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Shalimar Parfum Initial Guerlain 2011

Ranked 68 in Women's Perfume

8.1 / 10 677 Ratings

A popular perfume by Guerlain for women, released in 2011. The scent is powdery-oriental. The longevity is above-average. It was last marketed by LVMH.
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Main accords

Powdery

Oriental

Floral

Sweet

Spicy

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes

Bergamot

Green notes Orange

Orange

Heart Notes

Iris

Patchouli

Vetiver

Jasmine

Rose

Base Notes

Tonka bean Musk

Musk

Vanilla

Caramel

Perfumer

Thierry Wasser

Videos

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Ratings

Scent

8.1677 Ratings

Longevity

8.2527 Ratings

Sillage

7.5491 Ratings

Bottle

9.1517 Ratings

Value for money

7.677 Ratings

Submitted by Kankuro, last update on 11/10/2025.

Interesting Facts

The face of the advertising campaign is Russian model Natalia Vodianova.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to

Shalimar Parfum Initial L'Eau

Ibisco

L'Initial

Shalimar Parfum Initial à Fleur de Peau

Shalimar Millésime Iris

La Vie est Belle L'Absolu

Reviews

72 in-depth fragrance descriptions

04/09/2013

8Scent 7.5Longevity 7.5Sillage

LadyRogue
166 Reviews

LadyRogue

Top Review 13

Shalimar?

For reasons even unknown to myself I have always resisted to even test a flanker of my beloved Shalimar. Until I was in a perfume shop last week and I found myself standing in front of the Guerlain display with "Shalimar Parfum Initial" on prominent display, looking at the familiar shaped bottle I got overcome with a sudden curiosity to smell how badly they imitated a true classic. *Hmmm*

Looking at the above listed notes I am somewhat amazed that SI is on my skin all topsy turvy! I get very little top notes save the jasmine and the iris...on my skin its all middle and base notes. And its divine in its powdery yumminess!

At first spray a shy jasmine holding an iris that is dusting herself with a yummy vanilla note is the first whiff of yum that reaches my nose. Then musk, patchouli and a sultry tonka-bean come out to play and make it even more soft and warm. I get no citric notes and am strangely glad that its nothing like Shalimar; now I get to own two beautifully bottled beauties.

"Shalimar Initial" is a soft and very feminine scent and nothing like her intense namesake. It's a scent that is perfect for office, dates where one is *close* and cuddle time at home. It's a pretty powdery cloud that invites you to inhale and enjoy!

Silage is: a warm and beautiful aura -- Longevity is: 6+ hours (especially on clothes where it lasts and lasts). If you think Shalimar Initial is in any way similar to Shalimar, I can only conclude that you can perish any thoughts that this is a flanker...Instead, accept the notions that this is a beauty all in her own right. Who knew? *note to self...don't dismiss all flankers!*

07/21/2012

8Scent

Coutureguru
237 Reviews

Coutureguru

Top Review 13

nouvellement sophistiquée

For the longest time I've dismissed Guerlain in general as not being my 'cup of tea', as it were. Humble pie chews and swallows with great difficulty :) ... I have to say that after watching a youtube review on Guerlain frags (by the fabulous flyhilaire) my interest was piqued and I went off to educate and edify my nose a while ago.
Parfum Initial, it must be said starts life a little bit of a mishmash ... it rushes out of the bottle, hits the skin and lays dormant for a good three minutes of aldehyde hell. I found this immediate effect to be a little foetid, which surprised me as I generally like a blast of good aldehydes!
The day is saved by the arrival of the most beautiful, silvery Iris ... bouyantly introducing the Vanilla, which starts off as a soft whisper and slowly crescendos to a muted roar! The florals and Patchouli here are a shadowy compliment, with the Tonka and Caramel warming up the dry down in a very edible way. This gorgeous fragrance breaks another of my taboos ... namely that I just don't do flankers :). Needless to say ... I'm hooked!!
The only thing that stopped me from an immediate purchase was that the store didn't have any 100mls in stock. Definitely full bottle worthy for me ... sooner rather than later!
Furthermore, I have made it a mission to delve deeply into the perfumed world of Guerlain :).

09/01/2014

Platinum1
59 Reviews

Platinum1

Very helpful Review 10

~ Softer Shades of Shalimar ~

~ My initial impression of "Initial" is what a lovely soft velvety powdery perfume this would make for the right women! Definitely a daily Signature scent worthy Guerlain. In a sea of "fruitchouli" Chanel and Dior's this would make something a touch unique and traditional as it is reminiscent of the original Shalimar in a softer more modern way. The vanilla and caramel make this very appealing and easy on the nose the powder keeps it feminine and classic with it's notes of patchouli and iris. A modern lighter interpretation of a classic that is sophisticated, sexy and soft! As a gent and just based on a small sample and minimal wearings this leaves even me wanting more....

Kind Regards, Plat ~

07/22/2012

8Scent 7.5Longevity 7.5Sillage

Missk
1357 Reviews

Missk

Top Review 10

Youthful spin on Shalimar

Shalimar is a fragrance I admire for being a classic and love for all its vanillary and lemony goodness, however I could never find a way to make Shalimar work on my skin. I always ended up smelling like an opened bottle of calamine lotion.

Shalimar Parfum Initial has managed to cut back on all that lemon and powder, leaving a sweeter, softer vanilla with sticky caramel and green accords. It makes less of a statement when wearing it, and I can see a plethora of youngsters falling in love with this reincarnation of Shalimar, in the 21st century.

Personally I prefer Shalimar Parfum Initial because it works better with my skin chemistry. Yet I can see why some devoted Shalimar fans would be outraged by a weaker version, devoid of lemon, incense and powder.

The scent is a little fresher, so I feel obliged to encourage those to wear it during Spring, or even Summer, when it's not too scorching hot outside. Shalimar Parfum Initial is universally pleasing. I get some interesting sexual vibes from this fragrance when I wear it. The men around me seem to adore it, which is a good sign. I expect this flanker to sell extremely well this year, and I'm hoping this will not be a short-lived special edition.

The iris note really shines in this version of Shalimar, alongside the polite and dusty vanilla, green bergamot, gooey caramel and earthy vetiver and patchouli. Thierry Wasser has done an excellent job. I compare his work to Jacques Polge's Chanel No.5 Eau Premiere, where both have managed to modernise classic fragrances in a way that appeals to the younger crowd, such as myself.

The sillage is moderate and the longevity is fantastic. It maintains the 'bad-girl' image that Shalimar was renowned for in the 20's, and for that alone I'm impressed. Shalimar Parfum Initial is worth experiencing in my opinion. I'm glad I took the leap of faith.

02/04/2014

8Scent 7.5Longevity 7.5Sillage

Fanny
67 Reviews

Fanny

Top Review 7

Skin coloured velvet

For a long long time I have been strolling in the woods, adoring them in the company of spices, amber, incense, benzoin, etc.

Recently I have been gifted a decant of SPI and I find myself in grave danger of becoming ladylike at last.
Soft, intoxicating, alluring and very sweet.
Not too sweet, just adorable.

Along the day it reminded me of Le Bain de Joop!... SPI is more refined of course: no cedar, no sandalwood, no aldehydes.
Matching notes are: vanille, tonka, patchouli, rose, musk, bergamot and jasmin.
Iris, caramel, vetiver, orange, and green notes round this baby up.
The drydown gives soft wafts of vanille and beautiful iris.

I love it.

More reviews

Statements

69 short views on the fragrance

Jazzy76

8 years ago

10Scent 7Longevity 7Sillage

4

Soft and powdery, apparently innocent, but very feminin , I loved this scent at first spray but I never owned..And now it's discontinued :(

Lily3013

3 years ago

10Scent 6Longevity 8Sillage

2

Mein absoluter Lieblingsduft. Nicht süß, nicht aufdringlich, das ganze Jahr tragbar. Leider schwer zu bekommen :/

TOP

5 years ago

2

Nostalgic scent - no longer produced. Typically feminine - nice bottle - powdered scent but sexy.

Marieposa

2 years ago

8Scent 9Longevity 7Sillage

45

51

I recognize the golden eyes
of your mother.
Iridescent silk your laughter
between kisses
of Crème Brûlée and orange sorbet.

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Guerlinchen

5 years ago

10Scent 8Longevity 8Sillage

31

12

A dream, a dream! Warm, rich, powdery, elegant, feminine, sensual, sexy - amazing! A great love that gets under your skin and doesn't just sit on it.

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FrauKirsche

3 years ago

7Scent 8Longevity 7Sillage

26

21

Young Shalimine
citrus-fresh
powder-soft in a
flower dress.
patchouli-warm
vanilla-soft
snuggly
Gentler and lighter
version...

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Yatagan

7 years ago

8.5Scent 8Longevity 7Sillage

26

5

The mother Shalimar is clearly recognizable, but it gives birth to a delicate girl: brighter, lighter, playful, unpretentious.

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Leloup

8 years ago

9.5Scent 9Longevity 9Sillage

20

3

What an incredible oriental beauty.
Magic to spray on!
I'm in love.

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Cambon

7 years ago

10Scent 10Longevity 10Sillage

19

3

Wonderful scent, unique and complex, not your typical sugary water. Powdery feminine elegance, such a shame it was discontinued! What a pity.

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Tofog

9 years ago

7Scent 7.5Longevity 7.5Sillage

19

sensual, creamy, warm, seductive, gently flattering with a perfect scent cloud and really good longevity

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Discussions

Topics about this fragrance in the forum

NaughtyKitty 10 years ago

Perfumes & Brands

Is Guerlain discontinuing Shalimar Initial?

If anyone has details on what the 'last' batch code reference number is, it would be appreciated. (Month/Year).I have a bottle ref: 4r01 (April 2014).. I would like to know if there have been any batches...