Nirvana French Grey

Full disclosure I purchased this blind and solely for the amazing deal I got on it ($25!). Ok... I’m not a lavender fan, I’m indifferent to neroli but I do like musk so why not. I read some reviews about this being reminiscent of a rainy day and that was enough to sell me. This perfume is unreal! I am not a lavender fan at all, for example YSL libre I just couldn’t do because of the lavender. Same with Mon Guerlan. However the lavender in French Grey is just so pure yet balanced with the other notes that it’s not sharp or headache inducing but instead quite calming and soft. On first spray I get the florals and it’s quite natural smelling, something in the same realm as essential oils. It smells very organic and invokes feelings of hiking? Then the musk kicks in and like another reviewer pointed out, there is something sunscreeny about it. But not in a bad way. And now I feel like I’m outdoors and have applied sunscreen. Overall I am reminded of a rainy, grey day. This scent is so interesting! It invokes so many feelings, mainly comfort and calm. I definitely recommend it and after experiencing this, I would buy the bottle at full price so I’m even more happy that I scored it for $25. French grey is a rainy day, clean, comforting fragrance that I quite honestly don’t see anyone hating. I could understand maybe if someone didn’t want this to be a signature scent however I really can’t see someone disliking the scent in general. It’s definitely one you’ve got to be in the mood for. I could see this being a winner for scents that you would wear to: bed, run errands, a coffee date, a hike!!, and might I even say this would make a really interesting and unique and definitely an impressionable/memorable first date scent. Cheers!

Out of my vast collection, this is one of a handful that garners compliments from people! I've had two people at work ask me separately about it just today. This fragrance snuck up on me as a favorite. It originally was one of my least favorite from the Nirvana line (I have all of them), although I still really liked it, but the more I wear it, and the more I feel how it smells on me throughout the day, the more I love it. Contemplating getting a back up bottle because it is discontinued, but available for cheap on many popular fragrance sites. It's clean, aromatic, and musky yet melancholy and sort of sexy all at the same time. It isn't a heavy hitter, and is quite difficult to overspray, but that doesn't mean it doesn't last a while. This one weirdly enough also smells great with sunscreen! It's also a great choice for winter, so it's an all-year-round scent imo. My boyfriend said it smells like a teacher he had in elementary school, but he meant it in a good way because he always enjoyed that scent. Just makes me wonder what the fragrance actually was! Lastly, the bottles of the Nirvana line are all wonderful, and this one is no exception. I love that it looks like a dark greyish purple that gets lighter grey in the sunlight. :)

Who in their right mind would discontinue this piece of olfactory perfection?! Let me cut the suspense, and let you know this is a new favourite for me. Jiminy Crickets, this is SO undervalued! I didn't think I would like this with all that (perceived) strong lavender and unsophisticated neroli. I used to think neroli was just orange blossom's poor cousin, but this perfume has single-handedly changed my mind. This neroli has a gentle, elegant, slight citrus scent that even has a *touch* of sweetness. The lavender literally has me mentally conjuring up images of the French countryside with stalks of purple, whimsical lavender gently blowing in the breeze. THAT MUSK! So subtle, but takes this to another level of warmth. This promotes Snuggle Time. With your partner. With your pillow. With yourself (because you're worth it). Who cares? Just give hugs while wearing this. I will wear this anytime. Spring - For the spritely lavender. Summer - For the gentle neroli. Winter - For the musky warmth. Autumn - For the huggles and snuggles. I love this. 100% love this. Repurchase-worthy. For as long as it's available, I *will* repurchase! *** Kitty rating: 10/10 (Damn right.)

I'm very much smitten with the scent of neroli. When I tested this one in store when it was first released I immediately wanted a bottle of this seemingly staid Nirvana French Grey. The opening reminds me of the classic 4711 with aromatic citrus in a refined arrangement. Uplifting and energizing, yet cool and refined. The lavender and musk give French Grey a restrained, clean hue. As it warms it remains aromatic and crisp, yet soft. Laundry indeed comes to mind — crisp white cotton sheets and poplin collars, and still rather unisex during the heart phase. The drydown however really transforms into some musky feminine sexiness on the skin. It's quiet but bitter and a little spiced like dried orange peels — lipstick-like how orange blossoms can sometimes be. And purringly animalic if applied liberally. Nirvana French Grey is a beautiful classic cologne-like scent. Elegant and simple yet sensual. I even love the flacon which is reminiscent of a chic cigarette case. My favorite from Elizabeth and James.

Very Chic Floral Musk Damn I just LOVE this. Love. It's simple, and while I love a good perfume cacophony, this just works well, smells beautiful, has great performance, and it's super classy. The neroli is sunny, lush and orange at first, almost blooming, and it starts to grade down the longer you have it on. The lavender is a bit shy, a little powdery, but it lends a nice herbal floral aspect to the neroli infusion. The musk is there right away, and it's not an aggressive laundry musk, rather a delicate floral skin musk that is tinged with iris. French Grey is fresh and light, and I love the sweetness of the neroli combined with the herbal slightly green lavender. French Grey isn't too much of anything, she's perfectly balanced. Actually this perfume reminds me a lot of Prada Infusion d'Iris, and I think that's why I like it so much. I swear I smell iris here, maybe it's the lavender note acting that way, but still. Projection and silage are good, and so is the lasting power, 8+ hours.