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Van Cleef & Arpels Midnight in Paris vs Guerlain Shalimar L'Essence
Shalimar L'Essence is the community's favourite of the two.
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Notes
Top
LeatherBergamotAmalfi LemonHollyRosemary
Heart
TeaStyraxLily-of-the-Valley
Base
Tonka BeanIncenseBenzoinAlmondAmber
Accords
Amber
100%
Leather
60%
Vanilla
56%
Smoky
56%
Warm spicy
54%
Aromatic
52%
Performance
LongevityLong lasting
SillageModerate
Best Seasons
fallwinterspring
About
Midnight in Paris by Van Cleef & Arpels is a Oriental fragrance for men. Midnight in Paris was launched in 2010. Midnight in Paris was created by Domitille Michalon Bertier and Olivier Polge. Top notes are Leather, Bergamot, Amalfi Lemon, Holly and Rosemary; middle notes are Tea, Styrax and Lily-of-the-Valley; base notes are Tonka Bean, Incense, Benzoin, Almond and Amber. Midnight in Paris is a new fragrance for men which adds up to fairy-tale line of watches by this house and belongs to special line Haute Parfumerie which includes two editions so far – Feerie and new masculine fragrance Midnight in Paris. Haute Parfumerie line is under license of Inter Perfumes. Midnight in Paris, new fragrance for men Van Cleef & Arpels is arriving in a dark blue glass flacon, which gives an illusion of starry sky. The perfume was created by perfumers Domitille Bertier and Olivier Polge who enriched it with floral notes. Among them you can find accentuated lily of the valley and citrusy notes with luminous lemon. Its dark aura arises from tonka beans, while incense adds a mysterious note. The fragrance hits the shelves in September 2010.
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Notes
Top
IncenseAlmondBergamot
Heart
IrisAmberRoseEthylvanillinOpoponax
Base
Madagascar VanillaMuskBenzoinTonka BeanLeather
Accords
Vanilla
100%
Amber
90%
Powdery
82%
Iris
65%
Sweet
59%
Balsamic
55%
Performance
LongevityLong lasting
SillageModerate
Best Seasons
fallwinterspring
About
Shalimar L'Essence by Guerlain is a Oriental fragrance for women. This is a new fragrance. Shalimar L'Essence was launched in 2025. The nose behind this fragrance is Delphine Jelk. Top notes are Incense, Almond and Bergamot; middle notes are Iris, Amber, Rose, Ethylvanillin and Opoponax; base notes are Madagascar Vanilla, Musk, Benzoin, Tonka Bean and Leather. When Jacques Guerlain created Shalimar, he gave birth to the very first amber fragrance in the history of perfumery. One hundred years later, Guerlain commemorates this legendary creation with Shalimar L’Essence Eau de Parfum Intense, conceived by Delphine Jelk, Master Perfumer and Director of Perfume Creation for the Maison. This new interpretation is a radiant homage to vanilla, enriched with notes of bergamot, rose, iris, tonka bean, and musk.At the heart of this intense eau de parfum lies a celebration of vanilla in all its expressions. Delphine Jelk elevates the original composition by combining ethylvanillin from Jacques Guerlain’s historic formula with a precious Madagascan vanilla tincture, crafted using Guerlain’s ancestral savoir-faire. The result is a deeper, more opulent intensity that amplifies the signature warmth of Shalimar.The fragrance opens with a discreet yet luminous touch of bergamot, gently illuminating a floral heart where rose absolute meets the powdery refinement of iris. Gradually, the iconic amber accord reveals itself. Vanilla, used in generous measure, unfolds new facets—smooth and woody, softened by a subtle leathery nuance—creating a trail that is both sensual and enveloping.More than a perfume, Shalimar L’Essence is a declaration of love. It is Delphine Jelk’s tribute to Guerlain’s heritage icon and, above all, to its most emblematic ingredient. Vanilla, the cornerstone of the composition and the secret of its universal allure, embodies tenderness and seduction. Precious and expressive, it stands as a symbol of Guerlain’s olfactory palette and a vital element of the Guerlinade that defines so many of the Maison’s creations.To accompany this reinterpretation, Guerlain has reimagined the emblematic Shalimar bottle. Inspired by the Art Deco movement that flourished at the time of the original fragrance’s creation, the redesigned logo features bold, graphic lettering rendered in a luminous golden hue, echoing the color of the perfume itself. Rooted in history yet resolutely contemporary, the bottle forms a graceful bridge between the eternal legacy of Shalimar and its future expression.Top Notes: Bergamot, Almond, IncenseMiddle Notes: Opopanine Accord, Rose, Iris, EthylvanillinBase Notes: Benjoin, Vanilla, Tonka Bean, Musk, Leather Opopanine Accord is a distinctive amber-vanilla signature, most famously associated with Guerlain. Centered on opopanax (sweet myrrh) resin, it weaves together balsamic sweetness, soft smokiness, and resinous warmth, enriched by vanilla, tonka bean, and subtle spices. The result is a deep, velvety, and opulent foundation—an accord that radiates sensual warmth and luxurious depth, exemplified in creations such as Shalimar L’Essence and Vanille Planifolia Extrait 21.Shalimar L'Essence is availble in 30ml, 50ml, and 90ml Eau de Parfum Intense.
Notes in Common
37% sharedShared (7)
LeatherBergamotTonka BeanIncenseBenzoinAlmondAmber
Only in Midnight in Paris
Amalfi LemonHollyRosemaryTeaStyraxLily-of-the-Valley
Only in Shalimar L'Essence
IrisRoseEthylvanillinOpoponaxMadagascar VanillaMusk
Rating
4.26vs4.36
Ratings
4,774vs2,501
Concentration
ParfumvsEDP
Launch Year
2010vs2025
Which should I buy?
Shalimar L'Essence is the community's favourite of the two.
- Shalimar L'Essence is rated higher by the community: 4.36 from 2,501 ratings, against 4.26 from 4,774.
- Longevity votes for both lean "long lasting".
- Sillage is comparable: "moderate" is the most common vote for both.
- Both are voted best for fall and winter.
- Both houses are premium (typically $100–250), so price won't be the deciding factor.
Buy Shalimar L'Essence if you want the higher-rated option; pick Midnight in Paris if its note profile reads closer to what you already love wearing.