Best Perfumes for Women

4 Best Smelling Elizabeth and James Perfumes

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The Olsen twins have been creating fashion wear for a long-time now, including fragrances. Their latest iteration is the Elizabeth and James line, which is named after their siblings. This fashion company also has fragrances that have been released over the past 4-5 years and fall under the title of ‘Nirvana’. In this post, I want to explore the top four Nirvana perfumes out of the six that have been released thus far. Each scent has its own unique vibe and there should be something for every kind of taste on the list.

What are the Best Elizabeth & James Fragrances?

Best Seller

Elizabeth & James Nirvana Black Eau De Parfum Spray–Smooth sandalwood note combines with a powdery violet and an added sweetness of vanilla. Pretty straightforward, unisex, and one for those sandalwood lovers out there.

Nirvana Black opens up with the vanilla note leading the way, lending a creamy sweetness to the composition, when paired with the dry sandalwood.

As it moves along, the violet comes through with the powdery aroma, and the sweetness takes more of a backseat. It’s dry and powdery with a very nice woody base. Performance is solid, but not amazing, for a nice wear from autumn to early springtime. Nirvana Black Review

Best Smelling Elizabeth and James Perfume

Elizabeth and James Nirvana Amethyst Perfume Eau De Parfum 1.0 Ounce Full Size– Is this the best of the bunch? Possibly. Very interesting use of tobacco and cedar. It has a smoky, woody, spicy body that mixes with a sweet honeysuckle note. It changes it’s character throughout the wear. Not a powerhouse but a rather unique scent when compared to the others.

Amethyst opens with a gorgeous honeysuckle, that is paired with some non-distinct, yet peppery spices. It’s a warm sweetness with an amber-like quality, which will lead into a lighter use of tobacco.

It’s a cured and sweet tobacco aroma, not really all that ‘green’, but the fragrance remains feminine. Not a smokers jacket or anything like that. Then, the cedar base gives Nirvana Amethyst a really fresh and dry woodsy base.

Dry, Woody Vanilla

Nirvana Bourbon Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 oz– A woody, smokey, and vanilla laced fragrance. Has more of a masculine edge to it than the others but the opening can be quite nice. Longevity isn’t that great, however.

Bourbon opens up with a nice blend of vanilla and some tuberose. Though, the tuberose, is none too powerful here. The main player, in this perfume, is the oak. Bourbon is very woody and there might be some other types of wood, in here beyond just the oak, as it certainly smells like it. Perhaps, the same cedar, as Amethyst?

Anyway, it’s a fresh, dry, and outdoorsy aroma that really stands apart as unique. The vanilla does add a bit of a smoky or burnt quality, to the heart of this fragrance. Bourbon Full Review

Lovely Floral Fragrance

Elizabeth & James Nirvana White Eau De Parfum Spray– This is the perfume from this line that is best for those who like floral fragrances. While the others can be unisex, this one is more distinctly feminine. Clean, fresh florals, meet with a musky undertone.

Nirvana White is led by peony, with some lily of the valley, playing a supporting role. This perfume is going to be peony dominant, so, if that’s not your thing…probably skip this one.

However, the scent does come across and an understated beauty. Very easy to wear and versatile enough to become a daily wear for a woman. A nice sweetness is there, with a light musk to bring the whole thing together. Nirvana White Review

Rush by Gucci

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Apart from the massive amount of Bond No. 9 samples, I’ve accumulated recently, I have also gotten a hold of a few others that I wanted to review. One of which is a classic scent released by Gucci in 1999, Gucci Rush. This ladies’ fragrance has gotten quite a nice reputation over the years, but is it justified? Please continue below for my full wear thoughts about this scent.

What does Gucci Rush Smell Like?

Notes include: freesia, jasmine, coriander, gardenia, patchouli, rose, vanilla, and vetiver

Click here to try: Gucci Rush By Gucci For Women. Eau De Toilette Spray 2.5 Ounces

Full Wear Review

I’m am doing a review of the classic formula of Rush. I haven’t tried the newer bottles, but it may have been reformulated. I’m not sure, but just a head’s up if you’re considering this scent.

The opening of Gucci Rush is a smooth mix of floral notes and what smells like peach (though, I’m not sure this is even an ingredient since I cannot find it listed). I would say the floral aspect at the start is more dominated by the rose note and the gardenia.

Add to that is the familiar scent of patchouli, which is well blended in Rush, and never goes overboard in my mind.

Most of what you’re going to get from this one will from the peach, patchouli, and gardenia. It’s floral/fruity with a bit of a dirty side to it.

This scent just sort of grabs your attention from the get go and feels so perfectly smooth as a floral based scent and not overly ‘green’ or like you’re walking through a garden.

It has a certain energy and seductive quality to it, which I suppose is where the Rush moniker came from.

At it’s heart, Rush is a sweet perfume but once again it stays grounded by the vetiver and patchouli notes which give it an earthy/woodsy quality. Some spicy kick floating in the background, but nothing too intense.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, I found Gucci Rush to be strong but it never really struck me as monstrous. It can be loud, for sure, but it isn’t insane by any stretch of the imagination.

For the longevity, maybe it’s just my skin, but I only got about 6-7 hours of wear out of Rush. That’s not terrible, but it isn’t an all-star in that regard. I think other folks do get more time with this, but for me that’s what it maxed out to.

Now, Gucci Rush is one of those scents that specializes in the nightlife. Think of this stuff as more of a club/bar/romantic kind of wear. If you apply lightly, you might be able to wear it no problem casually, but don’t go nuts with the sprays.

Rush is the type of perfume that I would love to smell on a woman during a cold winter night at a bar. On the dance floor or just hanging around, it’s pretty sexy stuff. Climate wise, I would try to keep it to autumn and winter, it wouldn’t be all that great in the heat.

Overall Impressions of Gucci Rush

Overall, do I think Gucci Rush is worth a buy? Yes, it’s a classic at this point. It’s a very good scent with nice performance, that is built for a specific purpose…to rule the night. It does a great job at that.

The aroma is gives off is well-balanced, interesting, and charming. It has a unique vibe that is upbeat, warm, and always full of energy. There is a reason why this is a highly rated fragrance from the early 2000s time period.

That being said, it never was one for everyone. Now, that this has been re-released, I don’t know how much of the original survives. So, it’s probably a try before you buy perfume.

Yellow Diamond Intense by Versace

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Today, I’m going to review another women’s perfume by Versace, Yellow Diamond Intense. I’ve had this sample for a while and have been giving it consideration today. Intense came out in 2014, as a flanker to the popular original. In this review, I will cover what’s in it, how it smells, performs, when it should be worn, and if it is worth a purchase or not.

What does Yellow Diamond Intense Smell Like?

Notes include: pear, citron, neroli, bergamot, freesia, orange blossom, jasmine, bezoin, musk, amber wood

Click here to try: VERSACE Yellow Diamond Intense Eau De Parfum, 3 Fluid Ounce

My Full Wear Review

OK, so I reviewed the original Yellow Diamond perfume on the site a few days back, but I also have a sample vial of the Intense version so I thought that I should review it next.

The notes are the same, so how different could the fragrance actually be? Was it just going to be a ‘stronger’ version of the original?

Upon smelling the opening for the first time, I knew that it wouldn’t be the same. Versace definitely reformulated the potency of each note, as well as making it more intense.

Yellow Diamond Intense starts out with a bold presentation of the citrus notes, while the floral notes take a much more subservient role than they did in the original. I have to say, that I enjoy the opening of the Intense version much more than the original.

After about 5-10 minutes the pear note began to take hold and the citrus quieted down somewhat. The second phase is a citrus/pear/white floral combination that is quite cheery and upbeat.

Later on there are some woodsy notes but I don’t feel that this version gets ‘green’ or too plant-like as the original does with its mostly floral/wood disposition. This is a very clean scent and almost has a soapy vibe to it at times.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Yellow Diamond Intense actually lives up to its name. It does deliver some intensity after the soft-spoken original fragrance. It projects quite well and never felt weak to me. I sprayed it on an old t-shirt days ago and it seems to still be going strong on the fabric.

Is it going to fill up a room? Probably not, unless you go big with the sprays. It’ll be noticed and create a nice scent bubble around you for the day.

Longevity is also better than the original. On my skin, it lasted right around 8 hours, and I only used one spray on my wrist. That’s a great sign.

Update: With some more testing, it seems that 8 hours is about what to expect. Maybe an extra hour or so, on occasion. I did get about nine and a half hours once.

Yellow Diamond Intense is of course a spring/summer scent. It really has a naturalistic feeling of fruit and flowers that takes your mind to walking through a grove or garden. It seems like a versatile fragrance, as well, it would be fine for the office or casual situations.

Not really a club scent, but possible for dating. I do find it to be sexier than the original, but still wouldn’t classify it as a ‘sexy’ or ‘seductive’ perfume. Mostly a good daily wear for the warmer months of the year.

Overall Impressions of Yellow Diamond Intense

Overall, do I recommend Intense? I liked the original, but I like this one better. It’s bolder and I think the composition is more refined. Add to the fact that it has a higher level of performance and it’s a winner.

I really like the bright and upbeat citrus notes here, particularly in the opening few minutes. The jasmine and orange blossom, do a great job at supporting the citrus fruit. I’m not a huge fan of pear as a fragrance note, but it does a nice job in this perfume.

I’m not totally blown away by Yellow Diamond Intense, but I find no real faults with it either. This Versace is quite solid all around. It’s a very good choice and if you happen to like the notes as shown, you could do a lot worse than picking up a bottle of this stuff.

Black Opium vs Poison Girl Perfume Comparison

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For this fragrance comparison, we are going to take a closer look at to women’s eau de parfums, Black Opium by YSL vs. Poison Girl by Christian Dior. Which of these perfumes smells the best? They share a lot of similarities, have lots of sweetness, are gourmand, but which one is a better buy? As usual, I’m going to break down each by different metrics, and then declare a winner. I’ve also linked my original reviews of each scent below.

Tale of the Tape: Black Opium vs. Poison Girl

Black Opium

black opium perfume review

Notes include: coffee, vanilla, patchouli, pink pepper, orange blossom, cedar

Click here to try: Yves Saint Laurent Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, Black Opium, 3 Ounce

Read my original review: Black Opium

Poison Girl

Notes include: Damascus rose, tonka bean, bitter orange, vanilla, almond, sandalwood

Click here to try: Christian Dior Poison Girl Women’s Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce

Read my original review: Poison Girl

Opening

I’m not too much of a fan with the way that Black Opium opens up. The first ten minutes or so are pretty jumbled, and honestly not that great, but it gets better. It’s a lot of orange blossom, cedar, and vanilla at the top. It’s loud and not very cohesive yet.

It’s strange, because I do really love orange blossom and vanilla. But for some reason, it just doesn’t click in the beginning.

Poison Girl, hits first with the Damascus rose note, tonka bean, and bitter orange. It’s creamy and smooth and actually feels quite close to how Black Opium ultimately smells.

At the start, the Dior fragrance, takes the edge.

Edge: Poison Girl 

Projection

Ok, Black Opium is a bold fragrance. The sillage is quite loud and it has the ability to project far and wide. Really, that’s one of the perfume’s major strengths. As such, Poison Girl is going to have to match that at least, does it? It doesn’t.

The Dior starts off strong but never reaches the same level as does the YSL. Later, it fades more into a moderate perfume while Black Opium keeps going strong. Poison Girl isn’t bad at all, it just doesn’t meet the pure power that Black Opium displays.

Edge: Black Opium

Longevity

Actually, this category might be a tie. Black Opium goes on and on, but I also got double digit hours out of Poison Girl. I mean, if you want to keep going into the deep hours, maybe there is a clear winner but not in normal situations.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Two cold weather fragrances. Poison Girl can be worn at the office, casually, or out on a date. Black Opium can do the same, although, in confined spaces its best to go lighter.

I’d say Poison Girl is a tad bit sexier to my nose and is subtle enough to wear anywhere. So, I’ll give the Dior the slight edge here.

Edge: Poison Girl

Overall Scent

So, these two perfumes are very close in how they stack up against one another. They share many elements and this close competition is to be expected.

Black Opium EDP turns into a vanilla and coffee mix as it moves along to go with an orange blossom note playing the support role. It’s very warm and super sweet. The pink pepper note and the patchouli, give it a cozy spice to sit underneath the sweetness, and create that enveloping feel.

Poison Girl is also quite sweet but has a creamier aroma, thanks to tonka bean and the almond note. The rose, vanilla, and tonka bean notes make for a formidable trio that lead the way. The bitter orange note supplies the citrus and sort of gives a similar vibe to Black Opium.

Ultimately, though, I think that I prefer Poison Girl. It’s smoother. Almond, sandalwood, and tonka make sure of that. It’s sweet, creamy, and smooth. It’s not as bold as Black Opium, but performs just as well. It’s difficult to pick a winner in this contest, but Poison Girl just strikes me as a tad more interesting.

Winner: Poison Girl

5 Best Smelling Balenciaga Fragrances

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Balenciaga has been a name which has resonated in the world of fashion for many decades now. Among it’s lineup, is of course, the almost required fragrance offerings from nearly all the big design houses.

In this post, I want to cover five of the ladies’ perfumes that have been sold by Balenciaga over the years, and what could be considered the best of the bunch.

Obviously, there may be some that I left off of the list, but this is a good place to start for those who are searching for the top Balenciaga scents.

Update: They haven’t put out a new fragrance in years it seems. So, these might be difficult to find or even more expensive now than usual.

Favorite Balenciaga Fragrances for Her

Balanced with Depth

Balenciaga B Perfume, 1.7 Ounce– One of the newer scents from the Balenciaga line, B, is a wholly unique scent in the women’s fragrance space. It has a fresh and green aroma yet is laden with woods, a tart sweetness, and the addition of pea as a note.

Yeah, B isn’t a perfume for everyone, but is a great choice for those looking to set themselves apart from the masses.

The lily of the valley gives B a balanced approach to the perfume, with a good blend of wood, greener notes, and some light floral ingredients. Lily of the valley and violet leaf. It has a bit of spice from a pepper note underneath.

As it dries down, the woody cedar note becomes more prominent and its less about the floral notes. Very interesting and can be a go to for the right person.

Popular Green Floral 

Balenciaga Florabotanica Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 3.4 Ounce– A fresh and green sort of floral with rose and carnation notes surrounded by vetiver. Florabotanica has been around for a long time and the perfume’s performance also has great longevity.

This fragrance has a great earthy character that shines in spring and summer. An interesting but slight addition to the composition is a cannabis note.

It helps to further the green-ish elements of this fragrance. The rose note isn’t the usual fully developed bright red variety and there is also a crisp and cool mint note that is prevalent.

Scent for Violet Lovers

Balenciaga Paris Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 2.5 Ounce– A naturalistic floral with violet as the main highlight. It has a powdery sort of aroma but then is joined by a woodiness, later on in the wear. Paris is a moderate fragrance suited for an every day usage.

Violet is of course the dominant note here, but there is a woodsy and naturalistic heart to this fragrance. A bit of vetiver, more cedar, dashed with some other light floral and plant notes.

Paris is upbeat with a great freshness and a clean finish. Feels very vibrant and dynamic, not like a heavy old time violet.

Warm and Inviting Fragrance

Cristobal By Balenciaga For Women. Eau De Toilette Spray 1.7 oz– This one has been discontinued but you can still find bottles here and there. Cristobal features vanilla, fig, patchouli, and floral notes.

It is a soft perfume with a lot of personality and has moments of spice, sweetness, and overall warmth.

Sweet and a bit creamy vanilla, with a warm embracing patchouli, that is blended with florals and fig. This one is a great wintertime option, if you can get a bottle at a good price.

The vanilla sort of holds everything together, but it still presents a rather unique aroma, versus the usual vanilla perfumes.

Best Overall Balenciaga Perfume

Balenciaga Talisman By Balenciaga 100ml Spray– A sweeter and fruitier option with less floral notes than found in the other entries on this list from Balenciaga. Talisman, isn’t all sweetness, as it features smoky elements and boozy rum undertones coursing through it’s body.

A bright yet dry aroma with a definite tropical feeling, like being in the tropics during the wintertime. Pineapple, peach, and some other fruity ingredients. Talisman is deep with good complexity, the smokiness of the scent really brings to life the various fruits and other gourmand notes.

I really liked this one, when I came across it. The others on the list are great, in their own right, but Talisman just strikes me as the more interesting fragrance. Plus, the dry warmth and mix of different ingredients is awesome.