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, August 22, and we are having seesaw weather again! It veers between very hot and humid, and cooler but with sudden torrential downpours. Next week, we’re supposed to get a stretch of cooler weather without the thunderstorms. I’ll believe it when I see it! Meanwhile, in the SLOW process of reorganizing and tidying, I came across an early favorite in my fragrance journey, the discontinued Blasted Bloom by Penhaligon’s. It was a gift from my husband that he brought back from one of his work trips, and he chose it himself. The man has great taste!
I still love Blasted Bloom and I was happy to wear it again. It suits this unpredictable but mostly hot and thundery weather, with its notes of sea water and green leaves. It’s very refreshing without being citrusy.
On another note, I find myself surprisingly excited by the 100th anniversary release of Shalimar! I know some of you are huge, longtime fans; I’m not, though I like it now, more than I did ten years ago when the only version I found approachable was the eau de cologne (I know, I know). Shalimar L’Essence sounds really great, and I like the bottle design. It is supposed to be available starting September 1, have any of you pre-ordered it or planned to rush out to get it asap?
Serenity Now Scents and Sensibilities 
I’ll probably buy it. I have bought the Millesime versions the last few years.
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Which of those have you liked best?
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Milliseme Iris is my favorite ❤️
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I remember enjoying Blasted Bloom. As for the new Shalimar, I’ll check it out if I see it. I enjoyed the jasmine from last year.
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Hello! Thank you for such a lovely read. I’ve always wanted a Penhaligon’s fragrance, but they’re too expensive to do a blind buy, and I’ve yet to come across an in-person display. I was probably close to one this past April at Bergdorf’s sensational makeup and fragrance section in NYC, but there was so much being represented there, I kinda froze. I ended up buying Guerlain’s Aqua Allegoria Rosa Verde EdT, which is a nice-enough cucumberish-rose fragrance but alas! – – not a fav. (I am a self-avowed bottle wh*re, and can never resist those adorable AA bottles…but Penhalogon’s bottles are legendary too!)
I love the way your Blasted Bloom sounds. I love green freshies!
So, I blind bought Carven’s 2013 Le Parfum on ebay last week (a sealed 2013 original release bottle). I am so head-over-heels with this creamy, feminine Kurkdjian-created delight, I went right back and ordered a second one from the same seller (it’s the smaller 50 ml bottle – – a massive steal at only $25).
At the same time and from the same ebay shop, I also blind-bought the following year’s Carven Kurkdjian-created release, 2014’s L’Eau de Toilette in the 3.3 oz size, also sealed ($41). I can’t figure out if it’s turned or just so massively not my cup of tea. The only part I can handle is the latest part of the drydown, which is pretty.
I smelled Shalimar for the first time in 2004, having been presented the Eau de Parfum from a friend, who adored it. At the time, it was too much for me and I stupidly (and probably insultingly) returned it to her. Since then, I’ve come to very much appreciate Shalimar and many of its flankers. My fav is Wasser’s Shalimar Cologne EdT, which some people attest is Mathilde Laurent’s Shalimar Eau Legere in a lightened version. I also bought 2020’s Shalimar Philtre de Parfum, a very wearable (and unisex) lavender-forward flanker. In the early days of the Shop Goodwill online auctions a few years ago, I got quite a few different years of Shalimar, including a 1950s parfum in a dark lavender-colored velvet box with a horse design on the inner lid. I had done a ton of online research about estimating the date of release based on bottle shape, label design & packaging before bidding on it (including reading Kafkaesque’s excellent treatises on Shalimar). I realized it would be a delightful rarity if it had been stored well. I won the auction and it was in great condition and very intense. Then, months later, I dropped it on the floor of my closet and it was gone…yet *not* gone, if you get my drift…😂 Yep, my clothes closet still smells of 1950s Shalimar!💃🏻(Coulda been a lot worse, right?) Apologies for the overly-long post and thanks again for sharing your Penhaligon’s treasure.
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I love your Shalimar stories! I think I have both of those Carvens, must check. If you get a chance to fly internationally, I have seen Penhaligon’s in those duty free shops. Also, some of the discounted websites have nice Penhaligon’s sampler sets.
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Thanks for the great tip. I’ll check the www for Penhaligon’s sample sets. (If I fibd thrm, hope I don’t OD on the adorable wee bottles! 😄) Costco.com was carrying a few Penhaligon’s a couple years ago (a few of the ones with the gold animal head caps).
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It’s so hard to dress for the fluctuating weather, sometimes in a 20-degree F range in a single day. Blasted Bloom sounds perfect for the weather you’re having. With the cooler days, I’ve already started wearing heavier fragrances, such as the rose-raspberry-oud-incense Oud Vibration by Roos & Roos. As I haven’t smelled many versions of Shalimar and the one modern version I tried didn’t agree with me, this isn’t a lemming for me… probably a good thing for my wallet!
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If you’ve struggled with Shalimar, as I did, the eau de cologne might appeal. It’s not a huge love for me, but I do like it and it was the first Shalimar I tried that I “got.”
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Hi OH,
LOVE that Shalimar Eau de Cologne. It’s a perfect summer wear instead of the heavy depths of the OG. I split about half and have used quite a lot so there are probably only about 5ml left in my bottle. It will be missed when it runs dry.
I’m excited about the anniversary extrait with the clear stopper and thin waist, like the pre-1981 bat bottle. It’s exquisite. Probably not going to pop for it though. There’s enough vintage and modern here to last 5 lifetimes.
Portia xx
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I might get the little bottle, since I know I’m unlikely to wear it much but I do love the bottle and the “specialness” of the centennial. I hope you and Jin are well!
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Ah! I didn’t know it was coming in different sizes. If they do a 30ml I might just splurge.
Yes, thanks. We are enjoying some sunshine. First two days without rain in August. Very nice.
You too.
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Thank you for the heads up on the forthcoming Shalimar release. I’m beginning to love Shalimar again, through the z millesimes. The Tonka is my favourite. I’m also fond of the Initial version too.
The weather here is warmish, still & humid, but not the recent heatwaves thankfully. I’m wearing samples. Some hits, some misses.
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What have been the hits?
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As I say Millesime Tonka drew me back in & is such a favourite in cooler weather, I even have a back up!
I was delighted L’Initial, formerly known as Shalimar L’Initial was released as part of the Legendaires line. Such a pretty iris.
I had all the Millesimes but sold the Vanilla on. It had the baby poop note, that is my kryptonite, front & centre.
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I had the same reaction to the Millesime Vanille, 😩 ugh!
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Reading the notes for L’Essence it really leans into the vanilla. When it launches over here I will need to go test. It may be Millesime Vanilla all over again
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