Description
Shaal Nur is a perfume named after an Indian princess. Its oriental composition is based upon incense and flowers, rose, spices and aromatic herbs dominating it. Perfume is very adjustable, unusual and light.
It opens in a refreshing wave of citruses, which blends in with fresh spices, rosemary, tarragon and rose. Among the middle tones there’s also Karo- Karounde (Leptactina Senegambica), mysterious herb that origins from tropical West Africa with its floral exotic scent. There are several spices of incense that dominate the composition of the base, along with nutmeg, rose tree, vanilla, amber, patchouli and vetiver.
The perfume was produced in 1997.
aleksandr111 – :
Shalimar for men. If a woman likes Shalimar, just wear Shalimar. Shaal Nur is the complementary men’s version.
TAng1982 – :
Shaal Nur is a perfume which I find difficult to “pin down” & get to know well. I’ve had it quite a while & decided today to spray generously & try to get my thoughts organised on it.
It opens green with noticeable citrus & shortly after incense & smokiness come through. When I first got it I noticed some rose, but today I could barely detect it – just once or twice I thought I sensed an occasional waft of rosey floral. Really once the citrus has faded, it’s mostly a cool herbacious, woody scent (mostly rosemary, but it’s quite a soft rosemary)I’m smelling the drydown now (after 7 hours), it has definitely sweetened slightly. It’s now a barely there skin scent of slightly powdery woodiness with a bit of patchouli. I don’t really detect strong vetiver in this at any point.
Shaal Nur is quite a cool perfume, I see it classed as oriental/woody, but I think it lacks the warmth that I usually associate with orientals. It smells natural & of good quality to me…but it’s still a bit of an enigma to me. It’s a very quiet perfume, bit like a very shy nice person, but one who is elusive & difficult to get to know 🙂 I really do like it, but I don’t love it…yet
Alexanddr – :
An aromatic, balsamic and warm opening. There are herbs and woods with a dry incense in the back that shows in the development and then sweeter notes like vanilla and opoponax create a relaxing and powdery base. It’s rich, aromatic, resinous, warm and classy.
Scent: 8/10
Longevity: 9/10
Projection: 7/10
ZloyCheater – :
I have it from so long cause after few mounths it changed in a very disgusting heavy smell…may be too much not well done chemistry.
This was an other blind buy that reminds me why I shouldn’t buy blind.
E’ vero ce l’ho da tantissimi anni credo abbia virato notevolmente. Forse troppo chimica? perchè dopo un po’ non riuscivo a metterla. Disgustosamente pesante.
MOPKOBKA – :
Just like some of the reviewers below, I also made the experience that this one starts out completely different as it eventually turns out. At the beginning it reminded me a bit of a more intense version of Dzongkha, being way more masculine than feminine. After a while it’s totally different, heavy, sweet, a bit like a 1970s feminine. Interesting and retro, but not necessarily pleasing.
***
paul2411 – :
Total shape-shifter! In cooler weather this comes across sweeter (almost vanillic) and more woody. In the heat you get the herbs, the spices (I get loads of coriander) and a deep resinous smoke. It reminds me a little of the spice overload in Comme des Garcons CdG. Nice going Etro!
This is a softer sister to Chantecaille’s Kalimantan. It is gorgeous!
gerasimow77 – :
This is an interesting one. I have to admit, the opening is a bit sharp and tangy for my taste, but once I get over that, it turns into something else.
There are intermittent whiffs of elusive cardamom that I seem to only get when I am not sniffing directly. A direct sniff reveals more resiny or woody / spicy notes, at times there seems to be something sweet that stays just out of reach.
This is a mysterious blend that keeps my nose busy and my interest awake. It makes me want to wear it more so I can discover all its hidden treasures…
NarTVipeR – :
A lovely fragrance befitting another princess called Savitri who used all her wit to save her husband from the god of death. This is no push over and neither was she. She is invigorating, startling from the bergamot, petitgrain, coriander, thyme and lemon. The opening will definitely wake you up and its a shame it doesnt last more than an hour but it is an edt. Smokey from the incense. She just keeps on going on even faced with frightening obstacles, with her resilience born of the patch, opopanax and rosewood. The base notes are a wonderful resinous/woody base that lasts a few hours maximum. Savitri uses her wit and endurance to prevail and so to am I won over by this bright exotic scent. A lovely fragrance that is definitely unisex.
malek0047 – :
Released in 1997 and truly unisex, however named after an Indian princess (which is so apropos for the aromas found in here). Truly wonderful perfume…the movements are vivid and remarkable. Intelligent, exotic and never disjointed – very high quality ingredients present themselves distinctly. The opening is of very bright, but contrasting citrus (crisp bergamot, warm mandarin & bitter lemon peel) – even a squeeze of sour grapefruit – with a nice dusting of earthy coriander and a light note of smooth rosewood.
Karo Karounde is found in the heart with its interesting peppery quality that begins to warm the scent, blended with a detectable rose note and a nice melange of chopped herbs – rosemary, tarragon and thyme. At this point, there is a green quality that is slightly bitter, but so very realistic & not off-putting. While there are some more notes that waft in and out, this is the main essence (up to this point) – overtones of the citric top show in the heart with petit grain. A nice touch.
The looming base notes are coming through in light, soft plumes. Frankincense and opoponax reveal themselves in the middle of the heart along with the wonderful and very nice vetiver (a touch rooty and well-presented) and patchouli…slightly herbaceous initially, but warms with the smoky resins. Both join with a nice cedar note that is rich and meld with the herbal & floral heart that has all but faded. This stays rather fresh up to a point, but there is a stage that this becomes deep, warm and the vibrancy goes away…not completely, but it fades to the background. The sun is setting.
Shadows fall and this ends as a very cozy scent with great incense and wood…Shaal Nur, the Indian princess closes the canopy over her bed with the resins still warm in the bronze burner, filling her room with magical, seductive aromas drifting on ethereal, misty trails of smoke.
What impresses me most is how it opens so vibrant, lush and high-toned and how it warms so naturally on skin – the evolution is incredible to behold. I didn’t spray on fabric. I’ve always loved the way Etro scents seem to reveal themselves over time on my skin. Shaal Nur evolves about as much as a scent can within a single bottle. The dryness is compelling and what makes Shaal Nur work so well. If the base had oriental notes, it simply would not create this wonderful vibe. The wood all dries out naturally & integrates seamlessly – while the citrus fades with the green herbs, which is rather amazing as you start with so much dampness and greenness well into the heart.
This is an exquisite bottle of fragrance – one that I love with lust & passion. Cheers.
“Daylight dies,
The Camp fires redden like angry eyes,
The Tents show white,
In the glimmering light,
Spirals of tremulous smoke arise, to the purple skies,
And the hum of the Camp sounds like the sea,
Drifting over the sand to me.
Afar, in the Desert some wild voice sings
To a jangling zither with minor strings,
And, under the stars growing keen above,
I think of the thing that I love.”
A verse from: “Reverie of Mahomed Akram at the Tamarind Tank”
komi11 – :
Very interesting shot of piney green resinousness, with a lemon sorbet chaser and incense/tarragon undertones. All in all like incense, but without seeming like an oriental; more like a cleanly citrus incense, very unusual and very nice.
Limon – :
This is not something that I will wear because it is not a match with my skin, but it is a well-executed, unique spicy, aromatic, floral-woody blend, with a refreshing citrus opening (predominantly lemon to my nose), and some sweetness wafting unobtrusively throughout. This is elegant and sophisticated. Retro, in a positive way.
podgas lampatti – :
When wearing Shaal Nur, I thought I would smell mysterious, daring, enchanting. A co-worker (a man the same age as me) walked into my classroom and said, “Something smells like a vanilla milkshake. Is that you? You smell like a vanilla milkshake.” Huh. To my nose this is a cool, unisex oriental that reminds me of Shalimar, even though it doesn’t really smell like Shalimar. I think it’s absolutely gorgeous…milkshake or not. Does this even have vanilla?
dmitrij1077 – :
apertura ricca di agrumi estremamente volatili. poi si vira rapidamente verso il vetiver e sentori d’erba. infine patchouli e incenso. nonostante le note aromatiche di fondo, a me sembra un profumo adatto ai mesi caldi. leggero e ottimista, ricorda shalimar (che su di me è assolutamente orrendo).
kararrodo – :
Citrus notes open this light, delicate composition. The herbaceous elements then come forward, and the floral sweet tones envelop the whole. The spice notes are very light. It is a soft fragrance, mildly sweet, and despite it’s lightness, has very good longevity. It would likely have more impact if paired with the body lotion.
n-sv – :
I get the after shave effect for the first few minutes and then it evolves to a quite sweet, meant in the best way, light creamy rose combined with a polite citrus and a touch of incense in the background. It is a fresh oriental if there is such thing.
I had forgotten my sample and now found it again after a few months. God the more I wear it the more I love it. Very unique smell. I agree it is not feminine nor masculine.Quite, cosy scent. In search of a full bottle.
fgcuuywrard – :
Shaal Nuur is a mild oriental scent whose drydown is gorgeous ! Dont think anymore. I will wear while reading a book or just going for a stroll with my husband….. casual yet gorgeous .Just get it !
inarme – :
A men’s version of Shalimar. Possibly unisex. I say that as a longtime lover of Shalimar and a woman who wears many unisex and men’s fragrances.
RoyasseDwense – :
For women? This is mis-categorized. Even the hang tag that accompanies the bottle says “unisex.” At least on the bottle I have, which is the slightly older design with ornate gold cap, round label, and paisley styled box (not sure if it has been reformulated–I hope not).
Shaal Nur opens up with a semi-sweet patchouli citrus amber and vetiver accord that is delicious. But then as it starts drying down it becomes sharp, with vetiver leading the charge. Originally I’d thought this had sandalwood in it, as there’s something in the coniferous like mixing of vanilla, amber, tarragon and vetiver that initially suggested it to me. Somewhat similar to Diptyque Tam Dao that contains amber, cedar, sandalwood, Brazilian rosewood, and cypress, with a softer edge. I still feel there’s something connecting them, but not quite enough to say one mimics the other. After experiencing Shaal Nur for a while longer, it does feel more like vetiver than sandalwood. Spicier too.
Sillage is fairly strong at first but shifts more to a skin scent after several hours. Longevity seems to be moderate. This is one of those fragrances where you can wear it without easily offending. Oddly, there’s quite a bit of citrus listed but I don’t really get the impression.
Bottom line: This is a wonderful woody soft spicy fragrance. My body chemistry feels a good synergy with it. While I’ve recently been mesmerized by another fragrance that requires a nearly $300 commitment for the same 100ml size of contents, I feel like I’ve gotten something also exquisite for a pittance in comparison. This is one of Etro’s greats.
vsv665Bessinepome – :
I wish I could get some of the notes that other reviewers do! I was amazed at the comparisons to Shalimar. I wish it smelled more like that on me! I can’t smell any citrus or flowers at all. On me, it is very dry; no sweetness, which I really feel it needs. I get pretty straight incense/old church, on the dark and heavy side, but no “smokiness”. It’s not something I really want to smell on my skin, although it’s a nice scent in the air or maybe on a warm blankie. On my skin it is sort of dank in cold weather, and would be truly gag-worthy in warm weather. This was a blind buy that reminds me why I shouldn’t buy blind.
tofancy – :
Wrongly classified as a feminine scent.
Fully unisex open citrus and coriander already takes care with that spicy orange air resin together.
It lasts throughout the heart with light floral nuances menthol medium but very light.
The background is my favorite I love patchouli and vetiver here are cyclical and the two complement each other as camphor with earthy smoky mineral touch and appears the touch of incense i believe complements this aspect smoky.
In short a beautiful intrigant perfume.
Rating: 8,5/10
vladOFF – :
Mix vintage Emeraude with Clarin’s Eau Dynamiste and you might get something similar to Shaal Nur. Yet that doesn’t touch on how gorgeous the vetiver/incense mix is here. To me, this is the sunniest vetiver scent ever made. And every other note is really working here to tame the vetiver into clean, beautiful smokiness, saving it from its usual sour notes. A lighthearted incense for a warm day.
sanymaxx – :
Nothing special for me, just patchouli, a little bit of bergamot and incense. Good scent for men, not for women.
lysfure – :
It’s a really great scent for a man (I’m one, yes). I hear it as a more noble version of “Hommage pour l’Homme” by Lalique.
qwert1181 – :
Soft citrus, sweet opoponax, patchouli and spices – lemon sponge hash cake! 😉
I agree with a few others here – Shaal Nur would smell extraordinary on a man. The wrist-scent I get is lemon-cakey and sweet but there’s something decidedly masculine in the sillage.
ETA: It’s now 2 hours in and the masculine note has vanished, leaving sweet lemon, vanilla and incense – a duckling yellow angora sweater of a scent that’s perfect on this cool, damp day.
PS. It would still smell great on a man!
катаев – :
I smell incense, and spices, and maybe flowers, but it’s so complex and exaggerated that my nose goes in ovverride and can’t detect anything in particular, maybe a sign of a very well balanced fragrance? Shaal Nur is an interesting juice, very elegant and quite dry, I would see it very well on a 50 year old woman wrapped in a professional suit, the kind of lady who always gets it her own way, a winner. But it does not make my mind float, it doesn’t inspire my imagination, I don’t think it is for me. I am happy to have a sample of this in my collection though, it is a scent worth a try.
wvh952Negeltzex – :
Ah, fanatastic Etro! Oriental, but not the sweet one. Spicy-woody oriental mix with grapefruit, lemon, bergamot …. composition which makes up kind of deep freshness, kind of mistical fresh incense.
It opens sharp and strong incense mixed with some grapefruit and lemon. When settles, it goes through smoky vanilla and amber…. and the dry down is fantastic smoky woody fresh scent…. wow, I really do like it. It’s wonderful!
Of course this is not kind of signature fragrance which you can spill around and it doesn’t matter. No, no,no !
This is THE perfume ( in large font) which belongs more to the group of going-out fragrances. It’s outstanding and long lasting like all Etro perfumes are. So, you couldn’t be invisible with this one!
orex5 – :
Etro SHAAL NUR opens with citrus but soon becomes a strong and dark incense perfume with big sillage and excellent longevity. This thick and warm oriental composition is best suited for cold weather, worn under sweaters, and could be worn by both women and men, although I find it more masculine than feminine and would be surprised if it were not being consumed primarily by men.
I do not find SHAAL NUR very subtle or complex and layered, but the strength of these sorts of perfumes lies in their sheer insistence, given the quality of the notes. This woody oriental reminds me somehow of a log cabin in a dense forest of evergreen trees high up in the Rocky mountains.
softranger – :
A proper guy should be cheered up by things such as beer, whisky, a good cigar or a victory of his favourite football team. It’s not very usual for the same trick to be done by a liquid with ROSE in it. But that is exactly what Shaal Nur does for me. Iťs a fragrance which brightens my day (as pathetic as it may sound).
Shaal Nur starts more like citrusy cologne for men with a touch of flowers and vanilla, but it actually has more up its sleeve. When it develops on your skin, you witness it becoming stronger and more complex thanks to other ingredients (vetiver, incense and woods are my guess). But it is not about the ingredients alone, it’s the outcome which offers much more than a sum of its parts. The result is coherent and very pleasant smell which lasts for many hours.
I guess it is considered to be a summer fragrance, but Shaal Nur is so warm that it can work even when it’s snowing outside.
fkw823bedyWelty – :
Shaal Nur by Etro starts citrusy with bergamot and stays that way on my skin. The drydown is more complex,bergamot,patchouli and a hint of incense.It’s a nice citrus fragrance but nothing extraordinary for me.Most Etro perfumes don’t work on me.This one has average lasting power and nornal sillage.The search goes on..
Sem364 – :
When I first spray this on, it promises to be a chypre, with a lot of citruses and a coniferous feel. But slowly the vanilla, incense and vetiver start to creep in and it takes a long turn towards mildly ambery drydown. The way to the base is the most splendid thing about Shaal Nur: You can still smell the bergamot, but it combines with the vanilla and cold smokiness (hello, Shalimar), uplifted by the vetiver note. Bright and beautiful, Shaal Nur doesn’t project a great deal and its staying power is limited, but it does such wonderful things to the old-fashioned citrus-based male cologne concept that I still love it.
On a personal note, this will probably always remind me of the time when I first smelled it on the skin of a fellow perfume enthusiast in Vienna. He’s a straight man and it suits him exceptionally well – so guys, take this as a recommendation and give this allegedly feminine fragrance a try.
vanica831 – :
I get no citrus at all on this one. What I do get is an initial blast of patchouli (which I hate) that fades into a lovely cool vanilla incense. The woody aspects are mild after the vicious onset, like Japanese powdered incense, and the cool back notes keep it smooth and elegant. Shalimar on me is sticky cloying musty lemon powder. Shaal Nur is everything Shalimar should be and isn’t. (NOTE: Shalimar is lovely on other people and I’ve often admired it on them only to have it fail spectacularly once it hits my skin. Shaal Nur could certainly take that spot for smooth vanilla incense, however.)
pullin007 – :
Try this mix : SHAAL NUR 2 step for HELIOTROPE 1 step = WONDERFUL !!! My favorite from ETRO
vip_file – :
A beautifully bright introduction with bergamot and grapefruit. Hints of vanilla are discernable as this begins to warm on the skin.
Tarragon and rosemary then join to create a further elivening of the senses–earthy and cleansing with the added smoothness of tea.
Nutmeg (in description but not pyramid) seems to really differentiate Shaal Nur from other vanilla citrus scents making it really warm and special–almost like soft, nutty pepper.
I don’t get a lot of florals at all, maybe just a petal or two to add softness and grace.
For all the notes that Shaal Nur presents, this fragrance to my nose culminates into a somewhat simple and beautifully spiked cedar-vanilla citrus.
Every single note is so well blended in this composition without any stragglers hanging out or obnoxious notes competing for attention.
Wearable and unpretentiously exotic. For the price though, I’m still deciding if it’s full bottle worthy.
Prietlent – :
Very lovely, I am a man and I just adore it. As someone said here ShaalNur is a sister of Shalimar. I would say it is a brother, this perfume goes more on a masculine side. Very light citrus and incense, with quiet vanilla at the base. Casual and at the same time very oriental.
elman05 – :
yes, it sounds lik Shalimar, but Shaal Nur is also may be worn by a man, unlike Shalimar. and it smells very charming and mystic.
burundukk88 – :
Do get the citrus right from the start. This is a fresh starting fragrance due to the rosemary and tarragon adding an aromatic opening. It only takes about 15 minutes for the herbs to fade and the rose and incense to move forward. More masculine feeling even with the floral notes so I would say it’s more a unisex fragrance.
dinarilla – :
What can I say….This is one fantastic fragrance. I always complain about perfumes disappearing on me but this one…it lasts and lasts and…you get the point.
I sprayed in the morning before work and I could still smell the scent the morning after.
It is the perfect balance of citrus, spices, herbs, incense and woods. It is very masculine but still works perfectly on woman.Not too dry or butch. Got compliments from my husband who usually is a big fan of super-feminine florals. And I would love to smell it on him too.
Shaal nur will most definatly have a place in my collection. Highly recommended. The best Etro that I have tested
steertrip – :
it is nice frag ,really reminds me somehow of Shalimar,but i dont like the herbal note in it :(It smells like men`s cologne
Woughrosena – :
Great fragrance! Opens with an amazing herbal note that develops into warmer scent with subtle accords of roses, citrus and amber, but you can still feel the bitter herbst. Perfect for every aura, every time I wear it I’m surprised hoe lovely it is. Very, very, very good staying power, medium sillage.
migran – :
I really wanted to like Shaal Nur. It opens up with a light, refreshing lemon with a touch of wood. Just like cleaning my dining room table with Pledge wood polish. An hour later – Fruit Loops cereal. Another hour, it was pretty much gone. Much to my disappointment, only the lemon accord develops on my skin!
qwer1 – :
I had a very different experience with Shaal Nur. I love incense and woods, especially if rose is involved, and that’s why I was interested in trying this one.
I am finally beginning to understand that either my skin or my nose magnifies patchouli, and most of the time this note is very unpleasant to me. I like the hint of it in Organza Indecence and in Tocade, and I thought I’d be able to handle it in Shaal Nur. I can’t. I haven’t felt like I have to scrub, but I’m waiting for it to wear off so I can go put on something I like.
I get some light citrus on top, but I also feel like I’m picking up this huge patchouli rug in order to find the citrus crumbs underneath it. Later, I find the herbs and rose to be aromatic and pleasant, wafting up from that patchouli rug. Still later, sweet amber and incense arise from the patchouli – but the patchouli never really fades.
Shaal Nur is described on several perfume blogs as being unisex, and I think that’s a more appropriate designation than feminine, as it’s classified here. On me, it is on the verge of being too masculine – not that it would make anyone sprout chest hair, but I think I might like to smell it on someone who already had chest hair.
bovkun – :
I do feel very light, quiet citrus on top notes but it is not disturbing citrus scent as usually I dont like citrus scents. It fades away quickly and all I can smell then is an incense sinking in spices which is an unusual and pleasant combination. Lasting power on me is good and definitely I would recommend to try this one for incense lovers. The best to me so far of all ETRO fragrances that I’ve tried. Nicely done.
adjousadasc – :
I agree that Shaal Nur is similar to Shalimar.
It opens with refreshing notes of resin, cedar and lemon, then comes the softer and spicier part of the fragrance- rosemary, coriander, incense and vanilla.
Enchanting combination of citrus and vanilla, both fresh and warm. I wear it now, and I would wear it in spring as well.
EBH – :
For me it granddaughter Shalimar’s – young, modern, easy, amusing, full air, enlightened. Just the same oriental and beautiful as famous grandmother .