This work reports an alternative aproach to obtain the Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters of Sm(III) complexes with the general formula: [Sm(tta)(3)(L)(n)], with L = H(2)O, triphenylphosphine oxide (tppo), 2,2'-bipyridine (bipy) and 1,10-phenantroline (phen); n = 2 for H(2)O and tppo and n = 1 for phen and bipy, using the absorption spectra of rare earth complexes where the powders are dispersed in KBr pellets. This approach can be applied to other complexes of rare earth ions that have spin allowed transitions and it is validated by comparing the emission spectra of the complexes with those dispersed in KBr pellets.