Samsara is one of my favourite scents of all times. I fell in love with it when it came out and I was a young, insecure, innocent face, not so well dressed student, yet I was totally taken by it and didn't wear it. Other girls at school did, they dare to, but thinking about it now they were just more selfish people than I was. At that time I already own the beautiful PdT of Shalimar I treasured for sniffing purposes. And I wore romantic YSL Paris I still love. I don't know if it's a matter of eras, but very few things hit my brains like scents of that time. Among the others Samsara is one of the ones that many years later became signature scents. I had to wait for it. Previous signature scent was Amarige. Yeah, ok, I guess I like olfactive bombs :-) The secret for me are amber/vanilla in the base, very clean skin and tiny doses.
Samsara is for me an incredibly luscious oriental with floral tones that make it sweeter and less harsh than most pure oriental. It's a blissful mix of sweet jasmin and vanilla with interludes of sandalwood. It works lovely with my chemistry on some days, not always. There is a note I dislike in the beginning and I think it's what they call tarragon. It comes out as first note quite nauseating, but only on some days! The happier I am the more samsara smells gorgeous on me! So I bet I need to be happy to wear it (no easy job these days of my life, but I've seen worse things)
I have heard of Samsara like a powdery scent. not on me. The powder thing is there but very tamed, only giving a wift of warmth. It's both a comfort and a sensual dream scent. Relax and sex don't seem to deal well together in our minds influenced by competitive culture. Most people, even unconsciously, match sexual passion with aggressivity. Not my kind. Since I got interested in Eastern philosophies many years ago I always searched for this sense of well-being of both soul and body together that gives happiness. Samsara is sensual happiness with an eye on spirituality, intimacy, knowing. Extremely passionate yet elegant and in control, it's like a red dream in a Hindu temple. Of course, the Guerlain house has great marketing means and can build very strong images to carry their scents across the world. An exotic melodious name, spiritual meaning behind (it doesn't matter if they're understood the Western way), a colour, images that conjure sensuality and elegance (not vulgar like other ads) and the association game is done! That doesn't mean that Samsara is not what it is! It wouldn't be such a classic and beloved scent! Not everyone likes it, either on her (his?) skin or on others. It's a matter of tastes of course. I used to pair it with Habit Rouge with Guerlain. Female and male Samsara for me! I try not to overdo Samsara because it would me a big mistake like with many other old powerful Guerlains. Overdoing ruins these beauties and can easily result in annoying stink for the aftermaths.
Samsara is best recomended as a winter scent. Well, not true. If you wear EdP (only 2 drops), EdT or even the perfumed deodorant in warm spring or early summer Samsara will bloom in all its floral virtues, always blended with soft vanilla-woody notes as background. Not for the faint at heart :-) You need to be daring somehow and knowing too. I smelt "my" Samsara on some ladies... and I couldn't help asking myself: "Goodness, do I smell so crap wearing IT?" no, I don't think so. Many people complimented about my scent during years. Most of them are women and especially the ones who are deeply interested in perfume world, not the ones who buy the last flanker pushed by SA at dept store. Also some men complimented, but they were all 40 + and quite classical styled.
Someone told me that Samsara is red like me. I mean, red inside. Outside I'm a small Mediterranean woman with pale skin and dark hair and eyes. I've grown older since my first encounter with Samsara, but I still have that innocent-looking expression on my face, only harder because of life. Samsara is my softer, sensual. feminine side. When I'm in a more kicking mood I wear Nahema. Samsara is the good contented one, Nahema is the naughty girl.
Samsara is true beauty. I'm wearing only 1 drop of EdT on my left wrist and typing with right hand, sniffing my beauty in a corner desk of an industrial building in a grey city. A few sun rays enter the window. Samsara here is my close secret. Later at night I'll spray some more...
May
11
2009