Samsara Eau de Parfum Guerlain for women

I've had the bee bottle for some time now. I was really hoping I'd come around to it, as I have to so many of my classics from Guerlain, but I think it is time to let it go. The bottle is stunning and the fragrance smells amazing from the cap, but something about it just goes flat and stale on my skin. It smells like a dusty old attic. I'm beyond jealous of those who have the right chemistry for this.

This scent embarrassingly reminded me of a hot tuition teacher when I was controlling my prebuscent impulses as a young boy. She had a tattoo on her chest and spoke thick Aussie accent.

Timeless masterpiece. Gorgeous creamy sandalwood. Men and women want to know what is the fragrance when I wear it. One of the most complimented perfumes in my collection.

Everyone should try it <3
Old. Good. Masterpiece.

They say that as we age, Mrs. Howell starts looking good. Perhaps the same holds true with powdery perfumes.

Yes, this screams old lady from days gone by. And in the past I would have been detoured from this genre of fragrance. But I have an open mind, and I am coming around to Samsara. To me it connotes maturity and confidence, which is what attracts me in a woman.

Now I cannot say this for all powdery perfumes. Samsara though is a bit different. I think it is the interplay of the citrus and florals, against the Oriental backdrop, provides a balance that is pleasing to me (from time to time).

Try it for a formal occasion. I will be impressed.

Mine is the bee bottle. Very strong jasmine and sandalwood. Not my style but on the right person, this could be mesmerizing. Should be on every fraghead's bucket list.

Wow, this is so different from the one they're selling now. This has some spicyness, sweetness and warmth compared to the cold sandalwood bomb they have now...

It's a fragrance of an era that is definitely not now. This beauty belongs to past for me unfortunately. I had it back in the day and I wanted to give it another chance today but God this is so powdery and its like a cloud or better yet a fog of sandalwood and vanilla with some florals. I am more into sweet ambers with definite personalities in this era and it saddens me to see it I need to gift it to someone.

My precious perfume 😍
powdery,woody gorgeous creation!

I can't add much to the odes written already but to me, Samsara is for when I need comfort and confidence in a bottle. I reach for it on days when I have an important meeting or presentation and Samsara helps keep me calm and I am grateful for her.

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 have used this scent for years, and still really enjoy it. The powdery scents don’t usually agree with me - but this one does. It still manages to have sweet undertones, while fading off to subtly rich lighter notes. I wear this in fall months, when I start to get cozy and wear bigger sweaters and heavier clothing.

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.

I have the old misted glass bottle of samsara which looks absolutely beautiful on the shelf and makes it look way more expensive than it is, but that’s about as far as my enjoyment of it goes.

I spray this when I’m working an evening shift and want a perfume I know is going to last the duration of the shift, and isn’t going to be a smell that bothers guests. I also wear it so my boyfriend isn’t disappointed that his gift to me is unused- some days I just spray it down the sink to try and get through it quicker without hurting his feelings.

For me, this is a powdery clean smell (not a negative) and there is absolutely no fruitiness to it at all (I love fresh fruity scents which is why it was brought for me, so this was disappointing).

From the first sprays, to finally scrubbing it off my skin because it will not die down otherwise, it smells the exact same. Unfortunately it absolutely is a product of its time and smells like something my mum would’ve worn to her office job in her 20s.

First impressions (on paper):
According to my second opinion this is the very last out of the three that I just received today. They said it’s because “it smells hospitally”, and I totally agree with that observation. The sandalwood in here is extremely a lot. I thought I liked sandalwood, but I guess not this much. I also think the ylang ylang is definitely making this very mature for me. Although granted this is an 80’s perfume. I think someone way older than me might’ve worn it, but Let’s see how I feel about it later on skin.
Edit 1:
Ooooh no, scrubber even when I let it dry down. It does remind me of someone who’s elderly. I know that’s ageist. However, I love mature fragrances, but this is not in a good way for me. I think I can come to the conclusion that I love ylang ylang in indolic perfume to calm them down, but every time it’s in anything else it’s a big no for me.
Edit 2:
Tried it several times, and yep it's still making me nauseous, or reminding me of someone elderly I'm sorry. That Ylang Ylang, and scratchy sandalwood is not for me. I'm sorry to say.

Summary:
Smells like: A deep vintage sandalwood. You know it, and probably smelled it before.
Family of: Sandalwoods (Can't think of anything that it smells like)
Sillage: Strong

Verdict: Pass- Too much ylang ylang. I thought I was a sandalwood fan, but I guess I love sandalwood in a certain amount.

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!

Such a sensuous perfume. It's classy, sexy, unique. An experience.

I'm a simple man, this smells like a hot lady, so I like.

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.

Samsara, whether the EdP or the EdT of the vintage is truly one of the greats. I think of it as the Princess of the best of the best (Coco, Poison, and Opium are the Queens). Please try if you haven’t. It’s a classic for a reason and I agree with the recent post re. the new vs. old bottle designs. The ruby red curved glass bottles fit the scent perfectly. Guerlain, why mess with perfection?

I don’t understand the votes on this either- this is totally unisex: go for it guys!

When I was 15 I smelled my best friends older sisters bottle of Samsara and loved it. I had to make do with a cheap dupe though which I wore to school. It wasn't anything like the dupes you get today, it was crap tbh but it was as good as I was gonna get at the time.

Then I finally bought a bottle of this edp from a local independent chemist in my early 20s and I've kept coming back to it. It's probably one of my all time favourite perfumes. You can't beat the old classics and I'm finding that out at the minute after trying all sorts of niche perfumes, Arabic perfumes, dupes, oils, cheapies, obscure brands, and ending up right back where I started with things like this, Dolce and Gabbana red cap, Midnight Poison and Mon Guerlain (I know that one is more recent but it's still a classic imo)

This is just so beautiful. It's just the right about of sweet, powdery, aromatic but not too spicy, creamy, it's just Samsara. You can't really put it into words because it's so well blended it just is what it is, not individual notes. I'd have thought there was some sort of spice in it though, maybe there is but it's not listed or maybe it's just the tonka. I almost get a faint hint of liquorice/anis or something along those lines. The creamy dry down kinda reminds me of the base of Hypnotic Poison but they're very different perfumes. This is way better.

I'd recognise it anywhere. I don't even have to be smelling it to know exactly how it smells. It's like Alien, Angel, Poison, No5, Insolence, and maybe by now Baccarat Rouge, in that sense. Love them or hate them most people can at least remember what they smell like. I've fallen in and out of love with so many perfumes recently, and I still really love some of them, but I doubt I'll love them in 20 years like I've loved this and I'll still be loving it in another 20 years.

I'm still waiting for mine to settle before giving a full review, but I wanted to warn anyone sampling, DO NOT OVERSPRAY.

If you spray closely to your wrist, you'll get a little pool you can dab all over. Much better than spraying all that. These classic beasts don't fool around during after dry down.

The first time I tried this classic perfume, I definitely over sprayed and made myself sick. With this experience, I thought I disliked this fragrance - BUT, today I tried Samsara once again. This time I applied sparingly and what a world of difference! I feel bad for having such a bad opinion of her for so long.

Some of you may be saying, "Of course it was overpowering! You over sprayed!", but I am always an over sprayer and never have I been accosted by such an intense wave of perfume. So to my fellow over sprayers - beware Samsara. Truly less is more.

When applied correctly, this perfume strikes me as something an elegant woman would wear. Almost soft but multifaceted at the same time. If the sweetness wasn't so strong on my skin (even in dry down), I would love this perfume. The sandalwood shows up incredibly and the notes are blended as well as you would expect from Guerlain. Really a well crafted fragrance, too bad she's not my type!

I tested Samara and Amarige at the same time and I was immediately taken by the opening in Samsara- iris, ylang ylang and jasmine- powdery goodness. But I felt less amoured as it developed and prefer Amarige.
Samsara is still a powdery, lovely fragrance. There's nothing dated about it to my nose. It is just not worth my purchasing a full bottle.

What can be said that hasn’t already been said!!! Love this beautiful fragrance. Guerlain hit it out of the park with this one! Love Sandalwood as a note. This to me is better than Shalimar!

To me this is and has always been the most perfect perfume ever made. I was lucky to be around even prior to this version and use the original version which I still have half a bottle of. Its mysterious, sexy and unlike anything before or since. They have murdered this unique scent with the recent reformulations which I also have. Its so disappointing when any perfume changes so much or even gets discontinued but it broke my heart when they reformulated this to the much weaker version it is today.

I was craving Samsara in this warmish spring weather, but I had just put on Britney’s Fantasy. Oh well I put Samsara over it and omg!!!! Such a magical combo! For real! Try it! It’s stunning!

I got this beauty yesterday. A wonderful Woman from France sent it to me along with some typical French sweets :) I can compare my bottle (vintage) to Samsara I bought back in 2010 or so and there is noooooooooooooooo comparison in fact. The vintage perfume is just heaven! In my 2010 bottle I smelt mainly vanilla, vanilla and vanilla. This small miracle opens with sweet ylang ylang, then I smell some delicate spices, yes vanilla but much more quality-like. The fragrance is intoxicating, absolutely classy and beautiful. To me it is a rather fall/winter fragrance. If it is grey or snowy or rainy and cold outside, this gem will bring Sun and flowers to your mind and surrounding. Samsara vintage is a very cozy perfume, comfortable smell that will wrap you like a warm, favourite sweater or a blanket. Don't overspray as this juice is potent. Very long lasting, I can smell it on my skin even after shower. Sun in the bottle :)

This evening, Samsara vintage EDP smells, now and then, like Italian maraschino cherry liqueur and vanilla custard.

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. Enjoy!

Mom's perfume. This is very mysterious scent because there are lots of things in there. I feel like I'm going to visit 1980's casino with a multimillionaire, red nails mature woman, who is gambling. Sensual and deep perfume but NEVER EVER BLIND BUY! It is very old-fashioned rich perfume like No5 or Van Cleff&Arpels First vibes.

Samsara is majestic especially with the vintage pure Mysore sandalwood

The most beautiful creamy sandalwood with beautiful rich luminous Ylang and sensual sultry jasmine and other florals and touch of peach sweetened by guerlain vanilla just slightly to make it more sensual and oh the golden coziness from amber with a hint of smokiness then there is the powdery nobil touch of the purple flowers and buttery creamy orris root

It's a masterpiece that's spiritual,timeless,erotic, hypnotic and majestic.

An absolute divine

It's pure art

It's more than a perfume , it's a deep connection with my soul that elevates my senses and taking me in a spiritual world where I experience the meaning of femininity and the epitome of womanhood

The whole sensations of being a woman ,
being bold ,strong with stubborn dignity accompined with elegant compromise , maternity warmness , sexual and erotic but with sensual grace , fierce but at the same time sensitive and fragile , free spirited and wild but in a composed and elegant calm manner

It represents natural grace and nobility that can't be faked .

at the end of a fanciful evening, the contents of her clutch are spilled onto velvet cushions: a powder compact in a camel-suede pouch; a mother-of-pearl hand mirror with smears of creamy red lipstick; a flower from a spurned lover that bursts into a thousand buttery white petals; a crumpled tube of sandalwood-scented hand cream; a matinée invitation in fine gold lettering on thick ivory paper; and a forgotten cream puff.

You know it’s a Masterpiece 💎 when you remember how the perfume smell only with a memory
One of my mom fragrance 💜

A true masterpiece from Guerlain himself🏆 Samsara is just a bewitching scent❤️ I like less the current version 🤔 but the vintage version was just a pure delight❤️

I have a small bottle of Samsara Extrait that I absolutely adore but I'm running low and I can't afford another bottle. I went into all-panic mode and bought a vintage Samsara Eau de Parfume on EBay. It is the nineties formulation in the clear bottle with a gold top.

I ripped opened the box to test and I'm glad to report that it is a good substitute! It's muskier and fruitier than the Extrait yet it still has that beautiful sandlewood that has been removed in the reformulation. And it's not sweet. It's a tiny bit sour but nothing like the reformulated one.

I am so happy! Samsara is a piece of art and I want to enjoy it for the rest of my life and my 75ml should last me that long.

The new Samsara is beautiful too. I have a small decant and I use it to layer with other perfumes. It's much less complicated. I love it but nothing beats vintage Samsara.

I have just acquired the red bottle as illustrated for the article and it is a good discovery for me.
It's not a fragrance with a trail but just for itself, it accompanies me in a discreet but very present way like a good oriental.
It is essential for all collectors, that said, the current formula seems quite different, so I don't know how to make comparisons, but I won't try to get a copy.
I was pleasantly surprised with Shalimar in extract and eau de parfum, but Samsara will remain this emblematic red bottle of the Belle Epoque of Guerlain.

Elixir for soul, pure femininity, but not on sticky sweet way. Beautiful!

How do I love thee, let me count the ways…..in it’s original formula this is a deliciously warm and sensual perfume, the scent of which I have really found no rival. The beginning is a little citrus-y and green, catches your attention oddly as you wouldn’t expect it, but gives way to a fantastic floral bouquet where rose is not the star! Jasmine is to me. The drydown is just gorgeous as well, sweet sandalwood and amber. This wears so well on me, I am so distraught they changed the original formula, what you find in other bottles just does not compare.

I have been wearing this since its release in 1989.I have tried other perfumes and nothing compares. I have loved it for decades. HOWEVER!!! In 2020 because of the cost and rarety of sandlewood they have replaced it with a synthetic! I thought I had come down with Covid because not only does it no longer have the beautiful depth and vibrant oriental bouquet that it had, it no longer lasts.. Within an hour or so.. It is gone!!! I am absolutely devasted.. I would rather they put the price up than destroy the best perfume ever! I have asked in fragrance stores to see if there is anything similar but to no avail! I am simply discombobulated!

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.

I have the bee bottle version. Opening is a bit strong and the heavy ylang-ylang gives me this retro leathery feel, like a well-worn real leather/fur coat. Later on the ylang-ylang dries and mellows down. The sandalwood and iris come at forefront with this lipsticky feel, very soft and huggable. Reminds me of my mom, even though she never owned this perfume, but all the notes just remind me of her rabbit fur coat and lipsticks and it's all so bittersweet, like a fond memory you always cherish. Overall a very old school scent.

Stunning fragrance. I love sandalwood and I love Guerlain. Highly recommended.

I've had a different experience with Samsara. While it's true that its longevity is spectacular, just a tiny spray or two lingers until you shower or wash the clothes it penetrated. I dislike the florals, and for me, it never died down or mellowed. I generally love Guerlain, but this is a no for me. I smell powder, florals, and very little musk or sandalwood. The blend of floral and sandalwood suffocates. Try before you buy; this one isn't for everyone.

Samsara is the most sensual perfume I know! Dominant peach, iris, narcissus, and amber result in the sweetest and warmest nectar. I love to spray one spritz before my samba or pole dance lesson.
As somebody mentioned, it suits a spiritually mature woman very well aware of her sexuality that comes within her body and eyes regardless of age. Samsara's eroticism is just simply undeniable, it wakes up the cheetah sleeping deep inside you.

Samsara is incredibly magical, mythical, enigmatic, sensual, captivating, and spiritual. simply wonderful It is quite beautifully constructed and has strong sandalwood. This scent is for everyone who wants to feel both calm and comfortable as well as strong, dominant, and confident wherever they go. Samsara shared Shalimar's qualities of being distinctive, wealthy, and mysterious—qualities that belong on an exotic princess. To me, Samsara is THE MASTEPIECE. The jasmine, though, is exotic and enigmatic rather than "floral." It is perfectly powdered, spicily, and woodsy. Magical!

One of my favourite perfume.. I don’t know about the older version, but so for I loved it,the longevity and silage is enormous...I love sandalwood so I bought it, If you love sandalwood go for it , you will get more complements... stays for longer time ...

Just a few notes: I scored a 20 year old bottle with the built in sprayer for $6.99 at the thrift store by me ! The perfume is CREAMIER than the EDT and a bit sweeter . The fruit is detectable ! The longevity is good and whatever you do: DO NOT BUY THE NEW ONES IN THE BEE bottle - they are awful and short lived.

This is my one true love. I wish I could smell the vintage version but even so... I love the bee bottle smell. I've only smelled it once. I was on my way home from Scotland and I saw it in duty-free. I had seen a number of my favorite fragrance YouTubers recommend it and so I decided to spray it on my wrist. That was the beginning and the end for me. I have been on a perfume journey for a few years and nothing has moved me like this one. I am having the hardest time finding an EDP bee bottle online, as I don't want to shell out a heft amount for a fake. If anyone is interested in selling, please let me know!

This is the smell of a witch and/or an angel. The most spiritual scent I've ever encountered. Falling in love with it easy, getting into other scents is impossible. For 20 years now it is my signature scent and I used all the formulas down the road. The current reformulation is an excellent one.

I am a yoga and art teacher. No other scents reminds my family, friends and students of me. Samsara is me from top to bottom.

Ageless, sexy but not vulgar, all year around, all occasions fits for her.

To me, the absolute artistry. The most precious perfume ever, and I have collected perfumes for twenty years.
Of course, each scent has its intimate, private emotional value and Samsara has been a projection of womanhood and life's adventure since I was girl.
But objectively, nothing compares to her potency, to her poetry.
You will not find anything so bright and dark at the same time. It really does bring a lot of contradictory ambivalent emotions and absolute beauty.

Oh this is a beauty! It has been a constant in my life since the 1990s. The fragrance is deeply feminine. Not a cute and youthful scent by any means. It would suit a woman with a mature soul even if not mature in years. It has the most beautiful warm, soft, spicy, floral scent. I wear anytime but it's perfect for date nights.
I can easily become lost in its magnificence. Love love love!

FWIW I discovered a dupe today that's close to the 1990's formulation: Givenchy's L'Interdit Eau de Parfum Rouge. No surprise as to why it's remarkably popular. This used to be my signature scent until the powder/soap reformulation in the late 2000's.

This is opulence. I picture a woman in a velvet dress, descending a plush, red, carpeted set of stairs, exiting a lit cathedral at night. Samsara is full, thick, mature, and undeniably sexy. Samsara isn't playful, she is deep, romantic, and timeless in the sense that you lose yourself in the moment. I heard that every woman needs a perfume like this in her collection. Vintage formulation.

Summer evenings in a bottle. I don’t find it too powerful but that may be the reformulation. I will never be without this beautiful sandalwood.

Original 1989 clear bottle:
What stands out most to me is its depth largely due to its real mysore sandalwood, which is like someone else said: “lacquered wood”. Earthier. Sexier. Creamier. More sensual. While the original and the bee bottles are different, their differences are more nuanced. Obviously both are still Samsara.

New bee bottle:
Extremely powdery, more synthetic, and floral-forward. Not the worst thing ever, but it’s just okay compared to the original. Sweeter. More vanilla, and not really a good vanilla to me. “Girlier”.

I'm wearing 4 sprays of 20 year old Samsara EDP. I purchased 2 bottles of the 50 ml refill, in sealed boxes. I have Guerlain's universal gold refill sprayer with the round cutouts, of the era. The edp juice is in great shape. I see these bottles a couple times a year. Usually at estate sales or flea markets. Highly recommended. This era of Samsara is full of soul and the impact is something with life. Samara from this period smells very "natural" and is an oriental that lets the organic scent molecules reveal themselves.

My signature scent (we've passed our 25th Anniversary) and although nowadays I wear it less to preserve my ability to smell it I have yet to find anything I love even half as much.
It's a rich, powdery mature scent. So complex and layered

✨ My most elegant sandalwood fragrance✨


A must have in the original burgundy bottle.

It's a Sandalwood perfume with little Jasmine And Lemon notes .I think it's a mature scent with vintage vibe , NOT SAFE for blind buying ....BE CAREFUL

Super heady and sultry Jasmin. I think this is recognisably a vintage scent, strong and powdery in a woody way.

I love Bette Davis in All About Eve but I do not want to smell like Bette Davis in all about Eve. Gorgeous, care paid to every detail, a refined presentation, but also dominant and attention seeking. Is a scent that smells like the definition of perfection in the past a classic or dated? I get it, but it's not for me.

Skin test in a cool room. Powerful projection after minimal application. Top notes fade in an hour. Middle and base notes aren't as aggressive as the top, but this is still a perfume with presence. Pretty sure I'll be shot for saying the basenote balance of vanilla, sandalwood, and amber reminds me of an unsweetened Viva La Juicy but it's true.

(And fwiw I know it's unlikely the legendary Bette Davis wore this since it was released the year she passed, but I like to think she would have. And she'd have pulled it off, wearing this powerful scent and never letting it wear her.)

As a non-dogmatic Buddhist, I feel it important to touch upon their concept of samsara: the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. In a way, it is opposite to that of nirvana, which is the condition of being free from suffering and the cycle of rebirth. What a curious choice of name, and a suggestion that Samsara is of all that is earthly, which in a way, makes perfect sense. It opens like a vernal fanfare, with the fecundity of the earth bearing forth all forms of life from dormancy. The flowers unfurl and release their seductive fragrances: the narcissus, golden and profound, which I detect not long after I first spray Samsara. It is really a panoply of florals: a spring bouquet that over time, as ylang ylang and jasmine advances, becomes more supple, intoxicating.

They seem to over-ripen as we reach the summer heart, and it is here that sandalwood, starting off as distant murmurs, really begins to present itself as the crux, as fruits and flowers continue to ripen and a harvest is around the bend. Warm whispers become a chant as warmth and light counter cool orris root chills with a blanket of vanillic amber. The winter leaves us with dormancy once more and the cycle begins again come spring.

It is the sandalwood here, however, the one constant in this cycle, somewhat buttery, slightly sharp, a calm sentinel and guide, with its elegant repose throughout the composition, that is really what has made Samsara a hallmark and speaks to the heart of the matter. The heart of samsara.

Samsara is another classic Guerlain that I have long been curious to smell - I recently bought a miniature vial from the nineties and a full bottle from the noughties. As with most vintage Guerlain perfumes, the quality and craftsmanship is second to none. While it isn't a personal favourite, it is a classic for a reason, an exceptional woody-white floral scent. Bold and extroverted, Samsara is a 1980s time capsule in performance as well as style.

Samsara opens with rich, very indolic jasmine with some citrus notes giving a hint of freshness in the background. Sweet ylang ylang ups the ante of the white floral accord. Some peach makes its presence felt, adding some sweetness, while polleny narcissus and some powdery rose round out the lush, heady bouquet. While the overall effect is rich and quite beautiful, it is almost too much.

All of a sudden, in strides the sandalwood to shake things up. Smooth, rich and opulent, it is the good stuff (Mysore, now restricted), enhanced with synthetic hedione and polysantol molecules, resulting in one of the best sandalwood perfumes I have smelled. Here, it is a little bit reminiscent of Chanel's great sandalwood scent, Bois des Iles. Smooth vanilla rounds it out, which along with the resinous amber notes in the base, brings Samsara into oriental territory. It fades to a slightly sweet musky skin scent after several hours. Sillage and longevity are moderate.

A feminine-leaning scent, best worn during autumn-winter evenings, Samsara is quite something - a well-rounded woody floral with moments of true beauty. While it won't appeal to everyone's taste, it is one to be appreciated and savoured. For me, it improves considerably as it develops, and the sandalwood phase is top notch. 4/5.

It reminds me of my childhood in early 90s, where ladies used to wear it as a sign of being classy.
For me, it's an overpowering scent.
For those who love narcissus, I would say you will love it.

This is one of my favorite perfumes of all time. Been wearing it on and off for decades. I really like the dark red bottle version. The current bee bottle is so weak, it’s sad. One of the biggest compliment getters. Sandalwood and vanilla dream, the dry down is just classy. I have stocked up on the red bottle, I even have a few little originals in the clear glass, but prefer the red. Longevity and projection insane.

For some strange reason, on a balmy 33C day, I wanted to wear a spray of Samsara EDP. Maybe, a day that reminded me of visiting temples in hot weather.

At first, I smelt the chemical Guerlain top notes. Impatiently, I waited for them to dissipate. (Quietly cursing IFRA as usual.) After about 2 hours and well into the evening, I smell real sandalwood, vanilla, iris, tonka. Base notes carry on me. Almost, like sandalwood candy if there's such a thing.

I'm aware that Guerlain has its own sandalwood farm. Although, I read directly from them, that they will be using Australian sandalwood in the new heart bottles. I'm grateful there are some real ingredients that are still allowed into perfumes instead of straight up, headache inducing chemical soups.

I am considering buying the EDT to match my EDP in the bee bottle. Not worried about reformulation rather, scarcity of materials during the last 2 years in lockdown. That may effect composition. If an ingredient becomes too expensive or scarce, it might just be left out or switched.

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.

sweet and smoky and soft. reminds me of incense or a sweet smelling candle. very sexy which i enjoy in fragrances. can see how this is a classic woody perfume for women! im very partial to amber perfumes so i thought this was a really good one without being overly spicy, sweet, or floral. would wear again! only have a sample, but from my experience the longevity was great but it does dry down to your skin quite a bit becoming very soft which i personally like. sillage is moderate.

I am not getting what others described. There is a note (maybe more than one) that I don't like. Maybe the peach and/or iris. First blast is heavy, synthetic flowers. It smells very chemical-like and gives me a headache. I love jasmine and I love sandalwood so I thought I would like this scent. It makes me feel sick to my stomach. I expected a gentle powdery scent but I get heavy, fake, bathroom spray smells from this. I blind ordered and when I sprayed it it definitely brought me back to my childhood. Someone I know wore this! If I spray this and close my eyes I picture an old lady sitting on her plastic covered couch, with the heat cranked up to 77 degrees, petting her toy poodle. The scent aint for me.

I actually really love this but my partner. Can not stand this whatsoever ( it’s to sharp and he finds it nauseating for him) but my nose finds is so sensual , it’s not generic it’s zesty and warm but then dries dow beautifuly sweet, and I don’t mean a juvenile sweet either. Iv always loved this it an absolute masterpiece (such a shame misery guts hates it) I don’t associate this for and older women at all although it’s an old scent but the vibe and get from this is , she pays her own bills, Mortgage, car, she don’t need help from no man she has go this! Independence

Wow, this is superb! I love the opening with the sweet spices, in fact, I, at first was mad when the opening left because the middle seemed so dull .. but then the dry down is HEAVENLY! It semi sweet, soft, intoxicating.
B bbThis is the kind of sweet perfumes that I love. It's not food sweet or sickening sweet. It's also not hot spicy, or harsh. It just melts into your skin and mixes into this delicious sweet, spiced, soft natural scent. It is not loud to me at all.
I can't even tell you what notes stand out because the blend is masterfully done. It is just gorgeous. I don't know why everyone says it is so strong because it really isn't at all. It is soft, really soft.

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, when it was brand new, 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 love this scent on women. Its so seductive and alluring. It reminds me of a brunette, with glossy hiar blood red nails and a split skirt smoking a cigar in a cigar holder. This smell could tempt saints and it did! I am a sinner now!

It's a heavy woody floral scent, "spiritual" is one of its most common descriptors and I absolutely agree with it. It can elevate you to an other level. It's beautiful, but I think it's not an everyday scent, it requires a certain mood. I'm happy to have this in my collection.

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!!!!)

Ummm…. What shall I tell you about this sensuous, mysterious, spiritual, intriguing and totally a magical scent? This is a masterpiece! A true masterpiece which if worn is sure to get many and many compliments. there is strong, pleasant and charming sandalwood in it that makes the wearer feel strong, powerful, confident and dominating while keeping her relaxed and calm at same time. Samsara is not just a fragrance but this is an experience that a rich, unique, mysterious and an exotic princess would wear. This one is blend of spices, exotic jasmine and sandalwood wherein the jasmine is mysterious and exotic rather than being floral. It is spicy, powdery and woody bringing simple perfection. Longevity is superb and the silage is significantly strong too. this is the scent that is not too floral, not too sweet, not too spicy and not too powdery but is a perfect blend of all these notes making it a true beauty. A classic perfume!

I ordered a sample of this and realised it smells like a bar of dove body soap with a bit of spice. My friend confirmed this and said it smelled like deodorant.

This is a learning experience for me, and not all learning experiences are pleasant.

This is a flower bomb assault on my senses. I can't get past the bitter florals. They never seem to end for me. Keywords that come to mind for me are household cleaners, harsh soaps, wet paint, and a freshly printed high-fashion magazine. After the drydown, there is some creamyness, warmth and spice that come through, but it's not enough to save this for me. It smells demanding and cold. Unforgiving.

I think for me it's the iris. To be honest I am not well versed in this note but I believe it's what I don't like about this

So so so beautiful. From the first spray to the very end. Starts floral and dries to what I assume is sandalwood, I don’t know I’m not an expert. But holy hell. I keep pushing my hair back to catch another whiff. Makes me want to be kind and gentle. Also, for the man people out there: I think this is worth a try. I don’t think scents are gendered anyway but this feels very unisex, honest to god.

One of the best perfumes I have used, it’s classy and sexy in the same time.
Totally not a summer perfume its really heavy.

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.

I was a little afraid I wouldn’t like samsara as I don’t usually take well to older powdery perfumes but I was proved wrong with this beauty. Upon first sniff I could detect the different layers, although complex, the floral notes blend perfectly with the richer ambery resin and oriental wood notes. This perfume is deep, mysterious and powerful but not in an intimidating way. It is motherly and sweet but could still be worn by a young person with a mature attitude. Pure 100% woman!

This fragrance has the perfect level of "Peach" that I needed in my life.
Not overpowering or choking, just a light peachy-iris that I absolutely adore. (Genius putting those two together!!)
One spray of this on my chest gives me that personal bubble of happiness that I absolutely love.
Of course, that's when I can grab a spritz of it out of the possessive gaze of my wife. She has claimed this as her own somehow even though it was explicitly stated that we would SHARE this fragrance...lol.
Quality fragrance and oh so lovely.
Great longevity as well! If I use 2-3 sprays I get a good 6-7 hours of scent bubble and 2 hours of skin scent after that.

I thought I'd like it, the notes seemed appealing, the reviews were positive. But this....this is the heaviest olfactory experience of my whole lifetime, it is a killer. The only note I get is the plastic strawberrish syrup with killing power. I can't believe it's so widely appreciated worldwide. Either it's a skin chemistry thing or a matter of my age. But then again, I can't imagine myself wearing this even as an elderly lady. Well, people are different and it's cool - would be super boring if we all were the same:)

This afternoon I dallied in upscale department stores testing fragrances. I was exploring Dior, excited to test Blooming Bouquet, and Absolutely Blooming, both pretty but weak. Nomad EDT. EDP. Hmm... I upped the ante wanting to smell something, anything. Égoïste - hey this is still good! Next two sprays of One Million - still yummy. Now I'm in bed and sprayed my 10 year old Samsara EDP. My God, yes, this is a throwback, normal rich and enjoyable fragrance. I can smell this and it smells great.

It's the fragrance of the sophisticated ladies. Smells really decent and sublime. Perfect for wearing at night 🌃.

I have the bee bottle, new formulation apparently. It's much more subtle than I was expecting. What I notice most at opening is that it's powdery. It does have an old school feel to it. The prominent notes are earthy with sandlewood and musk, florals round it out. A wonderful warm vanilla comes in as it dries down. It's mature and classy. You have to give it some time to settle on the skin. It just gets better as it wears and it's so good I keep bringing my arms up to get a closer sniff. This is the one to reach for when you want a serious fragrance.

Jasmine, Carnations, Spice, Sandalwood, Tonka and Musk = the core of this fragrance. It's a little less round and opulent than it used to be but it still lasts all day long and still carries the soul and character of the original which is more than can be said for other classic scents. I think it's a nice daytime scent for every day.. warm with a drydown of powdery spice, woods and musk. Sometimes it reminds me of Chanel No. 5 but with stronger sandalwood and spice notes. Guys could wear it too I think. If you like sandalwood, try this one out!

The red bottle edt (not sure what year) is a jasmine sandalwood bombshell. It has the richness and pluminess of 90s perfumes where there was more budget and less IFRA meddling. One spray is enough for a full day.
The bee bottle edp reformulation is still nice. It is synthetic, cleaner, and well-behaved. I'm sure there are those who will prefer it. But it doesn't move me.

This was my first designer fragrance and I was wearing it when I was 13, without a care that it is too strong or too vintage. I just always loved it, with its creamy sandalwood drydown. I also love the name and I find it fitting, because this fragrance goes through a journey of transformation while staying essentially the same. It has so many things going for it in the notes but they somehow blend together seamlessly, until you end up with something abstract almost, with its own life. That is probably what perfumery is meant to be. It is like meditation in a bottle, if only you could meditate for 18 hours. One of my all time favourites and probably too deep of a perfume for our frivolous times.

I had my first encounter with Samsara in the very beginning of my perfume journey and I had no idea what a gem I had grabbed in a form of a vintage EdP decant. I was puzzled the first time I wore it. The second time, I was in love. It was a crazy day in October, one that started with excitement and ended in tears. And when my skin heated up while I was crying, I smelled the most beautiful face of Samsara. It was salty, just like my tears, and extremely intense. At that point in time, I wasn't into deciphering exact notes, but I can tell you that the smell was heavenly. This remains a memorable perfume experience for me up to date.

I am not the one to participate in auctions, so I had to settle for a bee bottle once my decant ended. To my nose, the reformulated Samsara has a lot more powder in it, but it still brings us the most beautiful sandalwood+ylang-ylang combination. The old one had more amber that definitely gave it a darker feeling. The liquid in my bee bottle feels lighter and lacks some of its original character. Nevertheless, I love it, but secretly hope for another reformulation to grace us with that dark beauty once again.

Sandalwood, vanilla, and tonka bean in the base had me skeptical. That typically means cloyingly sweet for me, even if it starts out good or the cap is intoxicating. And while this is definitely sweet, and kinda powdery, it’s a Smokey powder, incensy. Anchored. And while I adore shalimar, for current reformulations, this one probably works better for my skin than Shalimar. I’ll never give up on Shalimar, but ultimately, for me perfume is all about what works on my skin. I’m very practical, rubber-meets-road kinda gal, and this one gives me some smoke and incense in the dry down. And gives me at least a ghost/skin scent several hours after application, and that’s a feat. My skin gobbles fragrance like a gremlin. This is absolutely delicious. It nearly ought to be called a gourmand, haha. One of the better Guerlain’s on me.

It's so classic. I like samsara but not for me. I will give my samsara for my mom, cause this is her type fav parfume.

Samsara, what have they done to you.. I purchased the current formulation bee bottle EDP last year. It was my first foray into this classic fragrance and I enjoyed it, my Mum did say that it wasn’t the Samsara she remembered. I recently came across the old red bottle EDP for a good price and purchased a couple of bottles.. I much prefer the old formulation, the sandalwood is more prominent and the ylang ylang that screams out of the bee bottle, is more restrained. It feels like a better balance and more grounded.. The new formula is fine and some people actually prefer it, but for me the old Samsara formulation was the best & I don’t understand why it was reformulated.

I love Samsara. Bought my first bottle from a duty free store during a stop over and couldn't stop smelling myself for the whole flight. Since then Samsara has remained one of my go to fragrances (along with Poeme and Lou Lou). I feel super sexy when I wear Samsara - think it is the soft powerdy incense that remains at the end.

Samsara EDP is a bit stronger and smoother than the EDT. I have both in this red bottle (try to find anything before the current bee bottles, which are really watered down). This has some of my favorite notes: sandalwood, vanilla, iris, and jasmine. This is very chic and seductive. I like wearing it in the evening or when I go to bed. There are a lot of other floral notes which blend well together. It definitely isn't a scent that will appeal to everyone. It is definitely a product of its time (80s/90s). You can what this scent is as soon as you smell it. I love it. It may be too much for some, but I can see this being someone's signature.

Created by a man thoroughly in love with a woman.
Her 3 favorite scents were jasmine, vanilla and sandalwood.
The holy trinity in fragrance lore.

Ruby colored angular bottle.

An All Time favorite.✨

Have never tried the original formulation, so my review is based purely on the bee bottle EDP.

Upon first spray I found the scent completely overwhelming; seriously strong ylang-ylang & sandalwood blast that almost made my eyes water. After half an hour the initial strong scents had mellowed to a less eye watering softness of vanilla & yellow flowers; pleasant enough, but not to my personal taste. However, after an hour or so I found the drydown to be warm, comforting & really rather pleasant. This is not a sexy fragrance on me but the underlying amber, vanilla & musk give this a vintage vibe (not the sort Grandma used to wear, more of a sophisticated classic). This doesn't scream for attention, but it does allude an air of familiarity, taste & modesty, so I plan to wear this on relaxed wrap up sort of days, when the weather is slightly cooler (mid Autumn to early Winter in the UK). It's worth waiting for the drydown.... just wish the hour beforehand wasn't so tearful for me.

I decided to purchase a 1 oz "bee bottle" of the more modern, very reformulated EDT of Samsara.

This was a "blind buy" for me -- I purchased without ever having had smelled this scent before. I had high hopes because one of the top perfume critics in the world, Luca Turin, had this on his 'five stars' (best frags of all time!) list. That being said...

Oof. This is a dated, big-haired 80s scent. Daryl Hannah purportedly wore this stuff. To be fair, it has a note I cant stand, "sandalwood." The "sandalwood" in the more recent formulation that I am smelling is likely javanol, a synthetic version of sandalwood. Javanol is a terrible grandma scent to my nose, and it can really fill a room like nobody's business. Javanol is unique as it is a really dated note that I particularly dislike, as I like many "dated" perfume notes, like aldehydes (Chanel Cristalle, YSL Rive Gauche), ambroxan (Chanel No 5), and green florals (Aliage, Guerlain Chamade). The bee bottle of Samsara is loaded with that funky, Aunt Beverly, hair-sprayed-high-to-Jesus javanol juice. However, a lot of people adore javanol and sandalwood.

I wasn't familiar with javanol at the time I purchased Samsara, and couldn't isolate what I found so offensive about the scent profile. I ended up recently buying a sample of javanol, and it was so blast-my-hair-back strong, and so evocative of Samsara that I had to check that my bottle of Samsara hadn't accidentally leaked or spilled in my dresser. Finally a lightbulb went off -- the sandalwood in the modern reformulations of Samsara must be javanol.

In other words, I wouldn't recommend this as a blind buy. Try a sample first to make sure you like it. This is literally the only bad blind buy I've experienced thus far -- I've had 6 winners and this one dud. I cant speak to the longevity of the EDT, because I do not want this scent on me.

From the notes, I expected to like this, but.. wow! This has to be the definition of a "makes me gag" smell. This is a personal reaction, but, to me this is like a soap bomb. Old hotel soap from ages ago in the bottom of your suitcase that you forgot about. I can imagine in another era this was a "clean" smell. For me, it is overwhelming. Had to run to the sink and wash it off ASAP

I have the bee bottle in the EdP and the EdT in the old formulation and red bottle. At first the EdP goes way too ylang ylang, unfortunately that flower smells of manure fertilizer with that acidy tang on my skin. It completely overwhelms the opening and thus ruins the whole scent for about 30 minutes. My Edt doesn't do this, it's from the '90's, so not sure if it's bc of ingredients, time just mellowing it or reformulations. Then the the scent settles in and that beautiful ambery, creamy sandalwood, floral, hint of peach (I do smell a little peach, it's not one of my favorite notes but it gives this just a touch of sweet fruit) happens ~ heaven. I couldn't pick this apart at this stage if my life depended on it. The genius of an amazing perfumer/chemist and quality ingredients. This is a personal fragrance for me, not too many people get the allure of this anymore. It's definitely not modern, I wear it when I want to smell different. I'm glad I bought a small bottle bc the EdT is pretty much the same, but the older bottle gets to that sandalwood dry down faster without the fertilizer odor. I would have rated it a safe blind buy if you like the EdT, now I don't think it is bc of that first 30 minutes or so.

A note on reformulations; I do understand that IFRA regulations change, climate affects the way certain flowers smell in certain years or that the perfumer just can't get the same ingredients from the same supplier sometimes. But..... Geurlain has their own sandwood farm. This scent is a famous sandalwood amber. The ylang ylang or any of the floral top notes for that matter, should not even come close to dominating at any time. Just my 2 cents.

A very strong like.

Hm, well...it's interesting. I should, perhaps, have known it would not be a love as I am not the biggest fan of Ylang Ylang, or incense, or Jasmine and in fact much prefer beautiful Cedar to Sandalwood. But it's Guerlain, a classic and is always worth branching out. My daughter really likes this but for me, it's just okay. It is a moderately heavy sandalwood and incense mix with the Ylang Ylang making it a tiny bit cloying, though it's still wearable and slightly medicinal. It does not smell like Chergui but is in that genre and therein lies the problem: you don't need both and Chergui's sweet tobacco, pulsing warm beauty is more ''unique'' and enchanting, and is the real masterpiece. Samsara is a simpler little brother or sister who is pleasant but does not quite have that magic.

I have a small sample, not sure from where.

---

This is one of the scents from my childhood. I remember my mother having received a sample (plus another of Shalimar) when buying other perfume, and she gave me those samples. I saw them as precious fragrances, and wore just a pair of drops at a time, when I felt like smelling fancy and beautiful. After a while, I would start cleaning up the dabber over my top wrist in order to keep sniffing them.

Shalimar was the opulent one, and sometimes too heavy. Samsara was the "just right". Warm woods, soapy in that round and relaxing way, deep florals and the sandalwood, wafting around me and filling me with confidence.

It's still this that I smell here. I don't know how the current reformulations are, but this one is a good one. I have other perfumes in this vein, woody and floral and vaguely soapy, not in the sharp aldehydic way, but in the round "savon de toillette" way. But Samsara is the more expertly made, in its classic roundness. Very good.

This review is for the bee bottle edp.

I've owned this in the classic red bottle, and now the bee bottle. The bee bottle is a ghost of who she once was. To me, the new juice in the bee bottle smells nothing like the old juice in the red bottle. It's sad really, that Guerlain has done this to their classic fragrances. Don't get me wrong...the bee bottle is really cute. But they should have stuck with just giving the bottle a makeover, and not the juice inside. Very disappointed.

Samsara in the red bottle= 10/10

Samsara in the bee bottle= 4/10

This is a review of the bee bottle formulation

It started off amazing and I thought I was in love! The key accords of the heart were initially Indolic jasmine and sandalwood (I was in heaven!), but after about 45 minutes, it dried down to something that just kind smelled like... a lame gourmandy-musk (?) A lame gourmandy-musk with just the slightest hint of sandalwood whimpering in the background. The initial heart was promising enough that I'm going to try and get my hands on an older formulation and see how I feel about that.

I remember this in the 80s and I adored it back then, sweet, powdery goodness. Now, I get an initial blast of medicinal bitterness, perhaps the lemon and some of the citrus notes, not happy; however, I needed to be patient, as you do sometimes with some perfumes. Then came the beautiful, sweet, powdery notes. Throughout, the sandalwood is prominent on my skin, even in the initial unpleasantness. So, overall I like it but don't love it anymore. If you don't like real sandalwood, then you might not like this one, sandalwood can be a tricky note.....

Edit: I meant to add, initially, this is quite masculine but dries down to more feminine, however, I'd say its unisex.

2nd Edit: The weather has warmed up again and this one literally blossomed in the warmth. It became quite fruity smelling on my skin and I smelled the vanilla, iris and amber also; to die for....

I just took the longest shower ever, pat dried myself and put a spritz of Guerlain's Samsara (the EdP) on my wrist, that is from a red bottle mind you, not the new vanilla overdosed bee bottle.

I also have a red-gold dab bottle of Samsara from the 80s, with original Mysore sandalwood, and I simply adore it despite the weaker sillage. I wouldn't say the more recently discontinued red bottles are any lesser.

But I'm doing only a single spritz of this because I know that this time when I run out I'll have to resort to those damned bee bottles... I'm in my mid-20s, I've always wondered what it must feel like to have the familiar formulations of your favourite perfumes taken away from you...

Why did they do this? They weren't using any real sandalwood oil anymore, why did they have to muck up the formula and make it more gourmand-ish vanilla heavy...

What am I to do, buy the oils and the absolutes and start making my own? Sigh.

Sorry, I just feel deeply about this one, now I understand the plight of all those vintage divas who bemoan Opium, Poison, Fracas of the old... Samsara, the cycle of rebirth, perhaps some fated day again...

This Samsara arrived to me today, I bought this as it's one of those "memory " fragrances. I have it in the bee bottle so it is much different to the one that I remember as a child watching my Mum getting ready for a night out and her letting me have a try of her perfume.
In saying that, when I put it on I can't help but lift my wrist up to my nose and soak in the fragrance with my eyes closed. Samsara is a process, she's full on upon the first spray, and with the dry drown it's less complex but still with a great sillage. I wore it to work today and I could smell it in the lift. It's lovely, I don't find her sexy per se, but I do feel like exotic and I feel like a lady. For my skin, 1-2 pumps max. Such a pity about the bee bottles going because they are so cute!

In September there will be a relaunch with Guerlain Legacy package, bye bye bee bottles!

I have been using the scent since I am 18. I am extremely excited to smell how the latest version will perform.

I have to say the first batches of bee bottle were off, but I just received a 100ml a month ago and it is fairly close to the last red bottles.

So Guerlain! All eyes on you! What will you create from our favorite holy grail potion?

The scent is divine, whoever doesn't know it, get a sample, words are not enough to describe especially the drydown.

For me it is how feminity smells. I got men coming down on knees asking what is this. No kidding.

The opening should not scare you away give some skin time to the magic to work.

Answering the edt comparison: edt starts softer and gets to the balsamic heart and base faster, however the performance is slightly weaker.

Still potent.

Not dated nor the edp or the edt more timeless.

In my experience this is the most sexy perfume that a woman can wear.

I wear it in office setting and every day as a signature. It gives you a well put together confident feeling!

Enjoy Ladies (and Gents)!

So I remember when I first tried Shalimar, I was surprised at how even though it was a vintage scent, it smelt like it could be almost modern. This, well, is vintage and definitely smells vintage. At least at first.

Upon first applying Samsara, I can smell it within 6" of my skin and it's a very vintage powdery scent. After a couple minutes, there is maybe a slight bit of a fruity undertone coming out, I think from the peach and ylang-ylang. And some creamy sweetness I think from the vanilla mixes in as well. I agree with elizabeth.olbert, that it reminds me of an expensive soap and is "pleasant, homey, and basically unthreatening". It kind of makes me think of a peaceful morning with sunshine coming through a farmhouse style kitchen window.

15 minutes in and I feel like the powderiness has calmed down a bit. There definitely is some still, but it's mixed more into something that's powdery-fruity-floral-sweet and creamy. Which is a lot of words to string together, but it is rather complex.

30 minutes in and I smell the slightest peek of spiciness from sandalwood come through. It has evolved into a mature and pretty vanilla-amber-sandalwood creamy scent now, with some ylang-ylang. The projection is down to about 2" from the skin, so it's not too strong in sillage or projection, but I also had a splash sample, so that may affect the performance. It's got a coolness and cleanness to it and is comforting. I like this significantly better than the opening. There is a light, comforting sweetness scent that lingers in my nose, and every once in a while, a dash of smokiness.

I am very impressed. I went in thinking 'here we go again with another powdery vintage,' but this really has developed beautifully and I ended up liking this more than I thought. If I take a break from smelling myself for a bit and go back to smelling my arm, the powderiness/iris does come back and is the first thing I notice, with some creaminess, so people around you might still think this is a powdery scent instead of noticing the other basenotes, if you don't want to smell powdery. It's just not AS powdery as it was before.

I'll see how long this lasts, though from other reviews, I see that should be a long time.

1 hour later and this smells like a nice expensive lotion with some sandalwood and slight sweetness. It's become a skin scent with less strength, but again, could be due to the splash.

2.5 hours later and it smells back to basically a powdery vintage with a vanilla sandalwood undertone.

10 hours later and I have to take a shower, so I'm not sure when this would actually be gone, but I'm sure it wouldn't be for a long while. There is still a semi-strong powdery scent on my skin that has been going on nonstop, and I get whiffs here and there when I move around still. This would definitely be a 12+ hour fragrance, if not significantly longer.

What a heady cocktail Samsara is. The sandalwood is very prominent but for me there's also an undercurrent of naphthalene and a sweet, fermented smell like Jasmine petals that have fallen to the ground and begun to rot.
Clearly this is a unique scent. I feel I should apologise to the many fans of this perfume for finding it so unpleasant I had to wash it off after just a few minutes. Even then, it seemed to linger throughout the room where I'd sprayed it all day long.

I had Samsara in the eighties and loved it, although now I see it was entirely too complicated for a young girl to wear. Anyway, it was a beautiful scent from memory, great reviews, so I knew I could just get the bee bottle EDP and I'd love it! The bottle is pretty. I adore Shalimar and Shalimar Souffle Intense. This should have worked. However, it was not to be, Samsara and me 2021. I sprayed it on, waiting to inhale one of Guerlain's best but all I get is pickle juice - absolutely no offense to those who love it. I've read a lot of the reviews up to now and no review I read seemed to get that note. I also don't get the powdery iris, I get the yellow flowers and it doesn't work on my skin. I wish it were different for me and I could enjoy it too.

I am taking back all the things i have said about this perfume..
This review focuses on previous red edp bottle.
It was my mom's signature scent therefore i still feel like it's not totally mine unlike some of my fragrances. Recently, i flash backed to memory of mine, she is getting dressed for a date night with my father in a restaurant where i visited one week ago. Unfortunately due to pandemic, restaurant was empty, but i wanted to cheerish my parents memories. That's why i feel like Samsara doesn't belong to me completely, it's someone else's yet familiar.
I love this fragrance, it's bold, it's direct yet it's somehow down to earth. This to me - probably because of how i remember - creates a comforting aura that only couple of scents can achieve in my collection.
I will look forward to another bottle, because i can see myself using this more and more.

I hadn't smelled this in many years, and ordered the bee bottle version on a whim.

Well. It's nice; very heavy on powder and a slightly sharp sandalwood. It reminds me of expensive soap - pleasant, homey, and basically unthreatening. I remember it as being much more exotic and exiting back in the day, but that could be just me.

Anyhow, I don't quite get all these soaring paeans to magical wonder of Samsara. Either my nose is defective, or the new version is completely different from the old one.

I have been Samsara-less for about a year and a half and reading all these interesting/ inspiring and fun reviews of this Guerlain classic made me buy another bottle. This will be my fourth : Samsara is a perfume staple that any perfumista must know

***Review is for both the 1990s formulation, as well as the current formulation.***
-Both open with a blast of what I initially mistook for alcohol.
-Top notes are boozy, like aged whiskey.
-Largely a linear scent to my nose.
-Seems like it'll be a beastmode fragrance, given how sharp and strong the scent is retained on a tester strip 5 hours after first spritzing.
-Headache-inducing scent.
-Not fbw. (-)

It's the perfume that made me fall in love with strong warm woody perfumes. Apart from being a warm woody fragrance, it has prominent rose scent to it. I love how it smells vintage and mature. It's been so many years since I smelled Samsara. The last time I smelled it was probably childhood, yet I still remember the fragrance vividly because it was so memorable.

Tried the EDP. Lasted 12+ hours on my skin. A very beautiful scent that is very different from most modern perfumes. I see it's rated as a fragrance for winter and fall but I can imagine someone wearing it on a luxurious summer vacation, dressed in all white, gold jewelry and red lipstick. Kind of inspired by the bottle. Could be unisex.

Classic Guerlain still done well and modern enough to use as a signature scent.

I'm really surprised that Samsara is a lovely uplifting floral with sandalwood and woods. It doesn't seem to have a note pyramid, rather all the notes play out like a piano.

I remember smelling this in the 80s and it was overwhelming. No doubt, the vintage is better but, this recent batch is perfectly acceptable. It's up there as one of the top 20 perfumes in my collection. More wearable than Shalimar.

I'd almost call this a modern vintage, from the 80s.

Reviewing a 2019 bee bottle version.

Just received the new Bee Bottle EDP today, it was a blind buy and i couldn't be happier! 😃

I can't compare it to the OG Samsara as I have never owned one, but I can only imagine how amazing it must have been!

This is a perfect powdery/citrusy goodness! Sandalwood and ylang-ylang do stand out the most in a very classy way

The opening is quite "vintage-isque" with the Iris in there, but the dry down is so wearable and timeless!

I will have to report back on sillage and longevity as I have only sprayed it about an hour ago, yet it seems very promising!

Update: Longevity is Insane! it's not a Sillage bomb tho, but for sure on the moderate to the heavy side, vanilla really comes through on the dry down and makes it wholesome

I am so in love with this fragrance, now I wish I can get my hands on a vintage bottle!

I think this is a very safe blind buy if you enjoy ylang-ylang, sandalwood, and vanilla

For new bee bottle

I really like this. The more I wear it, the more I find myself thinking this could have a space in my top favorites.

The initial blast is rather sharp and plastic-y, but that fades quickly and I’m left with a subdued, rich, slightly powdery floral. It’s almost a my-skin-but-better scent but probably too floral to fall into that category.

It is non-invasive, so you can wear this without knocking other people over, but when they hug you, they will smell it.

I can see why it doesn’t appeal to everyone but I’m falling hard for it. It kind of checks all my boxes at this point in my life with what I want to smell like.

Very interesting fragrance. It smells expensive and classy albeit a little mature and "classic". I can really smell the violet in this - as soon as I opened the box the violet hit me first. It is sharp upon opening when sprayed, however it does settle into a comforting creamy sandalwood heavy scent. My nose is picking up violet, sandalwood, ylang-ylang and amber. It has a soapiness initially on the dry-down but this does fade, although there is a slightly herbal, medicine cabinet quality about it. Not loud but good quality. So far I like it but I just don't know if I want to smell like this... It would be really nice to wear around the house and to go to bed. I plan on testing this more.

Update: Every time I wear this it feels so different... would describe it as interesting and magical. It sometimes has an almost green, planty, medicinal quality but today it has the richest, sweetest, airy scent that I am in love with. It no longer smells as mature as it did to me at first, I can picture this working for anyone 21+, male or female. It is unisex but leans feminine. There is something very comforting about this fragrance. I personally wouldn't and do not wear it every day, however it is the type of scent that works for most occasions. It lends itself to particular moods.

A UNIQUE fragrance. Smells like anything else. It just has this very magical DNA that makes it so unique and stand out among other fragrances. Just like Alien ( jasmin sambac), the Narciso Rodriguez fragrances ( musc), Mitsouko, La Dolce Vita ...
I do own the vintage formula which is with no surprise way better but i don't agree either when people say that the current formula is a disaster. It's fine, and i will always wear this. My all time favorite.

At first people turn there nose up on this one, however this is a little magic powerful potion that actually gets noticed!!!, i absolutely love this perfume, amazing sillage, i don't recommend wearing on hot days in the sun, but more of a night time or winters mystery nights. love it

Samsara EdP in the bee bottle is surprising me. I have had little luck with Shalimar, though I have tried over and over to love her. L Heure Bleue impossible for me and Mitsouko fails also
But Samsara is soft but richly creamy and is gourmand on my skin. The drydown is delicious, and though the guerlainade is there, it stays far in the background. The slight soapy note on the initial spray dies down and the creamy vanillic sandalwood stays sweet, not cloying and powdery but not suffocating. Maybe there is a Guerlain for me after all.

If witches wear perfume this is it.

Alongside Mon Guerlain - but I will write about on that page.

Samsara is free and sometimes hated for it's freedom. Just like the strong women in history who were labeled as witches.

It is spiritual, animalistic, memory and vision awakening. No wonder that is an 80s child when spirituality started to grow individual.

It's smells like a temple, a yoga studio and a budoir.

If it's yours it's your holy grail. Don't let anyone take your spirit.

Holy Toledo... this is beautiful. My ultimate comfort scent. This is being face deep in a cashmere blanket. Whirls of creamy floral, powder, sandalwood. This perfume will turn you..
It’s very reminiscent of perfumes I smelled through my childhood in the 80’s and 90’s. So I do think you’d have to be able to appreciate attention grabbing perfumes of the time, and Samsara’s uniqueness vs today’s assortment. If that’s not your thing, you don’t deserve her.

Very creamy, powdery, sophisticated scent. It opens up a little bit harsh (maybe because of jasmine that i'm not a great fan of) but then it settles down in such a pretty, gentle, creamy way... It's stunning. Maybe a little bit more mature scent. It's long lasting, with great yet not offending sillage. Classic!

If you are familiar with the Guerlain line, you'll definitely understand when I say that Samsara is SO Guerlain. The first thing I noticed was how powdery it was. I was able to pick up the powder, iris and violet so fast without looking it up. Even though it says to be an Oriental Woody, I'm so happy that it isn't a heavy and even though it's been around for a very long time, I'm glad that it doesn't smell too dated.
This reminds me so much of Insolence- no they don't smell alike- but the reason it reminds me of it is because of the powder and iris, violet combo. This fragrance is very light, fresh and clean. To be honest, I need to spend more time with this perfume and maybe wear it a few times.
So far, I am not a big fan of iris, violet and vanilla mixing together. It's like fruit and vanilla trying really hard to get a long and it makes me a bit nauseas. Earlier while I was smelling it, I thought it was quite beautiful but now that im smelling it again, idk...I just have to play around with it more. I don't know exactly what to think of it.
It's not offensive, it's soft but definitely THERE. It might be a little too soapy or medicinal for me, but I'll update my comment soon.

Gourmand, creamy, hints of vanilla with a powdery quality. As with many classic Guerlain fragrances, I find this has amazing sillage and longevity. Sweet yet sophisticated and subtle ie not sugary, with a distinctly spicy undertone.

Wonderful in cooler weather, my go-to winter fragrance. Have received compliments on it. Think it would suit a diverse range of ages and personalities, from 20-somethings, to over 70s; I think all genders (and non-gendered individuals!) could wear this, even though it is perhaps "conventionally feminine" in some respects.

Lovepotion.. It's motherly, womenly, girly.. bright and openhearted aaand sexy... makes me feel the most feminine of mine... makes me fall in love with myself... awakens my 20 years old self that melts into my thirties and shows me that I will be the same woman together with all my selves when I'll be 60 <3 its not flowers or woods it is Parfum.
(This is about a red bottle eau de parfum I just managed to acquire) And btw this is my first comment here.. I am quite new here and quite a beginner but I love reading you guys:) And Samsara is when I couldn't stop myself to comment..;) cheers from lockdown Budapest, long live les Parfums!

I have both the edt and edp of Samsara (bee bottle). I bought the EDP mainly because of its longetivity. I fell in love with the EDT and was hoping that EDP would last longer on my skin. Also I bought both of them mostly of the sandalwood. Which is one of my favorite notes in a perfume.
At first on my skin I get STRONG and powdery floral notes, mostly I get the ylang ylang. It reminds me of the EDT but that one is more crisp. The floral notes in the EDP feels way more thicker.

Then in the drydown which I think is the crescendo of Samsara, I get those epic notes of sandalwood. In the EDP version it's way more creamy and warm on my skin. In the EDT the sandalwood felt more crisp and dry, like standing next to a bonfire. I actually get more of the vanilla and amber in the EDP which is lovely.
It's sensual, sexy, enchanting and a comforting scent. Great sillage and longetivity.
Samsara has quickly become a holy grail in my perfume collection. Together with Loulou by Cacherel and Dune by Dior.

when i wear this is like my skin just smells nicer. It suits me so naturally and smells very soft on me and that is why i don't reach for it very often. older formulation was more oriental and daring . I also hate the new bottle and unfortunately i haven't kept any red one! Nevertheless...i need this one in my collection but i wish i had kept a red bottle .

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'd start saying that this is a real powerhouse. Like, the kind of thing that led to no perfume rules in offices.

I am a huge Guerlain fan since adolescence and I am used to wear fumes deemed as "heavy", "hard to pull off", "retro" and sometimes plain weird (Miel de bois anybody?) from all price ranges (Tabu, that I wore and loved, comes to mind)

But this. For the love of God.
Heady, heavy in the worst possible meaning and at the same time simplistic, all I get is synthetic sandalwood and a persistent chemical note that I can't really pinpoint. A a weird imitation of what would be mixed indistinguishable spices heavily punches you in the nose and won't leave until you succumb.

I had never gagged whilst wearing a perfume but this succeeded in the task.
So I scrubbed it off, to no avail. It was a cool October night and I wore the edp from a small glass bottle, dated around the early 2000s, kept for years in a cool dark place so there are no chances it was stale.

The morning after I found a sweet, delicate drydown that was actually the best part of the Samsara experience.

Sad to say, despite seeing the so highly recommended as one of the best sandalwood perfumes, I can't get over the strong neroli/orange blossom note! I've tied both the EDT and the EDP and still don't like it. In fact I like it less over time. I found the same problem when I tested Libre a couple of times. I think it's safe to say that neroli and I are NOT friends! Anyone who can wear this is a lucky soul. I have an almost FB of EDT that is now just taking up space :(

Smells like burnt plastic on me, just like Cacharel LouLou. The dry down is nice, but not worth getting through the fist part.

Bee bottle: on my skin this is basically ylang-ylang bomb with delicate sandalwood in the background from opening to drydown, I don't get other notes and it does not change over time and last for about 5 hours. I have never smelled earlier formulations so I can't make a comparison. It does smell nice, certainly office friendly, but SO BORING. I bought it blindly and I'm so glad I bought 30 ml bottle. Well, I guess, once when you come in contact with Shalimar everything else smells ridiculous compared to it.

I would say for this one, try before you buy it.

I'm new to Samsara brought online during the lockdown. The bee bottle. Mesmerised by the top notes but when it drys down everytime I sniff my wrists it makes my eyes roll and sigh heavily in absolute delight. What absolute paradise this scent is. I know guerlain goes to great lengths to grow the sandalwood in India especially for this perfume. Everything about the note mixture is perfected to create Samsara, a scent from heaven.❤❤❤

This is a review for the bee bottle. I can’t speak to the original. I don’t really understand the extreme views. This starts strong and complicated but dries down to such a pretty sandlewood scent. It is an elegant, classic scent. No need to spray a ton because it’s quality is guerlain and not for young girls but a beautiful work of art and treasure to wear. D

I have to start by saying I love Guerlain as a fragrance house. Their fragrances are unique and I own many of their fragrances. I was so excited to get this perfume. Never smelled it but read and saw multiple reviews on how incredible it was. Blind buy purchase for me that I have to say wasn't a win. On me it smells like a forest scented air freshener. I'm so disappointed.

I own a red EDP that is about 15 yrs old. The reason I've had it that long is that although I respect and admire it, I find it overwhelming on myself. I love it on others but the yellow florals dominate my senses. It's almost a Yvres or original Chloe - too much even at a distance. I love a bold scent (Coco, Arpege) but Samsara is almost too much for me. But I'm proud to own it.

This is...I understand from the notes and the descriptions of people who've worn this what it should smell like. However, on me, it smells stale. Based upon the individual notes, there is nothing that would turn "off" on me, so my conclusion is that this is just another Guerlain that I cannot wear. I assume it is something in the base of their formulations. One day, I hope to find a Guerlain that agrees with my skin chemistry. In the meantime, I am keeping my bestie stocked up on Guerlain, because they smell wonderful on her.

I am slowly working my way through a fall perfume haul. This year, I decided to return to scents that I haven't worn in years- sometimes even decades. Samsara was top on that list, and I'm wearing it today. I have the bee bottle, and much like Kashaboo noted, it's a shadow of its former self. It doesn't smell totally "off." You get the general sense that this is Samsara. But the once-prominent Sandalwood is faint, and the amber and vanilla seem stronger in this version. It's a lot more linear than I remember it being... and it also wears off in 5-6 hours on me. Don't get me wrong... it's still lovely, and I'll continue to wear it. I think that I have to work on getting over the fact that this and one of my other favorite fall scents- Lolita Lempicka- have been reformulated so much that they have become unfamiliar to me.

So here's my final two cents... if you love Samsara and don't want to pay a small fortune for the red bottle, you can find the bee bottle for about $30/ounce on discount sites like FragranceNet. If that's within the low end of your price range/budget for perfume, it's not a totally regrettable buy. In fact, the weaker formulation kind of makes it ideal for daytime wear. In terms of longevity, I give it a 5-6/10. In terms of sillage, I give it a 6/10 (for the first two hours).

Oh boy, Samsara. It did not go well with my body chemistry at all. This was too much of a powdery jasmine for me. Silage is exceptional, staying power is also commendable. Just not my type of fragrance. 3/5

I used to love this in the 90's when it came in the red bottle. I recently bought a bee bottle and was disappointed. The scent is a pale shadow of what it once was. This was such a powerhouse, alluring and sexy. Now it smells the same in the beginning, but fades almost instantly. This is such a shame. I doubt I will repurchase this.

Samsara edp- is an amazing, good-quality, more like an old school fragrance. Samsara is impressive, very sensual and rich perfume. Not like most of modern fruity lolly pops.
When you put it on yourself, you feel the quality, you feel the luxury.. beautiful performance on the skin and on the hair, long-lasting and deeply-touching the inner feelings.
One of the best fragrances I could use on my skin on a regular basis.
From the notes I feel the most-it is bergamot, lemon- they are really very very strong here. Plus, spices: sandalwood, tonka, amber. The flowers are in a total mix here, so it creates something new and surprisingly astonishing. Not like "just jasmine" or "just rose".. its like was created an not-existent flower.
Anyway flowers here are a little bit behind the scene, on my opinion.
P.S: Here I described the light yellowish bottle of edp.
I did not try other bottles of this fragrance..I just fell in love with this one..

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.

bee bottle:

I have been trying to venture out of my comfort zone and
At my core, I am a 90s freshie lover. But have found myself enjoying things I never would have thought I'd of liked as much as I did.

Iv only heard good things about this fragrance. So I decided to try it.

On my skin, the Iris is too overwhelming for me. It smells somewhat like Baby powder, bubblegum, and a whiff of morning breath mixed together (it's the ylang-ylang that gives me a hot breathy impression). I scrubbed it but I am going to give it another shot or two before I commit to selling it off.

Even though it's not for me I can see the allure.
The powdery notes create this sort of smooth velvet effect that draws you in. And ylang-ylang is always very sensual.

A masterpiece of unrivaled elegance and sensuality.

10/10 in all categories
(Total Red bottle)

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.

Oh my, this is glorious. Sandalwood lovers rejoice! I’m a big fan of l’Heure Bleue but it is admittedly powdery, sweet, and even a bit challenging. Samsara has some of that DNA but if LHB is cold Parisian melancholy, Samsara is reclining under a breezy canopy while gazing out to a desert oasis. Now I almost wonder what LHB would smell like if I put on some sandalwood oil underneath. Samsara does evolve quite a lot in the drydown, becomes very powdery and soft.

(I have the bee bottle EDP).

Hm, this is not what I expected.

I ordered several samples off a reputable ebay seller, and I think they had a brain fart because they forgot to label the samples! This is the first one I sniffed, and I couldn't figure out which perfume it was meant to be.

To my nose, it opens with a sweet, almost syrupy floral-fruity blast. I thought I mostly smelled rose, and something like currant or berries (which apparently are not in the notes!)

Then, after the first 5-10 minutes, it turned into a hard-to-pin-down, sweet, almost too-ripe scent. I still couldn't figure out what the hell I was smelling. And then it hit me: Arpege by Lanvin. I'm surprised nobody else mentioned this.

To me, it smells like a watered-down, slightly friendlier Arpege. Same sweet 'rotting fruit' bite, but a little more floral and smooth. Both perfumes feature ylang-ylang, so I'm going to assume that's the main culprit!

All in all, I'm not all that impressed. It's alright, but I wouldn't buy it. Performance and longevity were average to above average, but it's too similar to Arpege and doesn't even have its boldness (but maybe that's the appeal). I can't say I notice the sandalwood or the vanilla much.

Samsara is a hundred blooming jasmine and ylang ylang in a wide halls. When opened, a kind of faint scent of ink, that is a signal to them loudly singing together.
Weave silk Indian use sandalwood with vanilla. Seductive and gaudy……Samsara has the absolute attractive enough to change your perfume road.
The last page of Guerlain is legendary.Thank Jean Paul guerlain!

Classic perfume sexy classy artistic a real masterpiece flowery oriental a mixture of ylang ylang iris peach musk amber ... a mysterious desert in the night.... perfect for dates a classic must have

Sandalwood seems to be rich and intense yet not Smokey. This is powdery, woody but not the fresh kind, the overall feel is warm - not sweet mind, yellow? Florals.

First thought when I received this (blind buy) was, “I’ve smelled this before...”,not a family member, maybe a neighbor who I rode the elevator with same time in the mornings.... maybe a teacher I once had.... I can’t remember who it was I just know it was a smell I knew, and knew somewhat well, and my brain placed a judgment on it, because the young Bluebird that I was didn’t understand Samsara’s beauty, and the remnants of her inside me wrinkled her nose and said “ew.”

But then, we kissed. “It was only a kiss, how did it end up like this?”—Me falling in love, with Samsara. I crave this now. It’s milky creamy seduction of orris powdered sprinkled peach and musk and ambered jasmine, enveloping me in a luminous rosy red hued bubble of soapy sandalwood warmth. Its deliciously smokey sweet too. It’s almost too much but then not enough cause I need more of her....

I have the bee bottle. Longevity is awesome, 8+ hours.

Oh my God. I have been missing out. I've been eyeing Samsara for about ten years now. I don't know why I never bothered to smell it anywhere on a tester. I tend to blind buy based on reviews and notes for some reason, and it actually hasn't done me wrong yet.

I'm a fiend for anything sandalwood. After dry down, Samsara's sandalwood goes deep and creamy on me with the vanilla and the jasmine really peaking. The violet still makes itself known on my skin, but I don't think this smells dated, or like an old lady at all. I'm in love.

Smells like dior addict with sandelwood

Review for Bee bottle EDP!

Samsara is stunning. Luminous, bright and rich...a gem! I love this so much! The sandalwood is heavenly with the jasmine and ylang ylang and will leave a beautiful trail wherever you will go.

I don't think i have ever had a perfume that is alluring and comforting at the same time like Samsara. The vanilla note is very warm and sweet.

I remember my Aunt having a bottle of the EDP as a child and I will say this, Samsara is not the enormous powerhouse it used to be from my memory. Still very strong sillage and will last a good while if you apply lotion before but I really want the powerhouse back! :)

love this over shalimar, works so well with my skn chemistry. beautiful fragrance
10/10

In it’s opening, it has the same thorough vanilla and bergamot pairing found intense in Shalimar EDP but quieter. Then follows one of the most, if not the most, beautiful pairing of jasmine and santal. It feels like the notes were ground into a cosmetic paste, it’s really smooth, warm, powdery and balsamic.

Even one of my coworkers who just loves to smell artificially of being newly washed or of cotton candies was stoked by this one. She says it’s beautiful and she can’t explain why.

The way the amber, vanilla and tonka bean were used are not so much of how heavy these are done in modern perfumery. Samsara’s consolidation of notes is sublime. To incorporate a somewhat cosmetic feel using peach, sandalwood and violets is really something. Even with the sweetness of the components, Samsara manages to highlight santal while using the others just to round the edges off.

I hope Thierry brings this back to its former glory. Wishful thinking.

First time I smelled Samsara I thought of Kristin Scott Thomas in the English patient. A classy elegant lady in an exotic location. Perfect beauty with hidden passions. It is more sensual beauty than seduction to me. I feel very feminine and classy when wearing it, and I think it suits any time of the year or day. It would make a great signature!

I own the 90s forumla and the more recent in the red glass bottle, haven't tried the newest in the bee bottle though. My bottles are all potent and long lasting. It is the one fragrance I own that I can still smell on my clothes after I wash them.

Creamy creamy sandalwood with florals. To me this has nothing old lady about it. My other Guerlains can have a vintage feel, but this feels completely timeless or even modern.

I'm using Samsara for more than 25 years and I still love 💘 it.
It's super sexy!

I fell in love with Samsara when I was 17. One whiff and I swooned. My roommate used to wear it and it would fill the room whenever she sprayed it. I couldn't get over its beauty. I had to wait till my 20s to start wearing it, dreaming about it the whole time.

I find the vintage deeper, woodier and longer lasting, but I happily wear the red bottles which I find way sweeter. I haven't tried the bee bottles. It always takes me back to being 17 again.

If anyone has an unloved vintage of Samsara EDP or EDT, please message me!

Reviewing a vintage year 2000 (I think, it's a 5 digit code) batch.

Opens up STRONG and I'm almost regretting it, but it's a nice, bright, floral/woody/creamy. By the time it hits its heart it comes across as soap. Not "soapy", but definitely reminds me of a soap I smelled as a child in the 70s or 80s, and I know sandalwood was popular for exotic soaps at the time. At the drydown it starts to fade, and at this point I'm obsessively sniffing my arm to get the last bit of it as the uplifting ylang ylang makes its last stand and turns to powder.

This fragrance is elegant and bold. It's not quite my style and the olfactory memory of sandalwood soap isn't something I'd feel comfortable wearing, but I recognize this is a beautifully blended fragrance and a late 20th century classic. Worth having in the collection!

Update next day: I could still catch whiffs of this as I went to bed many hours later and it was magical. Modern Guerlain fragrances typically smell stale on me by bedtime but this absolutely glowed. I am definitely keeping this vintage bottle and saving it for days when I want to feel radiant.

I am quickly becoming a Guerlain convert. This is the second Guerlain scent I have tried, Shalimar was the first. I am learning that there is a commonality with Guerlain scents (a DNA that you can tell they are all related) but each scent is unique. I wasn't sure what to expect with this one since Shalimar took a bit to grow on me. This one smelled delicious from the first spray and for me there was no adjustment period needed. I absolutely love the powdery woodsy smell. As it dries down it retains a sweet smoky smell and it is lovely to smell a little waft here and there as the day goes by. This is definitely a scent that I would wear on a regular basis. I really love the complexity of Guerlain perfumes. They smell of history and intrigue and definitely aren't the cookie cutter perfumes of today. They each have their own distinct personality and I feel as though I am getting to know a person. I have never felt like that before with a perfume. When I wear Guerlain scents it makes me think about the story behind them, and the time period in which they were created. It makes me reflect on my own heritage and hopefully if I grow my Guerlain collection these are scents that I can pass on to my children and grandchildren. These scents might not be for everybody but I absolutely adore them.

Very unusual floral sandalwood that is lighter than most, fresher than most, most than most (in a record 40% concentration WUT) but is more milky airspun than thickset butter. This allegedly derives from Jean-Paul Guerlain mixing real Mysore sandalwood with hedione and polysantol, so...this is why it doesn’t smell like a wooden drawer fell in my head, huh.

The reformulation doesn’t archive this balance as well, but is still glowing and rich.

It tailors to skin chemistry like few of them, making it The Skin Scent imo, whipped solar body cream and milky coconut shell with sprinkles of orris powder and warm peach lanugo.

Samsara is a soul in a bottle.
Sacred, living, divine and etherial.
It is here to take you away to a better reality.
The scent of philosophy and heavens.
Angels themselves envy the scent.
I hold so much respect for the genius that Samsara is.
As any Guerlain, Samsara is a perfume with a life of its own, you have to live with it and befriend it.
Samsara isn't just a perfume you spray.
It is a connection.
And an addiction :)

I adore I adore I adore. I grew up in Eastern Europe without fancy perfumes, the best thing my mum got her hands on was a Caron Nocturne 15ml miniature but my mum was the one who inspired me to long for good perfume. And when they finally brought them to my country I was 19 and went to a store and smelled all the perfume they had. This was one of my favourites (together with Rochas Tocade and Tocadilly, Givency Champs Elysees). I bought this from my first salary although was the whole salary then. I adore it. To me it is red rich velvet, theatre, opera, elegant women, kings and queens... I really adore it. I have 2 full 100ml bottles now and avoid wearing them just because I am so scared they will not make them anymore. However I feel like a queen wearing them, also sexy, sophisticated and very very sensual. You have to be very elegant to wear this, it is an old perfume but the kind they cannot make any more.

Before smelling this legend I was 100% sure I will love it: spicy, oriental, deep and interesting or at least that's what I was expecting. It seems it doesn't work on me. Starts and ends quite metallic, in a weird oxidised way, with sandal wood, musk and iris taking the front row. On my partner smells much better, more complex and ambery. It has a vintage feel that I am not a fan of... Again... My love/hate relationship with Guerlain...

I am amazed too see how so many people like even love Samsara......I bought it when it first came out and found it completely overwhelming and almost oily it definitely wasnt a perfume for me. At Christmas just gone I was given as a gift...guess what ? A bottle of Samsara ! I know it was silly to open it but thats what I did … I wish I could say a miracle happened and that I loved it.... but afraid not it did seem a little different to how I remembered it (I dont know what changes they may have made) it didnt seem quite so overpowering but still cant say that I liked it. I gave the perfume to my friend who was more than delighted with it. There is no accounting for taste...or smells

Has to be one of the top 10 most beautiful fragrances ever In my opinion.
Smells warm, pretty and expensive! like nothing else out there. It’s so good

I have a new bee bottle. It is a power bomb in terms of sillage for about 2-3 h then gets milder. It can be smelled for 6-7 h with one spray which is perfectly ok. I had a red bottle and didn't last longer. The scent hasn't all the layers it used to but it is still a beauty of citrus, sandal wood, iris, ylang and violet with a base of musc, amber and tonka, sandal wood breathing all the way through. Butchered was it not. Maybe because I don't hate the bee bottle.

I bought the reformulated bee bottle. It has been butchered. From the oily-thick, substantive, mysterious, room-filling, unique masterpiece it used to be in the 90's - to the 1 millionth vaguely fragranced water bottle with some banal citrus opening which makes it smell like all others and disappears in 1 hour tops.
A perfume perfectly suited for our soulless, characterless, standardized society that somehow deludes itself that it is "diverse" because..."diversity." Another one bites the dust.

My bottle is a 1997 EDP. The opening is very crisp and citrussy, and then it shifts into something quite sharp, floral, and unpleasant for a bit. This only lasts for a couple of hours, and then there's the soft sandalwood. It's nice, I suppose, but nothing spectacular.

And... It's way too soft and extremely close to the skin.

I had this expectation of a creamy, intoxicating, gorgeous sandalwood dream that I can actually smell on myself, but this is nothing of the sort.

I'll hold onto the bottle for now and try again once the weather gets warmer. Maybe it'll get better?

Heavenly delight! One whiff and you're transported the to Orient, with incense and spices blending with orchards of lemon, bergamot, and peach. In a mystical temple somewhere at the foot of a Himalayan mountain you open a sandalwood box to find a stunning bouquet of rose, jasmine, ylang-ylang, violet, and iris. It is an exotic Oriental garden to delight the senses. Apparently, the incredible Thierry Wasser, the heir of Jean Paul Guerlain, planted a sandalwood plantation in Sri Lanka to make sure that creamy sandalwood that forms a base of so many of Guerlain's timeless fragrances would live on forever. In my opinion, one Samsara is worth a dozen Jickys, Chants d'Arome, and Jardins de Bagatelle. I know they're all different, and every fragrance has its place, but Samsara is head and shoulders above the rest. ***** 5 stars out of 5.

Samsara is simply Fabulous!

I think that when Samsara came out, she must have been ahead of her time, the Big Bold Florals of the 80's and 90's were dominating (Amarige, CH, Poeme,..) and this is like the start of the 'Florals Toning Down' era.

Samsara is caught between 2 worlds, she has the retro glamour and the modern chic.

After 30 years, I think she still is a perfect balance between Floral and Woody.

Really intense ylang-ylang, especially in the drydown. The sandalwood does not dominate, despite the high number of votes for it. There is also a strong iris note, the Guerlain iris. You can tell this is a Guerlain scent.

Samsara came out about 12 years after Opium and Cinnabar, but for no sensible reason my impression of it was always overshadowed by those two spice heavy orientals. Probably because of the marketing. Despite the red bottle and Sanskrit name, it is nothing like that. This is a waxy yellow floral. The original red bottle is gorgeous, but misleading. Samsara should be in an opaque soft yellow bottle. Definitely a yellow rich scent, best for evenings and cold weather. Not for mornings or hot weather! Great to wear on a cold clear night.

I have used this scent for years, and still really enjoy it. The powdery scents don’t usually agree with me - but this one does. It still manages to have sweet undertones, while fading off to subtly rich lighter notes. I wear this in fall months, when I start to get cozy and wear bigger sweaters and heavier clothing.

Sandalwood bomb that takes us to a sunny and orange/red slot canyon and embraces us warmly with a soft, but noticeable ylang-ylang note. It smells decadent, classy and expensive. Sexy fragrance suitable for night dates and fancy parties.
I remember the old version and its powerful aura, but i also love the current softened version.

Fragrance - 10/10
Longevity - 8/10
Sillage - 8/10.

Samsara je parfem kome se uvijek rado vracam. Topao, senzualan, jak, tajanstven, nezaboravan. Pristaje osobama koje su sigurne u sebe.


Samsara is a perfume that I always like to go back to. Warm, sensual, strong, mysterious, unforgettable. Suitable for people who are confident in themselves.

Not sure why people think this is a spring scent. For me its autumn to winter. A warm comforting scarf of a fragrance. The scent can be quite over powering inititally but warms down to a snugly comforting sandalwood tonka vanilla. Sweetly comforting but not vomit inducing sickly sweet

I recently received samples of both the current EDT and vintage EDP. My experience is this:
EDT is like cinnamon buns. Warm, spicy cinnamon buns that are low in sugar and a bit jagged around the edges. Beautiful, nonetheless.
EDP is SMOOTH, rich, softer cinnamon-banana cream dessert for adults. Yes, I'll have another, thank you.

Very unique, beautiful scent, nothing like these new one-like-the-other boring floral scents/too heavy and harsh oriental perfumes.
The ylang-ylang was way too dominant for me after a while.

I finally got my bottle of Guerlain Samsara. Bee bottle, not any of the red ones. Definitely not the beast that I was hoping for based on many reviews, but I got 6 good hours with projection about 1 ft. That said, this is such a lovely perfume and very different from the heavy orientals that I gravitate towards (Youth Dew, Tabu, Opuim). I get a nice bright beginning that lasts about 20 min., then a wonderful melange of fragrant flowers, quite dusty and luxurious. The base is made up of some of my beloved notes - sandalwood, amber, vanilla, musk. Warm and comforting. I am so glad I finally added this beautiful perfume to my small collection.

The bee bottle edp is my favourite. It is definitely thinner and simpler in composition with less sillage than the vintage and older bottles but it doesn't trigger off my allergies and it is wearable.

It also has less jasmine in this and thats a winner for me!

I have owned the clear glass edp and edt, the red bottle ones and parfum.

EDP Bee bottle has entered my collection to be adored. It looks lovely and smells even better. The composition is so well blended that nothing sticks out and everything plays along nicely. To me and on my skin it is a romantic garden with red flowers, fresh and so seductive that I want to stay there all day. Luckily the longevity of the perfume alows me to do just that.
I am not aquainted with the old formula, but this one is heavenly, modern, cozy and sophisticated, settles down rather quickly and weares nicely during the day.

I have the new version of this fragrance, I am not sure what they did to it; it is not the same.

My Red bottle Samsara just arrived(not the bee bottle) plus my Shalimar EDP(similar to the eau de legere 2003 bottle).

There's something very nostalgic about this one.I haven't smelled this when I was a child,knowing that I grew up in an arab country where perfume is highly notorious,both french and arabic.

I don't know why this brings me back to when I was young.It's like what Coco by Coco Chanel and Opium by YSL does to me,but with both of those scents have indeed been a part of my life,this one is strange....It smells melancholic and nostalgic and unfamiliar,yet familiar as well.It's like deja vu in smell form.

The jasmine with the ylang ylang creates this blast of a very bright floral scent that doesn't smell very juvenile that then develops to this expensive cream/powder smell with hints of citrus rinds being peeled.It is not cold,but has a very captivating warmth.Then this part,is where I've come to discover what they mean about the "Guerlain DNA".The dry down of tonka and iris,like what I get from the dry down of Insolence EDT.But with an animalic edge to it.It smells really sophisticated,like running your fingertips on a surface with no riggids or bumps.It also does smell a bit spicy that reminds me of Elizabeth Arden's Red Door.I can detect the peach on it's mid-stage then it finally reaches it's woody,sweet,creamy scent.Like an expensive lotion.It really smells so expensive because it is lol!

It is beautiful.It screams divinity and resurrection with lingering sadness and distress.It smells timeless as well.

As a 20 year old,this doesn't really smell very grandmother-y to me lol but rather unique.Maybe it's just me growing up with such likes for such category of perfume that made me appreciate them all.

My Aunt & Grandmother used to fight over this perfume in the 1990s. They both wanted to wear it and settled eventually on my Aunt wearing it at weekends and my granny having it for her use during weekdays - such is the awesomeness of this fragrance! I remember their house in London smelling so beautiful, filled with the fragrance of Samsara when I visited as a child. I remember the excitement when Christmas Day arrived and my Aunts best friend gifted her her very own bottle of Samsara, the beautiful gold liquid in the clear bottle with the red cap and my very own wishes that one day I would be grown up enough to wear this, for Samsara was the smell of Christmas, of family hugs, of my aunts and granny’s scarfs hanging in the hallway and all that twinkled inbetween.
Now as a mother myself to two sons, I can’t imagine being without it. My sons are now 9 & 12 and know it as ‘mummies smell’ I keep a small bottle of EDT just for spraying their favourite bears with if I have to go away on work trips, or if they stay away from home - on their request! On returning from an overnight stay in London yesterday, they met me with an embrace and my son smelt of Samsara - have you been spraying my perfume? I asked... yes was the reply, we missed you. It was the fragrance I wore when I bought them home for the first time from the hospital, and is the fragrance I wore on my wedding day. Everyday scent for me. I am the proud owner of some sacred vintage bottles procured on eBay, along with pure parfum extract which is saved for nights out and Christmas morning. Daily wear is EDP and I am making my way through the last of the red bottles, with the new bee bottle on stand by when they eventually run out. Light spray through Summer months, but Samsara really comes into its own in the cold British winters. Compliments a plenty, work colleagues always remark how nice the air smells when I am in the office. Husband adores Samsara and always makes sure it’s stocked, it’s the scent I wore when we first met 21 years ago.

This is potent. Samsara is a heady floral; woody and dark and sexy and strong. You have to be careful how you wear this - on a hot, humid, summer day it makes me decidedly nauseous, but in cooler weather it is delectable and powerful. It's definitely not youthful or "light," but you feel confident and mysterious wearing it. I didn't love this at first - I found it too overpowering and "adult." I think that was a problem with over spraying (5 sprays!!) and wearing it in the wrong season. Worn properly it's incredible and I love it.

I think it leans feminine but could definitely be worn by the right man. The sillage is strong, so don't overspray this one. I max out at one on each wrist and one at the throat. The longevity is good, it will definitely get you to the end of the day. This was the first Guerlain perfume I ever bought and started a near obsession with the house. I am a big fan.

I have the shiny red bottle (not the bee bottle), bought in 2018.

I've had my eye on this fragrance for a while now, and finally decided to get myself a bottle on sale adding to my ever growing Guerlain collection. I wish I would have started my collection with this one. I felt as though it seemed like a popular scent along with Shalimar, I've probably smelled the scent before. If I have it doesn't seem familiar to me. I loved it at first smell, and on me...just gorgeous. I can't pick out one particular note in this fragrance, it's that good of a composition.Yes that good. 5 hours into it, my husband walked through the door and was said "whatever it is you're wearing, wear it more often." I guess he was impressed as well. I may have just found a new signature scent. Love, love,love. I'll keep you posted.

I wonder why I've never tried this before. It smells very lovely, better than Shalimar in my book, with much better sillage and longevity. And this is a white floral that I can love. Somewhat sharp but juicy fruits at the start, followed by the gorgeous purple and white flowers, with rose done well. It dries down into that Guerlainade of vanilla, sandalwood and musk, which pulls all the notes into a glorious scent trail. I found that frequently I would catch a sweet, slightly bright wafting smell several hours later. This is from a decant of a new formulation, so I can't compare with the vintage, but this is FB worthy.

This is from a fairly light application from a clear glass mini with a red ring on the lid. It worked out well -- mainly sandalwood amber and musk with some ylang spice and a well behaved iris giving it a bit of that vintage smell. So a little earthy, a little skanky, but mostly mellow and not as dark and heavy as I remember when I last tested it in the 2000s. I'm sure it will be different if I do a heavier application but today it had a nice mysterious confidence.

Memoirs perfume

Another one bites the dust then? Gutted. When did they reformulate this little puppy? It was the exact same smell I remember from the 90s to the 00s to just a couple years back when I gave it a sniff in the shop out of curiosity after so many of the classics were destroyed with ingredient bans. Looks like I'll have to have a little go with it next time I'm out but I'll make sure I have security standing by because I may really really lose it.

Stop ruining perfume!

As a Saudi woman who is not a big fan of the perfumes produced in the Middle East or the notes associated with our region I love Samsara because it’s floral and French like most perfumes I enjoy but with some “oomph” that smells like home. It holds a very dear place in my heart and I’m frightened to try the newest formulation. They already butchered the bottle and I bet the perfume wont smell as good either.