Comments on: Guerlain ~ Shalimar http://scentzilla.com/2006/03/22/guerlain-shalimar/ A monster perfume habit. On a rampage... with a wanton waft of sillage in its wake. Thu, 28 Aug 2008 02:10:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Scentzilla! http://scentzilla.com/2006/03/22/guerlain-shalimar/#comment-835 Scentzilla! Fri, 24 Mar 2006 18:10:33 +0000 http://scentzilla.com/?p=125#comment-835 Flora, so Shalimar is sort of a Baby Jane/Joan Crawford-y scent to you, I guess? *Sniff* Poor, poor Shalimar. It's been around so long that I'd guess most folks have their personal connotations with it. My own is actually wrapped around a friends mom, who didn't wear Shalimar at all, but Lou Lou, which she always compared to Shalimar as being "just as good as Shalimar, maybe even better." Heh. So to me, Shalimar became like this iconic standard around which you judge everything else. In a way, that is. :) Hi Busylizzie! "And if they weren’t wearing Shalimar, they were wearing its downmarket cousin Emeraude, White Shoulders, or Joy, none of which I can wear today because of their sad, past-prime connotations." Ay, I have the same problem with so many vintage scents myself, sigh. It's kind of heartbreaking in a way, isn't it? I'm actually kind of surprised in a way that you mention Cabochard and Miss Dior - I know that some folks feel cheated by their current incarnations. I'm guessing you find the spirit and message of those two still rings true, and I do know that you're in good company for that appreciation of those leathery beauties. I like the parfum of certain scents, but honestly, some things I don't think I could bear as anything other than an eau, simply because I either love the sillage of an eau too much, or because I like the way the notes in some eaus play out on my skin better. And also, I have no Holy Grail scent - I am polyamorous when it comes to perfume :) Thanks for stopping by! Flora, so Shalimar is sort of a Baby Jane/Joan Crawford-y scent to you, I guess? *Sniff* Poor, poor Shalimar. It’s been around so long that I’d guess most folks have their personal connotations with it. My own is actually wrapped around a friends mom, who didn’t wear Shalimar at all, but Lou Lou, which she always compared to Shalimar as being “just as good as Shalimar, maybe even better.” Heh. So to me, Shalimar became like this iconic standard around which you judge everything else. In a way, that is. :)

Hi Busylizzie! “And if they weren’t wearing Shalimar, they were wearing its downmarket cousin Emeraude, White Shoulders, or Joy, none of which I can wear today because of their sad, past-prime connotations.” Ay, I have the same problem with so many vintage scents myself, sigh. It’s kind of heartbreaking in a way, isn’t it? I’m actually kind of surprised in a way that you mention Cabochard and Miss Dior - I know that some folks feel cheated by their current incarnations. I’m guessing you find the spirit and message of those two still rings true, and I do know that you’re in good company for that appreciation of those leathery beauties. I like the parfum of certain scents, but honestly, some things I don’t think I could bear as anything other than an eau, simply because I either love the sillage of an eau too much, or because I like the way the notes in some eaus play out on my skin better. And also, I have no Holy Grail scent - I am polyamorous when it comes to perfume :) Thanks for stopping by!

]]> By: Busylizzie http://scentzilla.com/2006/03/22/guerlain-shalimar/#comment-831 Busylizzie Fri, 24 Mar 2006 10:19:12 +0000 http://scentzilla.com/?p=125#comment-831 "I just find Shalimar to be vulgar, somehow. I associate it with the kind of sad women who wear cracked pancake makeup and too much rouge" ---oooh, does that comment resonate. In the 70s I used to work at the perfume counter of a mid-to-upscale department store (HEAVEN for a teenager, and I clearly have not recovered yet as I am now hooked on crusing perfume blogs). We had a certain category of 'lady' shopper who just couldn't say no to makeup or perfume, and boy, I swore I would never, ever wear the sheer volume of stuff they wore. And if they weren't wearing Shalimar, they were wearing its downmarket cousin Emeraude, White Shoulders, or Joy, none of which I can wear today because of their sad, past-prime connotations. But then, every once in a while I am startled to find myself liking a stranger's scent and then realizing it's one of the above, which goes to show you that chemistry and, above all, subtle application can make a world of difference. The good news is that, after working the counter for several years, I was able to narrow hundreds of scents down to my personal Holy Grail fragrances at an early age: Cabochard for winter and Miss Dior for summer (plus l'Air du Temps because it just smells like soap on me and sometimes clean is all I want, but it's not an HG, though I am still a total sucker for that bottle). Unfortunately, I got spoiled: I don't care for any formulation but the parfum, so I have to dole it out sparingly yet use it up before it turns, a tricky balance. A dab of perfume just stays so close to the body, whereas with sprays and splashes I feel I am carrying the perfume equivalent of Pigpen's miasma around on my shoulders. Still, the enforced parsimony means that I rarely overdo it, so the concentration isn't de trop. Anyway, thanks for the blog! It's great fun. “I just find Shalimar to be vulgar, somehow. I associate it with the kind of sad women who wear cracked pancake makeup and too much rouge” —oooh, does that comment resonate. In the 70s I used to work at the perfume counter of a mid-to-upscale department store (HEAVEN for a teenager, and I clearly have not recovered yet as I am now hooked on crusing perfume blogs). We had a certain category of ‘lady’ shopper who just couldn’t say no to makeup or perfume, and boy, I swore I would never, ever wear the sheer volume of stuff they wore. And if they weren’t wearing Shalimar, they were wearing its downmarket cousin Emeraude, White Shoulders, or Joy, none of which I can wear today because of their sad, past-prime connotations. But then, every once in a while I am startled to find myself liking a stranger’s scent and then realizing it’s one of the above, which goes to show you that chemistry and, above all, subtle application can make a world of difference. The good news is that, after working the counter for several years, I was able to narrow hundreds of scents down to my personal Holy Grail fragrances at an early age: Cabochard for winter and Miss Dior for summer (plus l’Air du Temps because it just smells like soap on me and sometimes clean is all I want, but it’s not an HG, though I am still a total sucker for that bottle). Unfortunately, I got spoiled: I don’t care for any formulation but the parfum, so I have to dole it out sparingly yet use it up before it turns, a tricky balance. A dab of perfume just stays so close to the body, whereas with sprays and splashes I feel I am carrying the perfume equivalent of Pigpen’s miasma around on my shoulders. Still, the enforced parsimony means that I rarely overdo it, so the concentration isn’t de trop. Anyway, thanks for the blog! It’s great fun.

]]> By: Flora http://scentzilla.com/2006/03/22/guerlain-shalimar/#comment-830 Flora Fri, 24 Mar 2006 06:59:59 +0000 http://scentzilla.com/?p=125#comment-830 I have never been able to wear this, and I love the other Guerlains. It's just too strong and too sweet. I even love the "failed" Nahema, which is so hard to find now. I recently tried Vol de Nuit after many years of not smelling it - pure love. I just find Shalimar to be vulgar, somehow. I associate it with the kind of sad women who wear wear cracked pancake makeup and too much rouge even into their seventies, blissfully unaware of how they really look. I have never been able to wear this, and I love the other Guerlains. It’s just too strong and too sweet. I even love the “failed” Nahema, which is so hard to find now. I recently tried Vol de Nuit after many years of not smelling it - pure love. I just find Shalimar to be vulgar, somehow. I associate it with the kind of sad women who wear wear cracked pancake makeup and too much rouge even into their seventies, blissfully unaware of how they really look.

]]> By: Scentzilla! http://scentzilla.com/2006/03/22/guerlain-shalimar/#comment-820 Scentzilla! Thu, 23 Mar 2006 20:44:43 +0000 http://scentzilla.com/?p=125#comment-820 Patty, your mom's lucky then - I wish I could carry it off so well as other people sometimes do. And yet, I wear it occasionally anyhow, heh. Oh well, it makes me happy ;) Victoria, that surprises me. Given some of the other scents you can pull off, I'd have thought this one for sure would be right up your alley. Shoot, that sucks. But yeah, it's Shalimar - there's no way it smells like anything else whether it works on your skin or not. Patty, your mom’s lucky then - I wish I could carry it off so well as other people sometimes do. And yet, I wear it occasionally anyhow, heh. Oh well, it makes me happy ;)

Victoria, that surprises me. Given some of the other scents you can pull off, I’d have thought this one for sure would be right up your alley. Shoot, that sucks. But yeah, it’s Shalimar - there’s no way it smells like anything else whether it works on your skin or not.

]]> By: Victoria O http://scentzilla.com/2006/03/22/guerlain-shalimar/#comment-819 Victoria O Thu, 23 Mar 2006 17:42:38 +0000 http://scentzilla.com/?p=125#comment-819 I can't do this one, and I have really, really tried. Even again just recently in parfum. As you said, it's still Shalimar. I can’t do this one, and I have really, really tried. Even again just recently in parfum. As you said, it’s still Shalimar.

]]> By: Patty http://scentzilla.com/2006/03/22/guerlain-shalimar/#comment-818 Patty Thu, 23 Mar 2006 17:18:00 +0000 http://scentzilla.com/?p=125#comment-818 It doesn't behave on me either. I do dearly love it, though, I just can't wear it. I'm always trying to convince my mom to wear it just so I can sniff it on someone it smells good on, because when it works on someone's chemistry, it is an unbelievable scent. It doesn’t behave on me either. I do dearly love it, though, I just can’t wear it. I’m always trying to convince my mom to wear it just so I can sniff it on someone it smells good on, because when it works on someone’s chemistry, it is an unbelievable scent.

]]> By: Scentzilla! http://scentzilla.com/2006/03/22/guerlain-shalimar/#comment-817 Scentzilla! Thu, 23 Mar 2006 16:09:00 +0000 http://scentzilla.com/?p=125#comment-817 Howdy there, Red_Hot_Mama: Welts? Yikes. That's less than elegant, sure enough, heh. Without being too nosy, how long ago was this? You might be able to revist Shalimar now, since a.) the way bergamot used to be used in perfumes has changed and that is to my mind the most likely culprit for adverse skin reactions (I can't remember the exact time frame, but it was a good while ago), and b.) the scent has been even further reformulated to fit in with IFRA and EU regulations for allergens and all that. Who knows, you may finally get to wear it with abandon. Oooh, also, if you still love the smell of it but don't wish to risk a reaction, Guerlain makes a hair serum (they call it a "gel" but it's straight silicone, not a gel at all) for Shalimar. It's wonderful, and truth be told, the fragrance wears on me as truthful as the parfum. It's subtle, since it's in the hair and not being warmed by the skin, but still quite nice. Howdy there, Red_Hot_Mama: Welts? Yikes. That’s less than elegant, sure enough, heh. Without being too nosy, how long ago was this? You might be able to revist Shalimar now, since a.) the way bergamot used to be used in perfumes has changed and that is to my mind the most likely culprit for adverse skin reactions (I can’t remember the exact time frame, but it was a good while ago), and b.) the scent has been even further reformulated to fit in with IFRA and EU regulations for allergens and all that. Who knows, you may finally get to wear it with abandon. Oooh, also, if you still love the smell of it but don’t wish to risk a reaction, Guerlain makes a hair serum (they call it a “gel” but it’s straight silicone, not a gel at all) for Shalimar. It’s wonderful, and truth be told, the fragrance wears on me as truthful as the parfum. It’s subtle, since it’s in the hair and not being warmed by the skin, but still quite nice.

]]> By: Red_Hot_Mama http://scentzilla.com/2006/03/22/guerlain-shalimar/#comment-816 Red_Hot_Mama Thu, 23 Mar 2006 15:48:31 +0000 http://scentzilla.com/?p=125#comment-816 Shalimar was my very first fragrance obsession. My Aunt wore it & I thought her so elegant. I dreamed of the scent until I finally was old enough to get a workers permit (15) & a job as a cashier at Drug Fair. My first several paychecks went to the purchase of my bottle of Shalimar. I'm sure it was an edt, as that would have been the least expensive at the time. Unfortunately, where ever I sprayed it I developed terrible red welts. Oh, the irony! I gave it to my Aunt. Shalimar was my very first fragrance obsession. My Aunt wore it & I thought her so elegant.

I dreamed of the scent until I finally was old enough to get a workers permit (15) & a job as a cashier at Drug Fair. My first several paychecks went to the purchase of my bottle of Shalimar. I’m sure it was an edt, as that would have been the least expensive at the time.

Unfortunately, where ever I sprayed it I developed terrible red welts.

Oh, the irony! I gave it to my Aunt.

]]> By: Scentzilla! http://scentzilla.com/2006/03/22/guerlain-shalimar/#comment-815 Scentzilla! Thu, 23 Mar 2006 14:51:36 +0000 http://scentzilla.com/?p=125#comment-815 March, the parfum is not quite as harsh, and if that doesn't work for you, I'd just skip this one. Robin, I still have not tried the Light yet! And after all this time, too! Christina, lucky lucky you - that's a great price. Enjoy! witchygirl, I too find that its popularity is rather shocking given how strong Shalimar's personality is. It's not one that was made to appeal to everyone and their dog, not like so many get made nowadays. Too bad it wasn't a good fit for you either. March, the parfum is not quite as harsh, and if that doesn’t work for you, I’d just skip this one.

Robin, I still have not tried the Light yet! And after all this time, too!

Christina, lucky lucky you - that’s a great price. Enjoy!

witchygirl, I too find that its popularity is rather shocking given how strong Shalimar’s personality is. It’s not one that was made to appeal to everyone and their dog, not like so many get made nowadays. Too bad it wasn’t a good fit for you either.

]]> By: witchygirl http://scentzilla.com/2006/03/22/guerlain-shalimar/#comment-814 witchygirl Thu, 23 Mar 2006 00:41:05 +0000 http://scentzilla.com/?p=125#comment-814 I am also perplexed by the popularity of Shalimar. It was absolutely unbearable on me. I would even dare to say that it reeks. I guess there's something wrong with my nose, because it is the only perfume that I've ever sampled that truly made me want to flee my own arm! I am also perplexed by the popularity of Shalimar. It was absolutely unbearable on me. I would even dare to say that it reeks. I guess there’s something wrong with my nose, because it is the only perfume that I’ve ever sampled that truly made me want to flee my own arm!

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