naphtalia's Full Review: Samsara by Guerlain 1oz Eau De Toilette Spray for ...
Samsara is a Sanskrit word which refers to the eternal cycle of life. Samsara by Guerlain is certainly an eternal. Though only released by the house of Guerlain in 1989 (as opposed to scents like Shalimar which have been around since the 20s), it is at once familiar and mysterious. This is a scent that somehow one feels one has always known and yet something entirely new.
The red bottle in which the perfume comes is based on the figure of the Khmer dancer in the Musee Guimet in Paris. The stopper is designed to be reminiscent of the eye of Buddha.
With all this Asian influenced symbology, it should come as no surprise that Samsara is listed as an oriental, woody fragrance. I really like this. Too often strongly woodsy scents feel too masculine. Samsara is clearly something for a lady to wear. Launched by the design house of Guerlain in 1989, SAMSARA is classified as a refined, oriental, woody fragrance.
The top notes here are citrus and ylang-ylang. Sometimes my nose reads the citrus as lemon and sometimes as bergamot. The middle notes here are jasmine and iris. I get a stronger sense of the jasmine with the iris merely taking the edge off what might otherwise by too sweet. Finally, the base notes here are tonka bean, sandalwood and vanilla. I have grown to really like the combination of vanilla and sandalwood. The tonka beans add a richness to that besides. I also have a sense of amber in the mix, but very pale.
Samsara is a wonderful fragrance. It has a formal feel which limits me to wearing it at night and for special occasions. This is too bad, but I would feel uncomfortable using this as a knock around fragrance. It simply goes better with evening gowns than night gowns, better with black silk than blue jeans. For this reason and because it is expensive, I rarely have Samsara on my own table.
A 1 ounce perfume spray runs about $58. The 6.8 ounce body cream is $60. Even the eau de toilette runs $45 for a 1 ounce bottle. Since perfumes are volatile, when I do buy Samsara, I get the smallest bottle possible. I make sure to keep it in a cool location (often the fridge) and away from light sources. (The perfume comes in a red bottle, but the eau de toilette comes in a clear). I try to make sure I get lots of opportunities to use it before it turns.
If you have a chance to try it out, give Samsara a chance. It is a true classic. Like the little black dress and a set of pearls, this is the kind of basic but classy item that belongs in every woman's wardrobe.
This feminine scent possesses a blend of amber, rose, iris, violet, vanilla and sandalwood. It is recommended for evening wear.
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If you are interested in reading more of my women's fragrance reviews, you can find some of them at these links:
Samsara by Guerlain is a fragrance of desire and seduction. The classic fragrance of Samsara is inspired by the essence of the Orient. This spicy, ori...More at Beauty Encounter
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