Shalimar Souffle de Lumière Guerlain for women

Based on the notes I was imagining Shalimar Souffle de Parfum with a touch of Terracotta. But nope. It is the Souffle EDP with a languid sour jasmine. Probably my least favorite from the Souffle line. Decluttered.

The marketing here is brilliant and it definitely worked on me because, when it was first released, I immediately bought two bottles. Personally, I was compelled by the promise of the fragrance itself and sold on the idea by the beautiful name and bottle.
It's a beautiful fragrance, but in my years of experience, regardless of the variables of weather, etc, this one has zero lasting power. I can at least endorse this one as (in my own experience at least) as safe and gentle enough for asthma and allergy sufferers to wear.

Oh wow!
Okay, first I must say I love Shalimar -my must haves are my 1970’s goutte flacon edt and the 2000’s (built in atomizer) formula (I found the edp to be too condensed and shrill)
I also adore *most* of the flankers (Eau de Shalimar, Shalimar Cologne (edt) and Millesime Tonka and Iris (still havent sampled the Parfum, cologne concentration, vanilla planifolia or the ode a la vanillas) sometimes I love Shalimar Parfum Initial and sometimes the patchouli irritates me.

I have completely fallen head over heels for the Souffle line
Side note: it’s Souffle as in breath or breathless not *soufflé* as in custard -causing many to believe this is a gourmand take.

“Breath of Shalimar- a slighty airy and more sheer veil of Shalimar - resins removed, bergamot toned down, vanilla amped up-
Not sheer or when it comes to projection and longevity.

Lumière has the same gorgeous vanilla/benzoin from Souffle Intense (my favorite from the Souffle line) but with added florals in the opening and mids, creating a sort of solar feel to the Calabrian bergamot.
I don’t always get along with Ylang-Ylang, it sometimes smells too mature and or raunchy on my skin.
Musk is also in the composition and so I was concerned Lumière might smelled too indolic and carnal if you will. Not at all.
I’m very happy I added Lumière to my collection. The bottle it stunning, white gradient with the top of the flacon clear becoming more opaque as the eye travels downward. I don’t smell any woods or woodiness in here and I’m not sure why that’s listed as a accord. Overall it smells like a creamy floral with a fluffy vanilla base accented by a very rounded citrus. Expertly crafted and expensive smelling.

I’ve decluttered many of my blind bought Shalimar flankers, except for the brilliant lemon cake Eau de Mathilde one from many years ago This however stays, there is something about it. It has the extra dose of citrus and a slight sunny ylang thing. (Is it the bans on aromachemicals and ingredients, choking down everything, or just cost cutting and fashion that is giving us the *not a perfume stuff*?). There is a real ghost of a funky Shalimar in here, like it’s gone on a sweaty summer holiday and had nothing appropriate to wear but spritzed Shalimar anyway. Strangely my afternoon wearing of a sample of ‘Fire At Will’ made me go digging in Shalimar. I’ll save my review of that one after I’ve hosed down from a full bottle purchase. Anyway I treasure this little Shalimar flash in the pan.

Overall lovely fragrance. I like Intense the best of the Soufflé line.

The Lumiere version has Ylang-Ylang. And to my nose, it can come off ever slightly pungent. But it does dry down to the pretty powdery lemon vanilla of the original flanker.

I added this beauty to my wish list more or less because of the bottle. Sure, the scent is Guerlain and Shalimar and those two names still matter but also the 30 ml glass is such a lovely statuette that it worths to decorate every compartment. I suggest this would be a perfect self-gift for the Valentine's to greet the first spring drops together.

Edit: Yep, two months later and 100% love. And have been rightly called out about the melon ball comment--it IS banana! Thank you, neonlegs!



I get sugar free sprite with melon balls floating around in it.

At first, I feel like chemicals slap my face, screaming at me to believe they are air. It settles down into a quality that pleasantly reminds me of carbonation. Vanilla makes a very, very subtle appearance much farther down on my skin.

It's not currently my jam, but is actually not bad at all. Every sniff makes me like it a little more. Summery and tropical in a way I find unconventional--no coconut, no sunblock, no mango or whatever, but inexplicably calls to mind warm easy days. I expect my wariness to eventually warm to love, as that seems to be how I feel about everything from Guerlain. They grow on me.

A blind buy. I was longing for a new scent, and having accepted that I'm a "Shalimar flanker" kind of person (Parfum Initial is one of my staples), decided to give this a try. Souffle de Lumière is very similar to Aqua Allegoria Lys Soleia from some years ago, also created by Thierry Wasser. Ylang-ylang is very prominent on me right from the beginning. Overall SdL has an ice cream-y, dessert-y feel, just like I remember Lys Soleia.

Though I had envisioned something a bit fresher (prominent bergamot), and a bit cooler (more jasmine), I find SdL very pleasing as it is. For me it's a sibling of Lys Soleia's, but not very closely related to the Shalimar family. But I can't really complain about that, because as I just confessed, I bought it because of some infatuation with the Shalimar brand. It's a bit embarrassing really!

A lovely summer fragrance that smells like creamy lime desserts, ylang ylang, holidays and happiness. At first I wanted to write that it smells like lime cupcakes, but that's not really true, it just smells like the topping, there is nothing bakery-like in this. A bright, light and creamy vanilla is the only gourmand note here. And yes, I know that this lists bergamot and not lime, but it really smells like lime to me, not like the characteristic bergamot of the original Shalimar. In the opening it can almost be a little too sour and harsh, but it settles in a couple of minutes, so I don't really mind.
This flanker doesn't remind me of Shalimar, maybe there is a whisper of its DNA in the background, but I'm not sure if I would have even noticed if this was presented to me in a neutral packaging. It's really a tropical beauty of citrus and flowers with just enough vanilla to make it loveable for me, a person who usually isn't that much into citrus.

Some have complained about the performance, but I can't echo that. It makes a nice little scent bubble and lasts decently long on me, especially for a summer scent like this. Of course this can't keep up with base-heavy nighttime fragrances, but it doesn't have to.

This is the first Shalimar Soufflé I have tried and it makes me curious for the rest of them!

Edited to add: Been playing with it and I've found that it is WONDERFUL layered with Aprés L'Ondee. Fragonard artwork in liquid form.
Truly baffling, I don't know what to make of it. I've never had this experience with a fragrance: I can smell slightly rotten flowers, pungent lemon and a not approachable AT ALL benzoin at the same time. Very,very discordant to my nose. I like what I get though,it is interesting and my nose likes a challenge from time to time. Just have had it for a few months. Need to test it in other weathers to see if my opinion changes or if I can find some insight.

Guerlain Shalimar Souffle de Lumiere (2018) - bergamot oriental - #thierrywasser creates this brighter and lighter version of the classic by amping up the Bergamot at the top, removing the Civet and replacing with cleaner white musks, rationalizing the florals to focus your nose on a Jasmine/ Gardenia-like accord. So yes, this is a different perfume and travels far to resemble the original. Why did I buy it? If I close my eyes and remove the belief that its a shalimar flanker, it turns out to become a well-made, balanced citrus oriental accord that beats most modern offerings.

Creamy and lemony. Im in love, however., It's a lot similar to souffle de parfum. Almost identicals.

at first i get bergamot and and something else that i can't place. maybe benzoin? though it reminds me of the smokiness in shalimar but less intense. then that fades away and i get the vanilla and jasmine. it dries down to a citrus vanilla floral. it's pretty but i am on the fence about how much i like it, since the bergamot is really strong. while i like citrus scents to a degree, i am wishing it was more of a ylang ylang vanilla affair on me.

I've owned this flanker for a significant time now, well over a year.
This flanker has the prettiest name of the line, meaning "Shalimar Breath of Light". The classic Shalimar batwing bottle is nicely touched by the white-to-nothing fade-out coloration. She opens with a BLAST of bergamot and very (too) quickly settles into a trace of benzoin + vanilla. For me this requires reapplication and, in fact, it is the weakest performer of the entire line to my experience (and there are only a handful of Shalimar flankers that I've yet to try).

This flanker is all about the presentation. Very pretentious: well presented and named but unable to back those things up with actual performance.

It's nice to have in my collection and since I own it, and it's mine and pleasant enough, I'll enjoy it every time that I wear it. I simply do not find it as special as the others, and the performance is the weakest of the line. Pretty fragrance, too bad it's so fleeting. Due to relatively poor performance, I can't go any higher than "Okay" with this one because the performance is THAT abysmal.
Edited to add that this would be a good starter Shalimar since it's so incredibly light, fleeting, and easier to encompass than the OG and other flankers. This one is one of the least remarkable fragrances I've ever worn and defines "meh" to me, other than the pretty bottle and high-expectations name. IF it had at least decent performance, my perception might be different. Unfortunately, like SO many others, this fragrance truly is a "breath of light" - gone almost as quickly as it was applied. SMH.
It's no wonder that this pretty, but extremely fleeting, flanker was almost immediately discontinued. I DO get a bit more longevity by applying to hair and textiles so it's not a complete waste.

I blind bought this based on reviews and my love for Shalimar Souffle .
It went back immediately. It is just a strong blast of bergamot. Very astringent, very intense. Does not feel like a “breath” of anything.
I was so very disappointed.
I can see how some may like this, it’s very bracing and even uplifting I’d say in the right mind frame, but very strong. It’s just not what I was expecting.

This is softly intense, if that makes any sense to you. First spray, the ylang-ylang went a touch dirty on me, which is normal for my skin chemistry. Bergamot is very prominent but not overwhelmingly so, it plays very nice with the vanilla and resin mix Guerlain is so famous for. The jasmine is there but in the background. The aforementioned ylang-ylang gives it a subtle sweetness, but this isn't a sugar bomb by any means. I like sugar bombs too, so no disrespect meant, just that I'm not getting the whole lemon pie/lemon cake others are getting. Thankfully for me the musk is tamed by those resins which make the vanilla so rich and creamy. Maybe that's why others are getting a dessert vibe, the creaminess. Altogether, I'm enjoying this one but to me it's a softer version of Souffle Intense and I won't track down another bottle when this one's done. I'll just look forward to what Thierry Wasser does next in relation to the incomparable original, Shalimar.
A very strong like, I'd wear anytime and enjoy it.

Bergamot Strong

I got it yesterday, after more than a year looking for it. It wasn't what I expected it to be, but it's anyway gorgeous. I detect the Souffle base, but somehow, I recognize the native Shalimar DNA. It's very durable, but I find it more a skin scent than a strong projector, as Souffle Intense is (which I received a second bottle already). I can even imagine combining them together, I don't know why I want to try that layering so much :). I Souffle de Lumiere, I enjoy the combination of bergamot and benzoin, making the whole composition bright and refreshing - which is an opposite of the concept of Shalimar, which I consider as an aura bomb by any aspect.

This is delicious. Strong blast of green bergamot on the softer than normal Shalimar base, making it very wearable and brightly, more spring and summerly. A really successful iteration of the Shalimar base. The jasmine and ylang ylang also play well with the softer Shalimar base (more benzoin than vanilla to my nose), rendering this version more modern, more wearable, more brightly and delightful. There is a happiness to this fragrance, glistening summer sun, juiciness of the bergamot. Very, very delightful indeed.

Oh my I love this scent for it smells so lovely!! It started off with a bright burst of the Calabrian bergamot which is delightful in scent. Which has a very good inviting, enjoyable projection that appeals to the people around your for it is quite feminine, dainty!

Enter the lovely floral scent of the Jasmine flower and the pretty Ylang-Ylang. I really like the white and yellow floral mix, they work well together. I like how I can catch scents of each with a light Vanilla musky background as it dries down. The Benzoin balances these notes together for a lovely perfume scent.

This is the brighter more playful side of the original Shalimar which I love also. It lasted most of the day before I reapplied (6 hours) but I didn't have too I just like a stronger scent. A must have, a keeper for my collection. A good anytime scent and for all seasons.

Ok - this is most seriously one of the loveliest perfumes I have ever smelled. I love the original Shalimar, and I have it, but it is quite strong and a bit challenging, and it took some time for me to get to know it. I have tried the Souffle de Parfum, and it it lovely as well, but in my opinion it dries down to a somewhat half-generic laundry detergent musk with just a little citrus and the weakest touch of vanilla... but if I got it as a gift I still would be very happy.
But this one!! Oh - how can I describe it???
It is oldfashioned. Though it is not anything like original Shalimar, it is what I imagined Shalimar to be before I ever tried it. It is deep, soft ”old” vanilla. From the pod. And it is citrus, in a way that I must describe as toilet cleaner, but in a GOOD way!! If you can even understand that crazy statement. And I am surprised that there is no leather. Musk, yes. And it is oh so feminine, like a strong and strongminded woman, who can carry her own burden, but loves when a good man sees her for what she is. And she wears beautiful clothes. She eats salty caramel icecream with black dark roasted coffee and a glass of smoky whiskey. Her hair is put up, with strands hanging down, and she does not laugh at stupid jokes. She is not playing hard to get; she IS hard to get.
I must have a back up bottle.

Smells like a lighter, more floral, day time version of the souffle intense, to my nose. The souffle intense is one of my favorite perfumes and I would honestly wear it anytime, but I love to wear this one in the day (work) and spray the intense right on top for evening wear. Lasts the full work day, the projection isn't amazing though after the first hour or so.

This is one of the perfumes where I can actually smell every note listed - almost from start to finish. The bergamot dominates the opening. But the creamy, sunny floral notes from jasmine and ylang-ylang is also present and quickly grows stronger. I sometimes struggle with ylang-ylang finding it a bit heavy but here it is warm and creamy with a touch of spice. Both the lovely Guerlain-vanilla, the clean musk and the balsamic-sweet benzoin is also present on my skin. I tried this in winter, and it felt a little cold and flat. But now in spring it is blooms and sits perfectly on my skin. I almost desided to resell it, but now it has really grown into a love.

New to the fragrance world and quickly falling in love, after almost floating away smelling my Mom’s Shalimar EDP bottle that she’s had for the last 20 years, I knew I had to have Shalimar in my collection. So I purchased the Original EDP, the Soufflé Intense and this one, only received it today and upon first impression I’m really getting the smell of banana, like a soft vanilla banana pudding mixed with a bit of Shalimar DNA. Anyone else getting this? Excited to test it on the skin for a day and be able to update this comment.

Xoxo

Blind bought the tester w/ cap for a song on a well-known discount site and am really enjoying it. Citrus, flowers and vanilla. Refreshing and nice for warm weather.

Be warned...there is plenty of bergamot as some have said...for those who don't get any bergamot I am somewhat baffled. Here is the profile from Fragrantica on bergamot which sums it up well. Odor profile: citrusy, bitter & tart, elegant, light note with mild spicy tone, complex with nuances of fruit and aromatic elements, reminiscent of eau de Cologne, it flavors Earl Grey tea.

Lumiere is a lemon on many levels. I fancy Shalimar and most of the flankers - this one is a d.u.d. I'm disappointed -it doesn't have much of the Shalimar grind - however it would be great if you don't really care for Shalimar and want a fresh lemon citrus fragrance with a vanilla base (that may or may not include a whiff of Shalimar from a distance depending which way the wind is blowing) and/or want the bottle for display on your shelf.

If anyone is interested in swapping for my almost full bottle of Lumiere, please message me.

1/5/2021 - my bottle has found it's new forever home! Thanks for the inquiries.

I much prefer this over Souffle and Souffle D'Oranger. For me, there is zero bergamot. However, I do find de Lumiere has a much more prominent vanilla note that somewhat dominates over the gag-worthy dirty old soap smell I get from Souffle and D'Oranger. Because of the vanilla, I am sometimes able to tolerate this flanker. But after much testing, realize I would have to force myself to wear it. I have much better vanillas in my collection. Letting it go.

I have many versions of Shalimar - the OG, the Souffles, and the Initials. I am sad to say that this is the first one that I have ever disliked. It's just too much bergamot! Unceasing, unrelenting - it just seems to blot out every thing that made me love Souffle Intense. Of course, if you love bergamot, then by all means, give this a go. Meanwhile I'll see if there's any way that I can salvage this by layering with something else. I'm very sad!!

What a lovely fragrance! At first spray I get a punch of fizzy bergamot, almost like a soda drink. Then it subsides a little but I still feel a bitter note, like the skin of a citrus fruit. After an hour or so it turns into lovely ylang and creamy white flowers. All this is sweetened by a soft vanilla base. Love this fragrance and wear it every few days now in the summer.

Shalimar Souffle EDP with rich ylang ylang. Took a second for my nose to adjust because it was banana-y at first but now I’m obsessed. All of the Souffle line is amazing. My absolute favourite perfumes other than Mon Guerlain Sensuelle & La Petite Robe Noire! Guerlain is the forever Queen perfume house in my heart.

One of my family's favorite things to eat is lemon pound cake. Shalimar Souffle de Lumière is equally delicious! It's an elegant scent, not overtly foodie, but it is evocative of a dignified morning tea break with a cup of Earl Grey and a slice of citrus cake.

Luminous and beautiful, the ylang ylang adds a golden floralcy with sun-ripened petals; jasmine delivers a whisper of enchantment. The benzoin really balances the vanillic quality giving Lumière a depth, sensuality and signature Guerlain sophistication. Styrax benzoin sometimes delivers a slightly plastic-vinyl note for me and is like the styrene one might detect in ballpoint pen ink. It also has a delicate amber and spiced cinnamon quality. I find it intriguing and slightly provocative yet cozy. The citrus delivers a quietly sharp vein and along with the intriguing texture of styrax, reminds me of civet, giving a clean nod to the animalic quality in original Shalimar.

I love this all-weather vanilla scent. Aromatic and bright yet warm and intimate, pure bliss!

I have tested all the Souffle's...not for me.
Out of all of them...this...is the best for me..on my skin..with my chemistry.
Glorious!!!

I will order a back-up bottle too....due to discontiuation.



EDIT: After full wearings of this....I LOVE IT !!!
Comes in second to Parfum Initial....IMO.

What a beauty this is. It opens with the freshnes of lime, that last for about half an hour before it turns into this soft vanilla floral scent. Not too sweet, but just very elegant and feminine. Like feathers touching my skin. It last for about 8 hours. This should be the best vanilla scent ever!

Whenever I wear this gorgeous perfume I feel like a subtile, gentle cloud of hope and comfort wraps its arms around me.. This is insanely delicious! In the opening I smell a warm lemon meringue pie, while the drydown turns into ever so beautiful Guerlinade. The white florals with vanilla are balanced and blended so perfectly. It's a masterpiece!
I am so happy that I was able to get my hands on this one before it vanished for good.

Try this one layered with Dior Addict on a warm spring or summer day. They compliment each other very well!

I’m not a fan of light, fresh scents so I tend to layer this one with others on warm days and save Souffle Intense for winter.

Like many reviews below, I am NOT a citrus, fresh, light kinda girl. However, this has 100% changed my mind. This is so good! It is the lightest Souffle I own, and this is the most versatile of the Souffle range, in my opinion. That being said, it has lost a little bit of that benzoin magic that I love so much about the original and Intense.

For reference, the Intense is warmer, darker and deeper - thus the name Intense, and has a more smoky note whereas the 'original' Souffle is the most neutral. This is one of my favourite perfumes of all time - and despite all the flankers being cousins, I honestly can say I have a place for each of them in my collection.

Longevity is wonderful - especially for a citrusy based scent, 8-10 hours on the skin, longer on the clothes. Silage is moderate.

Overall - 7/10, my 'least favourite' of the flankers that I have but the one I wear the most.

I am not a fan of citrus. I just feel like if you’ve smelled one citrus freshie you’ve smelled them all. BUT. Guerlain is always the exception. This one is very gourmand to me, like the original soufflé, it starts off smelling like a lemon dessert. Just fantastic. the delicious citrus opening is tinged with creamy ylang and leads into loads of that beautiful Guerlain vanilla. I think that creamy quality is what really separates this one from the original soufflé. I’m surprised how much ylang I actually get from this one. It’s like Terra Cotta and Soufflé had a beautiful baby. Silage is soft but noticeable, I could have it louder, I wish I could dial it up to a 10 but as long as I get good longevity I’ll be content.

In this fragrance, of the very concept of given line of Shalimar Souffle has been perfected.
Bergamot brings "light " to a familiar composition. The base has become even lighter, a little bit less sweet & while more fluffy, velvety.

Shalimar Souffle de Lumière by Guerlain is soft, fluffy, flying and radiant scent. And it always speaks in a whisper, that very good for a day time. I wear & love.

Does the world really need another Shalimar Souffle flanker? Apparently I do. This is a beautiful, balanced vanilla and bergamot perfume....the familiar Souffle DNA is recognizable. But this time, the florals— jasmine and ylang—are amped up. The result means this is easier to wear, more transparent and bright.

Like the other Souffles in my collection, Lumiere is light enough that I can wear this to bed. Perfect for warmer evenings, I’ll wear this throughout the spring months. While Lumiere won’t win any originality awards, it is my favorite of the Souffles.

Lumiere opens up with lush ylang and jasmine, but quickly dries down to glacial white musk, vanilla, jasmine, and bergamot. Weirdly, that bergamot note reads like lime to me. It smells chilly and crisp. Wintery. Like a penguin diva. The white frosted flacon perfectly represents this scent. It is not at all the summery tropical scent I expected. I miss the full-bodied floral ylang-y opening, and there is a mysterious lack of benzoin, which I would expect to warm the scent up. The white musk is unfortunately the same as it is in Souffle original. It smells too quasi-laundry-ish on me and I really dislike it. It is much softer in Lumiere, thankfully. I think this one might be better during a hot day.

Also, it's nothing like Shalimar. I have and love the original, as well as flankers like Eau and Cologne. Those have a similar kind of vanilla and citrus. Though those notes feature in the Souffles, they are NOT really the same smell and the experience is totally different. This may be good for newcomers and less good for people who are strictly into older Shalimar's style.

Oh this is amazing. I LOVE IT. Every moment of it, from the bright bergamot opening to the heavenly vanilla drydown.
As a side-note, this got an unsolicited compliment from my husband, who is very picky about fragrance. He stated, “you smell good... like the lobby of Caesar’s Palace in Vegas!” I was, uh, not sure what to make of that. But he assured me that was a good thing, and a smell he associates with happy memories. Apparently they pump fragrances into the lobbies of the Vegas hotels, so maybe the fragrance for that hotel is similar? I dunno. But I would wear Soufflé de Lumiere just to make myself happy no matter what anyone else said about it, it’s incredible.

I recently purchased a bottle of Souffle Intense and comparing it to Lumiere I have to respectfully disagree with fillifelle that this dries down to Shalimar Souffle Intense. I find that after the benzoin subsides in Intense, which is very heavy in the beginning of the fragrance, the dry down smells almost identical to Shalimar Cologne. Same heavy use of Shalimar spices aka. Guerlinade, vanilla, and sharp citrus. Whereas Lumiere loses most of the citrus by the dry down, it also lacks that heavy Guerlinade presence so prevalent in either aforementioned scents. I only smell spices very, very, lightly when the scent becomes a skin scent, many hours later. The dry down of Lumiere is more similar to Souffle than Intense but even somewhat different than that because it lacks Souffle's excessive sweetness. It also maintains the strong presence of jasmine and ylang throughout the life of the scent. Lumiere's composition after the citrus dries down is light, fluffy, creamy, and floral, ending in the Guerlain vanilla and extremely subtle spices.

Personally, I think it's different enough from Intense and Shalimar Cologne that it is worthwhile having both in your wardrobe. I could not say the same about Intense and Shalimar Cologne since they are so similar they are almost interchangeable.

Now this is a Souffle I can get behind!!! Unlike the original Souffle, which I found so cloying it sent me into a choking fit, this is a nice balance of sweetness and tartness. It's a beautiful, citrus vanilla floral that's slightly sweet from the tonka with a very soft and light feeling that is almost fluffy. The initial tart bergamot notes quickly calm down, though it is always there, and the whole composition becomes very smooth. In a way it reminds me of lemon swirl gelato. Creamy vanilla gelato with lemon syrup swirled throughout. Yum!!!

This perfume was on my want list a long time. I put off buying it because I already own Shalimar Cologne and Shalimar Eau de Cologne and thought the note profile might be too similar to them. I also asked myself whether I needed another Shalimar citric floral, especially since I am so happy with both colognes. While similar in composition to the other two it lacks the Shalimar spices prevalent in the colognes. (I wonder how it would be layered with the Cologne?) The sweet creaminess of the fragrance makes up for this lack. It is also not as sharp as Shalimar Cologne. (Sharpness isn't a problem with the Eau de Cologne for me.) Sometimes I find the Shalimar Cologne a little sharp in extreme heat, or if I get careless with the trigger. This has none of that sharpness. Shalimar Cologne is a sparkling fragrance and Shalimar eau de Cologne refreshing. This is dense and rich, but at the same time soft. Using an analogy, the composition is sort of like a marshmallow (or gelato) - light and fluffy but at the same time dense and rich.

Like Shalimar Cologne this has great silage and longevity, which is much better than the eau de Cologne, which I need to reapply. I sprayed after a shower at night (same way I test out all new fragrances) and woke up the next day with it still going strong. Overall, it's a creamy, luscious and soft fragrance different enough from both Shalimar Colognes to justify a purchase. I think it is delicious now. I can only imagine how much better it will be in the summer. I'm so glad I found a Souffle that works for me. It's already a love.

I’m posting this review here for the benefit of those who are wondering about the differences between Shalimar Souffle Intense and Souffle de Lumiere.

Intense is a warm, comforting vanilla-benzoin-musk combo. The benzoin in the base gives it an almost waxy, chewy, resinous quality that I love. Happily, that base is very much present in Lumiere as well.

Lumiere has more of a green floral opening. Ylang ylang coupled with a bright citrusy jasmine sets this apart from the Intense. However, once this phase fades, you’re pretty much left with Intense. Which I don’t mind at all, since Intense has truly captured my heart.

In my opinion, these two Souffle flankers are outstanding. I confess, upon first wearing, the Souffle didn’t really impress me outright like the Initials, but boy do they grow on you. I realised one day I was actually craving for its quiet comfort. The Souffles are for contemplation while the Initials compel you to get out and socialise. And since I prefer my own company most of the time, Souffles make natural soul companions.

They fill a gap in my fragrance world I never knew existed ❤️

N.B. I do not have the original Souffle de Parfum and cannot elucidate the difference between that and the above 2, nor do I feel a need to own it... at the moment ;)
Also for those who are wondering, this does not bear much of a similarity to the original Shalimar EDP.

So impressed by this, I thought it was going to be like the Shalimar cologne, and there is an echo, but this is altogether different. The bergamot dominates initially, but it isn't loud or sharp, it is beautiful. That bergamot doesn't last the whole way through, but when it's there, it's terrific, the dominant note for me, is the vanilla, and nobody does vanilla like Guerlain. It's in the dry down that I get musk and that soft Jasmine note, together with the vanilla.

Has there ever been a Shalimar that doesn't work? Not sure about that, in this case, I urge you to get one while you can. I love it, performance was quite good, it's not heavy, but lasts well.

Nah, this one I love. Damn the naysayers. It's gorgeous and classy for a vanilla, which I am rather notorious for disliking (unless they're special... some of my favourites are exceptional vanillas)

Shalimar Souffle de Parfum is there on full display, just more creamy and citrusy. It IS gorgeous. So if you love Guerlainade or Shalimar Souffle, this is for you. Unless Intense tickled your fancy more than the original. Can't say much more... purchased the 50ml today because I needed it.

I was quite skeptical towards this flanker. Partly because of the negative comments, partly trying in a parfumerie, where all I got was some weak citrus scent (heavily air conditioned, by default full with other scents). After all I could not resist and at the end I bought it recently, and I’m STUNNED.

Naming is spot on, it is really a shining gorgeous version of the original SSdP. I specifically love the opening, cheerful sweet citrusy-flowery, on me the yang-ylang opened beautifully. I did not get large blast of bergamot, just as much as it made the composition perfect. In an hour or so it changed to very close to the Souffle de Parfum, but still a bit brighter.

I agree with a comment below that it is not like a vanilla-lemon cake (try L’Instant - that’s the cake :P), jasmine and yang-ylang are both prominent.

I assume this scent really need the heat to show its beauty the other older sisters are for the other seasons.

I’m very happy for buying it.

Opened like lemon pledge. Made throat tighten. Pass.

It's just a lighter version of Souffle, less melon. Souffle Intense is my favourite of the 4 Souffle flankers ( I haven't tried Oranger yet) This Lumiere version is nicely boring, but boring none the less. It is a skin scent with occasional puffs of warmth in the dry down and a bitter alcoholic mist on application. I will use it when I travel as it is not overpowering and would be a safe office scent. Well done but no tremble at the knees.

This is gorgeous, but all of the reviewers saying it smells like a lemon dessert are way off. No lemon, no dessert. This is a bright bergamot and almost green jasmine floral in the opening---sharp, a bit bitter, the opening reminds me definitely of original Souffle but also the bitterness of Angelique Noire. This is in no way gourmand, so if you're looking for a sweet lemony confection, keep looking. That's not to say it doesn't sweeten a bit in the drydown, it totally does. The benzoin, vanilla, and soft musk warm this up considerably and make it less sharp and green overall. Not much actual Shalimar DNA in this flanker of a flanker, but definitely a similarity to Souffle, which is my most difficult one to wear overall. Still, the bottle alone is worth the blind buy for me, and I still smell great. :)

The original Shalimar EDP and I don't get along, but I do appreciate her. The now discontinued flanker, Shalimar Parfum Initial L'Eau was a much better fit for me and I have worn quite a bit of this flanker over the years, particularly during Spring. Along came the 'Souffle' line, and like many others, I too rushed out to try it. Sadly I have found them all to be a tad difficult to wear, Shalimar Souffle de Lumiere included.

Shalimar Souffle de Lumiere is a rather intense citrus-floral with a clean, musky drydown. The perfumer, Thierry Wasser has intensified the citrus notes from the original and tried to make this a lighter, more airy Shalimar. It is definitely Summer-appropriate, yet I personally prefer Shalimar Parfum Initial L'Eau and Eau de Shalimar for the warmer weather.

I must admit that the bottle is stunning with its frosted white aesthetic and clear blue cap. You almost want to buy this fragrance for display purposes only. Apparently, this is a limited edition flanker, but as far as I'm aware, Shalimar Souffle de Parfum is a permanent fixture for now.

I would be interested to test this fragrance further in the heat of Summer to see just how well it lasts. I wore this fragrance on a mild, sunny Autumn day and it had moderate projection with around four to five hours lasting power.

I get a general feeling that Shalimar Souffle de Lumiere is better suited to those that enjoy crisp, citrus-dominant fragrances as opposed to fans of the original Shalimar. There is only the slightest hint of the original in this flanker, as much of the Shalimar DNA has been stripped away.

To me, this goes on a very sweet lemon with lots of light florals and some tonka. Benzoin in the base. A lovely sweet lemon floral with creamy depth and musk.

I first tried Lumiere late last autumn and I was not very impressed. It is now mid April and what a difference! This fragrance requires heat and a warm body in order to shine. Hour 3 now and yes it is a a close scent but I am just fine with that. It will project further when summer arrives. The usual Guerlain players are on stage, with the vanilla etc. The ylang-ylang it probably what makes Lumiere different enough and so beautiful to my nose. Souffle always troubled me with what I perceived to be musk. I don't get that note with Lumiere. Now I just need a sun lounger and an icy cocktail.

Another beautiful interpretation by Thierry. The burst of bergamot followed by the DNA of Souffle Intense with the resin balm, lemon and vanilla added with the warmth of ylang ylang and jasmine. Comes third in my preference of Souffles, followed by Souffle Intensr and the Souffle de Parfum.

More interesting than one might think from the notes. It does start out as sweet and lemony, almost like a dessert. That morphs into ylang ylang. The vanilla comes strongly forward, although I smell it almost from the start. Then the jasmine and resin emerge, while the vanilla stays. Very appealing! I like it but don’t love it.

To be honest I know its a flanker but it doesn't really smell like shalimar.

It starts off with a burst of lemon dessert. Dries down sweet and palatable. Is missing the wow factor for me.

I’m so saddened by this, I thought I’d love it as I love the original and the Intense, but this really does pale in comparison. It’s too light and the composition is missing something for me, I want more depth to it so I might as well just stick to the original. It smells like the original Souffle, but airier with more lime. The dry down is a lovely vanilla jasmine though. I can really smell the perfume-like alcohol in the beginning and middle, which is my biggest turn off. It’s too generic for me to wear and love. Such a shame!!

This perfume is beautiful and has a quality you don't see everyday. I have no idea what the reviewer below is talking about? I could smell it on me all day. Nice Jasmine and Citrus. Far more beautiful and classy than was stated. If you want to write artsy trash there is Wordpress.

Guerlain are using innovative gourmet and economic techniques recently: 1.Dilute significantly Souffle de parfum (Shalimar) 2. Pour the liquid into a bottle which has apparently undergone white-washing 3. Sell each vial for an euro per drop(i.e. retailers offer it at 100 euros per 50 ml in my country) Et voila! You have 1 watered down Souffle at the price of 2 concentrated ones.
Merci, maison de Guerlain, mais ce n'est pas pour moi.

I oddly find this to be a bit more well rounded than the original. The original was a bit too strong in the heat, but still managed to be beautiful in the winter. This is definitely a spring / summer scent. I didn't enjoy Intense, as it was far too heavy on the resins but this definitely satisfies. Quite enjoy!

(Disclaimer: I haven't read all of the reviews below, so I apologise if I'm repeating anyone's words).

Tested today at David Jones Brisbane, Australia.

Paper strip, two sprays.
Clothing, one spray.
Skin, none (as I have been getting nauseous with direct application lately).

Well, Guerlain, you have achieved the perfect trio of the beautiful Souffle de Parfum. If Intense is the richer, deeper and spicier edition, and SdP is the perfect all-weather scent, then Lumiere has definitely succeeded as the breezy summer version.

Immediately upon picking up the bottle, you're already thinking about reaching for a chilled, frosted glass of a refreshing beverage. There's a jasmine bush nearby, you're sitting in the shade but it's hot out there on the coastline. First opens with effervescent and luminous bergamot and jasmine. There's a hint of something tropical and yet musky; it's the ylang ylang reminding me of those Allens Bananas lollies.

The benzoin is sitting quietly in the background, it's not pretending to be Intense, it's just gently holding Lumiere from flying away and disappearing.

The musk and vanilla lend just enough sweetness to temper the sometimes tricky notes of jasmine and bergamot, but the fluffy powdery Shalimar vanilla is not evident at this first testing.

My final thoughts - more similar to SdP than Intense. Ylang ylang tending to a tiny hint of banana, which gives me pause as I don't really 'do' tropical type scents. I'm not going to buy this at full retail, but it's a very strong contender for wardrobe space when it hits the discounters.

What a stunning fragrance! I thought at first it was a bit ordinary but then when I got heated up while cooking I noticed Souffle Lumiere started to develop in full venom. And she is sexy!

The Italian Bergamot is strong on the onset and is dominant on my skin on through the drydown. Concentrated Bergamot does this to me which it is in Lumiere and I love it.. Then there is the Jasmine. I love this Jasmine. It is dense and animalic but not heady. This is definitely not your ordinary Jasmine. The Ylang is gorgeous adding its delightful essence. It is not a faint one either but boldly present. The Benzoin I noticed mostly on the drydown after the floral notes calmed down. Which along with the prolific Guerlainian Vanilla gives off a beautiful creaminess. I would say the drydown on my skin is a soft Creamy, floral, Bergamot with light Musk. Creamy being the key word here.

I think this juice will be better here in Florida in the Fall or Spring for daytime when there is a crisp wind blowing from the North yet the Sun is brilliant. In the height of Summer here Lumiere is a bit cloying.

I have read previous reviews and while some say this was light and fleeting on them I did not find it thus on me. My experience has been different. We all are unique. If you like heavy musky or gourmand perfumes this one may not be suited for you. So this is one to skin test first I suppose as we all should do really.

Lovely and very sophisticated. I see this Souffle for the woman with a head for distinction and fashion. SL is somewhat similar to Chanel Gabrielle but is much more well composed. Monsieur Wasser (much love!) does not disappoint with this baby!. Longevity is outstanding on me. I could still smell SL this morning but lightly. Sillage is moderate. If you wanted to love Gabrielle but were disappointed with the soft sillage this one may be for you. Good luck finding Shalimar Souffle de Lumiere but if you can I highly recommend. 10/10+

Limited edition

FYI for interested parties - this has hit Myer stores in Australia. I will go test it next week!

Shalimar souffle,not soufflé.
Please pay attention.

I absolutely adore the original Souffle de Parfum, so I was ecstatic when I read about this on Fragrantica - so much so that I had a friend who was visiting Cannes for the weekend fetch me a bottle. For those of you who don't know the original Souffle: it is an effervescent masterpiece that harmoniously unites an array of uplifting citruses with sultry vanilla and musk accords. The Lumiere opened with a herbaceous twist of ylang ylang and bergamot, which was very refreshing and invigorating, however, this was fleeting and the citrusy vanilla musk aroma of the original soon kicked in. The fragrance stayed very close to my skin and lasted around 1 - 2 hours. The bottle is beautiful but I wouldn't say it was worth it in my opinion because the phase that is supposed to differentiate this from the original does not persist long enough.

Just received my bottle, I kind of expected something different...at first I get a blast of ylang ylang, giving the scent a classy departure, kind of a big floral, but this is short lived, and the musks come into play, with the fresh vanilla, and we have a more common soft and warm base, nice, but light,,..first impression, I am not overly impressed I admit...not fond of ylang ylang, it is overall really nice, pleasant..
In my opinion not like Soufflé Intense, which is more oriental..it might be more like the original, although I don't detect much lemon..I won't go as far as saying I regret buying it, but not far from it !! Will have to give it time.

If I didn´t know the original Shalimar /and Shalimar Souffle de Parfum/, I guess I would probably appreciate this scent even more than I do right now. This version is really luminous & light - but maybe too much light for my taste.

I wouldn´t call it oriental floral - it´s not oriental at all. I get some fresh & bright citrus notes /it opens like Shalimar Cologne/ & then it turns into an airy jasmine scent with a mellow vanilla accent - lightly citrusy, lightly sweet, everything seems to be too much light & ephemeral, like a jasmine scent dancing in the wind.

I´ve got just one "complaint" about this fragrance - I miss the typical oriental/smoky trace a lot. But - OK - let´s pretend we don´t know it´s Shalimar - then I dare say it´s pleasant & alluring floral fragrance, I like it - but it doesn´t make me go weak at the knees.

Ooooh I like this one. However the sillage and longevity is not great, this is more of a skin scent.
If I splurge, I will use it as bedtime fragrance as it is quite delicate scent, definitely not overwhelming.
It’s very similar to a Souffle Intense version that would not have citrus notes but extra vanilla & white floral boost.

For info I do not like Shalimar EDT or EDP on me, they do not mix well with my skin, which is a shame as I do love it on other women and often complimented it on others...

ÉDIT :
I finally bought it in June 2018 as I didn’t want to miss the limited edition and the longevity is really greater than what I remembered. Particularly higher sillage under warm temperatures.
I am updating this comment as I just bought a back up.
I know I will miss this one when it’s over :(