Description
Twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen launch a fashion brand named Elizabeth and James after their remaining siblings, which presents two dynamic, contradictory personalities merged into an outstanding balance – “Elizabeth’s uptown sophistication and feminine detail is paired with James’ laidback, downtown edge and masculine tailoring.” They are launching two new fragrances under this brand – Nirvana White and Nirvana Black.
Both perfumes are described as sensual, edgy and mysterious. Nirvana White is a musky – floral fragrance composed of peony, lily of the valley and musk, signed by Honorine Blanc.
Bottle design strives for simplicity, sensuality, luxury and modern but not too modern look. The fragrances are available as 30 and 50 ml Eau de Parfum with additional mini rollerball edition.
Nirvana White was launched in 2013.
slavjan777 – :
Strange, chalky rose. Kinda like it, but it also sort of reminds me of antacid tablets.
It does smell a little bit like Stella in the drydown.
alex89-1 – :
She’s a lady. Very perfumy and sadly not for me. Not interesting.
ship65 – :
I picked up this clean scent yesterday at Sephora because they had one gift set left with these cute little black and white clutches and the body cream plus a small bottle of fragrance. Wore it out last evening and layered the spray with the cream–nothing! Ha! One thing is for sure–this scent is NOT overpowering and safe bet for the office! On my skin, it almost disappeared. But what lingered was a soft citrusy scent with a touch of musk. I do like it, but wish it were a little stronger. If you’re looking for a clean, white floral scent that is pleasant but not loud with absolutely no silage–this may be for you. I ended up blending it a little with my Chloe Chloe EDP and wow!! Nice! It’s a like for me but only on days when I wish to be subtle. hmmm
Xeroxyqqif – :
This is a stunning perfume, very similar to roses musk by Montale. This can easily be a daily signature scent. Love love love!!
Charlesbexy – :
Very romantic and ultra feminite perfume. I love peony but there’s not so many peony frags I like. This one is perfect for me. Longivity and sillage are good too. High quality perfume!
rhisormoups – :
100% floral, clean, and slightly musky. This is another E&J fragrance that has the “old lady” like scent but not like French Grey. Nirvana White is fresh, bright, and feminine, a definite juxtaposition to Nirvana Black, which is dark, woody, and masculine. This is not the E&J fragrance for men, which you can get away with regarding NB. I’m guessing peony is the main ingredient in this fragrance. The lily of the valley starts bringing in the clean smell but still keeps it bright. The musk finishes it off as a mature (old lady) like scent. I think the Olsen’s did a great job on this as a feminine fragrance.
pasha017 – :
I just purchased a rollerball set that includes this one, Rose, and French Grey. I’d purchased a full bottle of Amethyst previously but it just sits there, ruined by the tobacco note. I must have just been craving a cigarette when I thought I loved it at the mall.
My fist thought trying White was, “I’ve smelled this before!”
My second thought was that it was one people would say is an, “Old lady scent”…why is it so familiar??? I came here to the reviews to find out. This is a “like” for me but with some inexplicable resistance.
I’ve been looking for a good white floral musk for the 105 degree summers I have to put up with. The sweet stuff I usually like doesn’t do well in this kind of heat.
Final opinion is that this is an updated version of White Linen. It’s crisp and lovely and just way too retro for me. I won’t buy a full bottle but I will use the rest of this one on hot Sunday afternoon’s around the house.
igor_0284 – :
This perfume is so underrated and overlooked in my personal opinion. It is such a beautiful, soft, feminine and subtle fragrance. The Elizabeth and James range has totally surprised me with its simple beauty and quality. These fragrances smell so much more sophisticated and expensive than many other sugary celebrity fragrances. The bottles are sleek and appealing and Nirvana White is a glorious, gentle musky floral, (with almost lemon fresh an opening that quickly becomes creamy), that I could wear every day.
tar140InsuffBooni – :
Anyone else get frankincense from this? On my skin, this is a citrusy, musky, frankincense. I’m glad I tried it before buying, cause I don’t tend to like frankincense on my skin. In fact, while I like it in incense, I don’t enjoy smelling it on anyone’s skin.
Nikitosic – :
I’m in the HOLY MUSK, BATMAN! camp, where it dominates so hard that I get a cottony bar of Ivory soap. Maybe it’s the rollerball, or just my skin. Will try again when it’s not the heat of summer.
Iriney – :
This is such a pretty soft floral. It really just floats around you and never becomes headachy. I don’t get much of the lily here, which is a good thing for me. I agree it is similar to Stella. Personally I’m not a huge floral fan, but I just layered this with Nirvana black and holy moly, is this ever good! Black gives it that woody depth that i was looking for and the white softens the black so it’s not as sharp. I’m really loving this combo right now!
daniilka – :
I was looking for a peony perfume, and Nirvana White fit the description. Nice, bright, not a sweet peony…. for a couple hours at the most, and then it is just musk. Light musk. Hours later, still can smell musk. My only problem is that I don’t like musk.
vitia – :
Pretty, floral, bright. But once again I don’t any peony. This is floral but it’s more rose to my nose than anything else.
zhunatik – :
This was a real surprise and treat for me! Unfamiliar with the Elizabeth and James clothing line, I researched it only to find that it’s the creation of sisters Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. Yes, the Full House Olsen twins are now big shot fashion designers. Nirvana White was my introduction to their perfume line and what a beautiful one it was. I love the smell of peony, it’s a lot like rose but even fresher and airier. Sort of a cross between roses, lilies and carnations… that’s the power of a peony. Yes, those flowers that use ants to help their blossoms open and can be smelled across the yard. Nirvana White is like the name suggests… purity, lightness, freshness. A silky musk lingers in the drydown a few hours past the florals fading. I also got the chance to sample Nirvana Amethyst, which was totally different but equally quality, a sweet moist tobacco with a hint of white flowers underpinning it like a slip. Wonderful! I almost bought a bottle but restrained myself because I need to pare down my current collection a bit first. I will definitely be trying all of this line. Good job, Mary-Kate and Ashley!
olya197840 – :
Such a lovely peony!
berfeerwaft – :
A unique scent I feel like I could pick this out easily. It’s not a scent I’m loving for me. It has a distinct personality that doesn’t match mine but it is plush and pretty. & I think It might be the peony note giving it a little bit of a medicinal vibe to me
leo6653 – :
I thought I would really like this because of the notes listed but unfortunately this doesn’t quite work for me. It’s nice but nothing spectacular it actually reminds me of the original Elie Saab fragrance.
nortenmen – :
Aspects of Nirvana White remind me so much of Chloe EDP- Chloe is one of my favorites. Nirvana White is a very pretty, airy floral. It’s not an out of this world unique fragrance, but it is balanced, beautiful, and well done. I don’t know if I need this in my collection, but I can absolutely see the allure of this perfume. This is a floral lover’s dream.
Nidalap – :
It’s classy, youthful, fresh, feminine and floral. Not overpowering, but somewhat long lasting. I got a sample and had to get a bottle of it. It’s not my favorite, but I like it a lot. I smell peony, lilly of the valley and musk, but I also smell citrus. I think it’s a lovely scent for most occasions. It’s not the most sophisticated of scents, but it’s lovely and not cheap smelling.
brd250intitytek – :
Fresh and simple. Perfect girly scent on a cold winter morning. I am layering it with the black today for a joyful double yummy scented morning.
I actually just apply them near each other and not on top of each other as I prefer to smell them separately.
I have been wearing these for a few years now and are in my all time favorite winter scents.
mexanik – :
Lovely- need to grab another bottle at some point, just currently exploring others to see what’s out there.
asso – :
Dec. 2017. Testing it. Opening is wonderful. Really got me interested. But 1 hour+ it is smelling of something like shampoo, not a glorious feminine fragrance. Nice enough but not award winning. Not sure what to do. Want to like it, but not sure it is going to meet my high standards. Want a lux white floral that will stand the test of time, something that might fall into a “Classic” category. Any combo ideas for this one? Needs a deeper, warmer anchor IMO. Vanilla? Amber? ???
FriendLillian – :
Not a fan of peony, but this was a pleasant surprise. I purchased a small rollerball. Though, I probably wouldn’t buy a full size, it’s a lovely scent. This was worth changing my mind on peony.
rdhjamxo – :
The opening is almost identical to Marc Jacobs Honey. It smells like honey, and fresh citrus. The heart notes smells like lily of the valley. It’s a kind of chewy sweet floral. It’s a sparkling spring time perfume.
yvz751speagoessenda – :
Beautiful floral scent. It really is lovely. I’ll bring it back out for spring or summer. Soft peony-rose smell. I do like it a lot. LOVE its brother Nirvana Black. The Black layered with this one really creates a depth and a much more interesting scent over all.
Kudesnikt3 – :
This fragrance is incredible! I had never gotten a compliment on a scent before, but with Nirvana white, I’ve literally had multiple people stop me on the street to get the name of this scent! Its usually men who want to buy it for their girlfriends.
I don’t see lemon in the scent notes, but on me Nirvana White has a beautiful fruity lemon note alongside the crisp florals. Its delicious and fresh, without being sweet or cloying. It projects very well.
elxxxan – :
This is a fragrance that I wear when I want to wear something but be low key and not really get noticed. It’s kind of nice and wet flower smelling. I really get the peony out of this one. Not by any means a favourite of mine, but it’s very wearable. Would be good for the workplace perhaps as I can’t imagine this bothering anybody. My favourite way to wear this is layered with Demeter’s Dirt. It smells a bit like a garden after the rain.
Halaponga2 – :
While I love florals and musk, this is not for me.
Upon spraying, the florals and musk mix well and smell clean and effervescent (something tickled my nose!), but the freshness fades really quickly. Then sweetness comes on strong and lingers through the entire wear of the fragrance. This scent is strong and heavy, but not because of the musk. I think the peony adds a lot/most of the weight; it seems spicy, and the sweetness is ever-present. On me, this is neither soft nor fresh.
Average sillage and longevity.
I won’t be purchasing this one, and I highly doubt I’ll finish my decant, unless I decide to mix it with something else. Not a terrible perfume — this is just down to preference. I prefer my florals/musks to smell a bit more masculine, so I think I’ll stick with white florals (jasmine, orange blossom, etc.) and musk.
apolon80 – :
I think this is a lovely, soft scent. I get white florals resting on musk. More lily of the valley than peony; I don’t get the brightness I normally get with peonies. I also don’t get the sweetness or citrus that others do. Not at all a soapy floral, which is great for me because I tend to really dislike any soapiness or powdery notes in my florals. Sexy, but in a very subtle way.
Nothing groundbreaking, but nice and light. A pretty generic musky white floral. I’m sure you could get the same effect from a cheaper perfume, so for me I don’t think it makes sense to spend the money on full bottle of this.
mist666 – :
I am very impressed by Elizabeth and James fragrances, so much so that I have two already in my possession. The biggest debate is whether they should be considered celebrity scents or designer scents. I would tend to choose the latter as they focus on the scent rather than the name attached.
I already own the smouldering Nirvana Black which I love wearing during Winter, so it was only natural that I tested its counterpart Nirvana White. Both scents were supposedly designed as a pair to be blended with one another, rather like the Jo Malone concept.
I prefer to smell it as a stand-alone scent, and whilst peony turns rancid on my skin at the best of times, Nirvana White is incredibly pretty and rich. The peony in this composition has a concentrated, rosy aroma, very similar to Stella by Stella McCartney. If you like one scent you’ll be sure to like the other.
In addition to the dominant note of peony, I also detect a resinous amber accord which sits in the base creating a warmth similar to 21 by Costume National.
Nirvana White is a fragrance I would recommend for Spring and Autumn as it’s a tad too heavy for Summer and too fresh for Winter.
frenel – :
Floral fruity sweet nothing special just another floral sweet fragrance.
Danehaxykoqwx – :
So so excited finally these perfumes are launching here in the U.K. First at Harrods then rolling out all over in September 2017! I cannot wait to get my hands on the white one especially.
timur.beluhin – :
It’s amazing to see the reviews for this vary so wildly. I tried this when this first came out, fell in love with it, but sadly it got lost in the shuffle for me. I went back to this and even bought another bottle. I love this.
To me and on me and for me, this is a very comforting scent. Three simple notes, none of which I can deliberately smell, so they are all blended together nicely. If I had to describe this, I would say a white floral, which should be pretty obvious, but peony is in there with just musk and lily of the valley. I do think fragrantica should adjust the accords they have listed. I think the accords are ‘white floral; musky”..I do not see how they get green or fresh or rose or floral as a main accord..that is very deceiving imho and if I were to buy this based on looking at the accords listed here, well, I would be disappointed.
To me this is a comforting white floral with perhaps a bare touch of musk wafting through on occasion. None of the 3 notes are overpowering. And I do not see how this is a “green” perfume..or even fresh..? But, that is what reviews are for, I suppose. To me, this is more of a mom’s scent. When I first tried this, this reminded me of a fragrance my mother wore when I was little. So, this is not a sugar bomb, which my nose appreciates. Just to me, this is a delicate white floral with barely a touch of musk. A very comforting and light scent to me and for me.
kopenbl4 – :
Elizabeth & James’ Nirvana White’s marketing wouldn’t lead me to believe it’s as picturesque as it is. The almost citrusy peony and the green lily of the valley rest on a groundwork of musk. Unusually for a scent of this type, the musk seems to take the forefront with the florals supporting it, rather than the other way around. I’m always a fan of simple scents, and this is definitely one – there’s not much beyond what I just described to you. A great scent for springtime, especially those early months while it’s still a bit cold. The biggest complaint I have is the awfully weak sillage and longevity – it doesn’t seem intimate enough to be a skin scent, yet it still is.
pasochka – :
This is my favourite of the 4 closely followed by Nirvana bourban and Nirvana black, not really a huge fan of Nirvana rose unless I layer it with Nirvana black.
But nirvana white is something special to me. It’s pure peony, it’s sophisticated, delicate, soapy and clean. There is something beautiful about the dry down that makes it smell so chic and classy. I didn’t find this overly musky for me yet there definitely is slight musk which is well balanced. I feel beautiful wearing this. Perfect for the office, a nice day out in a white dress!
Absolutely love this!
udodina – :
I agree wholeheartedly with OrientalFruityGourmand this is quite simply linear, floral peony with musk. There seems to be some spices underneath, something warm, something a little sharp. A little citrus. I think that’s all intended to shape and create the sense of “musk” that dominates. It doesn’t really sit that nicely with my skin. Musk is a hit or miss for me, and this one is a miss. The scent seems to morph repeatedly into the sweet peony, and then into a heavy musk. It’s incredibly light. I think it’s along the lines of the likes of Chloe, pretty inoffensive scent that I personally find pretty uninteresting. Anyone who is a fan of peony would probably find a favorite here. 5/10
cortezzzaur – :
I picked this up overseas and it was in tie with Nirvana Black. I had to close my eyes and swap them around to choose one!
Nirvana White is a gorgeous sweet, light musk. I only get a touch of peony and some greenness from the LOTV but this is mainly musk. And I really do enjoy it.
Not limited to any season, you could wear this all year round which I appreciate. Soft sillage, however this is one I’m glad of. The musk would be far too screechy if this was any louder. Only complaint is lasting power, almost non-existent.
I would recommend this to anyone looking for a soft, musky floral. Something a little bit brighter and easy going. A very safe option for blind buying too.
SERG – 1488 – :
I really liked this on my wrist at the mall. Not enough to buy a full bottle, but I bought a rollerball at Nordstrom as I was leaving. When I put it on for work the next day, all was well until about an hour in. Holy musk, Batman! I was grossed out by it all day and rushed home to shower it of. It started out great, but is just not a good match for my chemistry.
AHTPAKT – :
The accords from Fragrantica say “Floral, fresh, musky, rose,” but I would definitely replace “fresh” with “powdery”! This is one of my favorite scents for winter/early Spring. I certainly get the peony and musk, but I’m not sure where the LOTV comes in. It’s more like a rose, powdery in a way similar to Stella (which I also love) but a bit more mature with the powderiness. Stella has the citrus keeping it more fresh and youthful. Nirvana white is the grown-up version! It’s not a dynamic fragrance, so if you don’t like it at first spray, I don’t expect it will change your mind with time. It seems White is a very polarizing scent, people either love it or hate it. I personally find White and all the other Nirvana collection to be quite creative and intriguing. Give it a try!
lisa64 – :
I have tried this fragrance twice now and find that it’s definitely not my thing. The first time (2014), it was bearable- not my favorite but I finished the bottle. I remember it being floral and light. It’s 2017 now and the rollerball I just bought is going straight to my “swap” bin. It’s really strong and dry. I thought there was rose in this because it is such a matronly (thanks wyrdlam for that adjective) smell. It reminds me of old and dusty perfume bottles on the doily-laden dresser of a great aunt, who also stores her furs in the same room. Think of the congealed, sticky resin that forms on the neck of a dabber-style bottle. Musty, floral, strong, with what I am guessing is the sharp musk note. Can’t do it!
prometey – :
Why am I smelling peach or apricot in this when those notes are not listed? Is it just me? I wanted to dislike this because I am sort of anti celebrity fragrance but I do like this. I adore peony, rose, and like a gentle touch of musk so I should not be surprised. this would make a lovely bridal fragrance if applied lightly. I will enjoy wearing this but probably won’t replace it as it’s just not different enough or special enough for me to ask it to go steady.
mt189mvs – :
I tried wearing this one on my left arm and Stella EDP on my right arm, and this perfume smelled way way better. This one’s lighter, not too heavy with roses. Stella EDP is not heavy but heavier rose scents than Nirvana white, so for person who usually get tired of rose scents(me), this one is more pleasing.
KAA0311 – :
I have the EDP rollerball and applied some to my wrists. I enjoyed the scent at first. The peonies smelled light and soft. Simple and uncomplicated. There was the smallest hint of citrus, possibly from the the very green lily of the valley, before the powdered peonies fully bloomed. But then 30 minutes later and–HOLY MUSK, BATMAN!
Musk completely dominated this fragrance. It wasn’t tender or sophisticated; it smelled matronly and cheap. It was all I could smell for hours. I couldn’t wait to shower and get it off of me. There was no balance of the three notes, no positive highlight of the musk. And even the next day, I went to put on my coat, and my sleeves still smelled like old musk.
I’m envious of those who say this is fresh and youthful, because they are smelling that beautiful peony and lily sans musk. I guess the musk just wanted to cling to my skin and suffocate me. I even tried wearing this once more to give it another chance, but I got the same results. Maybe the EDP spray smells better than the rollerball? Either way, I’m not taking my chances. 1.5/5
valdisgeorgin – :
Call me crazy but this reminds me so much of Burberry Body edp! The initial spray has more peony but soon the musk envelopes it and morphes it into a BBody rose smelling delight! I prefer Burberry Body to this because I find it creamier but both are stunning simple scents that you can’t go wrong with! Enjoy! Sillage is moderate and longevity idk yet!
kolyan79 – :
A simple & fresh perfume – Peony, Musk, Lily of the Valley… nothing else. On one spray you can smell all 3 of them and it goes all the way with no other notes. Usually, I like my perfume with some twists and turns that come from the middle and end notes. However, this bottle of gem is so delightful and combines all 3 of my favorite scents beautifully in one! 🙂 It is brisk and cheerful and I really like how it smells on my skin. A great daytime perfume. I got this as a sample but I’m definitely getting a bottle on my next perfume purchase 🙂
dlh810InsuffBooni – :
Tester strip reminds me very much of my beloved bottle of Deneuve I had long ago. Will have to try on my skin and update.
Dimarin – :
This is what I have been looking for, but didn’t even know it! I love peony, and this is peony in a soft and subtle sort of way, not in your face. It feels warm and elegant with a hint of citrus and wood. This is so feminine and ethereal..definitely something that you can wear during the day and to the office.
vic1001 – :
Beautiful peony fragrance, with a touch of orange blossom and an elegant musk dry down. I found that this scent took a LONG time to settle down, so I didn’t really get the base notes until much later in the day, but the good news is that it is worth the price of admission because it last and lasts on my skin. In fact, the only drawback was this was surprisingly a little loud for such a delicate floral composition, but I think that’s better than paying the same price for perfume that fades within 1-2 hours. Getting a rollerball of this for summer!
коля дудник – :
this scent is not sensual, edgy and mysterious like the description says, but it’s a pretty soft musky white floral! and a peony that actually kind of smells good on me. though it actually smells more like rose, maybe that’s why? anyway, not a “me” scent but kind of pleasant for what it is- a dew soaked pink rose. and it smells exactly like yves rocher rose fraiche.
notnazy – :
I’ve been immensely pleased with this scent, and have yet to find it overpowering in any way. It does smell mainly of sugary peonies at first, but the dry-down smells very clean and sophisticated to me. The full size bottle is very elegant, but what I have and adore is the rollerball bottle. Suffice it to say I’ve found my signature for the summer.
Yuretz – :
surprised at all the heavy peony comments! the peony of this on ME ran screaming the second it dried on my skin….ALL musk within 30 seconds! I don’t dislike it, though, because it really is a spectacular tender musk combo…and if I miss the peony THAT much, I suppose I can just spray some Stella over it.
KinologMRS – :
I find this fragrance quite loud. It’s like it’s screaming PEONY at me, and I’m begging for it to calm down, settle down into a calmer mood. It insolently refuses, remaining screechy all the way through. My hope for Nirvana White was that it would display more nuance and be more interesting, but it fell short of these expectations. I do like the simplicity and beauty of the bottle though.
numuvapecu – :
A beautifully fresh and bright summer floral with hints of warmth from powdery musk and orange. The musky, powdery base notes share some similarities to Nirvana Black, but the top notes of green florals make it a more cheery scent. Great for daytime wear in the summer; it lasted about 3-5 hours on me.
airlv – :
Nirvana White has made a meteoric rise to the TOP of my favorite powdery perfumes. SO BEAUTIFUL ! Yes, it smells like Heaven on me, too !
Perfect powdery perfume for summer, its’ strong, yet cooling and uplifting. I get a lot of sweet natural slightly peppery peony and Egyptian white musk. The vanilla is gentle yet strong and not too sweet, so it doesn’t overpower the natural scent of peony. Musk and vanilla serve to anchor the perfume. I don’t get citrus at all in this blend.
Great to wear all year long. Lasts easily 5 hours on my skin, and lasts for days in my hair and on clothing. I have the spray, and am looking forward to getting the perfume oil. The oil combined with the spray should help this perfume last longer on skin.
Delicious, powdery, ultra feminine, Nirvana White is totally modern and gorgeous on my skin !
ekriks – :
It’s a sexy peony which I find quite hard to find- imo Stella is too flowery and Penhaligon’s Vaara needs a lot of time to develop nicely on my skin. The lily of the valley makes it fresh,the musk sexy and the peony makes it feminine which is an amazing combination!
I disagree with others saying they feel like something’s missing in the composition because I feel like that’s what it’s supposed to be: clean, fresh, feminine. If you’re more into dark and sweet scents this one might not be for you but if you find simplicity and elegance sexy I’d highly recommend this!
polka12345 – :
For me, when I first sprayed this onto my skin, I loved it. But the peony top note disappeared into nothing but soft musk within LITERALLY five seconds. It’s like it transformed into a completely different scent the moment I sprayed it, leaving me to feel quite deceived…I was craving the floral to last longer. I thought maybe my nose was wrong the first time, so I tried it again another few times….same thing. Instead of completely dismissing it though (what can I say, I’m a sucker for gorgeous bottles, especially if I feel like there’s some potential SOMEWHERE), as an impulse decided to layer on a bit of Stella by Stella McCartney. OMG PERFECT. The peony of the Stella was long lasting and mixed perfectly with the soft musk. So….on it’s own, I wouldn’t say Nirvana lives up to its namesake….but if you like to experiment, it’s got potential.
Edit: The more I wear this, the more I feel this could be a gateway perfume to me loving more musky fragrances.
ToSeRa – :
Nirvana Black + White smell like my first year in Texas, destructive dates and shattered dreams. Light and darkness, painful sweetness, a heady, masochistic mix.
Sashka95 – :
This is the bull bodied gorgeousness of peony, kept light and sprightly by lily of the valley, grounded and made accessible with musk. These are two of my favorite flowers mixed with my favorite note of all….full bottle worthy and now on my top 3 favorite spring fragrance. I love this, but it’s easy to love.
weepaycoell – :
This smells more like the original stella than stella nude. What a disappointment.
borisgasil – :
Thank you @verdigris for this sample.
Warning: First we must establish as clearly as possible that this scent has no relation to the legendary grunge band Nirvana. If you were hoping for a fragrance that smells like teen spirit, this will not suffice. I wish to caution you strongly against making this purchase as a Kurt Cobain devotee. This perfume smells absolutely nothing like 1.) a Mulatto, 2.) an Albino, 3.) a Mosquito nor 4.) my libido. You understand? Good!
What does Nirvana White by Elizabeth & James smell like? Peony! Linear, floral peony with a tiny hint of green.
I agree with reviews that postulate this is a fragment of a perfume. To my nose, this is the middle or top of something greater.
Often with fragrances, I like to play a game where I try to conjure an image of the intended wearer. Who is she? Where is she going? Nirvana White makes me think of an over-30 woman going to Pilates class. She has never been married, nor in love. She takes care of her health and pays her bills on time. She accepts the fact that she would never be called pretty not beautiful, but she takes care of her physical body. She is nice.If you accidentally jostled her on the street, she would apologize to you even though you are clearly at fault. Perhaps it was her upbringing that causes her to strive for “appropriate” in her daily life. She is concerned about what others might think of her. You have met this woman repeatedly but you can never quite recall her name. She’s that reliable employee who submits work product in a timely manner. One day something will happen that is a catalyst for her to come fully alive…but that event has yet to transpire. She’s a very late bloomer. Don’t pity her because in her 60s she’s gonna be a formidable goddess!
Nirvana White is appropriate, non confrontational and forgettable. Pleasant enough that I don’t mind wearing it, but I’d never recall its name. You know how nobody ever compliments you for brushing your teeth? This fragrance is like that. Nobody will notice but not because it’s bad, just because it’s mundane. Very safe for office environments.
If you have a keen interest in peony flowers, my opinion is that you can find many better peony scents than Nirvana White.
gvanafed – :
I gotta say I’m quite disappointed. For some reason I cant smell anything. I smell it in the bottle and its smells fresh and floral simple and unoffensive. But as soon as I spray it on myself I get nothing. I got a 1.5ml sample and used half and I can’t pick up on anything, guess my chemistry doesn’t like it.
Elprofe – :
A lovely fresh, powdery yet unique fragrance. The black one reminds me of black orchid by Tom Ford. I expected this to smell like White Patchouli but it smells better. It is really lovely, easy to wear.
barboss.dvo – :
A clean, warm floral. I tried Nirvana Black first, which my mother decided she had to have, and then tried Nirvana White. I wasn’t sure it suited me at first, but it lasted and grew on me all day.
vzozulya – :
This smells very close to Daisy Dream to me, as well. The note that I pick up in both is a citronella-type scent, which I find distinctly ‘un-perfumelike’ and unappealing. I’m not sure which ingredient it is in both that comes across that way to me but I just can’t get past it.
dess – :
This is a weird one. I like it, but I kinda think it might be gross a little too? Granted, I only have the rollerball. The major notes are labeled as peony but I get a strong rose/musk/cedar feeling overall. I feel like I might leave an offensive impression if I were on a crowded elevator wearing this scent. I actually think I like it more than Nirvana Black, but others seem to feel the opposite. Maybe not an office scent, but would go well with a dive bar where people are still allowed to smoke indoors.
mr.micruckow – :
OOhhhh, they said it took 2 weeks to make Nirvana White, it was something that at the last minute they decided to throw along Nirvana Black. It certainly smells like it. Now, I really love Nirvana Black. I bought Black this summer and I’ve been wearing it all the time. Naturally I tested Nirvana White along side it, and over the summer I actually liked it. (I should know by know to follow the “test 3 times rule. I was also testing a lot of other perfume, so who knows what exactly I was smelling.) So here comes winter and those pretty gift sets and before I know it I was walking out of Sephora with a tidy box of White (perfume oil, rollerball, and spray perfume.)
I am getting old here, and it is winter now, so maybe I had a radical change of body chemistry, but man this stuff is vile. It is a shrieking chemical nightmare. It smells like I am cleaning a bathroom with poor ventilation, and the Ajax and CLR mixing into something even more toxic and trying to kill me. The topnotes smell like industrial strength laundry soap, and forget the floral notes, I can’t smell anything that smells remotely floral. At the far
drydown I start to smell a Jovan White Musk type of accord, but at that point who cares? Oh, and the longevity on this is insane.
I appreciate a modern, abstract Floral Woody Musk, such as the ones that Narciso Rodriguez puts o