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.

I put off trying this because as much as I love ambient lavender, I was not keen to smell like it (so I thought). Once I finally tried it, I went from a sample to buying two bottles within two weeks. (As I write this a major online retailer is selling a 1.7oz size for under $16 which I find to be incredible value for the quality.) It is so lovely, like the finest French lavender soap, which to my surprise I do enjoy smelling like very much. MargotM describes this is a rainy spring evening, which is perfect, because the way the neroli opening unfolds and gives way to lavender is like walking through a garden of citrus and lavender blooms after a rain. Some reviewers cannot detect the lavender so it must be a skin difference thing, but mine reflects the lavender as the primary note. It is a refined lavender, not screechy, which may be the musk balancing it or the way it is blended, I am not sure as I do not have an expert nose. I am just so glad I gave it a chance. A new fave.

I'm stunned at the simplistic beauty of this fragrance, I'm convinced something special went on with this line of fragrances. They smell better, and more complex than their note list suggests, but they also smell of better quality than their price does. To me, this is a cold, spring laundry scent. I think it matches gorgeously this time of year (northern hemisphere) - where winter fades into spring (ok, maybe not quite right now, but in a few weeks). The neroli is very obvious and very clear, there's no mistaking it for any other floral. There's lavender too, and that's essentially all...beside a heaping dollop of musk. I agree that it isn't harsh, but I do think it's significantly brisk. It's absolutely unisex, and smells tasteful, yet purposeful. This isn't - "Hey! I smell like myself, but better!", or "Am I wearing fragrance, or is it just my clothes and deodorant? Nobody knows!"; This is - "I smell clean, chill and chic, and I mean to, dammit." 😘

I wore this regularly upon release. My nose has changed significantly since 2018/19 era due to studying notes and exposing myself to so many perfumes over the years and building a collection. It was a rainy day and I threw this on out of curiosity and omg I love it even more than before. It’s def a clean scent and you must be lavender and musk friendly. It is very classy and I don’t relate to some of the complaints listed but I do consider it a more mature perfume. I don’t mean age wise just the overall scent profile.. I do have to agree that there is a cigarette accord and the only reason is I was wondering why I was smelling cigarette smoke and then I remembered this entire line has that tone. Being that it was created by the Olsens it does not bother me a bit. If I didn’t appreciate them so much it could bother me but in this context it makes me feel like I’m channeling them.. and that’s an excellent vibe imo.

This is a beautiful fragrance. Wow! The first thing I smell is neroli flowers fused with lavender leaves. The amalgamation lends to a unique accord that must be what purple rain smells like. The musk mystifies the aroma, leaving a grey impression of a storm at the end of summer. Class and sophistication exude with every gust of wind your nose catches. It's performance beats its predecessors. I think these new releases are the best to come out of the house of Elizabeth & James. Blind buy worthy. Update: this smells lovely on and projects well. I did get noticed. I did get compliments. It smells gray to me, if that makes any sense. This is the perfect fragrance to wear in the rain or when you want to smell fresh. It is very versatile. I was told I smell "nice". People asked for the name of my perfume, so that's a good sign.

This is a cool, dry and calm scent. On me it is subtle, lacking projection and sitting close to my skin, but I get nice little hints of it throughout the day. To me it is a simple, inoffensive and light fragrance. While it is a little bit musky on dry down, I get more of a green vibe from it overall. It is also freshly lavender without being powdery or harsh. However if I was after straight up lavender, this wouldn’t be it. The neroli is very subtle on me, and I get very little sweetness at all. The tiny hint of sweet floral I do get is a smell I’d imagine in my Spring garden. I wish it projected a bit more and lasted longer on my skin, because I do like it. I wear this when I want something light and a break from my other perfumes. I mostly wear it at home or running errands.

Testing it right now. Very delicately but sternly lovely so far. A previous review described it as neroli washed with musk water and they were spot on. This is sheer neroli, the lightest watercolour painting of a perfume. Soapy soft sheer and clean smelling. It is 'buildable' in that more sprays won't make it project more but will make it a much stronger, muskier skin scent. Go easy on the trigger! Sadly, the bottle is the least appealing of the bunch. It should have been opaque like the white bottles I've seen. The 'see through' grey is a bit cheap looking when stood next to the rest. This is the lovely librarian Zelda Schiff from the Magicians. Demure, buttoned up and solemn beauty with a unisex edge. It's become a firm love, along with Rose and Amethyst.

What a pity that French Grey and all the other frags in the wonderful, affordable, and elegant Nirvana line are discontinued. So far, I have tried all of them save Amethyst, and this is up there with Nirvana Rose as my favorite. I would call this a streamlined barbershop fougère, with a feminine touch from the sweetened neroli (the overall effect, with the lavender, reminds me very much of lily-of-the-valley, even though that's not a listed note here). It's not altogether different in concept from Lovely by SJP, but this is much, much less earthy. It's soapy and a little dreamy-wistful, and I will be genuinely sorry when I run out. I might even snag a backup while they're still affordable. The flask-style flacon alone is worth the gray-market price.

This is absolutely my favorite in the line! This is so pretty and mild, it smells just like the room the bride got dressed in and has just left for the church. The room was full of women, bridesmaids and relatives, smelling beautiful from make up, anti-perspirant and blow dryers blasting the shampoo scent through clean hair. This scent to me, is as exciting as the day itself! I don't get any smoke at all. The tender flowery smell I detect is so very much youthful and elegant. I would love so much to own this perfume. It's such a pretty scent that I'd just cringe to smell this on someone that didn't look like Sleeping Beauty! I'd be delighted to make a few people cringe! :-)

I absolutely love this and can't think of anything it reminds me of. It smells like clean hair and expensive shampoo, or crisp fresh linens. This is a green, fresh lavender scent (like the oily lavender from fields, if you've ever picked any) with an almost dusty undertone, which I imagine is what people are describing as a cigarette smell- to me, it's more like an old book smell. I think the bottle is sleek and cool looking, like a flash or zippo although the shape is a little wide for my hand to easily spray. I'm sorry to see this discontinued. If I continue to like it, I'll probably snag another bottle or two before it disappears.

Absolutely fantastic. Shockingly fantastic, even! This was a blind buy as I enjoy both Nirvana Rose and Nirvana Bourbon, but ended up liking this one most of all. I'm not a huge fan of lavender in perfume as it can go a bit sharp to my nose, but this blend is so smooth. All rounded edges. It's cozy, fresh, a little soapy, a little musky. Upon reading reviews I think this perfume might wear quite differently on different people. I'd call it unisex but it leans a little sweet and soft on me - couldn't say I get anything "barbershop" about this. Miserable about it being discontinued as I could imagine I'd buy it for life.

When I first put my nose to the sample bottle I fell in love. I happen to like Narcisco for Her and Lovely by SJP. French Gray shares the same type of sexy, musky and very feminine scent. I am a sucker for the blend of lavender, musk and neroli. I do not care for heavy vanilla, rose, tobacco, leather, or anything Tom Ford makes in perfumes. If you like vanilla or Tom Ford scents, stay away from French Gray. It is not for you. My only complaint is the longevity on me. Very brief and weak. I don't understand how anyone could say it lasts a long time. If it did I would buy it in a heartbeat.

This is a fresh, cold blast of herbal, musky goodness in the BEST way possible. I didn't like it on the first spray but as it warmed up with my body chemistry (and a dose of a pheromone spray), I am obsessed. I caught whiffs of it throughout the day and it was driving me wild. The neroli is crisp and cold and beautifully floral, but it's cut with a handful of warm, skin-esque musk and herbal lavender. It smells like a character from a high fantasy novel, kinda like the sexiest elf working at the apothecary. 10/10, will be buying a full-sized bottle when I run out of my sample!

Not many people know that French Grey is actually a shade of olive green. The fragrance is true to the colour in that sense in that is a very earthy musc. This isn’t “Paris” city chic to me but the French countryside. Think Provence Lavender fields after the rain. Very green, very musky. The dry down is quite soapy and this fragrance becomes more feminine. I tend to enjoy fragrances that smell more like a familiar, expensive shampoo rather than sweet florals, so I have to say I’m really enjoying it. It’s is perfect for the “British Summer” (in raincoats) ...

I bought this specifically because of it being a potential dupe for Burberry Baby Touch and I can say that it comes VERY close... enough to where I will repurchase it for sure because it's so cheap and is SO GOOD! I still have about 1/2 bottle left of my OG baby touch and didn't realize how rare it was! Nirvana French Grey leans a little more male, less powdery so I gave it to my husband because I have been looking for a scent for HIM to wear for ME. This might just be the one that when he wears it, I wont be able to keep my nose off him! LOL

I lovee how UNIQUE this smells. Very different than anything I own. Clean, sharp neroli and lavender with soft musk. It smells like a sharp men's cologne or aftershave when you first spray it. After a few minutes it's a soft floral clean musky cloud. I think this smells very unisex, a man could totally use it. The notes are pretty basic and straightforward, not much else going on except the musk and florals. I can see this being used in both spring and fall. Very versatile. So happy to have picked this up for such a great price too!!

This is my favourite of the Nirvana line, imo it is the most unique. I've never been a huge fan of neroli so I was a little worried when I blind bought it, but it blends so nicely with the lavender. Although French Grey smells far from it, I'm reminded of CK Eternity. They have the same classy gal vibe, FG being Eternity's playful younger sister. Only thing is I wish the sillage was a bit more powerhouse considering what a gorgeous scent this is. I get little whiffs of it throughout the day, but find myself wanting so much more.

Tried this one today. First solid offering that is buy worthy in my books from this house. not that the others are bad, just that they aren't as unique as this one.its a classy scent that has a bit of a casual vibe so it would easily go from work to play. starts with a cool wet floral tone that mellows into a beautiful hazy veil of comfort without the typical vanilla musk end. This musk is a bit more austere in a good way. She's holding some cards... not showing the whole hand...playing it cool. She knows she's a winner.

This is the only perfume so far that I have a back-up bottle of. That should say enough. At first spray, the neroli and the lavender greet you hand in hand. I was skeptical about purchasing this, but I managed to nab it for $10 at a discount store. I figured that would justify the blind buy, and I’m so happy I got it! It really is a lovely scent. It definitely leans androgynous. I suppose it is a little cigarette smoke-y, but it doesn’t bother me at all. In fact, I like it all the more for it.

Clean fresh laundry; the neroli is cold and sharp, but the lavender adds some earthy sweetness that helps ground the neroli. Musk carries them both and helps cling to skin. I am very impressed by this scent, there's a distinct niche-ness to it that's very underrated; a little snooty and aloof at first glance but develops into something very likeable. Moderate sillage, 4 hrs tops, very much a skin scent. Will work best in the absolute heat of summer to make you feel fresh, cool, and clean.

French Grey has a gloomy vibe that doesn’t present itself right away. The lavender is ever present, and I get little frequent fleeting wisps of neroli. The scent matches the color- musky lavender and neroli, but in shades of black and grey. It’s beautiful, perfect for a dreary day or mood. I love it. Longevity is average, silage is intimate. French Grey doesn’t demand attention, this one is worn just for the wearer. Excellent value for the price.

I really love this perfume. It's a clean musk, the neroli is pretty and soft and the lavender has a light touch - enough to be interestingly herbal but not grannyish. It's a bit of a throwback to scents like EL Knowing and Aromatics Elixir (scents that would absolutely be considered masculine today) and it's almost brutally unsweet. Think Katharine Hepburn not Audrey.

I own the entire Nirvana collection, but this is the one I reach for most often (in grey New England). I typically stay away from fragrances others describe as clean or soapy, but here it is so lovely — soft, floral, and lasts all day on my skin and clothes. I wear this when I’m looking to be full-body hugged by a scent, if you find this somewhere it’s worth the buy!

this is so, so cozy. it's clean and fresh, but more like high-end dryer sheets than soap. it reminds me of how my parents' house smelled on saturday morning when my mom did all of the laundry. it's safe, warm, clean, and comforting like that first chilly fall morning. great sleep scent, but versatile and suitable for really any occasion, in my opinion.

A little sharp on first spray, but give it 5 minutes and it’s stunning! I would never picture Neroli and lavender playing so well together, but they truly do. This fragrance is fresh, cozy and calming. It’s super elegant, and smells so much more expensive than it is. I am so sad this is discontinued because truly it’s a hidden gem.

Fresh and aromatic, like earl grey tea on a foggy day. This smells really, really good, and could pass for a nature smell. Like a light gust over a field of herbs and grasses, and would really suit fall weather. This one has style, and isn't too girly or stuffy. The lavender is not soapy, but breezy and light here. I want this!

Funny thing is, I can't smell any lavender in this? What I CAN smell is a very well-blended neroli and musk, with some soapy note mixed in too. Usually I'm not a fan of orange blossom but it shines so brightly here, it's really comforting and sophisticated. Really pleased with this blind buy!

I think this is beautiful. It omits a cloud of unisex clean. Fresh out of the dryer after having used lavender fabric softener. For those of you also into home fragrance, this smells almost identical to the scent “sweet nothings” by Yankee candle to me. Powdery sweet floral goodness...

Your skin freshly pampered by expensive soap, crème and powder. Smells effortlessly expensive and chic. Love! This one must be sprayed on skin. On paper and on the nozzle, it’s sharp and screechy. Completely different fragrance on skin.

green floral opening featuring earthy sweet neroli but only domimant for about three minutes..then turned into a skin scent.. clean, soapy, natural, low key..a bit plain and boring. No lavender detected. No lasting power.

This is crisp, clean and absolutely beautiful! I bought it because of the lavendar but I do not get any! It's all neroli and a little musk. I can see this being worn in all seasons during the day! So glad I picked it up!

I put this on today and it took me awhile to remember which of my many favorites that this smells like, and it is Pure Poison. But I suppose it could smell totally different in another time of year, idk.. 😂

I bought it blind, it was sooo cheap I couldn't resist. I'm not disappointed. It is clean, light, aromatic and elegant. Perfect for summer, this unpretentious and cosy fragrance is just a bubble of comfort.

This is so gorgeous, beautiful citrus pepper opening,herbal lavender in the background and a peppery ethereal drydown.Lasts well too, a true aromatic in my book

Such a gorgeous scent. My fave of all the E+J line. Strong on the lavender which I love. Bought a full bottle immediately after testing a sample.

This is a gorgeous intoxicating seductive refreshing clean ”rainy day” musk. An intimate skin scent in the dry down.

"Tea, Earl Grey, Hot." That's what it makes me think of. 10/10 discontinued gem.

Soapy, creamy, and fresh! Love this one!

Nirvana French Grey by Elizabeth & James is a lovely fragrance that captivates with it's beautifully simple composition. The aromatic lavender, paired with the bite of neroli and a soft, fluffy musk, creates a harmonious balance that is both invigorating and comforting. Each note in this fragrance is feels intentionally chosen and beautifully blended, resulting in a scent that is seamless. It's versatility and simplicity lends it to be a great choice for layering. Nirvana French Grey has sharp and spicy notes that are seamlessly blended into a smooth composition. The fragrance seamlessly transitions from one stage to another. This is a fragrance I can wear all year. During the heat of summer, the neroli takes center stage, enhancing the floral freshness of the fragrance. On the other hand, in the winter, the lavender emerges as the star, cutting through the cold with it's spiciness. The clean and fresh character of the scent makes it an excellent choice for a work-friendly environment. However, a word of caution: a little goes a long way, as this deceptively powerful fragrance should be applied with a light hand for professional settings. It doesn't strike me as a fun nighttime scent...not somethin I would pick to go out clubbing. It is a good choice for more formal or serious evening events Nirvana French Grey is easily a unisex fragrance. The aromatic aspect of lavender is softened by the musk making it more appealing to women without losing the spiciness that makes it work so well in men's fragrances. The performance of Nirvana French Grey is outstanding. With an impressive longevity of over 10 hours and a robust projection in the initial hours, it settles into a more modest but still noticeable scent that floats around you in a soft, fluffy cloud. It lasts on clothes until they are washed. Beyond the lovely scent, the bottle design adds to the overall experience. The textured glass feels surprisingly delightful in hand, enhancing the luxurious feeling of the fragrance. The slim flask design adds a touch of elegance and also makes it a practical choice for travel due to its sturdy build. While it's disappointing that Elizabeth & James has stopped producing fragrances, Nirvana French Grey remains available at great prices from most discounters. For anyone seeking a fragrance that marries elegance with simplicity and offers a versatile scent suitable for any occasion, Nirvana French Grey is worth a try.

I was able to purchase this at a wonderful price, in part because the rage over the E&J Nirvana line kinda died over the last 10 years. Sad this range is getting discontinued. I remember years ago when Nirvana Black and White were so popular. I decided to get this and Nirvana Amethyst. This is a clean scent. It's very pretty, inoffensive, with moderate sillage and little projection (making it perfect for the office or just wearing casually). The neroli isn't too sharp because the lavender kind of softens the harsh edges neroli usually has, then it's grounded by musk. Of all of the Nirvanas, this to me was the safest blind buy because I love lavender. The nozzle left much to be desired, it kept rotating whenever I pressed the nozzle down and had to recalibrate every time, which is a bother. It's a nice all year, any time kind of fragrance when you want to smell good. Edit: After wearing it the last two days, it was reminding me of something but I couldn't figure out what it was. Then I realized it smells like Baby Bench cologne (for my fellow Filipinos out there, iykyk), that's why it smells so clean to me. It's a more mature, elevated version imo and better longevity. I oversprayed this today because projection is nil and I couldn't smell it much on me, but my coworker said I smelled good and I was standing maybe 3 ft. from her. Maybe I'm noseblind??? Ranking: 1) Nirvana Black 2) Nirvana Amethyst 3) Nirvana French Gray 4) Nirvana White

I really love the Nirvana line. It’s classically pretty while also being well thought out in its chemistry and execution. When Nirvana Black (and White!) came out I bought it in each of its derivations: EDP, oil, hair perfume, etc. Having said that, I was super bummed to learn that Mary Kate and Ashley are putting the kibosh on this line. French Grey is a pretty unique interpretation on Neroli. I love the way the lavender just hangs in the background before it morphs into a woodsy musk. Performance is pretty abysmal but if you keep obsessively spraying it on yourself you can keep a good thing going. Does give me shades of Tom Ford Neroli Portofino which is another gorgeous neroli with absolutely zero staying power. I own every scent in this line so I'm a bit sad to see it go, but I also think MK&A can take a note from Emeril and kick it up a notch: release a fragrance with bigger balls and better performance. Is E&J as a brand folding? Or was it relegated to Kohl's retail hell? If the latter, I imagine any future releases will probably be formulated like typical celebrity garbage. What about their haute couture line The Row? Why haven't they released a fragrance? I wonder what Mary Kate and Ashley actually wear; I have a feeling it's something from Roja Dove. I clearly need more output from the Olsen twins in 2021.

Nirvana French Grey is another great scent from the E&J line. Probably the most masculine-leaning scent of the entire collection, NFG is a smoky, sophisticated unisex scent, yet also manages to be light and airy. Intriguing and unusual, I found myself smelling my wrist repeatedly. NFG somehow reminds me of a garden in summer after the rain. NFG opens with a bright burst of lavender - fresh and realistic, it is reminiscent of the leaf. This greenness is offset by a smoky tobacco note, giving an earthy undertone. The lavender-tobacco accord is sensual and very masculine, and is a beautifully realised balance of opposites. The lavender is fleeting, and gives way to a white floral-musk accord, the feminine-leaning part of this scent. The neroli is not sweet, but smells luxurious and green. The subtle smokiness remains. It fades to a musky, slightly soapy skin scent, reminiscent of retro bars of soap marketed to "gentlemen". Sillage and longevity are both moderate, but this is a fairly subtle scent. A wonderful balance of masculine and feminine, this is a true unisex scent, ideally worn during the day. Simple, yet distinctive, and made with high quality ingredients typical of the E&J range, NFG is impressive and not boring. Not for everyone, but full-bottle worthy for me. 3/5.

I got this as part of a lot from Ebay and wasn't expecting to like it. I'd even sprayed it on a tester strip at Sephora and was thoroughly unimpressed. Boy, has my mind been changed. First of all, I have to point out that the description of this fragrance is spot-on, and that's a first for me. On first spray, it smells very unisex. But give it a minute, and the neroli comes out. From there, it continues to soften, until it's a soft floral musk. (I don't smell the lavender note at all.) I normally don't even like musk, but somehow, it this fragrance, it just fits. Before I got this, I'd been planning on selling it. Now, I'm convinced that I want to keep it, because I don't have anything like it in my collection. It really is a warm fuzzy sweater scent. It just keeps getting better. Moderate sillage. Great longevity! I could smell it at arm's length for around 3-5 hours, and it remained on my skin for a full 10 hours! My skin normally eats fragrance around 2 hours, so this is excellent performance!

I have quite the love/hate relationship with this perfume. The neroli and lavender add a bit of much-needed floral, but they don't stick around for long. The majority of this fragrance is a STRONG, slightly powdery musk. For a good hour or so, it's so musky that it veers into heavy animalic, like that of a wild animal. However, it corrects itself quickly and becomes more pleasant. Sillage and longevity are strong! I can smell it the next day, and it's this day-old smell that may be my favorite phase of this perfume. Hours after applying (10+ hours!), it turns into a really clean scent, one that's quite soapy and comforting. I will probably be purchasing this in the future, because I think this will be a great mixer to "ground" other scents that may be too fluffy or cloying. However, I can see myself wearing it on its own because I can't seem to stay away from my sample of it. It's dark, heavy, and sexy, and is a scent best for the fall and winter.

I get fresh clean laundry. Kinda soapy! When I sprayed it on my wrist, it felt very cold and austere. I didn’t feel like it suited my personality or tastes at all. No sweetness or complexity to this one at all. I definitely get the neroli (ugh) and lavender but it dries down to just musk (on me that is). Longevity is bad! It lasts about 3 hours on me. The bottle is very cute though! If you want to try it, I would get either the rollerball or the 1 oz bottle. Edit: I tried this again and idk what happened but it smelled horrible (i.e. chemical wet wipes almost). I agree with the comments calling this a sour, odd kind of lavender. Edit: tried this again (what was I thinking lol) and longevity is REALLY BAD! It lasted 2 hours on me before fading into a generic citrusy floral scent. My mom did compliment me on this one, weirdly enough, so maybe this one will work out for some people and not others.

Cigarettes? Ummm, nope. As a former smoker, this smells nothing like cigarettes..what that IS is the lavender musky drydown. On some people, it might come off as a bit musty. But, certainly not like tobacco, burning or not. I find this scent very neroli-centric when first sprayed. But, the drydown is a very nice lavender linens, musky clean skin scent. To experience this longer, spray generously on your clothes. Layer with a lavender or orange blossom lotion, depending on your favorite note to pull forward. It's too bad this line has been discontinued..Nirvana Rose was the best of this line, and I think this one takes second. I will snatch a couple bottles while available. NOTE- This DOES smell similar to Rives by Ellis Brooklyn. THAT has ALSO been discontinued and it very hard to find. If you liked RIVES grab a bottle of this one while you can. It's not identical but it's a nice substitute.