For this creation, Shalimar Eau de Parfum was presented in a 250 ml white bee bottle, the Abeille flacon, whose origins date back to 1853 when Guerlain crafted it for Empress Eugénie. The milky translucence of the glass softens the bottle’s imperial form, giving it a sense of ethereal luxury. Its decoration—a brass necklace designed by Parisian jewelry artist Sylvia Toledano—transforms the flacon into an object of wearable art. The necklace drapes gracefully around the neck of the bottle, recalling the ornate jewelry of Indian princesses, a fitting tribute to Shalimar’s inspiration in the romance of Emperor Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal, for whom the Taj Mahal was built.
The necklace features two lapis lazuli cabochon pendants, their deep cobalt hue flecked with subtle veins of gold. Lapis lazuli, prized since antiquity, was once ground into ultramarine pigment for Renaissance art and is still valued for its luminous, celestial color. The finest stones are found in Afghanistan and northern India, regions that have supplied lapis to royalty and artisans for millennia. In this perfume’s context, lapis lazuli’s rich blue evokes mystery, nobility, and divine protection, while the gold inclusions mirror the gilded accents of the bottle and the opulence of the Shalimar story itself.
The Imperial Bijoux de Shalimar edition retailed for €450, making it a true collector’s piece—one that unites fragrance, fine art, and craftsmanship in a single creation. Its luxurious presentation and Indian-inspired embellishments echo the sensuality and splendor that Shalimar has symbolized since its debut in 1925.
As for Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche, it holds a special place in French cultural history. Founded in 1852, it is recognized as the world’s first modern department store, located on the Left Bank (Rive Gauche) of the Seine in Paris. Conceived by Aristide and Marguerite Boucicaut, it revolutionized retail with its fixed prices, mail-order catalogues, and elegant, artful displays—creating a new shopping experience for the bourgeoisie of the Second Empire. Over the decades, it became synonymous with Parisian sophistication and innovation, nurturing collaborations with designers, artists, and luxury brands.
By choosing Le Bon Marché as the venue for this exclusive edition, Guerlain celebrated not just its own heritage but that of Parisian luxury culture itself—a meeting point of perfume artistry, craftsmanship, and refined commerce. “The Imperial Bijoux de Shalimar” thus stands as both a tribute to Guerlain’s royal legacy and a shimmering emblem of French elegance at its finest.
