Destination Madagascar with Guerlain Shalimar

October 23, 2012

In 1925, Madame Guerlain caused a sensation on board the ship that was carrying her to New York. She was wearing Shalimar, the provocative fragrance with a daring concentration of vanilla that had never been smelt before.

The lure of travel, a passion for vanilla, daring excess…
In 2012, Guerlain perfumer Thierry Wasser is paying tribute to the iconic fragrance.
“There’s no doubt that Venus would be vanilla”, he enthuses. An explorer of scents always in search of exceptional raw materials, he joyfully invites us to discover the most exquisite vanilla pods. In pursuit of the “Great Queen of the Orient”, he brings back the finest pods carefully protected in his luggage. He then majestically weaves their bewitching scent into an enhanced concentration that takes Shalimar to new heights.
This first stage of the journey pays homage to Sambava vanilla from Madagascar.
It takes up to 18 months’ preparation to bring out the full delicacy of the aromas contained within the fruit of the Sambava vanilla orchid. This “black gold” is born out of the encounter between the sun-drenched land and time-honoured know-how that brings out its sweet, woody scent.
The Sambava vanilla is skilfully made into a tincture using an exclusive Guerlain technique – an essential element of the House signature – whereby it is infused for a month until it acquires all its deep, mysterious facets. The new version of Shalimar is like a vanilla overdose while the leather notes are toned down. The exceptionally high concentration of raw materials makes it more
ambery, gourmand, intense and sensual than ever.
For the occasion, the legendary bottle with its sapphire stopper and sensual curves is enveloped in a case decorated with mysterious interlacing arabesques. Everything, from the fragrance to the fluted bottle, evokes an oriental theme…

Tags: fragrance, guerlain, Madagascar, perfume, Shalimar