Why the name Shalimar? In 1925, a Maharaja visiting Paris called upon Jacques and Raymond Guerlain and narrated the story of the Taj Mahal.. one of the seven wonders of the world dedicated to love and affection by Shah Jahan for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. Both the perfumers were so moved by the story and as to how the Shah spent 22 years and twenty thousand men on it to express his never-ending love for his wife that Shalimar was born to them! No wonder the bottle is shaped in the form of Mumtaz’s crown.. look it up .. you will visualize the crown on the bottle once you get a glimpse of it! No kidding! Well, now that I have narrated a love story.. here’s the truth.. actually the perfume was by accident! (But of course inspired by the love story).. While testing vanillin, a new synthetic vanilla, he poured the entire extract into a bottle of Jicky. Thus, Shalimar was born. Originally, it was to be named Taj Mahal; however Jacques was reluctant to name a fragrance after a mausoleum. Better to name it after the Gardens of Shalimar, where the Shãh and Mumtaz spent so much of their time together -- a place of blossoming and enduring love. ... Now as for its content, It is a simple but unarguably original blend of citrus and vanilla, with a base of smoky opopanax, tonka and musk. -- the bergamot is much softer than in the EDP, and the composition is well-balanced. However, short lived.. you’ll need to re-apply or else find an alltogether different Shalimar on you!