspicious mixture of naughty and nice. It belongs to a faraway time, perhaps in a Sultan's tent, mesmerized by the fragrances adorned on oiled bodies, of incense lightly burning somewhere in the night.
When I wear this wonderful scent, I can take on the world. There are but a handful of perfumes that make me feel that way. Shalimar is one of them. There should not be many that can give a person such a feeling, either. Power can be a wonderful thing, yes, but it must be handled with grace. Amongst other things. The person that wears Shalimar must be prepared to do so with strength. Should you decide to wear this potion, you are accepting the responsibility of being a Shalimar woman/man.
Created in 1921 it has withstood the tests of time. Shalimar should never be confused with any designer fragrance of the moment or used as a popular scent. It is so much more powerful than any magazine, television advertisement or hype that today's fragrances attempt to parlay into sales can ever dream to attain.
It is a sexy smell that you can layer on with its accompanying lotions or creams. It's considered an Oriental with a headiness of musky vanilla that does bring others to their knees. wondering how such a thing happened to them. It was said back then that a lady didn't do three things: "smoke, dance the Tango and wear Shalimar". So for those that think of Shalimar as an old lady's perfume, think again. There really is no such animal. There are only scents that bring out one's own beauty and confidence when mixed correctly with the wearer's pheromones.
Shalimar was one of my first perfumes as a young woman and I'll always delight in wearing it. It was a wedding day perfume for me, yes. It always makes me feel special. Wearing Shalimar reminds me of whom I am and who I want to be at the moment. It gives me a smile to wear, with the confidence to wear nothing else. It just has that ability. It will always be my favorite.
Jacques Guerlain knew what he was doing when he created Shalimar with the new scent of vanillin.
4 Comments
Beachgirl2

19 Reviews
Beachgirl2
Beachgirl2
Very helpful Review 11  
Seductive
The few sniffs I've had of this in the past did not thoroughly prepare me for for the complete seductive qualities of this perfume. I'd tested it on paper and sprayed a little on my wrist from time to time and thought wow that's really nice. But after taking this beauty home I found I need to use at least 2 or 3 heavy handed sprays to achieve true satisfaction.

Some perfumes smack you in the face before making friends with you. Shalimar however does not want to be your friend, she wants to be your lover. Her goal is to seduce you slowly. Sure, she grabs your attention at first with her citrus opening, but it's pleasant, only slightly seductive like a kiss on the cheek. The opening citrus is not an orangy pop sickle on a stick sweet but rather a dry sophisticated citrus, keeps you interested and craving more.

The vanilla becomes apparent rather quickly, but this particular vanilla does not in any way remind me of today's lovely, sweet beauties. It seems a lot more sophisticated, more refined and softer. The leather notes then enters the room and lies down with the vanilla and other assorted notes like wood and incense. The combination stimulates your imagination, and as it develops on your skin, you feel as if you've been drawn into an erotic dream. I adore this perfume! Longivity and sillage are wonderful. It's not an overpowering sillage though, just seductive enough to lure but still a lady.
2 Comments
jtd

484 Reviews
jtd
jtd
Very helpful Review 9  
What should we DO with the classics?
We all have our classics that are nothing like we remember from back in the day. ('I used to wear [insert classic] until they RUINED it!) I tend to get more wistful than angry over this (Odalisque.) But just as I've sat to write about Shalimar I've found another reaction, which is to notice and then not particularly to care. I'm on a plane right now and passing through duty-free earlier spotted Chanel Antaeus, my first fragrance, my only signature fragrance, the one I wore exclusively in my junior and senior years of high school (81-82) and then intermittently for years. My first thought on sniffing it was 'this is quite literally nothing like what I used to wear.' My next thought was, 'Oh, look! They've got No 19 EDP!' and I went and spritzed.

The upside of digital perfume communities is the sharing of experiences. I have learned so much reading Basenotes reviews and threads---had more laughs, more ah ha! moments than I can count. The downside, though, is that a perfume hobby seems to engender a nostalgia/anger about how things used to be. There's that sense that contemporary perfumery has taken something intrinsic away from us. Our response is often a fetish for distinction and provenance, and of course the ensuing butt-sniffing and pack hierarchy. You know: 'I'm sure you THINK you love your current Mitsouko EDT, but you'll never truly know her until you've smelled my 1967 extrait.' I'm as guilty as the next person.

But Shalimar unexpectedly elicits in me an attitude I've tried to foster. Things do change. But I just love perfume and find immense joy in it. Call me common, call me simple, but I currently wear the most recent Shalimar EDT and love it. It just makes me tail-waggingly happy to smell it. Citrus, growl, smoke, scratchy amber & vanilla, opopanax, a sly incense. I'm sure it's not the parfum from 1925, but then again I'm not a 20s flapper. How wonderful that that era had its Shalimar. But they didn't have our Bois de Violette, my Insense, my Secretions Magnifiques. This is no pollyanna desperate optimism, no deflection of resentment. We live in a spectacular era of perfume.

My 2010 Shalimar tells me to screw the iconography and embrace the perfume. It also makes me imagine the fun of watching the apoplexy of the current generation of young perfumistas going as shrill as we have over the resctrictions on our beloved oakmoss. Imagine the heel-clacking and outrage among the Angel set when ethylmaltol, identified as the causative agent in the future medical diagnosis of Acquired Intolerance Syndrome, is outlawed.
1 Comment
10
Bottle
10
Sillage
10
Longevity
10
Scent
Briarthorn

91 Reviews
Briarthorn
Briarthorn
Very helpful Review 7  
Still blowing minds, all these years later
There are so many reviews for this one. I was on the fence on whether it would be worth adding another one, but here we go anyway.

This is not what I expected. I really don't know what I expected, just that it wasn't this. I expected to be sorta "eh" about the Shalimar EDP.

It opened up very powdery and just as I was thinking it reminded me of baby powder, It developed into a smoking campfire, but then almost right away I got the most amazing incensy, smoky, leathery, tonka beany delight. I was amazed at how quickly it developed. It finally settled down on an incense, woody note. I love it. I want it. I am surprised by it and even more delighted by how wonderful it gets along with my skin. There is no question why this scent is so iconic, well known, and universally loved. This is a work of art.

We are definitely gonna be good friends.

Dec
01
2013
0 Comments
10
Bottle
7.5
Sillage
7.5
Longevity
10
Scent
MrX

25 Reviews
MrX
MrX
Very helpful Review 6  
Unforgettable Perfume
I like any woman who loves this sophisticated perfume, but who cares about what I like or love.

So, let us see what Ernest Beaux (the nose of Channel N5) said about Guerlain and shalimar : "if I had used as much vanilla, I would have only obtained one English cream, while him, Jacques Guerlain, created SHALIMAR" . According to toutenparfum.com "The story of Guerlain".

Shalimar is an extraordinary art work
3 Comments
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Statements

22 short views on the fragrance
BertolucciKBertolucciK 4 years ago
The opening is citrusy, floral, slightly sweet and powdery. The drydown is balsamic with a beautiful vanilla like only Guerlain can do.
0 Comments
KuraiKurai 4 years ago
A museum piece? Maybe but when worn properly and on the right occasion, guaranteed to make a legendary appearance.
0 Comments
Simo975gSimo975g 3 years ago
Everytime it is worn, a new aspect pops up. The mother of orientals is yet to be overthrown by any of its imitators.
0 Comments
JoaoMartinsJoaoMartins 6 years ago
One of the most relevant scents ever created. A masterpiece and a staple in the industry.
0 Comments
TheDunkPapaTheDunkPapa 6 months ago
In a world of tonka-vanilla bombs dominating masculine fragrances, Shalimar shines like a bright incensy-ashy-velvety star on a man's skin.
0 Comments
Jazzy76Jazzy76 7 years ago
I am excited trying to write about the scent of my dreams: citrusy at the opening, but after warm and sensual.Strong sillage. A masterpiece
1 Comment
AcantheaAcanthea 1 year ago
There is something familiar and nostalgic like fallen leaves burnt in the autumn yet elegant and regal like a dark incensed church.
0 Comments
CzarcasmCzarcasm 6 months ago
Shalimar is proof that even the classics don't work for everybody. I wanted to love her, but instead I ended up smelling like I peed myself.
2 Comments
KatjaCakeKatjaCake 6 years ago
Une légende!
0 Comments
RachelgRachelg 2 years ago
Just a dab from a vintage to feel old fashioned elegant. If I was a vanilla-centric fan, this would be a full bottle buy.
0 Comments
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