Hiram GreenShangri LaEau de Parfum

Hiram Green – Shangri La

The original Shangri La was introduced in 2014 as the followup to my debut fragrance Moon Bloom. It was inspired and named after the fictional land descried in James Hilton’s 1933 novel Lost Horizon. Hilton describes Shangri La as a mythical Himalayan utopia, an earthly paradise isolated from the rest of the world where people are almost immortal. I translated the beauty and purity of Shangri La into a contemporary interpretation of a classic chypre perfume.

Chypre perfumes are characterised by a contrast between a fresh citrus accord and a woody-oakmoss base. The first chypre dates from 1917 and since then this fragrance genre has enjoyed enduring appeal.

It takes a good nose to distinguish the 2022 edition from the original Shangri La. The most noticeable difference is perhaps a lighter and warmer character with greater emphasis on floral and spicy notes. Adding more oak moss was not an option as the original version already includes the highest regulatory amount possible.

Shangri La is a bright and airy perfume with a lush and exotic character. The fragrance opens with a sharp burst of lemon, orange and bergamot that is followed by a rich bouquet of peach, jasmine, orris, rose, cinnamon and warm spices. This opulent heart is anchored by an earthy base of vetiver and oakmoss.

Notes

Lemon, orange, bergamot, peach, jasmine, rose, orris, cinnamon, warm spices vetiver, oakmoss