Our take
What does Shalimar Souffle de Parfum smell like?
Thierry Wasser composed this Shalimar variation in 2014. The source is the great oriental Jacques Guerlain created in 1925, and the brief was simple: keep the vanilla and lose the weight. The opening keeps the bergamot of the original. Lemon and mandarin make it fizzier and younger. In the heart Guerlain highlights an orange blossom water absolute, a material the house says it used for the first time. A sunny jasmine sambac backs it up. The base blends Indian and Tahitian vanillas with a white musk that smooths everything out. The leather and smoke that define Shalimar are gone. What's left is vanilla cream on a clean handkerchief. Next to the original, Souffle de Parfum feels well behaved, almost timid. It will suit people who find Shalimar too much, though longtime fans may get bored quickly.
When to wear it
A daytime scent for spring and summer, soft enough for the office. Two sprays on the neck last a long time and leave a pleasant vanilla trail.
It belongs to the Floral, Oriental / Amber family. Shalimar Souffle de Parfum is one of 89 creations by Guerlain in our encyclopedia.
