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Ariel Sammarco 2015

7.3 / 10 28 Ratings

A perfume by Sammarco for women, released in 2015. The scent is floral-spicy. It is still in production.
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Main accords

Floral

Spicy

Woody

Creamy

Green

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes

Orris concrete

Mandarin orange Tobacco

Tobacco

Davana

Ginger

Heart Notes

Angelica

Violet

Jasmine

Osmanthus

Rose

Tuberose

Base Notes

Sandalwood

Perfumer

Giovanni Sammarco

Ratings

Scent

7.328 Ratings

Longevity

7.621 Ratings

Sillage

7.021 Ratings

Bottle

5.922 Ratings

Submitted by Michael, last update on 10/05/2025.

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Reviews

2 in-depth fragrance descriptions

08/01/2025

ClaireV
969 Reviews

ClaireV

1

Chalky-oily violets over a Samsara-ish drydown

A serious blast of violets opens this perfume, but if you're thinking powdery girly perfume, you'd be wrong - Ariel ties the violets into a weirdly oily spice note at the start (probably the ginger-mandarin combination), rendering the opening effect unsettling and anti-classical. It feels like a new way of treating violets to me, and about a hundred times more interesting than the tired lipstick trope seen in countless violet perfumes from Misia onwards. The spiced, oily floral effect extends into the heart, but Ariel eventually loses the violet and dovetails into a sweet, creamy sandalwood base that recalls Samsara but without the synthetic sonic boom that accompanies it. It ends up being a little too sweet for my taste, but I have to say I like this version of Samsara much better than the current version out there at the moment.

03/30/2025

9.5Scent

DrB1414
263 Reviews

DrB1414

1

She is A Mystery

Ariel from Sammarco is dedicated to one of the perfumer's better inspirations, and she must remain a mystery. I can only imagine what an intricate and enigmatic personality she must have been, as the perfume itself.

Giovanni described Ariel as a green-floral-poudre, but I see it as a green-woody-poudre. As for the "poudre" part, it feels rather chalky, dry, and dusty. It doesn't smell like your typical/traditional powdery scent. The way the powderiness feels here brings to mind Iris Silver Mist with its chalky and dusty Iris. Ariel is also very woody, the sandalwood playing a major role in adding to the spicy and green (in an earthy and rooty way, not a fresh or crisp green) facets. I find it difficult to review Ariel, given its complexity and uniqueness. I also noticed through sampling over the years that more recent iterations feel more floral and fruity, even sweeter than the one I am reviewing.

When I first tried Ariel years ago, I was stunned by it. The opening of this perfume is spectacular, and that hasn't changed over the years. I attribute it to the heavy use of angelica, the third major player after the sandalwood and the orris. It opens up dry and musky, bitter-green, and earthy. Couple that with an equally dusty and chalky orris and rich sandalwood, and the result is something that I'd describe as the smell of "old book's pages." That is exactly how I perceive Ariel, especially during the opening stage and the heart. It is an unmistakable smell. Like opening the book and burying your nose in it. Dry, moldy, woody, dusty, and slightly sharp-acidic. I love that smell as it makes me think of the decades those written words on the paper had faced. Ariel is that smell. The heart reveals more of the orris and the sandalwood, with the latter dominating the dry-down. It renders a milky, spicy, and slightly sweet flavor to the perfume, somehow mellowing its aloofness. Yes, I find Ariel rather cold and stern. Besides the major players (angelica, orris, and sandalwood), other minor contributors play their part but never come center stage. The osmanthus adds some fruity facets, the davana with the tobacco some wet-green-leafy (musty) ones, and the violet and the rose a bit of vibrant floracy. Overall, to me, it smells like a bone-dry woody-earthy-spicy perfume.

If you'd tell me this is a deep vintage Guerlain, I would believe you. That is how rich and well-put-together Ariel smells. If you can picture a vintage Vol De Nuit meets L'Heure Bleu, add some Iris Silver mist to the mix, and top everything with loads of genuine sandalwood, you'll get a solid picture of Ariel. That, or you find an old book in your library or the closest Apothecary and bury your nose in it. It is a remarkable work of art. All offerings from the house are worthwhile, but Ariel is the most compelling. Vintage and modern, never quite the same, and a treat for lovers of orris, sandalwood, and that vintage "Guerlinade" minus the hefty vanilla.

IG:@memory.of.scents

Statements

11 short views on the fragrance

DrB1414

8 months ago

9.5Scent

3

One of the most complex works of perfumery (in vintage flacon). Closest comparison would be with deep vintage Guerlains, 50s or earlier.

Kurai

2 years ago

6Scent 7Longevity 7Sillage

2

Very floral with bits of angelica dust, tobacco and mandarin. That humongous slug of orris knocked me off balance.

Trippilippi

5 years ago

1

A rich creamy floral, angelique with a choco hint, one of my favs from the brand.

Schnuppi42

5 years ago

4.5Scent

9

2

The name says it all:
DETERGENT
with best regards from Aunt Klementine

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Yatagan

9 years ago

7Scent 8Longevity 7Sillage

8

2

Very feminine scent that seems a bit too generic for me personally, although it has a nice little animalistic twist.

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DasguteLeben

9 years ago

10Scent 8Longevity 7Sillage

4

Classic haute perfumery, a meadow white floral, extremely naturalistic, captivating tuberose note, convincing from the first whiff.

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Cedrolemon

1 month ago

4

2

A distinctly animalistic iris variation for me! The powdery scent of various flowers on a fluffy fur. Subtly sweet creamy sandalwood.

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PallasCC

5 years ago

5.5Scent 7Longevity 6Sillage

3

1

White flowers with creamy sandalwood. Well-crafted, but unfortunately too monotonous and too floral-powdery for me. H+S are not particularly special either.

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