Shalimar EDP by Guerlain

Shalimar is another utter classic. I haven’t tried this in years, but decided to grab some of the EDP, while testing out a few others in the series. Its legendary status dates back to 1925 and is among the ranks of Chanel No. 5 in terms of its mythos. But, this is a wholly different fragrance. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it actually worth a try?

What does Shalimar EDP Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, iris, vanilla, jasmine, rose, balsam, tonka bean, cedar, incense, leather

Click here to try: Shalimar EDP

My Full Review

Here’s how Guerlain describes it: The epic love story between Shah Jahan and Princess Mumtaz Mahal inspired Guerlain’s legendary Shalimar. Warm vanilla rounds out uplifting and refreshing citrus notes to make this sensual oriental perfume the fragrance of desire.

Shalimar starts off with the bergamot and other parts of the citrus accord, shining through. Bright, but not clear, a fuzzy impression. I get plenty of the incense type of smokiness early on and even the leathery aroma coming from the base. Very much the “Guerlinade”  out in full force.

Smooth, warm, with spicy facets (good amount upon the initial spray), and the emerging powdery smell of the iris and vanilla combination. This EDP is much less floral than the more straightforward EDT version, as this one has much more complexity going on.

The next phase becomes woodier and balsamic (somewhat of the animalistic sort of scent, mimicking the old ‘civet’ which was in here once upon a time) on my skin. Less smoky, still smooth, and less of a citrus aspect also. Those notes still remain present, but you get more of the oriental styling that Shalimar is known for.

Shalimar turns less bright with the fading of the prominent citrus and darker with a heavier emphasis on the vanilla. It is interesting, the iris is still there, but can’t quite climb over the other notes here as it does in the EDT.

Vanilla and rich leather is the next part that comes across strongly on me. That’s most of what will dominate the rest of the way. It’s fresher, less smoky and of the civet sort of smell (which basically disappears for me), and kind of a cool sort of powdery scent.

Vanilla, floral, kind of musky and just that powdery vibe throughout.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

On me, Shalimar EDP is well above average with how it projects, the scent trail that it leaves behind, and just the scent bubble that it creates around me.

It’s never struck me as being massive and overwhelming. However, it is a strong perfume and doesn’t really need to be sprayed to any great extent in order to be effective.

The longevity here is somewhere in the 8.5-9.5 hour range, on my skin. Call it 9, with the potential to hit 10+ for some people. I haven’t gotten it to that point, but I’m sure some others will.

Seasonally, it’s going to be at its best from autumn through early spring. Despite the citrus influence, the other notes are going to be too heavy and cloying to carry on in the summertime. I do know that Guerlain has released Guerlain flankers better suited for summer, but I have yet to try them.

Shalimar has been the signature scent for plenty of women over the years. It can work in the daytime or even as a nighttime wear. But, this one feels more dependent on one’s own personal style as to when it’ll work.

It does have a sultry kind of sexiness and confidence. Yet, it is also well put together and classy. Get a sample and experiment with Shalimar to see when the mood strikes you.

Overall Impressions of Shalimar EDP

Overall, do I like Shalimar? Absolutely. Among women’s fragrances, I think that is ranks among my favorites ever. There’s so much here to enjoy about this Guerlain scent and it still holds up today.

Now of course, it might not have the same impact as it once did. In that, after 100 years, there have been plenty of perfumes that have tried to copy what you get with Shalimar. Some take bits and pieces, others go for the full thing. As such, you’ve probably smelled some similar scents. It’s impact has been immense.

I love the citrus, smoke, balsamic qualities, powder, the vanilla. It’s all a comforting and classic style, that never strikes me as being boring. Plenty of dynamism for such an old formula.

The performance also still holds up. Guerlain hasn’t seemed to dilute the life out of this fragrance, which is great news.

The eau de parfum still outranks the EDT version. I also like Shalimar Parfum Initial, just to a lesser extent, as well.

Is this better than Chanel No. 5? I do like Shalimar more than either No.5 Parfum or the EDP. That’s a different sort of scent, but I just think Shalimar smells better.

I recommend trying this fragrance out. See how it works with your own taste and style. It might not be at a price point, that you’d want to blind buy a full bottle, but it’s such a classic that Shalimar is well worth experiencing at least a few times.

Best Men's Colognes

Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with different fragrances, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, I have written hundreds of reviews and other pages about perfumes and colognes.