I've always been obsessed with the Olsen twins. After all, we practicallygrew up alongside them.
Now in their late 20s, Mary-Kate and Ashley arefull-fledged fashion icons and astute businesswomen who've built an empireon top of their existing empire. They design not only ultra-luxe The Row, butmid-price Elizabeth and James and even JCPenney's diffusion line, Olsenboye.And from the looks of it, it's the sisters calling the shots 24/7.
I'd been waiting for them to branch out into grown-up perfume. After all, perfume is the gateway drug to luxury purchases. I wassurprised to hear that MK&A were planning to launch two fragrancesalongside their Elizabeth and James line, not The Row. I just figured they'drelease a scent to complement their expensive, perfectly tailored garments.
Elizabeth and James
Nirvana Black$75.00
Elizabeth and James
Nirvana White$75.00
Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black and Nirvana White were released fora short period of time at Sephora; they'll officially launch in mid-January. Mybest friend and former roommate Amy Gee, now a residentof Chicago, alerted me to their availability online. Because I am a crazyperson, I called Mall of America Sephora immediately and ran to get my bottle.I probably would've ordered it un-sniffed because I admire the Olsens so, whichis really a testament to their carefully cultivated celebrity image.
Amy and I lived together for almost six years,if you count our neighboring dorm rooms. She and I are practically sisters atthis point, and I've always thought we compliment one another perfectly, bothaesthetically and in personality. Where Amy's personal style is minimalisticand effortlessly stylish, mine is more frenetic; one day it's tight-as-hellpencil skirts, the next, worn-out Levi's and giant sweaters. Style-wise, she'sthe Ashley and I'm the MK.
Our perfume preferences are quite different, too: Amy likes rose, lychee and almost-powdery florals, while I prefer vanilla,amber and tuberose notes. Therefore, Nirvana Black and Nirvana White werepractically made for us.
Here's Amy on Nirvana White, her E&Jfragrance of choice:
I never thought of myself as the type of girl who wasattracted to floral and sweet scents, and you know what? I think I've beenlying to myself. I'm currently rotating through three different scents: ChloeEau de Parfum, Coco Mademoiselle and Givenchy Dahlia Noir. My signature scent usuallychanges every year or so and I rarely buy the same bottle twice. When I sawSephora's exclusive release of Elizabeth and James Nirvana White, I had afeeling that we could be a good match, and I ordered it right away. For me, it'sa perfect mixture of peony and musk, which is similar to most fragrances I haveworn. It's light enough to wear every day without getting sick of it.
I chose Nirvana Black for obvious reasons: itssandalwood, vanilla and violet. It feels a little masculine, like the dry-downof a really fancy aftershave, but totally sexy and feminine, too. Apparently MK& A tested hundreds of sandalwoods until landing on the blend used inBlack. Lately I've been layering it with Kate Walsh's Boyfriend for extrasexiness.
Nirvana Black and Nirvana White come insuper-chic bottles resembling Zippo lighters. Be warned that the lasting poweris not particularly great--my only qualm with the perfumes.
They claim the twocan be layered together, but I'm not sure I would recommend that. Nirvana Whiteis much brighter, and Nirvana Black more mellow, staying closer to the skin.However, they definitely complement one another, and if you’ve got a pseudo-twinlike I do, maybe you’ll fall in love. I kind of like the idea of Amy and Iwearing matching perfumes though we’re living apart.
Do you love the Olsens? Are you a Mary-Kate oran Ashley? Is this considered a celebrity fragrance? Which one do you think youare: Black or White?