You can’t fake passion. Passion is something that comes from deep inside you and surrounds you and those you touch. Shalini Kumar, better known as “Shalini,” is passion personified. From her early days in Bombay, to her childhood spent in exotic locations like Seville, Dubai and Provence, her passion for fragrance developed through the scented memories of these extraordinary settings. But while her passion to create perfume was yet to be imagined, Shalini was working on her passion for fashion; first creating for Valentino Couture and then creating her own haute couture line of clothing and jewelry aptly named Shalini Couture.
It was through happenstance that Shalini’s passion for perfume came to fruition. In 2001, a friend’s introduction to Master Perfumer Maurice Roucel was serendipity. The two had an immediate connection. It was at their first meeting that they had a discussion about Shalini’s favorite flower, tuberose. She said that she wanted a perfume that reminded her of her childhood memories of moonlit nights filled with rapturous tuberose and intoxicating orange blossom. That meeting led to their collaboration in creating the very first Shalini perfume, simply titled “Shalini.”
Shalini Parfum Lalique Flacon
Since Shalini Parfum debuted in 2004, Shalini and Maurice’s collaboration has been a continued passion project. In total, they have created 6 perfumes, the latest being Vanilla Rêve which takes the wearer to the tropical islands of the South Seas. Each of Shalini’s perfumes seems to take the wearer on an olfactory journey to an exotic location that stems from those wonderful memories captured from Shalini’s childhood.
All Shalini perfumes are pure parfum in concentration, as such, they’re an extension of her haute couture fashion collection using only the finest of ingredients and are created using the principals of classical French perfumery. Thankfully for us, Shalini’s passion has graced the world with an exquisite collection of the finest perfumes. I can only wonder where Shalini and Maurice will take us next.
So, let’s find out what else Shalini is passionate about:
- I am a hoarder when it comes to… owning multiple bottles of …Bordeaux!
- If I could have one superpower, it would be… gardening – my personal olive grove and a vineyard.
- In 10 years, I see myself …living by the sea painting and writing, growing olives trees and lavender.
- I am most grateful for… all the people whom I love.
- The most beautiful sight in the world is… a Provençal scene, any town, any street, any garden…
- If I had my way, I wish that perfumers/brands would…use more naturals.
- A guilty pleasure of mine is …reading by the Mediterranean with a glass of cold rosé under the heat of the Riviera sun.
- My favorite way to relax is… writing in a café in the morning with a steaming cappuccino.
- My favorite holiday is …by the sea, any sea.
- My taste in music leans towards…classical – Chopin, Debussy, Satie nocturnes…
Thanks to Shalini for sharing her passion with The Scented Hound. You can go to the Shalini Parfum website for more information about these extraordinary perfumes:
The Scented Hound Shalini Parfum reviews:
WHAT I SMELL: Vanille Rêve approaches the wearer with a warm deep tobacco laden vanilla that’s not sweet, but which is grounded in a sensuous mix of spices of nutmeg, cinnamon and anise. From the very beginning, Vanille Rêve is very serious and deeply rapturous. As the perfume develops, the mix of spice and vanilla begin to dry, leaving the wearer to feel is if they are on a journeyed path through the markets of Morocco prior to starting off on an adventure heading to the South Seas where its secret wisdom will be unlocked. After some time, the deep and dark begins to slowly lift and the perfume moves toward the more gourmand. Here the perfume radiates the most comforting of baked good delights. You can almost envision the spiced, caramelized and frosted creations emerging from the oven as they entice you as they’re put out on display. Continuing on, Vanille Rêve begins to reveal its quieter side with the addition of creamy white florals. Here the perfume begins to soften and bloom with the tiare flower lilting lightly on top of the vanilla. And this is where the perfume makes its final journey’s end amidst the intoxicating and exotic islands of the South Pacific.
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: An exotic journey to the South Seas.
WHAT I SMELL: I guess I should not have been surprised, but I was pleasantly so as the opening of Amorem Rose is warm, deep and incredibly rapturous with a beautiful saffron topped by a mentholated rose. This rose is not one of playful and sweet frivolity, instead, it’s a rose wrapped in abundance of mystery and intrigue. The mentholated opening gives way to a grand rose that lingers in smokiness making the perfume feel as if it’s smoldering off the skin For the privileged wearer, the perfume resides in this most exquisite place like a queen holding court. There’s power in Amorem Rose in the way the rose holds the wearer captive revealing its infinite wisdom. After considerable time, the perfume’s smokiness is met with a warm ambered wood which adds even more depth to this royal treasure. Amorem Rose is beautifully calm, but beautifully serious.
The Scented Hound 