Elizabeth and James Nirvana Bourbon Warm, Inviting, and Sophisticated!

Elizabeth and James Nirvana Bourbon Eau de Parfum is one of two new fragrances that have been added to the ELizabeth and James Fragrance Collection for Fall 2016.

Let’s take a look!

Apologies for the promo images, I only got a small sample of this and don’t have images of the actual perfume to include with my review!

Oud is a note that seems to play an important role in the fragrance world at the time. That warm woodsiness it adds to a fragrance brings things to a sophisticated and very sexy level. I, am not an oud person in all honesty. I tend to migrate towards sugary sweet fragrances, fruity ones, complex gourmands, or unisex scents. I would say on many levels Oud lends a certain maturity to a blend and also easily turns it into a unisex fragrance. But, again, I’m not terribly attracted to the strong woodsiness of the note.

That would be where Elizabeth and James Nirvana Bourbon comes into play as this new fragrance is a beautiful woodsy oriental blend. Vanilla Bourbon is the fourth fragrance added to the Elizabeth and James permanent collection of fragrances for Fall 2016. Under Ashley Olsen and Mary-Kate Olsen’s Creative Direction, this scent was created to explore the sensual and playful side of Nirvana. Honestly, I find the scent warm, inviting, sophisticated, and sultry but I wouldn’t say it was playful. The scent never loses sight of its sensual focus. It contains notes that are warm and balanced with small elements of feminine sultriness but also a masculine edge which will make it an easy enough unisex fragrance.

To me it smells of leather and a tailored gentleman sitting behind a desk with a fine glass of aging bourbon in front of him and the faint smell of tobacco hanging in the air. It also reminds me of a walk through a library that has shelves lined with hardback leather bound books. Even the crimson red and cognac sleek bottle evokes the flowing words of Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, and the Bronte sisters on a perfect piece of smooth parchment.� It seems like a bottle that would fit loving on top a well used, disorganized author’s desk!

I recently purchased Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille and this reminds me of the fragrance on many levels but it’s much less cloying and much easier to where. way Don’t expect a cake-y vanilla from this fragrance because that’s not what you get here. This is dominated by a strong woodsy note which is there at the first mist and continues through the dry down and well into the wear. That woodsy is combined with a faint wisp of tuberose and the a slight bitterness of vanilla and bourbon. Don’t get me wrong, I love a beautiful gourmand vanilla. One that smells like white cake or cupcakes frosted with soft, whipped white icing! But a true vanilla note has a certain bitterness to it and that’s what you get in Elizabeth and James Nirvana Bourbon. That bitterness combines with a beautiful woodiness which gives this blend a strong, rich, sultry warmth.

The scent is surprisingly strong at two spritzes and wears for a good six hours on my skin without fading. It provides a nice strong linger and excellent wear without being overwhelming or heavy. I would say it works best at night but applying less can easily work during the day.

If you like unique, sophisticated fragrances or woodsy ones you’re bound to enjoy Elizabeth and James Nirvana Bourbon. It’s a fragrance that makes a lasting impression.

Elizabeth and James Nirvana Bourbon is available now at Sephora and Sephora.com and launched at other retailers in Spring 2017.