A Trip To Paris Was All It Took To Find Guerlain Shalimar Souffle de Lumiere

Guerlain Shalimar de Lumiere is a new limited edition variation on one of the brand’s most beloved fragrances, Shalimar. Over the the last three years, there have been two different Souffle perfumes I know of one of which was the original Guerlain Souffle de Parfum which was released in a few different bottles since 2014 and one Souffle Intense that launched last year. There are subtle differences with each year this releases in my opinion but nothing that would be terribly noticeable to an untrained nose like my own. However, this year I was quite delighted to hear that Guerlain was going a little lighter with their next Souffle scent that was inspired by jasmine.

You see, as much as I love Shalimar it is a pretty intense floriental and actually when Guerlain goes a little lighter with it! To me the perfect blend of Shalimar comes in the form of Parfum Initial which is a lighter version of the original juice with quite a powdery, sultry variation. I had hopes Shalimar Souffle de Lumiere would be just as light and sexy as that juice.

Finding Guerlain Shalimar Souffle de Lumiere was a little challenging as it wasn’t available in the US when it initially released and still isn’t. I was able to get a bottle several weeks ago on my trip to Paris but I have good news! Guerlain has the updated their US site with a photo and description of Shalimar Souffle de Lumiere which could mean we’ll see this very soon in the US.

Shalimar Souffle de Lumiere arrives in a original triangle falcon with a blue crystal stopper and a frosty white bottle. It’s a little plainer than past bottles but still very pretty and looks lovely next to some of my older bottles.

I really enjoy the original Souffle de Parfum. It’s a beautiful sparkling citrus, vanilla floriental that’s a bit lighter than the original Shalimar but still contains much of the same DNA. I think Souffle de Lumiere even goes lighter and fresher than that version.

This is such a lovely variation of the original juice that maintains many of the same characteristics but still can proudly stand on its own two feet. The opening is a blast of zesty citrus and bergamot and quickly settles into a warm subtly sweet layer. The florals are quick to take over before the initial mist even dries down but you’ll still get a very healthy citrus note in the background. As the scent develops it starts to take on a shimmering luminosity. It’s warm, a bit sparkly, not terribly complex but light, airy, smooth, like a fluffy towel drying in the sun (but not the scent of linen).

I don’t think I’d feel comfortable going so far as to call this a floriental. As it dries down I think it takes on a bit of the original fragrance, you’ll catch a whiff here and there, close your eyes, and just smell Shalimar in the air but it lacks the complicity, floral notes, and powdery notes of that scent. The Spring/Summer launch is ideal for the scent since it isn’t as deep nor as rich as the original. It can hold its own as being a unique scent with its own identity yet still having a close relationship with the original fragrance.

I really hope this comes to the US soon as I could see myself wanting a backup bottle of this. It isn’t as lovely as my beloved Shalimar Parfum Initial but it still manages to capture my heart with its lighter notes and easy to wear formula that has excellent silage without being overpowering. It’s a nice way to embrace Shalimar in the day or at your office without offending anyone around you or since the warmer weather is here it’s a beauty of a fragrance for warm Summer nights.

Loves it!

Have you had the pleasure of smelling it?