Shalimar, Guerlin’s iconic perfume, celebrates 100th anniversary

Created in 1925 by Jacques Guerlain, Shalimar – the first amber perfume in history – is celebrating 100 years of a legend.

To mark the event, the Maison has unveiled Shalimar L’Essence, an intense and contemporary iteration that concentrates the distinctive codes of the iconic fragrance. 

Everything began with a legendary love story in the 17th century between the Emperor Shâh Jahân and Princess Mumtaz Mahal, for whom he created the sumptuous gardens of  Shalimar. After the tragic death of the princess, the inconsolable emperor had one of the seven wonders of the world built, the Taj Mahal. In homage to this tale, Jacques Guerlain created a perfume that would become an icon.   

During a visit with his chemist friend Justin DuPont, the perfumer discovered the compound ethylvanillin and poured a few drops into a bottle of Jicky 1889, giving birth to Shalimar. This bold masterpiece set the stage for the grand tradition of amber fragrances. 

Jacques Guerlain then turned to his nephew Raymond to create the bottle to hold this pioneering perfume. Inspired by the basins of the Shalimar gardens, the bottle was set on a pedestal and embellished with a colored stopper in sapphire blue crystal, crafted by Maison Baccarat, a first in the era.    

Two centuries later, Guerlain carries on this exceptional artisanal savoir-faire with Shalimar L’Essence, elevating the fragrance’s signature vanilla note, made from organic vanilla pods grown in Madagascar, and then fresh-cut by hand in Guerlain's Orphin workshops. The Art Deco inspired bottle and its golden logo elegantly fuse heritage and modernity.

A timeless masterpiece of perfumery, Shalimar remains an emblem of bold femininity, celebrating daring, elegance and eternal seduction.