Hello and welcome! Please understand that this website is not affiliated with Guerlain in any way, it is only a reference site for collectors and those who have enjoyed the classic fragrances of days gone by. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.
The main objective of this website is to chronicle the 200+ year old history of the Guerlain fragrances and showcase the bottles and advertising used throughout the years. Let this site be your source for information on antique and vintage Guerlain perfumes. Another goal of this website is to show the present owners of the Guerlain company how much we miss many of the discontinued classics and hopefully, if they see that there is enough interest and demand, they will bring back these fragrances!
I invite you to leave a comment below (for example: of why you liked the fragrance, describe the scent, time period or age you wore it, who gave it to you or on what occasion, what it smelled like to you, how it made you feel, any specific memories, what it reminded you of, maybe a relative wore it, or you remembered seeing the bottle on their vanity table), who knows, perhaps someone from the current Guerlain brand might see it.
If you have any questions, please send all images of your bottle and pertinent information directly to me at cleopatrasboudoir@gmail.com. I will try to assist you the best I can.
From Guerlain:
"Discover the film "The Legend of Shalimar" long version, directed by Bruno Aveillan and featuring Natalia Vodianova. Once upon a time in India, a love story between a Mughal emperor and his beloved wife. In the 17th century troubadours immortalized on their sitars loves of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. A true story became legend, exalted and magnified. This all-powerful emperor, cultivated in the secret of his heart, an indescribable passion for his divine wife.
To protect their love, Mumtaz lived in a palace away from the bustle and chaos of the world, surrounded by beautiful gardens, called Shalimar. To join Shah Jahan had to cross the arid steppes surrounded by blue mountains. When he closed his eyes, he imagined to prepare such an odalisque. ll guessed the precious silk carpets, cushions brocades, her maids throwing armfuls of flowers in her bath. He saw her golden hair, could gently caress the grain of his skin and smell her perfume. Images It arose. A breast. A pin.The neck. Nothing more than the tip of the ear, shoulder, his mouth still. Faster, faster, to find her.
Suddenly conch mugirent vibrating in the air, silencing the shrill cry of the peacocks, he reached the goal of his journey ... Shalimar Gardens. Then he saw goddess among goddesses amid flaming. He heard the rattle of his bracelets. Her sari embroidered with gold rustled on his fine and soft silhouette.Finally, he saw his face, as if so much beauty and emotion terrassaient, lowered eyelids. She stood before him without speaking. He took his time to detail, enjoy the long necklace with beads and later in the hollow breast, guess the secret of her voluptuous trail. This love they lived as a perpetual party plunged them in another place where only had the time.
Love this moment that Shah Jahan wanted to capture ... He led her to the lake. Not a egret in flight, not a movement in the water when she boarded a small flat-bottomed boat. The whole world seemed to hold its breath, when before their eyes, the water parted and four spikes pierced the surface. They went slowly towards the sky leaving appear four domes of white marble, perched on glistening crystal water that surrounded a gigantic dome immaculate marble minarets. Perforated facades as embroidered in stone galleries with elegant arcades doors, balustrades inlaid with semi-precious stones ... an entire palace springs water.
A special present. The Taj Mahal will laugh at Time and become a marvel admired by the world. "
Version: Film 5min45 long version
Shalimar has been presented in various eau de toilette bottles over the years, ranging from splash bottles to sprays. Shalimar Toilet Water debuted in 1925 in a splash bottle, succeeded by the Toilet Water Spray (Eau de Toilette around 1959) .
This guide will help you identify and date your bottles.
You may still be able to find the following:
- Eau de Toilette Spray 2.5 fl oz
- Eau de Toilette Spray 1.7fl oz
- Eau de Toilette Gold Bee Bottle 16.9fl oz
- Eau de Toilette Gold Bee Bottle 33.8fl oz
- Eau de Toilette White Bee Bottle 16.9fl oz
- Habit De Fete Eau de Toilette Spray Refill 3.1fl oz
- Shalimar Light Eau de Toilette Spray 2.5fl oz
Flacon Goutte (Teardrop Bottle) c1923-2001
Bottle created by Pochet et du Courval to hold eaux de toilette only. Bottle also made by different manufacturers over the years. Created as the standard Eau de Toilette presentation. The frosted glass stopper is made of two cockle shells; the label depicts two dolphins known as ‘Etiquette Dauphin’.
Different manufacturers:
- 50cc/50ml/1.7 oz - 8 to 9cm/3.15" to 3.54" (1973) replaced by 50ml - 8.9 cm (1983-1988)
- 100cc/100ml/3.4 oz - 12 to 13cm/4.72" to 5.12" (1938) replaced by 100ml - 12.5 cm (1983-1994)
- 250cc/250ml/8.4 oz - 16 to 17cm/6.3" to 6.69" (1923) replaced by 250ml - 16.8 cm (1983-1995)
- 500cc/500ml/16.9 oz - 20 to 21cm/7.87" to 8.27" (1923-2001)
- 1 liter - 25 to 26cm/9.84" to 10.24" (1923-1999)
Stoppers:
- 1923-1973: ground glass
- 1973-1980: glass with plastic dowel
- 1980-1987: gilded glass with screw on plastic dowel
- 1987-2002: glass with plastic dowel
Labels:
- 1923-1979: newsprint dolphin label
- 1980-1987: Black and gold oval label
- 1987-2001: no label, silkscreened serigraphy on bottle instead
Eau de Toilette Travel Bottle with Atomizer c1960s-1970s
This particular bottle dates to 1967, based on the date on the box. The bottle was used for demonstration purposes so that customers could test the fragrance. It was not meant for resale.
Delft Style Refillable Atomizers c1968
The 1960s also saw a different type of bottle for Shalimar eau de toilette, this was a cylindrical metal bottle which housed a 3fl oz glass spray vial which could be replaced with a new refill when finished. The metal bottle was enameled with blue and white Oriental designs. This copyrighted design was launched in 1968. Other scents were packaged in similar looking enameled cases.
Flacon Louis XVI c1977-1983
Flacon created by Pochet et du Courval to hold extraits of Apres L'Ondee, Muguet, Mouchoir de Monsieur, Violette a deux Sous, Le Bon Vieux Temps, Ai Loe and others. Flacon has also been used for special limited editions for export such as Chamade, Shalimar, Mitsouko, Vetiver, L'Heure Bleue, Apres L'Ondee, Jicky.
Shalimar Eau de Toilette, circa 1977-1983. Photo from worthpoint
Limited Edition Eau de Toilette c1984
Limited edition 1 oz eau de toilette spray. This bottle was also used for a limited edition eau de cologne in the same year.
photo by ebay seller luxuryluver
Gold Refillable Atomizers c1981-1989
In the 1980s, gold purse sprays were available for all scents and the original Shalimar bottle got a modern makeover and now came with a plastic cap and spray nozzle. The original bottle continued to be made, but for the Parfum only. In 1981, a limited edition gold tone cylindrical bottle was offered with a glass spray bottle, which could be replaced with a new refill when finished.These gold bottles hosted all Guerlain eau de toilette fragrances at one point between 1981 and 1989.
Eau de Toilette Spray Flacon c1966-1983
This spray bottle design was also used for the Film Spray (light moisturizing lotion in spray form), launched in 1966 . Notice the box design on the 1983 version.
c1983. Shalimar Eau De Toilette Atomizer 1.7 oz. Photo by ebay seller ezlisting.
Shalimar Eau de Toilette c1980-1983
Shalimar Eau de Toilette c1980s. Peach colored box with an embossed zig zag pattern and gilded frame surrounded the perfume name and information. This is an unusual presentation and is not commonly seen up for sale.
Footless Chauve Souris c1995-2000
The footless Chauve Souris bottle was first used for Shalimar eau de toilette in 1995 and later was used for its eau de cologne as well. The eau de toilette had a blue cap/stopper and the later versions of the eau de cologne had a frosted white cap/stopper.
Habit de Fete Refillable Atomizers c1997- present
As the millennium approached, Guerlain wanted a fresh, modern look for some of its bottles, and introduced the Habit de Fete limited edition bottles in 1997. These bottles are an updated version of it's classic refillable styles, but come in three different sizes. The bottles are a thick gold tone studded with silvery dots. Refills for these bottles can be found at the Guerlain counters or purchased online.
Shalimar Habit de Fete. 3.1 oz Eau de Toilette. Photo from ebay seller jackperfume
c1998 Anniversary Edition
This special bottle had a clear crystal stopper instead of the usual blue, and the bottle was filled with Eau de Parfum splash. It came in two sizes, 1 oz and 2 oz. It also came in a 4.2 oz Eau de Toilette splash. The box is a flocked midnight blue color.
c2000 Shalimar Edition Limitee Inverse
For this limited edition,Guerlain decided to have the bottle itself made up of a sapphire blue crystal and the stopper clear crystal, instead of the reverse.This was a 30ml size eau de parfum splash for 350 francs. It was also available in eau de toilette in the 125ml size for 500 francs.
Chauve Souris Eau de Toilette c2000-2010
This is a variation on the famous Chauve Souris flacon. This flacon was replaced in 2010 by the edition by Jade Jagger.
c2003 Shalimar Eau Legere Parfumee
2003-- Shalimar Eau Legere Parfumee, also known as Shalimar Light Fragrance, introduced in 2003, it skips the musky accord and goes from the cool lemon top into a warm vanilla heart. It was created by Mathilde Laurent, a young in-house Guerlain perfumer.
c2004 Shalimar Eau Legere Parfumee
In 2004, Jean Paul Guerlain slightly changed the composition and color of the perfume. It is lighter as the name suggests and less complex than the original Shalimar. Shalimar Eau Legere Parfumee was discontinued and replaced by Eau de Shalimar in 2008.
c2008 Eau de Shalimar
Eau de Shalimar by Guerlain is a oriental vanilla fragrance for women. Eau de Shalimar is a new fragrance and it was introduced in 2008. Top notes are orange, bergamot and lime; middle notes are rose and jasmine; base notes are vanilla, iris and resin. But according to Guerlain's own information, it's only a repackaging of the successful Shalimar Eau Légère Parfumée, composed by Mathilde Laurent in 2003. Jean-Paul Guerlain reworked it slightly in 2004 and the fragrance was then attributed to him.
c2009 Fleur de Shalimar Flacons
Fleur de Shalimar 75ml eau de parfum and Eau de Shalimar Fleur 75ml eau de toilette, are two limited edition bottles for collectors. Guerlain explains that the perfumes were "created to celebrate the most bewitching and sensual note of the classic fragrance: vanilla blossom. Protective of its own rarity, it only blossoms for a few hours at sunrise. In awe of this quiet, intimate moment with vanilla flowers Guerlain set out to capture a second of eternity, etching its blossoms on the Shalimar bottle for two limited editions. The vanilla blossom on the voluptuous neck of the bottle underscores the perfume’s intensity, then appears in a precious, radiant hallmark - first in midnight blue on the glass of the bottle, then in gold on the packaging which shields its mysterious blossoming from observation".Only the bottles are different, the fragrance is unchanged.
c2010 Shalimar Edition Charms
Shalimar Edition Charms 75ml eau de parfum and Eau de Shalimar Edition Charms 75ml eau de toilette are two limited edition collector's flacons holding the usual juices. "The desire to experience sensuality, femininity, mystery...to succumb to SHALIMAR ÉDITION CHARMS, whose bottle decorated with Oriental motifs, evokes the splendours of India. Slender arabesques unfurl their delicate volutes over the bottle and box. They are inspired by the motifs on the rings worn by Indian women on every occasion, along with the embroidery admired on the shimmering colours of ceremonial saris. A blue silk thread is wound around the neck of the bottle, holding the famous golden "signet" engraved with the double G."
