Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black and Nirvana White Perfume Oils (New Fragrance Review) + My Sephora Beauty Bag Draw

sephora loves beauty bag heart

I stalk Sephora.com. My beauty bag runneth over…daily   As a Rouge VIB, I spend way too much money on makeup and the siren call of YVES ST LAURENT Couture Palette Wild Edition with its black and gold leopard allure whispered “Love me Love me” and almost lured me off my no spend shore, until I realized it looks and is exactly the same as Yves St. Laurent Couture Palette  #2. I Loved the Limited Edition Rouge Pur Vernis À Lèvres Collectors Glossy Stain in Rouge Laque ,Sephora Formula X  Brushed Metallic Nail Polish in Prophecy and Valor that day instead; (I did NOT link to the site, no need for you to become addicted to Love).  It is rare that I put a designer perfume into my Sephora beauty bag, but when I found out that Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black and White are now available as perfume oils, I had a change of “heart”.

mary  kate and ashley olsen

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen Photo: Sephora

 When we reviewed Elizabeth and James  Nirvana Black and White we noted that Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, the twin child television and movie stars turned fashion moguls designed Nirvana Black (Pierre Negrin of Firmenich) and  Nirvana White (Honorine Blanc of Firmenich) to be layered, as well as to be worn individually; it was our opinion that the EDPs were better alone. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have always loved perfume oils and so do I; I remember thinking why didn’t they just do them right out of the gate;  oils are much easier to layer on the skin.

cafleurebon nirvana white and nirvana black perfume oils sephora

Still Life with Sephora shopping bag and Elizabeth and James Perfume Oils

The package light was on when I got home yesterday (not unusual for a fragrance and beauty editor). I went downstairs and there was a gigantic Sephora bag half my height.  My heart skipped a beat.   The last time Sephora messengered a bag this size was the mysterious appearance of Pharrell  Williams Girl Perfume. After some rummaging, I found Nirvana Black and White perfume oils surrounded by golden roses, scented driftwood and beribboned dried vanilla bean pods nestled within the tissues and mountains of black confetti paper.

Elizabeth and James Nirvana Perfume Oils

Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black and Nirvana White Perfume Oils

The 14 ml bottles are housed in gold topped flacons with classic glass apothecary style droppers. I tried Black, my favorite in the EDP first.   The oil version has a sensual, grown up vanilla aroma  topped with a dollop of creamy sandalwood. A more subtle scent than the EDP, but still there is a neo boho vibe that shimmers as it slides like silk on the skin. Next, was White; the oil was much better with my chemistry than the original EDP.  The white florals are less synthetic smelling and the muguet accord is much fresher and the musk is deeper. Combined, Nirvana Black and White mesh perfectly, a melding of sexy and innocent, chic without trying too hard.   When layered, my skin pulls the sandalwood and vanilla notes more than the florals which are there but  muted whispers. The musky dry-down is soft  but not laundry clean. As a bonus, Nirvana Black and White  are alcohol free and  contain natural sunflower and evening primrose oils. I warmed the blend between my hands and smoothed my hair which emanated pufffs of scent for hours. The longevity on my pulse points was a bit less,  three hours with minimal sillage.

They are available online exclusively at Sephora priced $35/14 ml each. Buy both, as they are definitely the best bang for the buck this year.  I don’t think you will be disappointed. I hope Elizabeth and James make a larger size for the body. That would be Nirvana.

Disclosure: I received Nirvana White and Nirvana Black fragrance oils from Nirvana Perfumes PR

Michelyn Camen, Editor in Chief

 Thanks to Elizabeth and James Nirvana Perfumes exclusively at Sephora  we have a draw for either Nirvana Black or Nirvana White for a USA reader  To be eligible please leave a comment with which you would like best and if you would layer them with each other or with the original EDP. Draw closes October 3, 2014.

We announce the winners only on site and our Facebook page, so like CaFleureBon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will just be spilled perfume.

 

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26 comments

  • I may like the white a little better but I love vanilla too so it would be hard to choose one. I’d definitely layer them!

  • I would love to try Black in the oil – I was impressed when I tried the EDP! I don’t know that I’d layer them as I was happy with the one I tried. 🙂 I’m in the USA… thank you as ever!

  • I love the black one!! It’s my favorite of the two, but I would definitely layer them. I’m in the US.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

  • I would love to try Black. I would definitely be curious about layering them, as well. I am in the US, thank you.

  • I think I would like Black the most and I like to layer. Moisturizing is a plus! Thanks for the chance. H2RP

  • Thank you for this draw! I would love to win Nirvana White, and I would certainly try layering them. I’d like to see what that’s like. Why not? I am in the US.

  • I fell for Black in the EDP form, and can imagine how delicious the oil would be. However, I’m game for mixing them to see what develops 🙂
    In the US. Thanks for the draw!

  • I have been curious about these, so thanks for the review! I would have to choose the Black for the vanilla and sandalwood.
    I am in the US.

  • I bought the nirvana black and white and am excited to try the oils
    Black would be my choice
    I laughed as a I am a VIB at sephora too and just bought the formula x
    Valor because you told me not to look

  • Haha, Selene! The don’t looks always get me as well 😉 The Black sounds so beautiful. I do enjoy the sensual feel of silk gliding across my skin, and with a creamy Sandalwood a temptation that I can not restrain myself from. I would layer, I would enjoy seeing how these play off of and with each other. I am in the US.

  • Would like to try the Black, lol at “no need for you to become adicted to Love”. I am in the US.

  • Jennifer Witt says:

    I think I would go for the White, as I love the whole Innocence vibe – layering them would be diving though! Thanks for the review. I am in the US

  • I’m going to choose the Black for this draw. If I had both I”d be layering. U.S.A. ty

  • I would prefer the Black for the upcoming cooler months. I enjoyed both scents when I tried them and found them very impressive for celebrity scents. I think they would be great layered, as edp spray layering is tricky because I would think the florals in white would overpower the subtler notes in black. I am in the US.

  • I would love to have Black – I would probably layer it after a few times of wearing it on its own ( I love to layer scents 🙂 ) I am in the US. Thank you for the chance 🙂

  • I do not think I would layer them. I already love black and probably would layer the oil with the EDP. Black is delicious and something I reach for many times during the cooler months especially in the cooler climate I live in. US here 🙂

  • I really enjoy Black, but I wouldn’t layer it with White. Thanks for the drawing! I’m in the US.

  • I’d like to try Black, it sounds like a nice scent to wear for winter and I do love vanilla. Probably wouldn’t layer them though. I live in the US.

  • I sampled the sprays awhile back and I think Black was best on me…plus I LOVE vanilla and it is, after all, fall now. That said, I’d absolutely try layering them, too! I liv ein the US and thanks for the draw!

  • I’ve briefly tested them a while ago and the black was very appealing to me. I have not tried laying them yet but i’m not apposed to it either.

    USA

  • Fazal Cheema says:

    I may be more interested in Black due to sandalwood and violet note. When i use oil, i tend to use them on their own to understand them better, thus, i will not layer black with anything else as i do with other oils..thanks for the generosity. i am in the US

  • MikasMinion says:

    I would love to try Black in oil form. My complaint with the spray was that it was much less hippie chic than I expected but the oil should fix that. not usually my style but Black could be one of my exceptions. I think, actually, that layering would suit these well and regret not trying them that way. I’ll have to test it out with the oils. I’m in the U.S. thanks.

  • Cynthia Richardson says:

    Based on your previous review, I think I would like Black best (violet, sandalwood and vanilla sound perfect for fall) and would definitely layer them with each other.

  • I was caught by surprise upon first sniff out of this beautiful white cigarette-case-looking perfume bottle. For me it was the same experience as first smelling the Narciso Rodriguez for her edt. To me Nivana white is simply stunning peony I’ll keep this bottle with Narciso Rodriguez in the vault to go back to it when needed to be swooned.
    Definetly would not mix with black one they are two sides of the pole very different. Can be layered with original EDP of course.
    Thanks usa

  • I’ve been wanting to try Black. I’m always up for a layering experiment, but sounds like I’d enjoy it on it’s own, too. Thanks! I’m in the U.S.