In 2012, Guerlain unveiled Shalimar Parfum Initial ‘À Fleur de Peau’, a dazzling limited-edition collector’s piece that elevated the artistry of perfume presentation to the realm of high jewelry and fine crystal. The fragrance itself remained unchanged—Shalimar Parfum Initial extrait, lush and luminous—but the vessel transformed it into a true objet d’art.
The bottle was crafted by Baccarat, the legendary French crystal house founded in 1764 and renowned for producing some of the world’s most exquisite glassware and perfume flacons. Known for its clarity, weight, and brilliance, Baccarat crystal instantly imbued the Shalimar bottle with prestige and timeless luxury. Around the neck, Guerlain commissioned a necklace by Gripoix, the celebrated Parisian atelier established in 1869 and famed for its pâte de verre (glass paste) jewelry. Gripoix creations were long favored by couture houses such as Chanel, Dior, and Yves Saint Laurent, admired for their ability to combine delicate, hand-cast glass with elaborate gilt-metal settings.
For À Fleur de Peau, Gripoix designed a necklace of flesh-colored smalt—a term that refers to a fine, colored glass paste used since the Renaissance for enameling and decorative arts. Here, the smalt was tinted a soft, flesh-toned pink, set into intricate gold filigree, its delicate sheen recalling both the warmth of skin and the soft glow of precious stones. This detail gave the bottle an almost talismanic quality, as though the perfume itself were wearing a piece of couture jewelry.
Each flacon was hand-numbered, underscoring its rarity and exclusivity, and it held 2 ounces of parfum extrait, the richest and most opulent concentration of fragrance. In this form, Shalimar Parfum Initial became not just a perfume but a treasure—an indulgence for collectors and connoisseurs who valued craftsmanship as much as scent.
The name À Fleur de Peau (pronounced as Ah Flur duh Poh) translates literally from French as “at the flower of the skin” or more idiomatically, “skin-deep” or “sensitive to the touch.” In the context of the bottle, the phrase resonates with sensuality and intimacy—suggesting a perfume so delicate and refined that it feels like a second skin.
In essence, Guerlain’s Shalimar Parfum Initial À Fleur de Peau was an exquisite meeting of métiers: crystal by Baccarat, jewelry by Gripoix, and perfumery by Guerlain. Together they created a collector’s piece that celebrated not only the fragrance within but also the rich French traditions of craftsmanship, luxury, and artistry.
