Nirvana White

I have a long relationship with the Nirvana line. I was in my twenties when this line launched and I was ready to buy my first “real adult” perfume (I’d worn Burberry Brit throughout high school but had since grown out of the sweetness of it). When I spotted this line at Sephora I instantly wanted to try it because I had always had a soft spot for anything Olsen twins (growing up watching them and reading related books, I felt a childish connection to them). I tried both Black and White but rejected White because I was in a “dark, edgy” phase whereupon I stayed away from anything that veered too feminine and girly. Not to mention I was not a fan of overtly floral perfumes as they often irritated my nose and triggered my asthma/allergies. I bought Black and wore it for years on its own and then layered with Bourbon when I saw that new scents had been released. I completely forgot about White and simply labeled it an “I didn’t like it” fragrance. Fast forward to about two months ago when I realized that the Nirvana line had been discontinued and that E&J had evaporated into thin air. I felt a sudden panic that my favorite scents would also disappear (Amethyst and Bourbon). Cue my instant “add to cart” while browsing through reseller sites. I saw that they still had full sized bottles of White, and I thought... should I buy it purely because it’s discontinued? I remembered I had given my niece a rollerball set with White, French Gray and Rose and decided to ask her if she still had some left, which she did. Upon first applying it, I was instantly reminded of that afternoon at Sephora where I had tried both on my skin. Except this time I was not as put off by it. Although it seems a bit strong at first (the alcohol in combination with the rollerball application), it quickly mellowed into a very soft, classy, feminine floral. When I got to the dry down, I felt a certain coziness to it I had not felt before. I had been looking for a “work appropriate” scent for a while now, something I could don on an every day basis that was inoffensive and clean but still “pretty” without being overtly girly. This was it to me! I immediately bought a 1.7 oz bottle and although in comparison with the other scents in the line it was a tad bit more expensive, it was well worth it to me. The first day I wore it I felt so fresh and pleasant and it lasted a great deal. I did an eight hour day and my mum (as well as me) could still smell it while riding with me in the car. It’s definitely not a scent that screams right as you walk into a room but that’s ok because I don’t like to smell that strongly either. It might not be the most interesting out of the line but it definitely has a place in it. Whereas Black to me smells like a chic woman in a LBD and red lips, White smells like an equally chic woman in a white linen dress, with understated but expensive jewelry that’s just purchased a bouquet of flowers for her best friend. I did wear this in colder weather but I think it could easily be worn year around. I am not surprised that my tastes changed so drastically (I can’t even smell Black anymore without getting a headache) but definitely wish I had given it a second chance sooner.

Uber-feminine, clean, classy, soapy, elegant, boss woman! Thank God my opinion has changed on this perfume because it turns out: I was wrong. So very wrong. Perfumites, I require forgiveness on this one because my earlier review I lamented at how *confused* I was. I wasn't confused - I just needed some quality time with "Nirvana White". I put off re-writing a review for this one because I was worried I would come across as inauthentic, and - whilst I do hope that's not the case - I feel I'd be doing this perfume an injustice if I didn't speak up about my love for it! The bottle is perfection. The retro, yet modern aesthetic is euphorically sublime! Seriously, even looking at this makes me so happy. It's clean-cut lines, opaque white box with mirrored gold sides, textural surface, palm-fitting shape, and satisfying clip-on lid makes this worthy of a front-row display. The longevity is decent. Not earth-shattering, but it's not disappointing either. The sillage is enchanting. I love my own trail on this. Yes, I continue to make those 90-degree turns to catch whiffs of it. You can't tell me I'm not cool. The scent of this is heavenly! H-E-A-V-E-N-L-Y. It's no secret that peony is one of my all-time favourite floral notes. It's beautiful, light, gentle, romantic, and undoubtedly feminine! It's amplified in this to a glorious degree. The lily-of-the-valley is the least prominent note here, but I firmly believe it is what elevates this from a shy, girlish, romantic scent to a Boss Woman CEO who is a kind, capable, efficient, elegant, highly-intelligent, approachable leader! The musk provides a wafting warmth - again - inviting people to approach, and be engulfed in the joy of this scent! The review below mentions "white leather" and - a lightbulb went off - Yes! It actually does smell a little of white leather/suede, but this is in no way a bad thing! If anything, it brings a quality of smoothness and class to the scent. The discontinuation of this line makes me angry. Hulk-level angry. I cannot really think of any other celebrity line that transcends "celebrity fragrance" and can holds it own with the designer crowd, but this does. Its discontinuation is a shame on the fragrance world. Regardless, I'm in olfactory love. Since the discontinuation, it's almost impossible to find (I'm actually certain I bought the last bottle in my city...it's not even on the store's website anymore), and - contrary to perhaps the US and maybe the UK - it's not cheap online here. I put off buying a 100ml bottle until last week where I bit the bullet and went for it. I'm half-way through my store-bought bottle, and I'm already having withdrawals. Truthfully, "Nirvana White" makes me feel like the kind of woman I want to become. I might not be there yet, but this perfume helps me believe I might become it one day. If a perfume can do that for you, it deserve top marks and an elevated place in your esteem. This one certainly does for me! *** Kitty rating: 10/10! (BOO YEAH!)

This one deserves a lot more love! It's not like any other musky floral I own, so I have a lot of appreciation for this. Feels quite sheer though it lasts a while on me (5+ hours) and has above average sillage --think it's the simplicity of this that makes it feel lighter and less "busy" or packed. It also gives off an aloof sort of vibe, it's not a warm happy welcoming scent, but very likable still. Just feels reserved, a little coy in its sweetness and a bit modest. Peony is not screechy or synthetic, very lovely! LOVE the bottles for both the Nirvana White and Black - they look awesome on my perfume shelf! Bottle shape has that vintage glamor ~thing~ but the scents are a combination of that new-new trendy composition with a unique and subtle edge that just sort of lingers, it doesn't shout or announce itself to the world. Not breaking any new ground here, but that's not exactly what I look for in every single fragrance I own. I love subtlety in fragrance and this to me is very understated but creative and has a well developed concept built around it. Reminds me a lot of the sheer but edgy and subtle approach Tom Ford's White Patchouli takes.. Just because this isn't niche or high end doesn't mean it's not gorgeous, people...

I should begin this review by saying that this was love at first sniff for me. From the nozzle of the manufacturer's sample, this smelled almost smoky, which made me hesitate to try it, but on the skin it translates to a beautiful musky rose. As far as I know, there are no roses in the notes, but peony does have a tendency to resemble roses, and this is a brilliant example of that! It is fairly linear, but beautiful all the way. Fresh and floral, with just a touch of sweetness, this just speaks of femininity that is both delicate and strong at the same time. It brings to mind a woman who can be girly and chair a board meeting AND be respected for it, all at once! And when she's done with that, she'll be able to hold her own in her relationships too. I hesitate to say that Nirvana White is a special fragrance simply because there are no tricks to be had, but it is beautiful. If you love peonies or roses or musky florals, this is worth a try. I really want a full bottle now (thank you so much to the Fragrantican who gave me a sample!) Longevity: 4-5 hours Sillage: Strong enough that I catch whiffs of it when I lift my hand.

I completely agree with those of you who say this smells exactly like Stella Nude. Which is a good thing, since Stella Nude was discontinued and I was on the lookout for a replacement. It's a soft, inoffensive musky floral reminiscent of a high-end linen spray (and I mean that in a good way). Initially I was not interested in the Nirvana Black at all since I'm not into sandalwood/vanilla combinations, but because some people are raving over the White & Black layer, I now want to get my hands on the Black. Too bad I don't live in the States (Sephora refuses to send perfume to where I live, plus I'm not too keen on purchasing fragrances on eBay) so I might have to ask a friend to send it to me. I don't think I've seen any reviews that have described precisely what they smell like layered - people just say how wonderful it is. If you've tried it, please give a detailed account of what it's like!