Shalimar Perfume History
Shalimar perfume is one of the signature fragrances of the famous House of Guerlain, founded in 1828 in Paris, France. Shalimar was named after the garden in Lahore in what is now Pakistan, built by Shah Jahan in memory of his wife. The perfumes of the House of Guerlain have created and influenced trends in the fragrance world, and none more than Shalimar. Shalimar has exotic oriental overtones and is evocative of the luxurious fragrance of an Eastern tropical garden. Does this Spark an idea?
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History
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Created in 1925 by Jacques Guerlain, the third generation of Guerlain perfumers, Shalimar was instantly popular and became the flagship of the House of Guerlain. It was the first perfume ever made that depended heavily on vanilla as its primary scent ingredient. Shalimar was a new adaptation of the already popular Jicky created in 1889. Jicky already used vanilla notes, but not as the primary fragrance. Jacques Guerlain felt that vanilla was a powerful aphrodisiac and therefore perfect for his new, sensual creation.
Features
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Shalimar is a fragrance known as an oriental or an exotic. It has a combination of spices and florals that give it its distinctive style. The top notes are bergamot, hesperidies and lemon. Its middle notes are rose, jasmine, iris, patchouli and vetiver, and its base notes are vanilla, opoanax, musk, civet, leather, ambergris, sandalwood and incense. These base notes give Shalimar its velvety, sensual fragrance. Earlier versions of the fragrance had a muskier scent, but as it evolved and tastes changed, the citrus top notes were increased. Today the perfume is still feminine and sensual, but it is lighter to suit the style of the times.
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Style
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Guerlain is also known for its beautiful perfume flasks, and many of them have become as iconic as the perfumes themselves. Shalimar was sold in a one-of-a-kind crystal flask, made specifically for the fragrance house by Baccarat. It was exhibited for the first time at the Exhibition of Decorative Arts in Paris in 1925. The Shalimar flask is a clear, crystal, footed container with a brilliant blue crystal stopper, and this flask is still used today, although it has changed some. The flask is now flatter, and the design of the blue crystal stopper is simplified. The foot has been eliminated. From time to time special editions of Shalimar were released in different types of bottles, the rarest being Presentation Avion, a complimentary bottle given out on Air France flights between Paris and New York in the 1960s.
Types
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In addition to the classic and expensive Eau de Parfum, Shalimar is also available as a less expensive eau de toilette. The fragrance is also available in body lotion, creme, powder, bath oil, body mist and soap to satisfy the modern practice of layering scents. Guerlain has created a version called Shalimar Light, introduced in 2006, which is a modern interpretation of the classic. It includes bright citrus notes and is seen as a younger version of Shalimar.
Identification
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If you come across a vintage bottle of Shalimar, one of the easier ways to identify it is by the label. Prior to the 1970s, the label was simply the word "Shalimar," with a gold border. On newer bottles, the Guerlain name is on the label below Shalimar. Today, "Guerlain Paris" appears on the stopper as well, etched in gold. In vintage bottles, the word "Baccarat" is etched into the bottom of the foot.
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