Eau de Shalimar Guerlain

I love Shalimar in all concentrations, from vintages to current day and flankers. Why do I love thee? For several reasons.

Firstly the story behind Shalimar, the great love of Shan Jahan for a favorite wife whose title of Mumtaz Mahal meant "The Jewel of the Palace", a love that created the luxuriant Gardens of Shalimar for her and a grief so heartbreaking that he ordered the court into mourning for two years after her death during childbirth complications. The Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world, was his last tribute to her, the greatest, grandest mausoleum for his beloved.

The bottle: Look at those curves, like a woman's curves, sensual and stirring. The shape of the bottle, designed by Raymond Guerlain in 1925 and which won the first prize at the Paris Decorative Arts Exhibition, was inspired by the fountain basins in the Gardens of Shalimar.The translucent blue cap represents the shape taken by the water springing forth ceaselessly in the fountains. 

The scent: I will focus on my SOTD Eau de Shalimar. The apple does not fall far from the tree. Eau de Shalimar on me is a fresher and lighter take on Shalimar, losing its denseness and focusing more on its powdery gourmand aspects, the vanilla and citrus notes, making it smell like a citrus vanilla cake being eaten under a cool fresh breeze on a sunny day with puffy white clouds of iris dotted above in the clear blue sky. 

Eau de Shalimar does have a sunny nature compared to Shalimar which has a smoky dark effect, which some find leathery and difficult to love. Eau de Shalimar I feel, would be a good stepping stone for those who find the original too intimidating. I felt the same about Shalimar myself when we first met, but the initial misgivings dissipated and I am very much in love with Shalimar and would wear it anywhere and everywhere and however. 

Eau de Shalimar wafts as a pleasant scent cloud about me and lasts about 4-5 hours, starting with a burst of powdery citrus and drying down to a deliciously sweet warm vanilla base. Perfect for floating about in white linen dresses.

Mini raw citrus ice cream cake