Shalini Jardin Nocturne (Maurice Roucel) 2017 –New Perfume Review + Dubai Nights Draw

Shalini of Shalini Parfums

“Dubai is a city that is modern with a traditional core. There is a sense of refinement there, a soul there…”-Maurice Roucel, Master Perfumer

When the stars and planets align, and synchronicity and collaboration create a perfect fit, extraordinary and miraculous events can happen. And that’s exactly what happened 13 years ago when in the course of just one day, Bombay born haute-couture designer Shalini (pronounced Sha-leh-nay) and Master perfumer Maurice Roucel created her eponymous Shalini, frankly one of the greatest white floral fragrances ever made, and in my opinion, a modern masterpiece. No expense was spared and only the very finest and rarest materials available were used, housed in a limited edition Lalique "Le Coquillage" flacon.   

New Lalique "Tourbillons" flacon which houses Jardin Nocturne

Shalini approaches her fragrances with very specific briefs and extremely high expectations as one would expect from a classically trained architect; in Maurice Roucel, she has found the perfect partner and co-creator. Now, in 2017 the pair have done it again, creating “Jardin Nocturne” the second chapter in a series of three fragrances she will complete with M. Roucel.  Jardin Nocturne is a stunning hymn to the scent of the warm night air of Dubai city, the genesis of this new and exquisite fragrance, which, according to Maurice Roucel “uses the highest amount of jasmine absolue on the market”.

Dubai at Night

Jardin Nocturne brings to life the olfactive memories of both creative director and perfumer of the scented moonlit evenings in Dubai; a city where nature and urbanity are synthesized. A city where the desert meets the sea, and where the black gold of oil has replaced pearls as the currency that has put Dubai on fast-forward since 1966 and created a gleaming metropolis, sophisticated and glamorous, from what was once a simple desert oasis.

Dubai city by the sea

There are desert scents aplenty, most of them very successfully utilizing a “1001 Arabian Nights” fairytale-style of olfactive storytelling to create the ambience of their perfume. Shalinis’ new Jardin Nocturne manages to go one better in creating a fragrance that is grounded solidly in the cutting edges of the 21st century all the while happily tethered to the history and legacy of opulent oriental style perfumes that came before.

Dubai Nights

Jardin Nocturne opens with the finest cool and sleek jasmine scented wind, what you might smell as you careen through the cutting edge architectural high-rises of downtown Dubai in a state-of-the-art 2017 Mercedes S-class convertible; the top down, the warm scented wind blowing through your hair, as you head out into the open desert awash in the quicksilver Mercury-colored light of a full moon. As the breezy scent of the night blooming Jasmine Absolute slowly softens, the heart and very soul of Jardin Nocturne comes through; the most exquisitely blended oud and sandalwood.

Dubai at Night

Think you know Oud? Think again. Here it is smooth, creamy, with a woody sweetness that is redolent of the deepest darkest caramel colored sauce being hand stirred in a burnished copper cauldron that shimmers and floats on your skin like a soft zephyr breath from the heart of the desert. The saffron and musk provide a tender earthy glow redolent of sand, moonlight, and mystery, reaffirming the feeling of having traveled back in time as the lights of Dubai city disappear behind you and the desert sands of antiquity surround you.

Notes: Night Blooming Jasmine absolute from India, Assam Oud, Saffron, Mysore Sandalwood, Musk

Disclosure: Thank you SO much to Shalini for supplying the samples. The opinions are my own.

Robert Herrmann, Editor (with contributuons from Michelyn Camen, Editor-in-Chief)

-Art Direction: Michelyn Camen, Editor-in-Chief: Thank you Shalini for your personal photos of Dubai.All photos @Shalini

Jardin Nocturne 7.5 ml parfum

Thanks to  the lovely Shalini, we have an avant premier spray bottle 7.5 ml. flacon ($150)

 and

a deluxe sample of 2004 Shalini perfume for one US, EU or Canada registered reader so be sure to register if you have not done so. To be eligible please let us know what appeals to you about Shalini Jardin Nocturne based on Robert’s review, where you live and if you have tried Shalini’s first perfume or have driven through a desert at night. 

Draw closes 9/16/2017.We announce the winners only on our site and on our Facebook page, so like Cafleurebon and use our RSS feed…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.

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35 comments

  • This line from Robert’s review really resonates with me!-“the top down, the warm scented wind blowing through your hair, as you head out into the open desert awash in the quicksilver Mercury-colored light of a full moon.” I have driven through the desert nights of Tucson. While Tucson does not have much jasmine, we do have orange blossoms and creosote. They can give much the same experience. Shalini sounds divine and impossibly rich. I live in the US.

  • Jasmine and Oud?! It sounds divine!

    I’m not familiar with this perfume house. But this fragrance sounds captivating and I’m going to try to get a sample of it.

    Nor have i ever been to a desert. This review made it sound so incredible!

    I live in the U.S.

  • Never heard of this Shalini house but i would love to try this “smooth and creamy” type of oud that Robert is describing in the review. I am in the EU, thx for the draw.

  • Jasmine AND oud? That appeals to me! I live in the US. I have not tried Shalini’s first fragrance, and I would be scared to drive through a desert at night.

  • I am intrigued because it has the highest proportion of jasmine absolut in the market and has been inspired by Dubai. It is also made by Maurice Roucel, one of the best perfumers out there. Thanks for the draw. I am in US.

  • BostonScentGuy says:

    Thanks for the drawing! The evocative description of this scent as an almost caramel-like oud sounds pretty great, especially knowing how well Maurice Roucel deals with sweet and heavy notes (Musc Ravageur is a favorite). Haven’t tried the first scent and I wish I could drive through the desert at night! Thanks for the draw.

  • Thank you for this giveaway. Haven’t tried any fragrance from
    This House. Would like to be able to. This sounds good
    Thanks again. From California
    Peace

  • Living in the desert southwest of the US and having traveled in the Mideast, I have spent many an evening driving through the desert and Robert’s description captures the experience quite well. Night-blooming jasmine is one of my favorite florals and I would love the chance to try this, making it the first of Shalini’s perfume I will try; they both sound beautiful. I am in the US. Thank you for the chance!

  • I love the idea of smelling jasmine at night in the moonlight. I love the night. I prefer my desert or semi-desert to be in the USA though. I love the bottles for Shalini and Jardin Nocturne!Live in the USA.

  • Never came across Shalini, never been in a desert. So I can have it all with this draw? Great! I’m in Germany.

  • Robert, if you say that Shalini’s Jardin Nocturne is one of the greatest white floral fragrances ever made, and in your opinion, a modern masterpiece, I absolutely need it!

    I live in EU. Thanks!

  • I’m not familiar with this brand, and I have not been in a desert, but this perfume sounds so wonderful. Dubai at night could be really fabulous, maybe one day I can go there and see it. I would very like to try this perfume. I love night blooming jasmine. Thank you for the chance. I live in Europe.

  • Robert’s review made Dubai at night come alive. Sometimes I hear negative things about Dubai, but I believe if I were wearing Jardin Nocturne, all negative thoughts would disappear. I have never tried Shalini but I first knew about it from Courtney Love’s Pinterest page.
    I have driven through the desert in Nevada at dusk– I will never forget the light, the disappearing day turning to night.
    I live in the USA.

  • Love, love, love Maurice Roucel and am a fan of jasmine too so this sounds absolutely divine! I’ve never driven through the desert at night, but Robert’s imagery has me wanting to. And oh my, that bottle is gorgeous! I live in Canada.

  • Robert paints a image in my mind of an opulent desert city… alive with traditions from the past while also straddling the modern age. This modern foriental sounds very unique … a take on florals and oud that sounds achingly beautiful. I haven’t driven through the desert at night, nor have I been to a desert, but it sounds amazingly mysterious. I also have not tried Shalini’s first perfume. I am in the USA. Thanks!

  • This sounds just so good! I haven’t tried Shalini , but it sounds so fantastic. I spent quite some time in Egypt, in the desert of Sinai, which is at the coast of the Red Sea. I miss this feeling of the sea and the desert in one place and long to go there again.
    Thanks for the draw and review.
    I live in EU

  • 1. To be eligible please let us know what appeals to you about Shalini Jardin Nocturne based on Robert’s review:

    Jasmine combined with oud sounds like an exquisite combination.

    2 where you live and if you have tried Shalini’s first perfume or have driven through a desert at night.

    I live in the US on the west coast in the Willamette Valley and no, I have never tried Shalini’s first perfume but I have driven through a desert a night.

  • I find this passage very intriguing: “Think you know Oud? Think again. Here it is smooth, creamy, with a woody sweetness that is redolent of the deepest darkest caramel colored sauce being hand stirred in a burnished copper cauldron that shimmers and floats on your skin like a soft zephyr breath from the heart of the desert” This must be wonderful in combination with the jasmine. I haven’t been to a desert and sadly also haven’t tried the first Shalini perfume. I’m in EU. Thank you for this wonderful draw!

  • Robert’s evocative description of the oud as smooth and caramel-tinged really sold the fragrance for me! I live in Montreal, Canada. Shalini’s fragrance house is new to me, and I have yet to ever visit a desert. Driving through one at night sounds like an incredible experience.

  • Oh I am dying to try this. I have truly wanted to sample the original Shalini fragrance but have not yet had a chance. This sounds soooo beautiful. Of course i LOVE jasmine, I love orientals, this is just right up my alley. I am getting to know oud (recently purchased Areej LeDore’s Ottoman Empire), and it is growing on me immensely.

    I have camped in a desert in Mexico before–amidst the cactus…full moon night. Quite a memory. I live in Colorado, USA. Thank you!

  • I never have been to the desert and I do love oud. The Jasmine sounds impressive.Anything by Maurice Roucel especially an oriental gets my attention
    I live in the US

  • I have had bad luck with oud fragrances in the past, but this one with its caramel impression sounds promising. In college, I camped in the Utah desert for 2 months and that was an experience that I will always fondly remember, one of danger and beauty and peace. I live in the US and have not yet had the opportunity to try Shalini.

  • I was so excited when I heard that Shalini had created a new perfume. I have a small bottle of her original creation and it’s really special. I’ve always wanted to travel to Dubai (a former colleague of mine is there now – so jealous) – I am not sure I’ll ever actually get there….so next best thing would be a perfume that is reminiscent of the scents of the city. I love the notes and would really like to try this one. fingers crossed! I’m registered and in the US. Thank you.

  • What great photos to go along with a beautiful review. It makes the perfume sound so lyrical. “The saffron and musk provide a tender earthy glow redolent of sand, moonlight, and mystery…” I have not tries any Shalini, but have heard wonderful praises. Thank you for this amazing draw. USA

  • Tom Schroeder says:

    What an amazing perfume this must be! I have not tried Shalini or Jardin Nocturne, but the description sounds heavenly. I have driven through the Arizona desert from Phoenix to Tucson at night, and also from New Mexico to Arizona at night. I drove it with the windows down in June. Very memorable, and I had to pull over and stop miles away from lights to experience the stillness of the night. The sights of nothing but stars, quietness of the desert, and the unique sense of place and smells was beautiful. I can only imagine what Dubai must be like. The description of the way Jasmine is woven into the heart of the fragrance has me wanting to check it out. (San Jose, California, USA)

  • Robert makes this sound incredibly beautiful. He evokes the wind, the moon, and the desert along with the city of Dubai’s sophistication. I have not tried this house before. Thanks so much for the draw. I live in the USA

  • Everything Maurice Roucel touches turns to gold, at least in a liquid form 🙂 I have yet to find a fragrance made by him which I don’t love. I don’t know the original perfume from Shalini, but I would love to test this one. It has the quintessential notes of an oriental, dreamy perfume from the arabian fairytales. It looks really special!

    I am from EU. Thanks!

  • I love Robert’s allusion of driving in the convertible out of the city into the desert, leaving jasmine behind for sand dunes and sandalwood scents. I tried the first perfume years ago when it first came out and rememer racing through the sample in a couple of days, but I can’t bring to mind the exact scent, only that I liked it. I admire that she has not rushed into another scent but taken her time. It sounds very nice. I am in the USA

  • Thank you all so much for your great comments. And a special message for Phillipe….the amazing white Floral is the original perfume, called simply “Shalini”

  • Love jasmine. Love it being the highest jasmine absolue used in a perfume. Oh and that flacon is out of this world!
    Paired with oud makes it sound even more interesting and also the fact that Mr. Roucel is the nose behind it makes it a must try.
    I hope i get my hands on this one. Been out of the perfume game for a while and I’d love to try something new and good.
    I live in the US.
    Thanks

  • Hikmat Sher Afridi says:

    Robert’s review about Shalini Jardin Nocturne is impressive! The notes are fascinating and the combo of oud, sandalwood with jasmine sound interesting and much appealing. That Lalique “Tourbillons” flacon is gorgeous. Never tried any of the Shalini fragrances.
    Thanks to the lovely Shalini for the generosity and CafleureBon for the opportunity by letting my relative address in US.

  • What excites me is that I am already a big fan of the original "Shalini" parfum. In 2006 I was interviewed by a perfumer (he interviewed me as a budding collector) and he asked me what my dream perfume was. I said "jasmine and oud" and it would be named Khaluq. I am also a Maurice Roucel fan, this new perfume simply sounds DIVINE.

  • ForeverFragrantKid says:

    I thought the original Shalini was absolutely gorgeous! Hearing their new one is full of some of my favorite notes(like Mysore sandalwood, saffron,etc.) , I know in the hands of Maurice Roucel/Shalini this will be STUNNING. Would love the opportunity to try this! I’m in CT in the USA.
    Thank you!