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Emotion by Katja 2010

6.8 / 10 62 Ratings
A perfume by Vitasens for women, released in 2010. The scent is woody-powdery. It is being marketed by Butterfly Beauty.
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Main accords

Woody
Powdery
Sweet
Synthetic
Spicy

Fragrance Notes

SandalwoodSandalwood VanillaVanilla VioletViolet

Perfumer

Ratings
Scent
6.862 Ratings
Longevity
6.749 Ratings
Sillage
6.446 Ratings
Bottle
7.765 Ratings
Value for money
7.728 Ratings
Submitted by Michael, last update on 09/27/2025.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to
Cašmir (Eau de Parfum) by Chopard
Cašmir Eau de Parfum
Black Orchid (Eau de Parfum) by Tom Ford
Black Orchid Eau de Parfum
Vanilla Fields (Cologne) by Coty
Vanilla Fields Cologne

Reviews

7 in-depth fragrance descriptions
JSpines

176 Reviews
JSpines
JSpines
Helpful Review 5  
Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black
The store that I work at sells a good amount of perfume and cologne at discounted prices. During the holiday rush, we get an influx of stock due to increased demand during that busy shopping period. I noticed some perfume on the shelf that I'd never heard of before, Elizabeth and James.
I went about my daily rountine during my shifts and just ignored their existance. We had two, 50 ml. bottles, Nirvana Black and Nirvana White. The later had eventually sold but other sat there on the shelf day after day. I admit that the "violet, sandalwood, vanilla" description on the box intrigued me, especially the vanilla because I love it so. However, in the past I haven't had much luck finding a pleasing fragrance that is heavy on the vanilla.
I decided to research this enigma and discovered that this was actually a celebrity perfume by the Olsen twins, Mary-Kate and Ashley. In my mind, I wrote it off but as I started to read different reviews, my interest was peaked.
This lone bottle never did sell and was marked down on clearance. So for 44 dollars plus my 10 percent off, I decided to give it a go so I bit the bullet and did a blind buy (even though I was nervous!) I've been burnt on blind buys many times in the past! (Havent we all?!)
The following day I showered, spritzed it on, got dressed and left for work.
At first I panicked because I was indifferent about the initial violet note (a little sharp) but it fades quickly and leaves behind a soft sandalwood/vanilla scent that I found myself really enjoying as the day unfolded. Low and behold, I was impressed!
This perfume is nothing like your typical celebrity scent offering. I find it to be a step-up. If I hadn't have known before smelling it that it was a celebrity fragrance, I wouldn't have believed it. It smells "expensive" and the bottle itself is modern and streamlined, making it lovely and classy looking.
Most vanilla scents I've tried have been suffucating and choking but this is quieter and more understated. Unfortunately, I find that it sits extremely close to the skin and doesn't project very well. It's lasting power is also below average. I, however, don't care because I enjoy wearing it anyway, even if it's just for my own pleasure. A vanilla scent that I can finally call successful on my skin.
Overall, it puts me in mind of some other scents I've tried over the years. "Boyfriend" (Kate Walsh), "Success is a Job in New York" (Bond No. 9), "Addict" (Dior), "Ambre" (L'Occitane) and "Organza Indecence" (Givenchy.) By no means am I saying that these perfumes smell like Nirvana Black but something about wearing them puts me in the same mind set.
If only it lasted and projected more. It would be near perfection for me. I am still going to wear it, regardless and will enjoy the intimacy of it.
1 Comment
7.5
Bottle
5
Sillage
7.5
Longevity
1
Scent
Sorceress

213 Reviews
Sorceress
Sorceress
2  
Not My Idea Of Bliss and Delight
I recently tested Nirvana Black and Nirvana White. No, no, not for me. Not either of them. Let me explain.
Nirvana Black comes across as pure pepper. Very strong pepper hit me immediately and stayed throughout the life of this perfume. It never diminished. A wash of sandalwood envelops the peppery sense as if it's framing it solidly. Here's the problem. The sandalwood smells synthetic. It's not woody. It's not natural. It doesn't bring any pleasant images. On top of that, the pepper stings. It bites.
As two lonely prominent notes, they're headache inducing. Unfortunately, in Nirvana Black, they were the only two notes that surfaced.
It was suggested to me to at Sephora to layer Nirvana Black and Nirvana White. I did. I tried the suggestion. Now, bear in mind the cost of this suggestion. Even at the cost of the rollerballs which are $22 apiece, that would be layering $44 worth of perfume, ?just to make Nirvana Black better.
Frankly, it only made it worse. Nirvana Black is far stronger and overpowers Nirvana White, which is an in your face blast of a floral. Peony is the main note and it hits you full frontal in White. As in Black, White has the power to smell synthetic.
So what did Nirvana Black really remind me of? Walking down the laminate plastic aisle at Home Depot. That's my mental image when I smell my hand, my wrist, and where I sprayed this perfume. These are not people-pleasers. At least not to me.
On the up side, they lasted for five hours, that's at least the point that I decided to wash them off. So longevity is wonderful. After the initial blast, which is rather strong, they do sit close to the skin. Nirvana Black seems more suitable for shopping in the winter-time in any home-remodeling store and Nirvana White just comes across more as a floral room spray.
Both are listed as unisex fragrances, but they didn't seem masculine nor feminine to me. Probably because of the more synthetic feel to them, I couldn't nor I wouldn't classify them as either type of fragrance.
These two perfumes are encased in a rather chic container, stylish and sleek. Actually visually pleasing and different. It's the one aspect of the perfume I did like.
1 Comment
8
Pricing
7
Bottle
5
Sillage
7
Longevity
7.5
Scent
Cb88

7 Reviews
Cb88
Cb88
2  
Dark, Chic, NYC
I'm surprised at the lukewarm reviews on here! I find Nirvana Black to be such an interesting scent, it's dark without being too heavy and chic with an edge. I'm in my mid-30s and feel like this is a perfect age to wear it. In the fall/winter I'll wear it during the day, spring/summer I'll wear it at night when I'm feeling extra sultry. As others mentioned the violet is a bit sharp at the beginning but the dry down is lovely. I wouldn't suggest doing a blind buy with this, and I also can't see this being an everyday fragrance. For me it's a nice addition to my collection for when I'm in the mood.
0 Comments
10
Pricing
5
Bottle
9
Longevity
8.5
Scent
Sniffle

1 Review
Sniffle
Sniffle
1  
Lovely Little Sample
I received my little sample bottle of Nirvana Black when I was still in school. My aunt took my sister and me to Sephora, and while I didn't buy anything, my sister snubbed her nose at the perfume and gave it to me. I was immediately drawn to the smokiness of it that gives way to sweet top notes. The sample bottle is a roll-on, but it lingers around in a pleasant haze. It's a mature scent for sure, one I only pull out for special occasions. And a little goes a long way! My little bottle from almost a decade ago is still a little under halfway full.
0 Comments
Mlleghoul

453 Reviews
Mlleghoul
Mlleghoul
2  
devastating on a doppelgänger
I received so many samples of Nirvana Black in my Sephora orders in 2014 but I never took the time to try it. I was convinced it wasn't going to be very good. I have since procured a mini-bottle, which isn't too much of an investment in case I hate it. For the record, I do hate the clunky, ugly bottle, whatever size it is. This begins as Vanilla Fields from Coty, which I recall from my 20s as a fairly cheap, but unexpectedly lovely, dusty, musky vanilla sandalwood. If I wait a minute or two, it then becomes a simple combination of warm whiskey and deep woods. I'm not sure what/which woods, though? Maybe a wooden box, where you stored the whiskey? This isn't a complex scent, but then again, I believe there are only 3 notes listed and sometimes more doesn't always mean better. It's nice enough, but don't love Nirvana Black and it doesn't feel like me, but I think it would be devastating on my doppelgänger.
0 Comments
More reviews

Statements

1 short view on the fragrance
KatzevogelKatzevogel 2 years ago
A dry and papyrus-y sandalwood, more complex than the notes would let on while still letting sandalwood steal the show.
0 Comments

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