Guerlain • Samsara • Fragrances

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*TOP REVIEWER* IdetteB on 12/5/2008 4:02:00 PM more reviews by IdetteB

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

I liked this alot when I was going through my musk phase a while back and I still like it but I probably wouldn't purchase it again

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possummagic on 11/15/2008 9:13:00 PM more reviews by possummagic

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

Love, love, love this! I wore it about 8 years ago and although it brings back such happy memories for me, I cant bring myself to wear it again as I feel its like going back in time. I think I admired a girl i worked withs perfume, and it was Samsara. I went out and bought it - it reminds me of the place I worked,off Christmas time and basically some of the happiest times of my life. Damn I wish I could wear it again!

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*TOP REVIEWER* Lepin on 11/9/2008 8:33:00 PM more reviews by Lepin

Age: 44-55   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Cool   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

As with all Guerlain scents there is a story to reference that is behind the name. Samsara is no exception. The word Samsara is bastardized from the Vedic/Hindu word Samskara, which refers to the inherent knowledge/information we bring into each consecutive lifetime from prior incarnations and which works in synchronicity with Karma and Dharma. We have Samskara which we apply to our Dharma which in turn determines our Karma. Too heavy for some and for others just a springboard for more. Just like this fragrance. That said, the name Samsara probably scored better during marketing tests that the spiritually accurate word Samskara. I have been wearing this EDP since 1995, but not on a regular basis. I am one of those complex metaphysical types that one either finds inspirational/enlightened or long winded and overbearing. For that this is accurately named. I cannot say this is a floral, on me there is virtually no ylang ylang or jasmine, a good thing as I detest both accords. I have never known this to be sweet or cloying. I manifest a vanilla sandalwood laced with incense and some unknown flower that just gets more mellow and sexier the longer it is on my skin. This is not a loud trendy scent, like White Patchouli is at this moment but ; I suspect Tom Ford had Samsara in mind when he formulated WP, although both are nothing like the other. I don't experience this as being too strong but it is heady. If I had to I'd say this is a scent for an intellectual woman who thinks all the time and is very observant, never misses a trick but allows you to believe she has. You don't know why you don't feel threatened by her but you know she is out of your league entirely. Wait, I just described myself. See, this is what Samsara does. You just can't be glib or naive after you've experienced this. Very arcane, misunderstood and I'm so glad so many don't wear this anymore, the ones that stopped were culled from the herd leaving behind the strongest and smartest. Like belonging to a secret society, Samsara is really accessible to a few who are completely willing to trust, honor and commit to sacred loyalties. I embrace that and this scent.
The day my beloved maltese was euthanized for kidney failure I sprayed her with this as an eternal remembrance of my love for her. I called the crematorium and asked when I'd be getting her cremains back. Both the man and woman who I spoke to told me how peaceful she looked and how amazingly beautiful she smelled. They wanted to know what I bathed her with. I told them she was wearing my parfum. The act of cremation purifies and frees the soul to be reborn and continue the cycle of life. I could not think of a more appropriate scent for her and to represent life than Samsara. It is my belief that the soul continues until Nirvana is acheived. Too deep and creepy for most, comforting for me.

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Angela1013 on 10/11/2008 2:41:00 AM more reviews by Angela1013

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

This is for the EDP. At first blast it is very sweet and thick smelling but not very cloying, thank goodness. As it wore on through the day it became very creamy and soft with just the right amount of sweetness with some clean notes, and the sillage is just great!! too . To my nose, I detect L'heure Bleue in this concentration. Samsara is just sweeter and more cleaned up but still very sensual, deep and rich like a great oriental should be.

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carolngl on 8/19/2008 5:40:00 PM more reviews by carolngl

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

My mom has turned into a perfume junkie over the years just like me and lately she probably wears a different perfume every day BUT if there is one scent i associate with her, it is undeniably samsara. Whenever i smell it, it takes me back to the late 80's, to our cramped apartment on the upper west side, to dark windy nights and my mother in cashmere sweaters, thick scarves and suede boots. Her perfume clung to all the furniture, to the curtains, to my hair when she hugged me. When i think of Samsara, i see red lipstick and green eyes. How exotic and sophisticated it looked on the bathroom counter, how warm and comforting it smelled when she came into my room to kiss me goodnight. She stopped wearing it about ten years ago and we moved away from that little apartment where it was just the two of us and of course i grew up. Recently i discovered an ancient bottle buried in the back of her medicine cabinet. The perfume had evaporated but it seemed she could not bring herself to throw the bottle away. That or she just forgot it was there. Taking off the red cap, it was as if a cold wind swirled across my memory and i remembered those bitter nights when my mother, sweeping through the front door after a day at work and wearing samsara, was the warmest thing in the room. i want to wear it myself since i love it so much but it would be like putting on another woman's pantyhose. it is not and never can be my scent because to me it will always belong to another woman and she simply wore it best.

42 out of 46 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* tabloid on 8/19/2008 1:25:00 PM more reviews by tabloid

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

If any fragrance is my signature scent, this is it. I love trying new fragrances so I've got a whole collectionof them, but somehow I keep coming back to Samsara.
I find it comforting - which I know is an odd adjective for a sexy Oriental - but wearing Samsara gives me the same feeling as wrapping myself in a big, thick cashmere shawl.
It seems to melt into my skin and become part of me, which is lucky for me because judging from some of the very negative reviews, Samsara seems to clash badly with some people's body chemistry.

UPDATE: I fell in love with Samsara when it first came out in 1989 and it was my signature scent for the next fifteen years. Since then I turned to other fragrances until recently when my husband gave me a bottle of Samsara as a present. I immediately thought the sandalwood smelled stronger than I remembered so I did a little research and sure enough, it's been reformulated. It seems the original was made with Mysore sandalwood from India but, due to over-harvesting, the Indian government has banned its use. So it"s been replaced with a mixture of synthetic scent and a cheaper sandalwood which means it lacks the subtle richness of the Mysore.

p.s. Other vintage Guerlains have also been reformulated - according to a French blog on perfume (auparfum.com) which seems to be very knowledgeable, the best reformulations are Vol de Nuit and L'Heure Bleue.

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sonsie on 8/6/2008 6:13:00 PM more reviews by sonsie

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

I have used this since the 80's I buy others but always revert to this as my favourite...people KNOW me by this smell...I suppose its my signiture scent!
Almost magical scent so evocative and sexy and exotic.I use the EDP because I love heavy scents!!
Technically I suppose its oriental/rich....SANDALWOOD for sure !
LOVE IT!!

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*TOP REVIEWER* annabellegan on 8/2/2008 9:54:00 PM more reviews by annabellegan

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I know Samsara is a classic and quite the golden oldie, but the first sniff of it on my wrist knocked me back good. I felt as though two bazookas had been whammed up my nostrils. Bringing my nose within farting zone of this old lady did not come without dire repercussions. I literally felt my cilia violently vibrate to fend off the olfactory assault. Overpowering metallic pong doesn't even begin to describe what this vile potion did with my skin chemistry. Drydown was no better (I'm surprised I stuck around long enough to even attempt giving it a chance)...all that remained was the malevolent odor of crass, metallic talcum powder. Rexroth's review of it had me chuckling, and I sooo agree with her eloquent 'Industrial-strength sandalwood meets Chernobyl. Chernobyl loses.'

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*TOP REVIEWER* luckylouie on 7/17/2008 7:28:00 AM more reviews by luckylouie

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

Ick!!! On me this smells like a combination of bad potpourri and synthetic sandalwood. Cheap and nasty and strooonnnggg!!! It takes all day to wear off and gives me a headache. I love Guerlain but this one makes me want to gag!

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*TOP REVIEWER* marshmello on 7/16/2008 3:15:00 PM more reviews by marshmello

Age: 36-43   Skin: Normal, Dark   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

Ewww...too too something. It was absolutely disgusting from beginning to end. Not my type of fragrance at all. I sampled this during my lunch hour and was a bit embarrased to return to work with the stench on. I tried scrubbing it off at the kitchen sink using Dial - antibacterial soap and wet papertowels but it stayed like glue! Good grief! This stuff has some good lasting power.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Gretchen76 on 6/1/2008 11:53:00 AM more reviews by Gretchen76

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Curly, Coarse   Eyes: Blue    

Sultry. Sex(y). This is what comes to mind when wearing Samsara. Wow- I can't think of a more flagrant oriental right now. It's the basenotes of sandalwood, vanilla amber, musk and tonka bean that will literally sink their teeth into your skin and morph with it in such a sexy way. Oh. My. Goodness. If there were a song to wear Samsara to, it's Depeche Mode's "I Feel You": well, it leaves my mouth dry, my heart pounding...provoked in the best way possible....

Agreed that it should always be dabbed, never sprayed.

Don't wear this to the office unless you plan on using your desk...for non-work related activities!

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*TOP REVIEWER* lareine on 5/17/2008 11:45:00 PM more reviews by lareine

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

i just can't decide if I like this scent enough to keep it or if I should just swap it away. It's spicy and warm and I *should* like it, but there's something just not right - a rotten fruit note that ruins everything for me. It's definitely a winter scent, and we are just coming in to winter here so I'll try it a few more times before giving up, but I'm not holding out much hope.

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*TOP REVIEWER* proximitythe53rd on 4/23/2008 9:52:00 AM more reviews by proximitythe53rd

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

Samsara, where have you been all my life?

You make the suffering of this endless cycle of life and death a beautiful thing. You melt into my skin, and make me part of yourself. You melt into my skin and become a part of me.

You are comfort and courage, a whisper and a shout, a gentle caress and a swift smack.

You're so simple ... but wow, it's going to take me years to really understand you. To me, you were made to be dabbed, never sprayed.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* cavalletta on 3/4/2008 2:55:00 PM more reviews by cavalletta

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Red   Eyes: Brown    

I've been waiting to try this for a while, every time I sample there are so many other things I get to 1st and forget about this one. This seems, by the reviews, something I would love. I love Guerlain and I cant believe I havent tried this yet.
Well, perhaps the problem is that I tried the edt. It was nice and spicy right off the bat. Much later on I could smell a tiny hint of incency vanilla and a bit of powderyness. The problem lay in the fact that pretty much throughout I caught hints of spicy citrus. Maybe orange or mandarin...Is that a listed note I wonder? No one has yet to mention it that I've read, I'll inspect more later because I want so badly to love this for what others say it smells like. This edt was a bit sharp at first and then mellowed out completely until I couldnt smell it at all a mere 2 or 3 hours later (typical with many edt's)
I will be sampling the edp on my next outing, which is why i put i may repurchase. I am hoping that this is much better in edp (as many many things are) and I believe I was told explicitly not to try the edt...but I cant remember.
In summary, the edt was nice but not worth getting and not really my thing. The bottle is beautiful and would look nice with my decor, though that is no priority.

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Busyblue on 2/19/2008 10:58:00 AM more reviews by Busyblue

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

This is a great perfume and has been a staple of mine for years. It's a little bit of everything, while not being overpowering. To me, it has a little spice to it with some florally - vanilla. Very pretty and good for day and night. Great staying power, too.

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RW28 on 2/13/2008 7:34:00 PM more reviews by RW28

Age: 19-24   Skin: Other   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I love this perfume! My favorite out of all the Guerlain perfumes I have tried. It's so beautiful, heavy without being too overpowering, but light enough to wear during the day. It's 7:30 PM now and I put it on at 8:30 AM and I can still smell it on my wrists...a light, musky vanilla is all that I smell now, but it's still as gorgeous as it was in the beginning. I really want to buy a full bottle of this (I bought a small sample), I think it retails for about $70 or so (at least on Amazon it does). It's very pretty and feminine, but still has a spicy edge to it that keeps it from being boring.

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*TOP REVIEWER* fpih on 2/7/2008 5:52:00 AM more reviews by fpih

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

I have tried to appreciate Samsara many times in the past, but I never quite liked it enough in order to buy it. I don't know if it's my more mature age (34) or my hormones changing with time, but I certainly have come to love it lately. I can see myself gravitating towards more heavy, oriental perfumes now, perfumes that I couldn't stand when I was 5-10 years younger. Samsara EDP and Coco EDP, two fragrances that I used to dislike, are my new loves. I love Coco's opening notes, Samsara's on the other hand I can't stand! But after the first half hour or maybe more... I can't stop smelling my Samsara sprayed wrist, it smells good enough to eat! It's so sweet, so heavenly, without being sickenly sweet or cloying (like Angel). This is a woman's perfume, perfect for a night out or a busy day at the office, boosting your confidence and self esteem. It's also soothing, I love wearing it before bed or when I'm reading my romantic novels with my wrist always close to my nose.

To me, as with most perfumes, this isn't very heavy and the sillage is not great (certainly not bad either); unfortunately perfumes tend to sink in my skin than go outwards (exception being Beautiful Sheer, who would have thought???) Even my husband who doesn't like strong perfumes, has described it (and Coco) as soft, feminine and easily wearable scents!!!! When I read other reviewers saying that you have to watch your hand with these ones, I DEEPLY envy them. Samsara does seem to last longer than Coco though.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* UrbanSkies on 1/21/2008 10:09:00 PM more reviews by UrbanSkies

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

Syrupy, like cough medicine. Sickeningly sweet and heavy, a liquid equivalent of its bright-red bottle.

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ladyspace1972 on 1/6/2008 11:52:00 AM more reviews by ladyspace1972

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal   Hair: Red   Eyes: Green    

I should love, however it just does not work with my chemistry. I can smell the bottle all day, however, once sprayed on my skin, it becomes an unpleasant combination of urine and ammonia. It breaks my heart because I love the way Samsara smells on other women. Unfortunately, this one is just not for me.

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*TOP REVIEWER* wtfiholly on 12/28/2007 9:04:00 PM more reviews by wtfiholly

Age: 44-55   Skin: Very Dry   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

I am very picky about my EDT or perfume, since who knows what will make you grab a headache. My sweet husband bought this for me, the EDT, after smelling it on a piece of paper (exactly what can you gain by smelling something on paper anyway?) and right away he was (as he says) just grinning and happy about the buy.
I opened this on Christmas morning and smiled that "thank you very much, pretty bottle, oh no" smile. Instantly my husband said try it. I said ok, thinking oh no where is my migraine medicine, and how will I wash it out of my PJ's if I need the meds. OMG! I was in love as soon as I spritzed myself and no headache, thank heavens.
The first thing I smelled was a spicy slightly sweet smell, then it dried down to a musky vanilla, followed by a very light powder scent. It was seductive without being overbearing. My husband was just tickled that he picked out such a good smell without my wrist to guide him. I still smelled good when we went to bed that night.
I used it when I went back to work and all I heard was "you smell really good, what are you wearing?" and to my suprise no one knew who Guerlain is or was or, for that matter, that Guerlain has been making perfume since the late 1880's. I asked one young lady if she has ever tried Shalimar and she said "what's that?" Ok I am offically "old".
It must have been the jasmine, sandalwood, rose, narcissius, and vanilla that made them all ask and say that I smelled good. I hope that they all try a spritz (not from my bottle) and see if they can pull it off and enjoy it as much as alot of us do.
I want more of this and I will buy it again, or better yet I'll have my sweet husband buy it for me. I like smelling this good and I like the sophistication that goes along with wearing a fragrance made by a company that has been making fragrances since the 1880's. Smells good on me and I'll enjoy that.

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No