4
Modern reinterpretation of a timeless classic
I've never tested Shalimar or its flankers (yeah, I know, shame on me) so I was getting into this with a fresh, clean slate and no expectations. I got my hands on an official sample when I bought something on Guerlain's official website and I was pretty hyped to try out a famed, classic Guerlain scent.
I was somehow expecting something more? Don't get me wrong, the scent features a beautiful Guerlinade, but on my skin it's somehow subdued. I almost have to crush my nose against my skin to even get a whiff of it. The beginning is a mix of citrusy bergamot, sweet rose and powdery iris. As it settles down, I start getting that refined vanilla I've smelled in other Guerlain fragrances. It's a bit dusty, powdery even, but it has that balanced sweetness that's quite enticing. I don't get any leathery facet like many people have, but the vanilla is warm and comforting, almost ambery in the drydown. It also starts getting a smoky facet to it that's quite enjoyable.
Overall, I think it's very lovely, but I'm surprised by the high praise it's getting (8.9/10 at the time of this review) since I think I've smelled this drydown already in other Guerlain fragrances (Art et la Matière? Extraits?). The price for this one is undoubtedly more palatable than the more expensive vanilla featured fragrances from Guerlain, so this could be a reason why it's a nice replacement to the more expensive ones. I enjoyed smelling it, but unfortunately it's a like, not a love which is why it won't be going into my collection.
I was somehow expecting something more? Don't get me wrong, the scent features a beautiful Guerlinade, but on my skin it's somehow subdued. I almost have to crush my nose against my skin to even get a whiff of it. The beginning is a mix of citrusy bergamot, sweet rose and powdery iris. As it settles down, I start getting that refined vanilla I've smelled in other Guerlain fragrances. It's a bit dusty, powdery even, but it has that balanced sweetness that's quite enticing. I don't get any leathery facet like many people have, but the vanilla is warm and comforting, almost ambery in the drydown. It also starts getting a smoky facet to it that's quite enjoyable.
Overall, I think it's very lovely, but I'm surprised by the high praise it's getting (8.9/10 at the time of this review) since I think I've smelled this drydown already in other Guerlain fragrances (Art et la Matière? Extraits?). The price for this one is undoubtedly more palatable than the more expensive vanilla featured fragrances from Guerlain, so this could be a reason why it's a nice replacement to the more expensive ones. I enjoyed smelling it, but unfortunately it's a like, not a love which is why it won't be going into my collection.
1 Comment
Donna214 3 months ago
You should try the original Shalimar as a comparison. I agree this is underwhelming, and has no projection on my skin. It feels like a watered down version to appeal to the masses for whom Shalimar is too much.