The French perfume house marks a century of its most legendary scent with an immersive New York exhibition, a new vanilla-forward iteration, and an art collaboration featuring a $23,000 collector&rsquo;s bottle.

Few <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/beauty/womens-fall-fragrances-perfumes-bottega-veneta-dior-guerlain">fragrances</a> have captured the imagination of the world quite like <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/beauty/guerlain-paris-hennessy-habit-rouge-spirit-fragrance">Guerlain&rsquo;s</a> Shalimar. Created in 1925 by Jacques Guerlain, the amber-floral perfume has become synonymous with timeless sensuality&mdash;its trail as recognizable as its cobalt-topped flacon. Now, as the fragrance turns 100, Guerlain is marking the milestone with a series of celebrations that bridge past and present: an immersive New York exhibition, a new iteration of the scent, and an art-world collaboration that transforms Shalimar into a literal work of art.
At the heart of the festivities is &ldquo;Shalimar Centennial: 100 Years of Love,&rdquo; Guerlain&rsquo;s first-ever U.S. exhibition, <a href="https://www.guerlain.com/us/en-us/c/waldorf-astoria-shalimar-exhibit.html?utm_source=prandinfluence&amp;utm_medium=qr-code&amp;utm_campaign=guerlain_pc_usa_shalimar_other_event_202511_waldorf-astoria-shalimar-exhibit-press-influence" target="_blank" rel="noopener">open by appointment</a> from November 5 through November 20 at the newly-reopened Waldorf Astoria New York. Inside, guests move through a multi-sensory journey designed to honor the perfume&rsquo;s legacy of elegance and daring.

Guerlain Shalimar Collection. Photography courtesy of Guerlain.

Guerlain Shalimar Exhibit. Photography courtesy of Guerlain.

The Discovery Room opens with a cinematic look at Shalimar&rsquo;s origins&mdash;its inspiration rooted in the 17th-century love story of Emperor Shah Jahan and Princess Mumtaz Mahal, whose romance led to the creation of the Taj Mahal and the lush Shalimar Gardens. The fragrance, born from that same spirit of devotion, became a defining emblem of modern perfumery. Archival imagery and vintage advertisements recall how Shalimar&rsquo;s arrival coincided with New York&rsquo;s own Art Deco golden age, embedding the scent in the glamour of 1920s high society.
In the Olfactory Room, visitors can explore the six essential notes that form the heart of Guerlain&rsquo;s signature &ldquo;Guerlinade&rdquo; accord&mdash;vanilla, bergamot, tonka bean, iris, rose, and jasmine&mdash;and experience how they combine to form Shalimar&rsquo;s hypnotic scent. The latest evolution, Shalimar L&rsquo;Essence, takes the spotlight: a deeper, vanilla-centric reinterpretation composed by Delphine Jelk, Guerlain&rsquo;s Director of Perfume Creation. The new fragrance amplifies the original&rsquo;s amber warmth, pairing Madagascan vanilla tincture with luminous bergamot and powdery iris for a richer, more modern sensuality.
The exhibit&rsquo;s final gallery, &ldquo;Exceptional Pieces Through Time,&rdquo; showcases these rare and historical bottles, tracing a century of artistry in glass. Guests can also shop the complete Shalimar collection, including the new Shalimar L&rsquo;Essence, and leave with keepsakes like an Art Deco tote and postcards commemorating the maison&rsquo;s centennial.

Guerlain Shalimar L'Essence Limited-Edition. Photography courtesy of Guerlain.

Complementing the exhibition is one of Guerlain&rsquo;s most dazzling artistic collaborations to date: a limited-edition Shalimar bottle created by Franco-Brazilian artist Jana&iuml;na Milheiro. Known for her mastery of contemporary featherwork, Milheiro reimagines the iconic Baccarat-designed bottle as a lush, hand-adorned masterpiece inspired by the flamboyant beauty of Frida Kahlo, who was a known devotee of Shalimar. The 1.5-liter collector&rsquo;s flacon, priced at &euro;20,000 (approximately $23,000), is meticulously dressed in feathers and silk-thread details that evoke the tropical gardens of Kahlo&rsquo;s Casa Azul and the Art Deco richness of Shalimar&rsquo;s origins.&nbsp;

A hundred years after its debut at the 1925 International Exhibition of Decorative Arts in Paris, Shalimar remains a testament to Guerlain&rsquo;s pioneering spirit. Whether through a scent, a bottle, or an art piece, its story continues to capture what Jacques Guerlain once called &ldquo;the essence of love itself.&rdquo;

Guerlain Celebrates 100 Years of Shalimar With A Waldorf Astoria Exhibit in New York

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