Samsara Eau de Parfum

Where to start? The year was 1989 and I was only 13. Still in elementary school when my aunt gave me a red, octagon shaped perfume sample with the rest of my birthday gift. This was the first perfume I've ever received, and it made me feel oh-so-grown up. It was love at first sniff and I cherished my Samsara EDP sample for years to come. I only used one drop here and one drop there on special occasions, only inhaling this heavenly aroma in between...that is until I was 16. I've finally managed to secure my first job, and guess what I spent my first paycheque on? An enchanting, glamorous bottle of Samsara EDT. This memory still makes me smile, it felt like I just bought magic in a bottle. I never forget the sexy, red box and carefully removing the cellophane that enveloped it. It was 30 ml and a beast in a bottle. Just one spray lasted me over 24 hours. However, this was the only perfume I owned, and I used it sparingly, but when I did, Samsara was everywhere. Samsara is a time-machine that can take you to places when you inhale it. Coming of age in the 90s was something special. Wild nights, lovers, and good friends emerge from long tucked away memories. Samsara is also a scent that's forever entwined in my mind with memories of cigarette smoke and sweat that was ever present at parties when we danced the night away and underground rock clubs where we all smoked indoors. When I smell Samsara, it brings a bitter-sweet smile to me face, a longing for times gone by, a longing after people who drifted away over the years or already crossed over to the other side. One knows that these times and people are never coming back, so you see, that is why Samsara is bitter-sweet and hauntingly beautiful to me. This is why I can never be objective... and please don’t ask it. How could I when it's not just a perfume to me? It’s a faithful companion who has accompanied me from childhood to this day. I’ve now lived half of my life and well into middle age, but I still love Samsara just as much, if not more, when the day we first met. If there’s a perfume soulmate, then that is Samsara to me. It broke my heart to learn of its reformulation (twice I believe) and its final discontinuation. But I understand. I wouldn’t want Mysore Sandalwood to go extinct, would you? That is the heart of Samsara. Every other accord was built around this creamy, earthy goodness. Exotic flowers, like jasmine, ylang-ylang, and beautiful notes of rose, along with playful, fruity peaches and refreshing citrus plays this mesmerising symphony called Samsara. There are other components in this magic potion too, like vanilla, tonka, violet, or iris. Though it opens with fresh and playful accords, it soon develops a beautiful floral centre. But like a comforting, well-loved cardigan, it finishes with that warm and cosy amberish sandalwood dry down. Some say it’s a masterpiece, the brain and olfactory child of Jean-Paul Guerlain, and I must agree. I’ve never met a perfume like this. Over the years, I searched for other favourites, but each time I tried, I failed. Looking back, I now realise that I searched for Samsara in every perfume. This wasn’t consciously done, but now I know that Samsara has set the course of my perfume taste for life. As time has passed, I’ve owned many iterations of Samsara, but the jewel in the crown remains the original formula. It has heart and it has soul and lived life to the fullest with me. But my hope for the future is that Samsara will reborn again, that Mysore Sandalwood will once again thrive in India, and then Guerlain will consider releasing Samsara in its original glory to be loved by new generations to come. It would only be fitting for a perfume named Samsara, don’t you think? Samsara is Sanskrit and it means the cycle of death and rebirth, to which life in the material world is bound, the metamorphosis of the soul; reincarnation. So, you see, it’s not just some dinky little perfume, it’s complex, deep, and full of meaning. Please do excuse my rather lengthy and emotional review, but given my love for Samsara, let’s face it, it was never going to be a short and simple one.

There is nothing that compares to the original Samsara. I have tried every sandalwood-dominant scent on the market and they just do not hold a candle to this beauty. I am not one to write poetic, over-the-top reviews on here, but the person who said there should be poems written about this perfume, just might be on to something. It is a masterpiece and I am devastated that Guerlain reformulated it. This was my grandmother’s signature scent, she wore Shalimar in the 80’s prior to its release, which I also like — but this perfume is what made me love perfume. It was so distinct and left such a strong scent trail that I knew when my grandmother had been over my house, even if she already left by the time I got home from school. I was in middle school at the time, but I remember sitting down at her vanity and finally seeing the red bottle and asking her if this was the perfume that she always wore and she said yes, then she pulled out a tray from her dresser cabinet with about 50 other bottles on it and let me test all of them out. So I asked her why she always wore Samsara, and she said “because no one else does, it’s special, and it just suits me.” I agreed, after smelling the 50 or so other scents, I actually couldn’t agree more and still do to this day. It gained more popularity after it launched, but it wasn’t something that I smelled everywhere. The 90s were the era of very fresh, aquatic, citrus-forward unisex scents by the time I started buying my own perfumes. Not Samsara though, it was special with its deep alluring sandalwood, exotic ylang-ylang, powdery iris, and intoxicating jasmine. My grandmother knew how fond I was of it and how out of my price range it was as a college student, so she bought me a bottle once I turned 20, and I wore it for special occasions only, because of what a sillage beast it is. As I got older, I became a little more daring and started wearing it more often and let me tell you, it is a compliment magnet. I couldn’t believe how many people never even heard of it, as the compliments were always followed up by “what IS that? It’s so different/unique.” I ended up going through the entire bottle eventually, so my husband replaced it with another bottle of the original, and now I have a very little bit left, so he got me the reformulated clear version. Sadly, it’s not the same. The sandalwood is still the best out there, it’s still a longevity beast, but there is some depth missing from it and it doesn’t project like the original. It’s like they watered it down and removed a bunch of the notes that made it such a complex masterpiece. Honestly it smells like they took the iris out completely, which is really disappointing. I guess it truly was that unique and special, I can see it not appealing to everyone but I am a devoted fan of the original. ESPECIALLY since my beloved grandma passed away last year. I refuse to use what’s left in my last red bottle because smelling the cap reminds me of her. She was disappointed with the reformulation too and started wearing Flower by Kenzo layered with the reformulation. On her, this worked and it was as close to the original as I’ve smelled yet. However, it’s a combination that unfortunately doesn’t work for me, my skin projects the Kenzo and not the new Samsara, but hey — it may work for you and may be worth a shot if you miss the original as much as I do. It seems like a lot of other fans of this fragrance agree with my thoughts on the reformulation, and I hope you will all write to Guerlain and express your disappointment as I have.

I discovered Samsara through my Grandma. Every time she'd visit, she would leave behind this beautiful trail of scent. I asked my mom why she smelled so good and her answer was, "expensive perfume." I was only 7 or 8 at the time so that answer was sufficient for me. As the years passed, I began to purchase my own perfumes in high school and college...Tommy Girl, Cool Water, Light Blue, you know - the same stuff all the other high school/college girls wore at the time. Yet, they did not compare with my Grandmother's scent. Finally, I asked her what it was that I was smelling; I couldn't get it out of my head. Her answer: "Shalimar; when you're old enough, I will buy you something you'll like even more." So, on my 23rd birthday, I opened a box and inside it contained Dune by Dior and Samsara. I am assuming she thought they were a bit more age appropriate and probably thought I wouldn't want to smell exactly like her. I liked them both but Samsara had that quality like Shalimar...unique, rich, mysterious; something that an exotic princess would wear. Since that day, Samsara has been my go-to scent for those days I don't want to smell like a fruit cocktail, or a dessert, or a bouquet of flowers. Not that I mind any of those types of frags - roses, pomegranate, and vanilla are three of my favorite notes. However, Samsara is a major departure from those notes. It's exotic jasmine, spices, and sandalwood to my nose. The jasmine is not "floral" though - it's exotic and mysterious. It is powdery, spicy, and woodsy - simply perfect. I have seen many reviews referring to this as an 80's or 90's scent or an "old lady" scent. I think it gets those reactions because it is NOT a floral, or a gourmand, or fruity, or a fruity-floral-gourmand perfume. Trust me, this is anything but an old lady's perfume; it is a WOMAN'S perfume. Even better, my husband adores this scent; I was wearing it when we met and he told me that he couldn't get my scent out of his head. This one does turn heads, it will leave an impression on people, and if you fall in love with it the way I did - I'm not sure if anything will ever satisfy you the way this one does. There's nothing out there like it. It's exotic and bold, but amazingly, doesn't seem to offend people. I get a lot of positive feedback when I wear this, and even if I didn't, I wouldn't care but just one of it's many attractive qualities. Like most Guerlains, it has lasting power and significant sillage..one little spritz on the neck at 8:30AM and I can smell it until 9PM when I take shower. Just like Shalimar, this is one of Guerlain's masterpieces and I hate to sound like this because I'm a fan of many modern fragrances from this decade - but they just don't make perfumes like this anymore.

EXOTIC VINTAGE Sandalwood! Opens with a burst of smoky, bitter-green ylang & iris and transitions to a buttery yellow floral & sandalwood-vanilla with powdery & milky touches - like wood chips soaked in cream. This is the scent my 12 year old self bought in Disney's Epcot Centre at the France pavilion (this and Colors de Benetton (OG) from the Italy pavilion). At the time it was everything I wanted to be; grown-up, sophisticated, exotic, although I had trouble wearing it and regrettably ending up giving it to my aunt who was salivating over it. After that I could smell it in the attic whenever she sprayed once on the main floor, and I wanted to take it back. Contrast to Samsara EDT Guerlain (1989 clear bottle): I find these very similar. Side by side I find the EDT has the iris dialed ever so lightly higher and the vanilla dialed ever so slightly lower. Having said that, the biggest difference to my nose is the strength. Both have great performance, but the EDP develops more powerful & exotic. and the EDT develops more smooth & mysterious Contrast to Samsara EDP Guerlain (Bee Bottle): Very similar to my nose, but the vanilla is dialed higher here, and the sandalwood here, while beautiful, isn't the Mysore sandalwood. Contrast to Samsara EDT Guerlain (Bee Bottle): Very similar to the EDP (Bee Bottle) but slightly more iris and slightly less vanilla, with still having a beautiful creamy sandalwood. Contrast to Un Air de Samsara Guerlain: A light wearing, green version of the original. Although the note cascades are quite different, I'm reminded of this version by Un Jardin En Mediterranee Hermes in their openings, both having a green, oriental floral vibe. UAdS dries down more in keeping with the Samsara range, while UJEM dries down with a sweet, fruity fig. Contrast to Venezia 2011 Laura Biagiotti: These have been compared, but at first I couldn't detect any similarity. Imagine a cafe in San Marco's Square upholstered in red velvet with gilded marino glass mirrors and fixtures. The ambery-plum scent of unsmoked cigarillos wafts up as you crack open a package and you take a deep breath and sink back into a red velvet booth with a vase of ylang. Raisin pie is on the menu, and the once invisible server now moves around the tiny byzantine cafe in a cloud of chiffon and Samsara like Greta Garbo in The Grand Hotel. How could you have not seen her before? Overall: Amazing performance and a masterpiece imo. This version is my favourite, and it's perfect for those occasions that call for a masterpiece of exotic and mysterious proportions. It's a long time love for me. 10/10. Enjoy!

This evening I'm wearing Samsara from the colourless glass bottle (before the bottles went red) and I also own (and like even more) a tiny 2ml extrait I have from a mini-wide-red bottle (looking like a censer). Samsara is one of the few perfumes where I would only ever buy vintage bottles rather than present formulation (I don't enjoy hunting down vintages and when I do, I feel guilty wearing them). Nevertheless, with this specific fragrance, the loss of the natural Indian sandalwood unfortunately ruptured the effect of the perfume in newer formulations (bee bottles onwards). I say ruptured as, smelling this now, I think Samsara was always a very finely balanced proposition and ready to collapse at a moment's notice. Even in early versions, it's hairspray-esque, loud, slightly obnoxious and has a hissing quality to its core floral of jasmine and ylang-ylang. It's huge and heady, radiantly sun-like but slightly suffocating. It is also fundamentally beautiful - it's amazing how, some 60 years after the release of Shalimar, Guerlain were able once again to bottle a total fantasy of "The Orient" - and the way Samsara used to fly off the shelves (at least where I grew up in the UK) was testament to their success. The vintage extrait is deeper and richer still, with an amplified jasmine and sandalwood of incredible smoothness, almost glossy. Virtually all modern "sandalwoods" I smell now (including Australian) have a certain scratchy quality which is blessedly absent in early versions of Samsara, the latter being smooth quite literally like butter. It's this smoothness which allows one to enjoy what's really a brash and outrageous floral rumbling underneath, the sandalwood note gives the entire structure and legibility to the composition as a whole. Like a floral thunderstorm spirit of yellow and white, trapped and raging in a serene wooden vase sitting on a desk overlooking a hot and humid cityscape, in vintage this fragrance is utterly dreamlike. I think Guerlain did an admirable job of reformulation of Samsara when the original sandalwood became unavailable, but the sad part is that there's simply no acceptable substitute. I find present formulations are very light, fizzy, champagne-like: much more floral and, heartbreakingly, much less woody-creamy. The excesses of the original are rendered more apparent and less forgivable, to the point where I'd no longer bother with current Samsara... One of the few cases where, at least for me, the older versions are the only ones I'd care to own!

My sample-vial dealer sent me a dabber of this along with my last order, and I love it so much that now I want an entire bottle. The sandalwood/vanilla/citrus/floral balance seems absolutely perfect to me, vaguely floriental but mostly about that rich amber-vanilla drydown. I'm putting this on my wishlist for sure. I don't have the vintage so I can't compare this formulation to that one, but this version of Samsara is lovely enough to my nose that I will probably buy a full bottle someday, or at least get a larger decant. So far I have yet to smell a Guerlain fragrance that I didn't at least like, and most of them I love at first sniff. I bought a full bottle. I know Tania Sanchez says it's loud, but if this is loud, go ahead and scream sweet nothings into my ear, darling Samsara. As a Yoko fan, I will understand this as your love language. Eventually I would love to expand my collection of Guerlain fragrances (I would love to have a bottle of Shalimar again, for instance, or Après l'Ondée, or Mitsouko), but I think Samsara is the right oriental for me at this stage of what I am no longer ironically referring to as my Scent Journey. I just realize that I have the EDT, not the EDP. I'm going to move this review over to the EDT section if I can figure out how to do this. Update: I'm so obsessed with the EDT that I felt compelled to buy the EDP too. Maybe the EDT for day, the EDP for night, oh la la. The balsamic notes are just delicious to me, especially combined with the bright citrus notes and the jasmine. I find that this is particularly beautiful brushed through the hair, or on a silk scarf or scrunchie. Update: Whenever I wear this, I ask myself why I ever wear anything else. I don't want to get noseblind to it; that's the only good reason I can think of. This is such a comforting and luxurious fragrance, clean and bright but soft, not sharp. A glorious gamelan floral. Update: I had to put this on as an emergency measure, to get the tenacious odor of a Mancera musk out of my nose and off my skin, after a long hot shower. I love many perfumes, but Samsara make me feel like the cleanest and most alluring version of myself, the sublimated me. Update: I now have a small quantity of a 1990 formulation. MY GOD THE BEAUTY. I still love my current formulations as much as ever, but knowing what this base was meant to smell like is a revelation. I can't believe some people don't love this. I would trade almost anything in my collection for it.

My precious perfume pal, Sarah, sent me a generous vial of a 1990 formulation of Samsara, and as much as I love all the formulations of Samsara, this one is unquestionably superior. The sandalwood in the drydown is so good I felt momentarily bereft because even I, a perfume novice, can smell the difference between the original sandalwood blend and the blend they are using now, and I projected myself forward into a time when I would not have it on hand as a reference. Don't get me wrong--the current Samsara in the bouchon coeur bottles is divine, and I love both the contemporary EDT and EDP forms, but this vintage sandalwood, my god. I could see cutting out the middlegods and just worshiping the sandalwood directly. Who needs deities when you have deity fuel? My plan is to do a little test with my most compliant perfume-enjoying friend: we will put a spray of the 1990 Samsara EDP on one inner elbow, a spray of the current formulation (bouchon coeur bottle) on the other inner elbow, and then a spray of the EDT on the upper chest area. That way we can compare and contrast over the course of several hours. I was initially worried that exposure to the 1990 formulation would ruin my love of the current formulation, but thank god that has not happened. I love them both, and I kind of like the way the current formulations are a bit brighter and cleaner and citrussier, which might just be because of top note deterioration over time with the vintage version. However--and this is such a huge "however"-- the drydown on the vintage is so gorgeous that you really don't care if, say, the ylang-ylang is singing a C instead of a C sharp or whatever. I imagine it's a bit like the difference between hearing Maria Callas toward the end of her career, after her voice had deepened and roughened a bit, versus hearing a very good but not legendary soprano at the peak of her powers. The younger soprano is hitting all the notes, but the music doesn't sound as rich and meaningful. It's just notes that she hits, in keeping with her rigorous training. From Callas the notes sound like the spontaneous expression of her secret self.

I blind bought a 1989 bottle of the EDP from eBay. So the "old" formula. I had this recollection that I had worn this perfume many years ago and had liked it very much. I put some on my wrist and the aroma hit me hard. OMG the memory of this scent came flooding back and I was in love all over again. I ran about asking friends (over 65 yo for reference) to smell it and they all loved it too. Yes, it is a potent perfume initially and not some sort of trendy cupcake gourmand or sheer skin scent. This is what I call a serious scent. It is woody/sandal wood initially but then the flower notes come out after about an hour. That first hour was however heaven and I couldn't keep my nose off my wrist. I looked like some twisted deviant smelling myself. I love the smell and the memory of the smell if that makes sense. Scent is strongly attached to memories for me and although it didn't bring up specific memories I kind of remember myself in my 30s wearing this scent. Why I stopped I don't know. Probably living in the tropics where scent would draw bugs. Memories of date night, getting dress up, lacy lingerie, feeling sexy, flirty and evocative. Exotic. Now, I love it enough to wear this in the day time. Frankly, don't care if it is categorized as a winter, or evening, or whatever category of scent. I love it and plan to wear it whenever I wish. Nice thing about getting older as we don't care as much about what others may think and we do what pleases us. It lasted on my skin for over 6 hours and as a skin scent for another 4. Projection seemed a couple feet. On clothing it lasted until the next day as least. For those women, or men, what would wish a less "forward" perfume you may wish to wear in the evenings. I can visualize this absolutely as a bed time scent that will take you to exotic places in your dreams. Although listed as a women's perfume I would love, love, love to smell this on a man as the sandalwood tames the floral notes

Samsara is not a smell. It's a philosophy. We met almost 20 years ago. I was 18. A hint of this found me like lightning, I asked for the name of it from my teacher, who wore it. I adored this lady. I knew I want to be like her when I grow up. Already then it evoked memories and almost felt like we met before, maybe even before this existence. And yes, I dared to pull it on! Surprisingly soon I had a career, got married. Due to a bad memory I wasn't able to wear it again. 10 years passed. As a mother of two in the middle of my divorce I had to reach out to her again. It changed. I changed. The feeling remains. Useless to discribe notes because Samsara is Samsara. Not an ylan-tonka-sandal-vanilla mix. If you are lucky your chemistry brings out it's essence, if not you will feel a cloying inappropriate harsh smell (I guess). Your chemistry must fit in to make the accord complete. This is alchemy. After my divorce men came down on their knees. They fell in love with Samsara, then with me. The versions, I tried all. Guerlain should keep it as flagship just as much as Shalimar. Thierry Wasser feels the competition to his Dior Addict (a cold beauty, but not in near to Samsara). It is still Samsara. More modern. The opening is full front. But it shows her beauty for the patients. It's a skin scent, a feromon. A beauty. A weapon that makes men break. A homecoming. A sexual act. If your chemistry doesn't fit in her accord, leave it, otherwise it falls appart and makes you smell like a chanesmoker old lady, who has questionable body hygene. If you are lucky this smell is not a perfume for you, it is an essence for you to radiate nirvana. No in between. This is made by an alchemist. An oilfactory piece of art. Intended and created to love and seduce. One of the last magical scents. If you are lucky your feromon is the last note that makes it perfect and complete.

Dear Fragranticans who reflect upon the legacy of Samsara, I would like to contribute my thoughts based on owning a 1989 100ml bottle of Samsara, a 90s 7,5ml splash miniature and several tests of the current Eau de Parfum, including spraying both side by side on one day. Disclaimer - I wasn't even born when Samsara appeared on the market, thus I have no memory of the scent as it was, my judgement is based on how the 34-year old, well kept perfume I own smells NOW, compared to the current EDP. This was even before the red bottle, my vintage Samsaras both have transparent glass flacons. 1. Do not worry about differences in the actual fragrance profile. Yes, they are there, but very minor! Despite the change of ingredients, the scent profile remained very well preserved. To me however the differences I observe concern mainly the intensity and sillage. These are noticeable: my 1989 Samsara is more intense, more potent, only one spritz required to smell it for hours. It is a masterpiece of perfumery. I like the current version a lot, although it doesn't have this power. There is something slightly softer, more coccooning in its blend and expression, which suits me personally very well. The longevity, intensity and sillage is good, just less intense than the 1989 version. Some ladies may even enjoy the current blend more, I believe. 2. There are also slight differences in the 1989 Samsara and 90s miniature. I probably enjoy the 90s miniature the most! There is something lively about it, more élan vital as one would describe it in French. I would say that the sandalwood in these both vintage versions is indeed creamier, more opulent, than nowadays. 3. To me personally the ylang-ylang flowers are more pronounced in the 1989 version. Overall, I will be happy to get the now available bouchon coeur flacon very soon. I hope it was helpful! Best wishes!

I have been cycling through all my iterations of Samsara, but this is the prize by far--about 8 mL of a 10 mL decant from a perfectly preserved 1990 bottle that my impossibly kind friend Sarah shared with me. Don't get me wrong: I love the bouchon coeur versions of the EDT and EDP and will keep buying them as long Guerlain keeps making them, but this original? The mysore sandalwood just sings! It's almost insane, how beautifully woody and complex this is in its vintage form. The jasmine/iris/rose midnotes are also deeper and sexier. The narcissus peeks through in a way that it never does in the contemporary formulation of the EDP, if it's even still present at all. I don't even know how to describe how gorgeous this is. I know people must exist who dislike this, a not insignificant number of Fragranticans, in fact, but this is as inconceivable to me as an aversion to Mozart. I know taste is subjective and all, but I simply cannot imagine not wanting to smell this and to smell like this. It smells like pure bliss and serenity. Update: Wearing my 1990 decant, I start having thoughts like, "I should sell all the other perfumes in my collection--at a loss, whatever it takes--and wear nothing but Samsara, in this exact formulation, if at all possible, for the rest of my natural-born life. I know this is classified as an oriental, but it's all about those clean deep balsams for me, and that powdery, intoxicating sandalwood. I'm wearing the vintage to bed tonight and will probably re-up with the current formulation of the EDP tomorrow, but I hope those base notes, especially that Mysore sandalwood, will linger throughout the day. I don't wear this formulation too often, because when it's gone it's gone, but when I do wear it, I practically hyperventilate because I can't stop drawing in deep, deep breaths.

Sometimes with a strong negative or positive experience (but moreso with positive), I write reviews to share my thoughts because I want to share (and I don't have any IRL perfume hobbyists to share these thoughts with). All that to say that I ordered a sample of this in, afaik, bee bottle version, and I love it. Second time this has happened. I think this is why I am starting to develop a perfume hobby -- tons of samples I like/neutral/dislike ratio to (so far) 2 that have sent me to instant love. I have a terrible nose, and this doesn't read especially sandalwood, jasmine, rose, etc to me. It's this orange-golden rich, opulent, warm smell that does smell ever so dated but SOOO opulent and glowing warm fragrance and the more I smell it and love it the less it smells dated to me. If this is a bee bottle fragrance, then what the vintage version from the 90s smell like??!!!! (I ordered a mini EDP that hopefully is authentic and from the 90s and eagerly waiting for it's arrival in a few days....). I also read (on Fragrantica) that the 2021 edp version might be better than the bee bottle so I want to try that one out too! I love samsara. It makes me want to try more "vintage" fragrances -- though if Samsara is "vintage" then I must be as I was in middle school when it came out.... (though Samsara was ordered among Mitsuoko edt, Shalimar edp, and Ani -- and -- I didn't care for those when I smelled them from the vials.....haven't tried them on skin yet as I love samsara and just want to wear that right now!!!!)

Samsara is a charming perfume. I only recently got into it. For me this fragrance is a sweet fruity-floral musk. It feels like a kind of licorice scented oil a sweet oil and you drink it like a medicine to boost your energy levels. I don't know what other people are smelling but fragrance has the power to show a different side to the different individual wearer each time. The opening is a soft subtle peach but even more than that ylang ylang seems to be the top note. Smells fruity and sweet with a yellow ylang ylang note. There is also a jasmine but not green with jasmine shrub just the white petals. Smells very sweet with a licorice. Then there's the heart of flowers which to me include a big dose of violets, iris and more white florals. A dainty rose way in the back. The sweet flowers eventually turn powdery because iris or orris root make the scent very powdery. This is the part of the fragrance that lingers the most. Just a sweet licorice floral and cosmetic style violet. Very feminine. By the time of the dry down it's vanilla with amber and some musk. A warmer and slightly spicy-smoky dry down. Beautiful and good sillage and longevity. I think this scent is good for any time of the year but best in fall and winter. It's not giving off dressy or formal vibes but can be formal and casual so it's just for any event or reason to wear it. Love the red bottle. Love how it sprays. This is an iconic Guerlain treasure.

Samsara is an envelope of sandalwood over a heart of non indolic- jasmine and luminous ylang. this fragrance is so smooth, also in the beginning with a citrus notes that is so well blended, neither screechy nor bitter, and a touch of green. So well blended to be almost synesthetic in compelling a sensorial impression of something creamy at the touch. But it is not creamy in a gourmand way, nor it is a total 'warm' fragrance, as its oriental nature and red pack may hint. Samsara carries in fact a detached, almost algid undercurrent, but in a positive way. It brings me a sensation of calmness in the mad swirling of or day, something like 'ok, make a step back and take a huge breath and live your live with more calm and clarity'. I would call it a meditative-almost zen - fragrance, suited for the woman who learnt how to live her life in pace and serenity, how to make a step behind, to not be dragged by our tumultuous times, and see the trouble of the life from afar with a detached and reflexive eye. basically, she is my opposite. Nevertheless, I love, and wear, Samsara as well. Side note: I've trid Samsara both in the bee bottle and in the new pagoda bottle, both the EdP and EdT. I prefer definitely the edp over the edt, for its major complexity. The bee bottle was a little more vibrant but, since it is not easy to find anymore, I think the new edition is a good alternative.

the succulent ylang ylang, creamy Mysore sandalwood and soft vanilla creates such a delicious, silky, buttery core, while the iris gives a subtle powdery texture, and the faint peach acts as a cherry on top giving brightness and hue to the overall mix. these are mainly the notes i pickup but other supporting notes like the jasmine and the rose contributes to the general floral accords. and the tonka bean contributes to the general soft sweetness of this fragrance. like every 80s perfume i've worn, when i spray it on, it blasts a sillage of hairspray from the way the notes clashes on full blast. yet the longer it settles down, the more the notes start to breakdown. leaving an indulgent experience as you catch a whiff of your own smell in the middle of going about your business. the overall vibe of this is like a silk fabric ranging from the colors of creamy beige, threads of peach and whispy gold that is luxurious but you cant get enough of touching. a lot of guerlains feels like that. like a fabric the feels luxurious to touch. what i'm describing is a vintage eau de parfum from the 90s that i scored at a really good price online. and this is how perfumes are meant to project and last! 6 sprays already surrounds you in a radiating cloud of scent that will still creep on you hours after. so maybe 4 sprays are already good, but i tend to be indulgent.

A very sophisticated and affluent-smelling EDP that lingers after you in a dreamy trail of ladylike-presence. Samsara is like an aura around you; warm and magnificently glowing like a protecting halo. However, it is a very understated EDP and will compliment you in settings where more 'loud' projective fragrances will not be as appropriate or proper. (I can only speak for myself - I understand that others find it rather overpowering, which is - unfortunately- not the case on my skin, on me it is very discreet, albeit none the less lovely), so it's very wearable for formal gatherings or family events - or anyplace where you wish to exude refined femininity. You can definitely also wear Samsara while running errands or doing chores, however, it would almost be sacrilege to wear Samsara with greasy hair in a bun, sweatpants and a random tshirt/hoodie. With Samsara, you must look put-together, you must be elegant. Even if it is just casual elegant - Think Audrey Hepburn in the office-scene at the end in Sabrina; ballet flats, leggins, turtleneck and a trenchcoat. Simple, yet chic - No need to be all Breakfast at Tiffany's while wearing Samsara,(although you could easily do that as well) but low key sophistication is an absolute must. Samsara is, after all, a Grande Lady, a legendary creation, and we must all pay our respects while wearing Her.

Not a magic that this is a very dividing scent. Eigher divine or stink depending on your chemistry. I fell in love with Mon Guerlain lately but I have to admit that the sillage and longevity is sometimes not enough. Samsara is not an old lady smell if you two are matching. It is rather young and playful. On the other hand is very sexy. Once you hooked it is hard to pass by. Lately I realized that Chanel copied lot of Samsara's vibe a decade later in Allure (peach-vanilla with citrus top) but Samsara is so much better in the dry down. Don't be afraid of the reformulated version, since Guerlain is working with natural and synthetic materials every batch is different a bit. I also feel that aging makes the scent better. The intensity is a little tamed down and the ingredients were also regulated in the 2010s so it is more modern and versatile from daytime use to femme fatale events. Just apply wisely. No matter what else I wear my hand is reaching time to time for her. In the winter it is soft and warm skin scent, in the summer it plays along well with the sunscreen scents. It is happiness, spirituality and sensuality in bottle. The most feminine and unforgettable scent. I am so glad that it is around. Angelic. Heavenly sweet and soft smell cloud. (The opening should not scare you also try it on your skin).

I've had many good, many superb perfumes. I love the classics and I love modern fragrances. There are so many magnificent creations that make me look forward to the season I like wearing them in. They all deserve praise and appreciation and I try to not get too used to them. I want to stay open to new influences in the world of perfumes, to new ideas. I love perfumes. That being said, no perfume, not one! None has ever superseded Samsara for me. I knew the fragrance as a kid, because my mom had it. She is also a perfume lover and she had a collection of other good ones at the time. I'm sure, the two of us have had or at least tested any iconic fragrance available to us over the years. We don't look down on smaller brands, we can appreciate simpler fragrances as well. Ultimately, I can't deny this simple truth: Samsara is the one. Others have come close, but not quite reached the heights of emotion and delicacy that I perceived with this perfume. I have changed, my mom has changed, the formulation of the perfume has changed, but my love for it, for the revelation of scent it was to me, that has not changed, nor faded. I will always love it. Will it stay forever on its heavenly throne? Only time can tell and I hope future changes will continue to be done carefully with the original in mind.

I remember when Samsara first burst upon the scene; I remember the Vogue, Cosmo, Redbook ads with the scratch and sniff patches or the little sachet samples. It was nice but didn't make much of an impact then I smelt it live. It hit me right between the eyes and I was a goner. The first time I sprayed it I was transported to a deserted Minorcan beach, standing just in the water line with my face and arms raised to salute the sun. I felt that sun gently seep into my body, into my bones, into my soul and releasing all my worries and stresses. I still feel that way today. Samsara calms me and uplifts me in all its iterations. I wear it when I want to go back to that 20 and 30 something who thought she was invincible, who danced the Zorba dance with a Greek family in Corfu, who portaged solo round Lake Ontario, who watched the sun set on Portstewart beach and rise on a Minorcan beach, who thought the Mona Lisa was just okay but preferred Whistler's Mother. That woman who stood in front of 10,000 people and told them that cancer is survivable and "early detection saves lives" Samsara is one of my happy places, my hope, my joy. BTW Albithnose must have been looking through my photo albums because they described 1990 me perfectly.

Have got myself a small bottle of edp as well as the big bottle of edt I bought a little while ago. First I have to say, that both of these times the companies showed the red bottle, but what I recieved was the bee bottle instead. I think that is very bad of them, since I suspect they know what they are doing!! I have written to them and complained about it. Anyway, I kept the bottles, and they are of course very nice and beautiful fragrances, both edt and edp. But I have nothing to compare them with. Would be nice to some time find a red bottle. The edt is lovely, but I think a bit too weak, and not longlasting at all, I’m sorry for that. But the edp has a deeper, creamier and a bit sweeter smell, projects more and is more longlasting! So, when it is time to repurchase, I will go for the edp first and most important. They are both lovely fragrances - they will be keepers for me! I think they are both very versatile: suitable for all times of year, day and night. Both lovely in summer and early fall especially (though this is of course the only experience with them I have so far) when the heat make them bloom and project more. For dating time: edp the most. Love.