Love Guerlain Samsara? Four perfumes to try next

Guerlain Samsara has been a classic since 1989, and it's still one of the women's fragrances our customers buy most. Its heart is sandalwood with jasmine and ylang-ylang, softened by iris, vanilla and tonka bean. The result is warm, creamy and rich: a strong perfume that shines in cooler months and in the evening.

If Samsara is your favorite and you'd like something new, these four from our shelves share its heart, each with its own twist.

What makes Samsara, Samsara

• Creamy sandalwood as the backbone.
• Sweet white flowers: jasmine and ylang-ylang.
• A soft, powdery-sweet finish from iris, vanilla and tonka bean.

A perfume that shares two of these three will feel familiar. Here's how the four below compare.

1. Dior Hypnotic Poison: the closest match

Hypnotic Poison has the same jasmine, vanilla and sandalwood, with a marzipan-like bitter almond on top. It's warm and strong, like Samsara, but sweeter. We stock it in 1.0 oz and 3.4 oz, so the smaller bottle is an easy way to try it.

2. Mon Guerlain: the lighter, modern one

From the same house, Mon Guerlain pairs jasmine sambac with vanilla and sandalwood, and swaps ylang-ylang for fresh lavender. It's softer than Samsara and easier to wear during the day.

3. Mancera Instant Crush: the warmer, spicier one

Instant Crush keeps the sandalwood and vanilla but adds saffron, ginger, rose and amber. If you love Samsara most in winter, this is the one to try.

4. Byredo Mojave Ghost: the quiet one

Mojave Ghost is sheer and skin-like: magnolia and violet over sandalwood, cedarwood and musk. Choose it for the days when Samsara feels like too much.

How to choose

• Want the same feeling, a little sweeter: Hypnotic Poison.
• Want something lighter for daytime: Mon Guerlain or Mojave Ghost.
• Want it warmer and spicier: Instant Crush.

Good to know. Warm, woody perfumes like these last longest on moisturized skin. Our guide to making perfume last all day has more tips.