Shalimar Parfum Initial L'Eau

 The opening combines citrus notes with bergamot and neroli, but is is less fresh on my skin than the to notes seem to suggest. Not unpleasant, but a bit colourless and with a slightly too synthetic bent. The heart notes soon add some sweetness, mainly a rose aroma and a nice jasmine, than blends in very well with a good, light-hearted iris in the drydown.

The base remains sweet, but the sweetness is never cloying or too thick. At this stage a well-executed vanilla is dominant, with hints of wood towards the end.

The performance is excellent, with moderate sillage, very good projection and nine hours of longevity.

This is a nice flanker, that remains interesting throughout the whole development. Not overly laboratory-chemical, it is a good for a cooler spring day. 3.25/5