Shalini | The Scented Hound

In the past I’ve created holiday shopping suggestions for perfume, perfume related items and just some other fun random things thrown into the mix. And every year, coming up with gift suggestions becomes harder, partly because of living in Mexico and being away from shopping in person. But mostly as I get older I don’t actively seek out the new and exciting because I’m not the target market and because at this stage in my life getting a lot of presents just doesn’t matter. OK, so now I’m sounding like Scrooge. Far from it. I do have wishes and wants, but they are fewer and farther in between. So this year, my suggestions are comprised of a listing of perfumes that I think are amazing and of which I obsess over because they are what my perfumes dreams are made of. Some are in my collection and some I hope to be in my collection in the near future. So here we go…

Click on each title for the full review.

Hera by Papillon Perfumes

Hera is a perfume that I have completely obsessed about since first sniff. It’s a new fragrance with the soul of a vintage perfume and it’s absolute perfection.

No. 12 by Puredistance Perfumes

Puredistance can do no wrong as far as I’m concerned. Their collection of 12 perfumes consists of modern classics that deliver incredible beauty to the wearer. To me, their crowning glory was the introduction of No. 12 which is so absolutely breathtaking that it’s the one perfume that I reach for every time I need something special and spectacular to wear.

Shalini by Shalini Parfums

Once again, the house of Shalini along with Maurice Roucel has created a collection of perfumes that stand out above the rest. However, the original Shalini to me is the best of the lot. It’s quiet beauty makes my heart sing every time I wear it. To me, it’s absolutely unique and absolutely beautiful.

Chanel Boy

When I first wore Boy, I really liked it. But as time wore on, I found it to be a wonderfully easy fougere to love. It’s lavender heart isn’t too bold which makes this a perfect perfume to wear on any occasion. Boy has fallen into my “I don’t know what to wear today, so I’ll wear something that is a perfect fit every time” group of perfumes. To me, Chanel makes some of the best clean and fresh scents that are excellent for every day wear.

Enslaved by Roja Parfums

Unfortunately, I found out that Enslaved has been discontinued by Roja Parfums. This modern take on Molinard’s Habinita is big, bold, thick and heady and completely rapturous. I do believe there are still bottles to be found out there and if I was not living in Mexico I would buy myself another since I have just a few drops left in my bottle.

And for those of you who love vintage perfumes (you can find them all on eBay and Etsy and the current formulations can be found via other sources)…

Caron Narcisse Blanc

I have had this perfume in my collection for years, but for some reason it has once again become an obsession and I wear it constantly. It’s thick, creamy and completely joyous and you can’t help but love it. Narcisse Blanc seems to fall to the wayside of it’s more famous sister Narcisse Noir, but this brighter narcissus fragrance is to me, a much easier wear.

Ysatis by Givenchy

The 1980s are alive and well in this over-the-top beauty. You can’t help not be noticed when you’re wearing it. I don’t really wear it out, but sometimes when I’m sitting around the house it transports me back to a time when big perfume, big hair and big shoulders were the norm. This is one time that bigger is indeed better.

Magie Noire by Lancome

Rich, creamy, big and unique, Magie Noire is a special perfume in a category all by itself. It’s a haunting perfume that is pure magic.

Happy Holidays to you all. May all your perfume dreams come true!

Shalini portrait July 2021 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:

shaliniparfum.com

The Scented Hound Shalini Parfum reviews: