ÇaFleureBon Modern Masterpieces: Shalini Parfum (Maurice Roucel) 2004 +White Floral Perfection Draw

Nina Ricci Floral Gown 1953 

The end of WWII brought a wave of elegance and romanticism to both fashion and perfumery. What I enjoy most of all about this era is that every woman wanted to look and smell flawlessly beautiful. The most exquisite embodiment of this graceful femininity are the creations Robert Ricci bottled in Lalique flacons for the Maison Nina Ricci for almost 30 years. Favoring green androgynous independence or lavish sensuality, rarely perfumery equaled this perfect pitch both inside and outside the bottle.

It’s no wonder that smelling Shalini (pronounced Shah-lynn-ay), a dreamlike white floral bouquet created by Master Perfumer Maurice Roucel for NYC based fashion designer Shalini Kumar and first released in 2004 in a stunning “Le Coquillage” Lalique flacon hearkens to that time. A diaphanous Goddess of white floral love, Shalini Parfum is a Modern Masterpiece that  is as luminous today as it was 15 years ago. 

Shalini of Shalini Parfum

Born in Bombay, Shalini studied math and architecture, but its Haute Couture and Haute Perfume that expresses her creativity best (read more about her in her ÇaFleureBon Profiles in American Perfumery). Working with Maurice Roucel, Shalini took inspiration for her first perfume Shalini Parfum from her childhood memories in India, surrounded by lush gardens filled with flowers and butterflies and intense aromas  that filling the air.

"From an early age, my mom introduced me to all the flowers in the garden, the way they grew from bud to full bloom and how their fragrance changed through the passage of the time. Tuberoses were my favourite – they only emitted their gorgeous scent in the evening hours. As a child I would sneak into the garden at night so I could inhale them by the moonlight" -Shalini.

Maurice Roucel

The care for details and beauty she put in her Haute Couture collections, together with a sense structure and beauty she brought from architecture, led her to pursue  a perfume that was true to her sensibility rather than following trends. At the opening, Shalini Parfum unveils tuberose as the centerpiece of the fragrance and Maurice Roucel smoothed  every facet like a French Ariadne spinning gauzy silk, surrounded by the dewy radiance or neroli and and lily of the valley and a pinch of spicy coriander hinting in the first while to the lavish greenery of gardenia.

Nathalie Dessay as Lakme

Tiaré adds its exotic coloratura to the lyric voice of the mischievous diva making it less dramatic and youthful with plummy and nutty sun kissed vibes bearing the ethereal voluptuousness of Léo Delibes Flower Duet sung by Indian priestess Lakmé and her servant. Shalini Parfum is like an opera and all the notes delicately swirl around the white bouquet adding depth and sparkle without shifting the focus off  the seamless floral.

Shalini Fashion

This glowing bath of petals unfolds like a changeant mousseline scarf; in fact it shines with the natural buttery hues of Italian silk and flutters with satin duchesse suppleness on the skin. At the dry down of Shalini Parfum one senses a milky sumptuousness of the perfume with sandalwood, vanilla and sheer musks that lend the intoxicating juxtaposition of both soapy and mischievous facets that elevates it from just another white floral. That’s the stage of Shalini Parfum that resembles the hues of another exquisite creation from Maurice Roucel, Guerlain L’Instant (2003) that might have  served as  a starting point to Shalini Parfum as glorious Haute Couture fragrant tailoring. Notes: neroli, ylang ylang, coriander, tuberose, tiaré, lily of the valley, vanilla, sandalwood, musk

Disclosure: This review is based on a sample of Shalini Parfum kindly brought from NYC by our Editor in Chief Michelyn Camen visiting Milan two years ago.

Ermano Picco, Editor (with contributions from Michelyn Camen, Editor-in-Chief)

Please LIKE CaFleurebon Modern Masterpieces and your comment will count twice, please leave that in your comment. This is the second Modern Masterpiece in our series by Maurice Roucel (Musk Ravageur).

Thanks to Shalini we have 7.5 ml of Shalini Parfum ($150) with for a registered CaFleureBon reader anywhere in the world.  You must be registered or your comment will not count. To be eligible please leave a comment with what appeals to you about Shalini Perfume based on Ermano’s review and where you live. Draw closes 1/19/2019

Available  @indigoperfumery  @aedesperfumery, @beverlyhillsperfumery

Follow us on Instagram @cafleurebon, @magnificent and @shaliniparfum

We announce the winners only on our website so like Cafleurebon and use our blog feed … or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.

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37 comments

  • fazalcheema says:

    I remember Roucel interview in which he said he created Shalini rather quickly. I like som tuberose creations such as CF and Poison but have not smelled Shalini. Already liked Cafleurebon Modern Masterpieces. I am in US.

  • DespinaVnt says:

    I loved how Ermano gave a beautiful account of the perfume’s evolution, using as analogies both opera and precious fabrics – which made sense to me, and helped grasp its impact even more accurately.
    I’d be ecstatic to win this, thank you.
    I live in EU (France), and I already like and follow the FB page.

  • cressit says:

    Shalini is one of the most beautiful perfumes I’ve ever worn. I have had a couple of samples I’ve nursed over the years. Oh how I’d love a 7.5ml bottle! Ermano’s description of the “ethereal voluptuousness” is spot on. It is simultaneously milky and fluttering. Thank you for this gorgeous article and generous draw. I live in the US.

  • Zibbyz says:

    ooh, there are so many things in FB that I can’t keep up, but now I have liked it so i’ll get notifications! I loved the image of the original coquillage bottle for Shalini, I would love to try this as I am interested in exploring more floral fragrances and I like what flowers. thank you for the lovely review and the draw. and loved Ermano’s words. thank you, i’m in the US.

  • INYA says:

    This fragrance, to me, is described as a beautiful silky white floral. I’ve grown tuberose in my garden, and it’s scent is intoxicating. Thanks for the opportunity, USA.

  • Alen says:

    Great reading. I like the pyramid notes and i would love to try this fragrance. Thanks for the chance, i am in the EU.

  • jeremyn87 says:

    I’m normally iffy on white florals. I love them when they smell like the natural flowers, but can go either way when they don’t. Sometimes they work for me, other times not as much. Being more soapy makes it seem like I’d enjoy it. The relation to L’instant is assuring, as is having such an amazing perfumer having made it

    Im in IL in the US. Thanks for the draw

  • Susana Craig says:

    Oh I love Maurice Roucel. This article of Ermano is a piece of art, exquisite and it seems like you can smell the beauty of fragrance from his words. Tuberose flower scent is intoxicating, bold and right on your face,you can smell from a distance.

    Shalini is generous enough for us readers to own this one. I would love to win. I live in South Carolina USA and I follow and liked on FB and Cafleurebon Modern Masterpieces.

    Thank you.

  • Yash says:

    Shalini has been a perfule unicorn I have been chasing for year- I just love anything Maurice Roucel does and this one ( and the other two creations of the brand) has eluded me! I would so love to see a rich white floral centered around tuberose- bring back my Indian childhood memories…
    I live in Paris

  • gunmetal24 says:

    I would love for a chance to try this. The review sounds like this is a death by white flowers composition which intrigues me. Based in Canada.

  • Lorenzo says:

    Ermano articles are always a pleasure to read. I already knew he was very fond of Shalini, but now….I’m most eager to smell it!

    I live in Italy. Thanks, as always, for the draw!

  • LadyoftheOakenForest says:

    Ohhh I LOVE white florals of all types, tuberose, jasmine, petitgrain, gardenia, you name it. You got me on neroli, it is one of my favourite notes! Would love to give it a try. I live in the UK.

  • audesko1 says:

    What a beautiful article! White and green flowers is what I am picturing! Thank you for the try. I live in the US.

  • doveskylark says:

    This perfume sounds lovely, ethereal, intoxicating and sensuous–all the attributes I am hoping for in 2019. I’d love to wear this and be swept away to an exotic flower garden in India.
    I live in the USA.

  • Annatar says:

    You had me at comparing Shalini to an opera: I LOVE Lakmé.

    Maurice Roucel is one of my favourite perfumers, as well. I admire that he never repeats himself, is always in search for a new way to paint a fragrant painting. Shalini sounds like a perfect white bouquet, and while big white florals don’t always work for me, those that do become true friends of mine.

    I liked the Modern Masterpieces page (the initials are D.Sh.). Thank you for the fantastic draw. Russia

  • Christie says:

    I love white floral fragrances, especially with Gardenia! This fragrance seems very glamorous to me. I would love to try it! Thank you for the review. I liked the page. I’m in the USA.

  • Grandiflora says:

    What appeals to me most about Shalini Perfume based on Ermano’s review is the description “this glowing bath of petals unfolds like a changeant mousseline scarf; in fact it shines with the natural buttery hues of Italian silk and flutters with satin duchesse suppleness on the skin”. Lovely! I’m in the U.S.

  • Hasib says:

    Would like to try this out and her other Parfums. Don’t think I’ve smelled a tuberose fragrance yet. Thanks for the giveaway. U.S

  • susie q says:

    I liked modern masterpieces of course for chance #2 and I Love Ermano beautiful description of this lush sounding TUBEROSE tiare coriander sandalwood scent Thx for the pics and that beautiful bottle I adore artsy crystal flacons. I Love Maurice Roucel Musc R among others and I’d LOVE to have this scent please. It’s calling me!! Thank-You Shalini Parfums for the chance to try this lovely sounding liquid gold! USA

  • Dubaiscents says:

    This sounds like such an amazing scent because “…intoxicating juxtaposition of both soapy and mischievous facets that elevates it from just another white floral…” I love jasmine and sandalwood and I understand how this invokes her childhood in India. I’m in the US.

  • Onyinye says:

    I love the white floral fragrances and the notes mentioned in the scent especially vanilla.
    I live in California.

  • Claudia says:

    This is so much more than tuberose. This is a stunning beauty and definitely a masterpiece. I adore it.

  • Mujo says:

    I’m a big fan of Maurice Roucel creations and another Shalini perfume: Jardin Nocturne is one my favorite fragrances (although I’m usually not very fond of oud in fragrances). Shalini fragrances are on top of my wish list, but impossible to find in EU. Ultimately I’m aiming to retreive all 3 Shalini creations. This, the first one, sounds absolutely gorgeous, all the notes are so wonderful too. This part of the review is so poetic: “Shalini Parfum is like an opera and all the notes delicately swirl around the white bouquet adding depth and sparkle without shifting the focus off the seamless floral.” Very alluring. Thank you Shalini and Cafleurebon for yet another wonderful draw. I live in EU.

  • Gypsy Parfumista says:

    Liked Çafleurebon Modern Masterpieces (already) and registered US reader.
    Loved it from start to finish, both the review and sample I had (notice HAD when most of my samples never get used all the way up. Ermano said “L’Instant de Guerlain (have and adore the pure parfum) was the starting point for Shalini, as in fine tailoring in fashion…” or something to that effect: he basically led me to believe and osmagine that perfection can be (and was) improved upon. Wow…
    Also anything by Msr. Roucel is blind buy worthy for this gypsy’s collection. Without fail everything he’s nosed is spectacular. Even Insolence EDT (which I love on others although it’s vile on me!) charmed me into seeing feeling & smelling it’s genius eventually! Maurice is a great guy too….so funny and so FRENCH. 😉
    smell swell & be well…
    GP xox

  • charmion says:

    “…in fact it shines with the natural buttery hues of Italian silk and flutters with satin duchesse suppleness on the skin.”
    THIS.
    I LOVE the beautiful descriptions (can’t get enough of them!) for such an amazing scent.
    China.

  • Cynthia says:

    I am sure I would love this, but it is an aspirational scent for me. Haute prices! I lived in India and this is where my love of perfume really developed. So much inspiration there, and this perfume sounds like it captures that magic. Thank you for the review. USA

  • Timea says:

    This perfume sounds very nice from the base of the review. I like the notes. Thank you for the chance. I live in Europe.

  • MariaB says:

    Tuberose and other white flower petals that unfold like a “mousseline scarf” or like Italian silk–that sounds so beautiful. I live in California.

  • Caliwas says:

    I love the take on the review here with a mention of mischievous take on white floral. The fragrance sounds very magical and clean. I would love to put my nose on this scent and be taken to another place. I am in California, USA.

  • Dorian Fischer says:

    Great review! I really like floral fargrances, especially white floral, so I would love to win. Greetings from Austria

  • Diana D says:

    Shalini is even more beautiful that the notes of her fragrance! I love lily of the valley and it sounds incredibly gorgeous with the drydown of sandalwood.
    I live in the USA.

  • Lori Laws says:

    I love tuberose and Shalini sounds like the upper echelon of white florals! I also appreciated the likeness of the petals to a mousseline scarf. I have liked Cafleurebon Modern Masterpieces and I live in the US. Thanks for the draw! 🙂

  • NiceVULady says:

    “Shalini Parfum is like an opera and all the notes delicately swirl around the white bouquet adding depth and sparkle without shifting the focus off the seamless floral.” This floral sounds so beautiful that I can’t wait to try it. I’ve like Cafleurbon Modern Masterpieces. Thanks for the draw. I’m in the USA