I think you really have to know your perfumes to start discerning between interpretations – diffusions of an original fragrance. I posted a while ago about Shalimar Souffle Intense, an interpretation of the original 1925 version of Shalimar and loved it, so it’s no surprise that I love this one too. Shalimar is one of the fragrances that has stood the test of time – it’s heady, sweet and musky but in contemporary versions goes lighter and brighter. Shalimar Souffle de Lumiere is classed as an ‘oriental’ fragrance which I would swear not to like, and yet the addition of ylang ylang and jasmine, both of which I do like, make it less specific in its category.
The milky glass is reflective of the creamy nature of this new version of Shalimar… it’s smooth and warm at the same time as being fresh and bright. Clever. Created by Theirry Wasser, the recipe of begamot, jasmine, ylang ylang, vanilla, musk and benzoin tells you all you need to know and whether or not you’ll like it – the list is a perfect description in the same way as you might list out a cake ingredient list and know precisely what you’ll get when you’re done.
I often check across perfume sites to see what the experts think – the one real criticism of this is that the last isn’t good, perhaps only a couple of hours, and I think I’d agree but the joy of the spritz is so real that it’s not something I particularly mind. It’s exclusively at Selfridges HERE for £74.
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