“If we have not found the heaven within, we have not found the heaven without.” ~ James Hilton, Lost Horizon
Award-winning natural perfumer Hiram Green continues his fascination with myth (his last release, Arcadia – hearkened back to an idyllic, legendary paradise) as he revisits his exquisite 2014 creation Shangri La, inspired by James Hilton’s hidden Himalayan paradise in the novel Lost Horizon. Hiram has tweaked this fragrance by rendering it more light-filled, warmly-spiced and floral – and his 2022 iteration remains faithful to the lushness of its forebear. Hiram Green Shangri La is one of those timeless illuminated chypres which resemble Shakespeare’s Cleopatra: “Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale her infinite variety.”
Hiram Green courtesy of the perfumer
Hilton’s novel Lost Horizon takes place during the era of the British Raj. A group of four residents (a British consul named Conway, his vice-consul, an American and a British missionary) are on a plane intended for Peshawar which is high-jacked to Tibet instead. The plane goes down and its navigator dies; the survivors find themselves stranded in terra incognita in the Himalayas. They are led to a lamasery in Shangri La by a local English-speaking postulant: a community in which no one appears to age, led by a High Lama who is thought to be 250 years old. As long as one dwells in the valley, they appear untouched by the passage of time; once they depart, their subsequent aging occurs demonstrably rapidly. The High Lama (who is dying) recognizes a potential spiritual successor in Conway and offers him his position. Two of the four decide to remain in the valley (the American is wanted for stock fraud and must avoid prosecution; the missionary intends to convert Shangri La’s community to Christianity), while the vice-consul convinces his colleague to return home. It is never revealed what happened to Conway – but there exists a widely held belief that he returned to the valley to assume the role of High Lama – in search of paradise regained.
Hiram Green Shangri La is indeed an olfactory paradise worthy of an epic novel or film. Its peachy, chalorous spice is brightened by tart and tonic true citrus top notes, redolent on a certain plane with Edmond Roudnitska’s breathtaking Femme de Rochas. Shangri La’s heart bears similarity in its choice florals as well: rose, orris and jasmine. I smell cinnamon, clove, nutmeg; if there is any cumin, it must be minute. This simmering of fruit, flower and spice spins a luxurious, enveloping glamour*. Hiram has employed as much oakmoss in this formula as is permitted by IFRA standards, and it sings lyrically in concert with a lightly smoky balsamic vetiver in the base. Shangri La, for all its classicism – never assumes a dated stance; it’s fresh, current and comforting as your favorite cashmere. I can’t resist its opulent warmth, wonderful in all seasons but particularly poignant as the temperatures plummet. It’s a veritable Valley of Flowers forever blossoming in the Himalayas. Notes: Lemon, orange, bergamot, peach, jasmine, rose, orris, cinnamon, warm spices, vetiver, oakmoss
* N.B. – Glamour (utilized here) refers to the archaic Scots word derived from gramarye: magic, enchantment, spell.
Sample provided by the perfumer – many thanks! My nose is my own…
~ Ida Meister, Deputy and Natural Perfumery Editor
Thanks to the generosity of we have a 50 ml flacon of Hiram Green Shangri La for one registered reader in the USA and EU. To be eligible, please leave a comment saying what appeals to you about Hiram Green Arcadia based on Ida’s review, whether you’ve tried any Hiram Green fragrances and where you live. Draw closes 11/5/2022 and winner will be announced within 10 days after
Editor’s Note Hiram Green Shangri La was first introduced in 2014, the follow up to his first perfume, the swoon-worthy Moon Bloom. It went out of production in 2018, and is reborn in 2022
All images © Hiram Green
Hiram Green has been the recipient of our ÇaFleureBon Best of Scent 2020, twice in 2019, 2018, 2016 and 2014
Available in the USA at Indigo Perfumery LUCKYSCENT
Follow us on Instagram @cafleurebonofficial @idameister @hiram_green and
This is our Privacy and Draw Rules Policy.
We announce the winners only on our site and through a link on our Facebook page, so “like” ÇaFleureBon and use our blog feed, or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.