Un Air de Samsara

From time to time our beloved Fragrantica really does have some misleading, confused, and downright erroneous pyramids. In this case there are no doubt quite a few notes missed out - which i shan't postulate upon - but most incontrovertible is: the sandalwood. I do love original SAMSARA - it just smells classy, clean, & GOOD... as an occidental take on Eastern ethereal. And 'Un Air' is definitely an heir to that fine aesthetic. Apparent throughout - and purportedly genuine Mysore, no less - the sandalwood of 'Un Air' seems downright luxurious in 2020! And despite the gentle lightness of this composition, that creamy, increasingly rare wood is nonetheless solid and very satisfying here. The opening minty/leafy zest is, at first, unexpected, but instantly ingratiating. Accompanied quickly by Narcissus (a stroke of genius, in my humble opinion) and delightful where it all melts in the middle, helping Jasmine ladle a quietly intoxicating élixir oriental into one's nostrils as an herbaceous iris(?) swirls further on down below with the intent of rendering one more devotional. But by dry down... the addiction is real. And a delicious, Guerlinade infused dry down it is. So smooth. So supple. So... serene... in the distance but all about you like a nostalgic, not forgotten dream. For something entitled "Air" and an EdT, this performs like a 21st century EdP... with the longevity of the increasingly remote past. And what a petit luxe treat it is at that. The 1995 batch code bottle I've got consistently delivers 10 hours in a dryish, 22oC climate. No less impressive is that in tropical heat & humidity is still gives five to six... though more generous sprays may be required from its old-school quality atomiser and elegant frosted bottle. Not sure how many many moons ago this was discontinued, but it's a crying shame. I'm just grateful to have it in my hands. A beautiful late French classic worthy of its imposing name! I find it uplifting, reassuring, and relaxing... often wearing it to bed in warmer weather... and awakening to its pleasantly unctuous yet sheer residual. There's a far-off, delicate sort of "spirituality" here expressed in an idiome français that is, well... coûteux, raffiné, somptueux... whilst floating light as an orange & canary turning pink & purple coloured horizon on the evening's breeze in early summer... which makes me wish this came in massive half-litre bottles to splash about. (A luscious soap to lather up it would make, too!) Beautiful stuff! ★★★★☆

Lovely. Lovely is an adjective that doesn't get used nearly as often as it should. Un Air de Samsara is lovely, meaning soft, elegant and solid feminine energy. The frosted 30ml bottle with the amber juice inside and the white lettered script is charming. Another word that doesn't get used enough. It's a rainy afternoon in early March in New England. The buds for spring blossoms are visible on the bare dark branches outside. I imagine wearing this fragrance for a date at the museum or a cafe in Paris or Amsterdam or even Newbury Street in Boston. Alternatively, this is a nice fragrance to wear when you're practice your figure skating jumps on the ice or playing pool with friends. If you're visiting a loved one who is at the hospital, wear this. This is also a lovely perfume for a low key garden party in early summer. It's the kind of fragrance someone who hugs you will smile and say "Oh, don't you smell nice!" I do pick up on the narcissus middle notes - not so much jasmine. My bottle is pretty old/vintage so I completely miss the top notes of mint and bergamot other than to say this perfume does have a fresh opening, like the breeze from an open window rather than super scrubby spa-like shampoo clean. Or maybe the bergamot in this perfume is similar to the bergamot in a high quality Earl Grey tea. I guess the wood notes give it a more grounded feel. An hour into the drydown the woody notes, sandalwood, I believe, become more apparent. I could definitely see this as a signature scent. This fragrance would work for the college student or teacher/professor, precisely because the projection is intimate by design. It's strong enough for you to smell it without disturbing others unless they get really close to you. For people just getting to know Guerlain this leans more closely to the Mon Guerlain (OG) scent profile than La Petite Robe Noir. It's the baby sister or granddaughter of Shalimar. Based on cost/affordability, quality, mood, scent profile and likeability I rate this 9/10.

SAMSARA with a NEW LEAF. For those who know the original well, this version of Samsara (an ancient concept which refers to the cyclality of all life) is the original sporting new growth, having turned over a new leaf so to speak. While this may sound as cliche to you as it does to me, the scent is anything but... Ahead of its time, this 'new leaf' is most evident in the opening with a sharp, aromatic green citrus of mint & multi-faceted bergamot that reads to me like fig-leaf, basil & mint, in a manner that will remind some of the openings of scents like Un Jardin En Mediterranee Hermes, Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic Guerlain & the tomato leaf in Un Jardin Sur Le Nil Hermes. The sharp, aromatic green leaf, however, is where the comparison to these scents ends. Deepening into the oriental-floral heart of narcissus-jasmine, resting on a mysore-sandalwood base the similarities to the Samsara range are dominant. The sandalwood & vanilla are not listed, but other reviewers also describe sandalwood. There is a subtle perfume-y quality in the background. Long discontinued, vintage bottles can still be found on Etsy. Contrast to Samsara EDP Guerlain: This is distinct from others in the Samsara range, with a unique opening, but the drydown is most similar to Samsara EDP 1989, but with a little lighter performance. Overall: groundbreaking for its time, with a stunningly beautiful scent profile and well above average performance, this is the perfect scent to wear while making resolutions to recover/uncover your beach body. It's a love for me. Sandalwood lovers, enjoy! Update 02/11/24: I do pick up a toothpaste note here sometimes with the mint (toothpaste/peppermint-tea) which is a bit of a turn-off, but the drydown is still gorgeous.

One of my favourite perfumes of all times. This was delicious, a fresh take on heavy (yet beautiful) Samsara... I contacted the Guerlain house, and they confirmed it would not be re-edited as it was a special edition. What an absolute shame, Samsara shine is very poor in comparision to Un Air de Samsara... Sometimes I do not understand the motivation behind discontinuing a perfume that is amazing yet keeping blander, more boring ones... I must add to my review as I have recently found this treasure! I spotted it in the shop window of a perfume shop. I was suprised that a shop would still stock it, but delighted all the same. I would have bought it there and then if the shop had not been shut. I was going away for a week straight after this, so I asked my boyfriend to go and buy it for me. He dutifully went, and I came back to a bottle of this beauty. However, as I kind of expected, it is only eau de toilette, and it does smell a bit "off". But what else could I expect from a fragrance that was discontinued almost 15 years ago? It is the real thing (I examined the box and bottle very carefully) so it was probably produced back then (in 1995). But if you go past that nasty smell (which fades after a while), the beauty comes out... The bottle was cheap, so I am still happy to have one. Not sure if I will wear it out, but the joy of smelling this again, and reviving happy memories was worth the (cheap) price tag... Oh Guerlain, why did you discontinue this amazing scent? But it should be a lesson learnt, when trying to buy a fragrance that has been discontinued a long time ago on the internet or in a shop, chances are it will be a fake, or the real thing that is past its sell by date...

If perfumes were wine, Un Air would be Samsara champagne! It's light and fizzy in the beginning. Effervescent. I would be hard pressed to find any major differences between this and the original other than it's lightness. I don't really get the mint note, but it's possible that it contributes to the brightness of the opening along with the citrus. Other than that, the REAL sandalwood, combined with what seems to be either vanilla or tonka make it obvious that you are wearing Samsara - not like or similar to Samsara, but identical to the original. I have the vintage perfume on one wrist and Un Air on the other, and with the exception of the opening notes, they are the same, with Un Air coming across more shear compared to the depth of the perfume, almost as if Jean Claude Ellena got ahold of it. If you love Samsara, like so many perfumistas do, than definitely pick up a bottle on Ebay or wherever you can find it. PS - I do not understand why Fragranticia doesn't list both ylang and sandalwood among the notes. Those are the two notes that make Samsara in any version Samsara! I can't just be imagining this, can I? EDIT 5/13/21 WOW!!! Wore this today for the first time this season and now I get the mint in the beginning. It works but the initial intensity can be overwhelming. I own 2 bottles - one is a splash EDT and the other a spray. I think that that makes a big difference at first as the spray diffuses everything while the splash feels more concentrated at first. It's still amazing and the both dry down to the most delightful essence of Samsara.

I recently scored an almost finished bottle from 1996 for very cheap, and I loved it so much that I searched for and was able to secure a vintage bottle in the largest size. It’s an old tester with the notes described in gold letters on the back of the bottle. Un Air opens with a citrus mint note I find incredibly unique — safe to say the top notes have been preserved. But perhaps because of its age, it quickly gives way into the floral heart of jasmine and narcissus. Someone elsewhere said narcissus reminded them of yellow pollen. I can see that here. But other florals not listed here are possibly present. The floral heart seems to float or be suspended over an incredibly creamy base of what feels like orris/iris and certainly sandalwood — possibly that mythical Mysore found in old Samsara formulations, but as I read elsewhere about Samsara, it has always been mixed with some synthetic sandalwood to ensure consistency. This is a bit of a powder bomb on me, but in a way I deeply appreciate. As it dries, it takes me back to what my mother smelled like in the 90s, like lipstick and cosmetics from the past. I love this kind of scent lately. Its longevity is impressive! More than 8 hours on my wrists and I could smell it after a full night’s sleep. I get waves of it around me on my commute this morning, fearing I oversprayed, but it was only 3 sprays. Anyway, like others have expressed here, I’m sad it’s no longer in production. It’s a gem. Hope to keep this bottle for a long time and enjoy it slowly.

I may have found my favorite summer frag. I have vintage bottles of Samsara EDT and EDP and I fell in love with the scent of Mysore sandalwood. But it's high summer here and not the best time to wear them. So I got curious about Un Air de Samsara. I found a 1995 bottle on Ebay and I will say that I understand how some people describe that initial minty blast as being "toothpaste". But that minty blast passes quickly and I'm left with a beautiful fresh, citrus, floral hot weather perfume with enough sandalwood in the base to give me a deep sense of staying power, elegance and artful satisfaction. Aquatics don't work for me here in Minnesota and citrus perfumes blow off my skin within an hour or two. Un Air d'S stays with me for hours. I'm a pretty liberal with my sprays and I can get a full day from this. The heat brings the sandalwood out, it doesn't make it smell off or overpowering. I just ordered a back up bottle, also from the mid 90's. It's that good.

This could be the missing link between Vol de Nuit and Samsara, just brighter than any of them. Very much spring, with a fresh sparkling opening of green, bergamot and narcissus. Warmer than VdN, there is bright jasmine in this scents heart, and powdery vanilla and sandal from the base is getting through. Unfortunately the base is light enough to be a little too weak, but really gorgeous in a very Guerlain-basenotes fashion. Im sniffing my wrist all evening, as Im now using the last drops of my bottle. I wish it lasted longer, which is my problem with this - its my Cinderella scent, perfect for one evening - and then its gone.

I had it as a gift many years ago . Used to wear it on summer and autumn nights . I loved it even if I wouldn’t buy it myself and glad someone gave it to me otherwise I would have miss this pearl! It’s a very oriental, powdery, leafy scent . Sandalwood, Jasmine, green leafs , I believe oak moss but is not listed in the notes here. I would say even coriander and poppy. Roses and citruses notes and also some powder . I don’t really get the mint ... maybe anise . I thought it was very sophisticated

I first bought this on a cruise ship in 1995 when it was new, so it will always remind me of vacation. As someone new to real perfume, I was blown away when I saw it because I had no idea there could be another edition of Samsara, but what a great idea it was. It is white summer Samsara, with pepper, mint, and lemon. Just a delight. You can still find it at reasonable prices. I'd love to see this brought back.

Wow! My blind buy brought me here! Found it on eBay,30 ml with less than $40. With a big disappointment from original but this lighter has caught me joy, it’s breezy sweet, herbal and whiteflowers combination. A lot of textures can be found after 10 mins spray with ice smell, hints of minty. 7/10 for this classy.

My first impression of this is that it’s a joy to wear. It’s incredibly creamy and minty. Reminds me of those soft buttermints both texturally and scent-wise, with a little extra almost cucumbery greenness at the top.

Wow! This stuff is amazing. I absolutely love this take on Samsara! Much more "user friendly" for casual wear and a great alternative to the original. IMHO, GREAT FOR GUYS TOO!

For me, this is (together with Yvresse) my all time favourite perfume ever!!! I think it's similar to the original but in a lighter version. So sad it's not for sale anymore...

This way better than the original Samsara which can leave a 'plastic' doll smell after about an hour..This lighter and more natural smelling. I like it.

Light and airy with a citrus blast in the opening, but the drydown is still unmistakably Samsara. Really lovely and perfect for summer.

What a strange perfume! I am not sure if it has to do with age (my bottle is from 1997), but the opening reminds me of an old bathroom cabinet with stale toothpaste residues, or a cup of herbal peppermint tea. Not an entirely pleasant smell, but not that bad either. Certainly not something I would imagine wanting as a perfume note, but I can see why it is there as it balances perfectly the muffled sweet spring flowers and dry sandalwood that comes after. I have an original Samsara EDT that also is from the year 1997, and the dry down of Un Air de Samsara EDT comes close to that one, albeit being less warm and not so in your face as the og Samsara. Un Air de Samsara is also more complex and layered. A beautiful airy powdery scent once the obnoxious mint phase is gone.

Definitely lives up to its name Un Air. It is an airier version of Samsara with a nice mint and bergamot hit that's refreshing and light. Dries down to a beautiful sandalwood. Rich but light, though not in silage. Easily smelled it all day even in the heat, but not oppressive at all. Not picking the florals up much in this compared to the OG, but I know they are there contributing to the overall scent. Nice change of pace from summer citrus and beachy scents. I like it a lot. Ooh, I'm picking up a little indolic daffodil. How great! Edit - This wears much differently in cold weather than warm. Surprisingly, much more floral in winter.

It's far too much full of sandalwood, as an original Samsara in order to block your mind off and concentrate on differences between those two -on on me its predominantly mint scent with nice jasmine and sandal, bergamot, yes..where is narcisse, - I don't know...Nice ,pleasant fragrance, 5 ml decant will do me good, but not FB worthy, once I have got vintage Samsara. Appears to be a good fragrance for the early spring - ringing in air mint will add to the brightness of the day.

Definitely a lighter, fresher take on the sandalwood classic, Samsara. I haven't smelled Samsara in a while, but thought I might find it too heavy for my tastes these days, which is why I was intrigued by this perfume. Now I think I want to try the original again, because I suspect I would like a deeper version of this better. Still, a lovely, very wearable scent.