Guerlain • Samsara • Fragrances

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SUPAtime on 6/12/2013 1:18:00 AM more reviews by SUPAtime

Age: Unknown   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

This is a huge, unapologetic fragrance. Even in EdT form it is enormous. Samsara is an over the top combination of jasmine and sandalwood. Previously, in the 90's it contained a lot of Mysore sandalwood along with powerful synthetic sandalwoods like Polysantal. The effect was tremendous: waves of rich, narcotic jasmine over a booming base of sandalwood. Now that Mysore sandalwood is no longer available, the balance of the fragrance is lost. The jasmine is as decadent as ever but the sandalwood is screechy and thin, a changeling of synthetics and Australian sandalwood. Mismatched as it is, Samsara is still compelling. I hold out hope that somehow Guerlain will be able to work around the lack of Mysore sandalwood and restore Samsara to its former glory. For now tho, I stick to vintage. Evaluating the current formulation, I would give it 3 lipsticks. Vintage of course gets 5!

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plutteluran on 3/15/2013 4:26:00 PM more reviews by plutteluran

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette, Fine   Eyes: Green    

EdT: It opens with a heady jasmine, almost too much to the nose, but wait! It slowly gets softer, the vanilla steps in. If you love woody fragrances this is for you. Personally I love it. The drydown is pure aromatherapy, honestly. If you are into very floral fragrances or aquatics you may not find this very pleasing. Someone compared it to Sensuous by Estée Lauder but I can´t find any similarities at all. It is unique. Very well done and a classic.

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stayce on 11/7/2012 1:46:00 AM more reviews by stayce

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Hazel    

This started off with a very nice (if potent) vanilla-jasmine-tuberose with a hint of spice, but I don't care for the drydown. The vanilla become too sugary and thick and slightly chemical without a lift from the florals or spices. I would believe that it smells good on other people, though.

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*TOP REVIEWER* YoHarajuku on 8/17/2012 4:29:00 AM more reviews by YoHarajuku

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily, Fair, Cool   Hair: Blond, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

I love orientals and warm fragrances but this, while it is a nice fragrance, is rather dull. It lacks any kind wow factor. It is one of the "legendary" fragrances but I couldn't smell what was so amazing about it. I probably wouldn't mind picking up again in a few years time for a change of pace but I won't be adding it to my collection.

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beardpapa on 6/29/2012 12:11:00 AM more reviews by beardpapa

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

This is an absolute classic which lives up to its fame...fabulous fragrance, long-lasting...one or two sprays are enough as it can be overpowering...highly recommended.

it is expensive so i reserve it for occasions...

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mricci on 6/12/2012 11:41:00 AM more reviews by mricci

Age: 30-35   Skin: Oily, Olive   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

A classic and a must-have...BUT, I hate it. It smells too thin and spicy for me.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Sambalina82 on 2/4/2012 3:07:00 AM more reviews by Sambalina82

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Green    

I remember vividly my mum wearing this back in the early 90s as soon as I smelled this! Lovely woody vanilla, very loud and great longevity and sillage. A true classic

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inglaterra on 12/7/2011 2:08:00 PM more reviews by inglaterra

Age: Unknown   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

parfum:
I'd get a sample first. On some people, its a skins scent. I am so envious of them, because on me, its still a little loud for a solid 15 min. As soon as I opened the package, it was there to meet me. My hand is Samsarized after only holding the vial. One swipe of the vial's dipper is plenty. That being said, it would be killer at a formal event. I adore you, Samsara parfum, but not enough to shell out $200 for the full bottle.

edt:
One. Single. Spritz of edt... and you will feel like a leopard slinking about the mall, waiting for the drydown. You are either seducing and intoxicating everything in your path with the true to form sandalwood, or you are getting side-eyed by wallflowers with that floral note that was probably ideal for the time it was made, but a wee bit embarrassing now. Darling dear Samsara, if you could just tone it down a bit....

Time passes, but this scent ain't going nowhere. I feel the floral shouting note waifs in and out. When its in, its in your face like Sasha Fierce. It is probably a masterpiece that is a bit dated. Like Opium, I want it for a reference and for nostalgia, and for when you want that feline groove back. No doubt that the slightest mist of this on you would seduce your prey.

2 hours later: The big-haired, power suited floral is talking your ear off and reapplying her makeup. You will feel the urge to scrub it off.

4 hours later: Sandalwood has won. Sublime veil of the rich good stuff. You need it. You can put up with the loudness. Ahhh, sandalwood....

6 hours later: Slight floral hangover that borders on that medicinal smell of the dentist's. Sandalwood has fled. Barely detectable overall.

Would make a good scent to wear when you need a confidence boost. Its sexy but not desperate.

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*TOP REVIEWER* pxcrunnercat on 9/7/2011 1:34:00 PM more reviews by pxcrunnercat

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Red, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Green    

If you have tried Estee Lauder Sensuous, Samsara smells exactly like Sensuous, except more powdery. Both perfumes are rich, warm, and spicy, but if you have one, you don't need the other. Personally I prefer Sensuous because it is creamier as opposed to the prominent powder I get from Samsara. They are both great fragrances though. Samsara only lasts about 4 hours on me, surprisingly. I don't regret purchasing this legendary fragrance, but I would repurchase Sensuous over this, and would swap or sell this one off in a pinch.

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Elfinoz on 7/19/2011 1:31:00 AM more reviews by Elfinoz

Age: 36-43   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

This is one of my all time faves that I come back to again and again. I love the rich sandalwood and jasmine smell.

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Arik26 on 1/26/2011 4:07:00 PM more reviews by Arik26

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Tan, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

Pure powder & sandalwood here. To me, this smells almost exactly like Estee Lauder's Sensuous, or should I say, Sensuous smells almost exactly like it. IMO, this would smell best on a more "mature" woman, like my mother who has long adopted it as her signature scent. It's not at all unpleasant, but very strong and very powdery, as is Sensuous. I honestly can't see it working for anyone under 30. At least it lacks that god-awful musky, skunk funk its older sister Shalimar is astonishingly famous for. If it didn't, I'd have to politely tell Mommy to have lunch every Thursday with someone else.

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Couture77 on 12/28/2010 10:36:00 PM more reviews by Couture77

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

I'm obsessed with a perfume called Venezia. It has been discontinued and if you're lucky enough to find a bottle it will cost you several hundred dollars and be shipped from Hong Kong or outer space. With that being said, one morning I was having breakfast in a restaurant and a woman sat down at the table behind me. The entire time I kept getting whiffs of her fragrance; it was soooo delightful and I was convinced it was Venezia. It has a very warm, alluring, rich yet sandlewood aroma to it. Unique. Prior to paying my tab I made a stop at her table. I had to ask her what she was wearing. My boyfriend ran for the door as this embarrassed his little head greatly. She told me Samsara. I went the next week and bought a bottle. Be warned, it took several malls and department stores, I finally found it at Dillards. I really like this fragrance; it is strong though and certainly a night time wear. It's very rich. If you are a fan of Venezia you will really enjoy Samsara.

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*TOP REVIEWER* chesmom on 12/26/2010 11:55:00 AM more reviews by chesmom

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Coarse   Eyes: Hazel    

I first discovered this perfume sixteen years ago. We were on a family vacation at Disney World and I managed to get away from my three year old long enough to run in the Guerlain store at Epcot and squirt. That afternoon, something changed in that kid. While we'd been slugging it out in August heat, her refusing to be in the stroller, wanting to be carried, and generally being a pain in the ass, she caught a whiff of this, said "Mama smell good" and promptly passed out for a nap. Could've been sheer coincidence but I wasn't going to leave it to chance. I went straight back for a bottle. Over the past sixteen years, I've received this fragrance on a myriad of holiday vacations from my daughter...even once, to my mortification, decanted into one of those ugly glass spray bottles from Perfumania...and it was always my "Mama smell good" scent. As she got older, of course I wandered to other scents and she quit caring so much about wanting to be close to me, preferring, as she should, the company of her friends and boyfriends. But between she and I, this was always THE scent that reminded her of me. Recently, I've discovered to my dismay, that it doesn't smell quite the same on me any longer. Just as she's grown and found her independence, I've gotten older and my chemistry has changed, but that will not stop me from giving this fragrance the full rating due to its lovely, soft, oriental spicy scent. While I may not wear it exclusively these days, it will forevermore remain, in our family, as the "Mama smell good" scent. As always with fragrance, try before you buy.

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kristinb64 on 12/26/2010 11:38:00 AM more reviews by kristinb64

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Brown    

LOVE this perfume!!!! I took a big chance on this one, as I ordered it based only on reviews. It is impossible to find in person, so I was unable to test it first. However, after reading so many great reviews, I had to give it a try.

I will admit, it caught me a little off guard when I first smelled it, because it is so different. BUT, the unique smell quickly grows on you! It is a wonderful change from the fruity teeny bopper perfumes that are EVERYWHERE today. The best way I can describe it is that it is very soft, and very clean/powdery smelling. It just smells pretty and fresh and I LOVE that! I have been in a hunt for my signature fragrance for months now, and I have finally found it!

Also, has anyone else noticed similarities to this and Moonlight Path from Bath & Body Works? This smells much better, but they do remind me of eachother.

I could not be happier with this purchase. I ordered the EDP and the body lotion, and I will tell you that when you layer the two, the beautiful smell lasts FOREVER!

If you are looking for a clean, soft, musky/powdery perfume, DEFINITELY give this one a try! I am extremely picky about my perfumes, and if I love it I'm sure you will too! YAY SAMSARA!!!! :)

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*TOP REVIEWER* girrl65 on 12/16/2010 11:11:00 PM more reviews by girrl65

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Olive, Warm   Hair: Black, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Green    

I wanted to like this so much since I'm a huge fan of Guerlain and oriental fragrances! However, on me, this smells rather like a public restroom air freshener. I have and love Misouko, L'Heure Bleue, and Shalimar but this one is a no-go for me. I think I've gotten lucky with Guerlain perfumes so far, so they all can't be winners for me. :(

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*TOP REVIEWER* Kelly9 on 12/16/2010 10:31:00 PM more reviews by Kelly9

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

Owned this way back when, when I was 19 and didn't know anything about perfume houses, notes, etc. I loved the warm sandalwood scent, and had to track it down after smelling it on a lovely woman. I wore it for a while, but ended up giving it away.

Craving this one intensely lately, so bought a new bottle.

While I know Guerlain now substitutes its natural sandalwood with synthetics, I still find it brings back fragrant memories and is close enough to satisfy the craving. I own the modern EdT, and it does start off rather aggressively floral. I agree with other reviewers that say to apply this 30 minutes before leaving the house! After the floral notes calm down, a sweet woody floral just emmanates warmly from the skin, similar to the way the little halo of light surrounds a candle's flame. Wonderful longevity with light sillage with just one spritz. Peaceful, yet persistant, presence.

If you want the candle's glow, go with just one or two sprays. More than that and your fragrant aura will fill a larger radius, so careful ladies. The synthetic qualities do seem more pronounced if I spray on clothing. But on skin, its a stunner.

Editing: Thought I should add that the older versions of Samsara and possibly Shalimar, which from what I hear used better or real sandalwood, would give me huge headaches. Both, in their current formulations, are perfect for me and don't cause migraines.

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Lolak76 on 11/14/2010 7:32:00 PM more reviews by Lolak76

Age: 30-35   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

Other reviewers have done a wonderful job of explaining the specific notes indicative of this scent. I, therefore, will explain how it makes me feel. Samara to me is a crisp, cool, autumn day in NY or cold, dark, winter night. It is a soft, warm & cozy winter sweater, black boots or a sexy black dress. It's definitely a cold weather scent. In my twenties I would not even attempt to wear an oriental. I was however intrigued by this fragrance from the first time I smelled it in my late twenties. At that time I still didn't feel I could pull it off, but i would always sniff it when i walked through a fragrance dept and keep a card sprayed with it in my car or purse. I am now 34 and feel like this fragrance is working with my chemistry in a way it didn't when I was younger. It smells divine. Yes it is a heavier scent and therefore needs to used sparingly. Some have said it was dated and smelled like the "80's". It is very different than the trend of fragrances being marketed today. I for one do not feel that is a bad thing. At times orientals and heavier perfumes tend to smell a bit masculine and extremely overpowering. In my opinion this is a friendlier oriental & there is nothing masculine about it. Men do tend to gravitate to this one, probably bc of the vanilla and spice. If your looking for a beautiful soft oriental, Samsara is the way to go. Hope this helps if you are on the fence about wearing or purchasing it.

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marykitsos on 10/24/2010 10:33:00 PM more reviews by marykitsos

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I have been wearing this for many years! A classic sexy scent!

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Copasetic on 10/17/2010 10:50:00 AM more reviews by Copasetic

Age: 25-29   Skin: Normal, Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Green    

Big and loud, and oh so 80s. That's why I love it! Very heavy on the sandalwood and I get a hint of baby powder in there too. There is also something slightly artificial about the scent, but not in a bad way. Definitely a fragrance that should be used on skin. Please use it sparingly!

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dehmorais on 8/15/2010 8:29:00 PM more reviews by dehmorais

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brown, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Very incensey, woody fragrance. I wont ever understand the reason why people LOVE this so much. I hated, it should be called "HEADACHE IN A BOTTLE". That´s all I can say about it. I would never buy this for me or as a gift.

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