Welcome to the weekly Perfume Chat Room, perfumistas! I envision this chat room as a weekly drop-in spot online, where readers may ask questions, suggest fragrances, tell others their SOTD, comment on new releases or old favorites, and respond to each other. The perennial theme is fragrance, but we can interpret that broadly. This is meant to be a kind space, so please try not to give or take offense, and let’s all agree to disagree when opinions differ. In fragrance as in life, your mileage may vary! YMMV.
Today is Friday, April 29, and Monday is another “Scent Semantics” posting day! The word of the month, chosen by Portia, is a secret until then, so check back next week!
My roses are in full bloom this week and wow, do they smell gorgeous. I’ve posted some photos on my Instagram account.
Thanks to a timely post on Eau My Soul, I bought a very discounted bottle of Shalimar Philtre de Parfum from Costco, which sometimes has great deals on high-end fragrances. I’m very happy with my blind buy, which wasn’t completely blind because I had read that it was reminiscent of Shalimar Eau de Cologne, which I enjoy very much. Indeed it is, though not identical. For one thing, Philtre is an eau de parfum, and it definitely lasts longer. Below is the review of Shalimar Eau de Cologne I posted on Fragrantica some years ago, and I stand by it:
Happy happy happy! I have tried Shalimar EDP several times in department stores, and just didn’t like it. I recognized its quality and its legendary status but it was too heavy, too sweet, too strong, too old-fashioned. Every single time. Then I found Shalimar Eau de Cologne on sale for 24.99 at CVS, read the reviews here on my smartphone and thought, what the hell — let’s do this. So I did. I love it! This version is just yummy without being sweet. I get the vanilla, I get the smoke, I get the cedar, I get the leather. Shalimar EDC is luscious but light. Classic but not stuffy. I am just so pleased with this.
I would say that Philtre has more citrus, and less smoke and leather. It lasts all day (12+ hours) on my skin. I think the tolu balsam base note is a great touch; it adds depth and warmth.
At risk of setting off a torrent of verbiage, do you have a favorite version of Shalimar?
Serenity Now Scents and Sensibilities 
The Philtre sounds excellent! I need to try it. My favorite is my vintage Shalimar parfum. It’s pretty killer in silage and longevity. I only wear it at home. LOL My favorite wearable in polite company Shalimar is Shalimar Millesime, more vanilla, less leather. I also like the lighter Shalimar Initial.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Also, I just discovered Shalimar souffle Lumiere. It’s a bergamot centered beauty that you might also like. It features bergamot, with jasmine and ylang-ylang and white musks and woods replacing the civet. It’s quite light and pretty. (This is why I have to limit my collection. The Souffle Lumiere has been sitting in my perfume cabinet unopened for 6 months). I’ll be wearing it often now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I recently found a barely used bottle of the Millesme Vanilla Planifolia. Online. It’s due to be delivered today & I can’t wait!
I’ve also replaced my EdP with both the EdT & the latest release of the EdC. Both heavily discounted & from reputable sellers of course. All this because I was hallucinating the smell of Shalimar a couple of weeks ago!
I do love Shalimar Initial & Initial L’Eau for there Iris note. I haven’t tried the rerelease called just Initial. Has anyone else tried it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great find! You’ll have to come back and tell us how it is!
LikeLike
I only have a vintage EdT from maybe the 70ies. Its a good scent, but only for cold weather. Maybe i should try the EdC. I like your roses, we only grow vegetables in our alotment
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! I grow most of them in big pots because I can put them in the sunniest area that way, and still have room for my vegetable garden. Also, my soil is very heavy (lots of clay), so I can give them better soil in pots.
LikeLike
I’m not a Shalimar fan, but there were a couple of limited edition flankers that were nice, and I even wore them for a while from decants – but I wasn’t interested enough to look for a bottle.
I looked on the Costco site: it’s so strange to see there Serge Lutens, Tom Ford and Creed…
LikeLike
I’m quite late to the Shalimar party, not for any particular reason other than lack of availability maybe. I had the flankers before the pillar – but I treasure a tiny bottle of parfum and wish it were at least twice the size. My favourite is Parfum Initial and I have two bottles as it was discontinued for reasons that I cannot fathom. I also have Souffle and love its lemon bonbon vibe. I’m more than a bit interested in trying the Philtre – another lemming created.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If it has hit a discount store like Costco in the US, it may show up in other discount locations!
LikeLike
OOOHHHHH! OH, your roses are bloody gorgeous. I still have a bush flowering on our balcony, bright orange with yellow hearts. Sadly, not terribly fragrant but if I can get my nose into a freshly opened one before 10am there is unlovely fruity rose whisper.
I’m yet to find a Shalimar, or flanker of, that I dislike. My most worn currently is Sha-Lemur. Madigascan vanilla. I missed out oj a bottle when it was available but was given one by a very dear friend who didn’t love it.
Portia xx
LikeLiked by 1 person