Samsara Shine by Guerlain
Women 2001
Main accords
Description
Samsara Shine by Guerlain is a green floral fragrance for women. Launched in 2001, this composition features fig leaves, green and citrus accents in the top notes; ylang-ylang, jasmine, and red currant in the heart; and sandalwood, vanilla, tonka bean, and amber in the base.
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When to wear it (votes)
Key notes
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Top
Fig Leaves
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Heart
ylang-ylang
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Base
sandalwood
Community
409 votes
- Positive 81%
- Negative 15%
- Neutral 3.4%
The olfactory pyramid
A guide to the opening, heart and lasting trail of the fragrance.
The community speaks
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In the collection
Leading answer I own it
1,237 votes
What do you think?
Leading answer Like it
409 votes
Season
Choose severalLeading answer Spring
328 votes
Time of day
Choose severalLeading answer Day
169 votes
Each question has its own vote count. You can choose several seasons.
Fragrance profile
About Samsara Shine
Samsara Shine by Guerlain is a green floral fragrance for women. Launched in 2001, this composition features fig leaves, green and citrus accents in the top notes; ylang-ylang, jasmine, and red currant in the heart; and sandalwood, vanilla, tonka bean, and amber in the base.
Fruits, vegetables and nuts Green, herbal and fougère Flowers White flowers Woods and mosses Spices Musk, amber and animalic
It may remind you of
Ranked by what the community voted.
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How it wears
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Longevity
Leading answer Moderate
113 votes
Sillage
Leading answer Strong
163 votes
Character
Leading answer Traditionally feminine
38 votes
Value perception
Leading answer Fair price
34 votes
Featured review The most detailed of the latest reviews.
Have you worn Samsara Shine?
Tell us how it opens, how it settles on your skin, how long it lasts and when you wear it.
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Bonomie
We could call her the academic cousin of the Red Bottle sisters: neither too close nor too far from the original, keeping just the right distance to avoid being a copy while retaining the essence. The opening is similar, but the fig leaf changes the dry-down, making it greener and fresher; the sandalwood is there and noticeable, yet it doesn’t dominate like in the other versions. Longevity and sillage are notable, making it ideal for any season. It feels natural thanks to that fig leaf that emancipates it from its sisters. It’s not just another version; it’s a work of its own that uses familiar chords to create its own structure. The bottle, designed by Robert Granai, is sleek and moves past the red, featuring a gold atomizer that sets it apart. Finding it was pure luck since my friend gifted it to me.
Selene
I always thought this Shine would be an ultra-devalued version of the original Samsara, something light and citrusy without the character of its predecessor. How wrong I was. Samsara Shine maintains the same quality of notes, that opulent and narcotic side of its sister; it doesn’t lose a gram of essence. The difference is that it slightly reduces the power of the sandalwood and boosts the floral aspect. The oriental touch is toned down without losing the beauty of the creamy sandalwood. Vanilla and citrus play a tertiary role; the beauty of jasmine, ylang-ylang, and a calmer sandalwood take center stage. Simply beautiful. Without a doubt, those who like Samsara will love this version and won’t be disappointed.
juancar677
@Casablanca77, congratulations on securing this Samsara Shine, which I thought was discontinued. I know it well; it was one of my mother’s summer perfumes. I agree with you: in this Shine, all the drama of the EDP is removed. For me, it’s like they took out the strongest woods to let the florals take the spotlight. Yes, the greens are there, but in the background. In this flanker, it feels much softer, more romantic, crisp, and bright, just as its name suggests. But be careful, it doesn’t lose its character. Its DNA didn’t get left behind; like a great-granddaughter, it channels the genius of the grandmother at some point. I’m glad it’s still available. It brings back very nice memories.
Casablanca77
Samsara Shine is considered a green floral due to its components, but its soul is truly sweet. That sweetness from the ylang-ylang, and especially the fig leaf, gives it a special soul. It’s a dense floral, perhaps a bit greener at the start, with a high content of original Samsara, especially from the Eau de Parfum. The fig leaf combined with ylang-ylang makes it enormously full of personality (sweet, but not like pastry or cream) and those green notes make it slightly lighter without being obvious; they’re there to lighten the load and make it airy, but it’s by no means light—it’s as deep as its sister, not because of the vanilla, which doesn’t weigh it down. It was a pleasant surprise: I expected a green floral more in line with my tastes, silly of me looking at those notes, and yet I found here the Samsara that could truly be mine, the one I could handle and feel comfortable with. The original is too much for my nature, not because it’s strong, since I have very bold perfumes I wear calmly, but because Samsara has to be lived; it’s the sandalwood and ylang-ylang that make it special, and those ingredients are a challenge for me personally. I accept myrrh, cinnamon, and resins much better. This is the Samsara anyone should try after experiencing the Eau de Parfum and feeling overwhelmed by its power, wanting to own it but realizing it’s hard to wear as it deserves. Its sillage is good for the first hour, then it stays close to the skin firmly for six hours, with the fig leaf, sandalwood, and ylang-ylang dominating and blending with mystical grace without overwhelming us.