Description
Estée Lauder presents Modern Muse, the first major perfume launch in the last decade since Beyond Paradise from 2003 (wwd). This perfume is Estée Lauder’s attempt to climb back to the top of the perfume houses. Modern Muse symbolizes what it means to be an independent and self-confident woman today, sure of herself and her style. It is a confidence that inspires.
Perfumer Harry Fremont tried to express the duality of the composition by creating a two accord composition of sparkling jasmine (which symbolizes femininity) and sleek woods (representing strength). The first accord, accord of jasmine, blends exotic notes of mandarin, tuberose, fresh lily, honeysuckle, dewy petals, Sambac jasmine and Chinese Sambac jasmine absolute. The sleek woods accord combines two types of patchouli, Madagascar vanilla, amber wood and soft musk.
Model Arizona Muse (whose name fits perfectly) is the face of the new fragrance. The fragrance is available as 30, 50 and 100 ml Eau de Parfum.
Modern Muse was launched in 2013.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74U5ZvLSIvk&rel=0|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1iF9V0nB1w&rel=0
aldamirvah – :
I was gifted a rollerball of this fragrance. I keep trying it & thinking “I Like it, but…”
I agree with those who say this is a nice, well balanced, white floral that would work well at the office. It’s reserved in its throw, but not intimate. It is floral in a “petals” sort of way. It confuses me though. Normally my skin chemistry takes white florals to a heady place. This doesn’t do that. I’m getting the sense that, perhaps, something like Iso E Super may have been used here.
I’ve been trying to layer it with other fragrances, but puts a damper on anything it’s paired with. Strange, right? That said, it works fine on it’s own. I’m keeping my rollerball for the office, but I’m not sure how much use it’ll get.
dm5700 – :
I previously gave this a “meh” review, with compliments for the typically impeccable Estee Lauder blending and points lost for a lack of originality. I’ve since decided that those are precisely the elements I now enjoy and this fragrance now graces my collection.
The change of tune was prompted by how easy this fragrance is to wear. Dress her up, dress her down, she’s unimposing, inoffensive, pleasant, and still polished without being mumsy or boring. So sure, she doesn’t stand out in the crowd, but take her anywhere you please. She’s a bit of a chameleon like that. What she lacks in unique personality traits she makes up for in flexibility.
Getting ready in the morning is easy with Modern Muse around because it ensures that on days where I’m not sure what to do. I can always give her a spritz and not come to regret it later no matter what my day may throw at me.
svetasoroshkina – :
I purchased this back in 2015, and I really loved it. At the time, it was my signature scent. Classy and elegant, musky and creamy, with a noticeable jasmine note. I wore it almost exclusively during the fall and winter for the next two years, before deciding it was no longer a good fit for me and gifting the remainder of my bottle to a friend.
So, what changed? For starters, the jasmine started to become overpowering to my nose for whatever reason (I did become pregnant in 2016, perhaps that had something to do with it), and overall I was just unimpressed with the longevity. It’s a really pretty, ladylike fragrance, but poor performance compared with other perfumes that captured my attention. I think I got around maybe 4 hours with this, versus 8+ with the fragrances I moved on to. The drydown in this perfume is just lovely, pity it doesn’t last longer.
taviza – :
Beautiful, classy, elegant.
However I think Morden muse was reformulated a year later to accommodate for Morden muse chic. Morden muse lost its intensity and Morden muse chic gained it all.
I still got my bottle from 2013, the scent is the exact same as Morden muse chic.
Morden muse did change a little since 2014. So if I were to repurchase, I would have to go with Morden muse chic.
The highs and lows of the fragrance industry.
svetamers – :
This fragrance is my sexy, all dressed in black, better watch out, weapon…lol extremely sensual, not too musky, It’s a floral scent, but not too girly…it’s more of an night blooming Jasmine type with hints of soft musk scent. Clean, and not cloying, evening scent….like I said, It’s my got to scent.
zoomix1992 – :
For me this is a very seductive, “diva” perfume 🙂
When you want to stay “clean” but in the same time very sexy and ellegant woman, choose this ! it´s classic, very charming …for any age after 22 🙂
I am a singer and performer and usually wearing this perfume during my night concerts – the best is to put it right after, mixed with my skin full of adrenaline and then going to meet my family and friends and other people who congratulate you and you just feel awesome with the cloud of this masterpiece…black dress…nacked kneck…little wind in your hair…
ohhh
just love it:)
sexy
night
scent 🙂
Xanxus – :
Estee Lauder does NOT dissapoints with this perfume. On my skin this is a soft, powdery, floral scent. The jasmine note is front and center. The dry down, is all about that Madagascar vanilla note. This is a beautiful scent. I absolutely love this perfume.
Gepwhersusene – :
I think this perfume suffers from its own perfection.
Imagine a woman in a perfectly tailored dress, wearing an immaculate French bun, without a strand out of place. A sharp jawline, a straight posture. What do you see? Perfection. There is nothing wrong with it. But the heart always demands a streak of madness, something thats a window into who she is. A red lipstick, perhaps. A bright scarf that demands attention. Whatever it takes.
This is exactly whats missing in Modern Muse. This is a perfume that is blended with an almost clinical precision, not a thing out of place. And that is certainly something to be appreciated. But that’s just it –beyond that, Modern Muse has little to offer in terms of character.
Modern Muse Chic scores a hit with the plum note. J’adore works a charm with the pear and the lily. Even Gucci Bamboo shows some spark with the ylang-ylang and sandalwood.
Modern Muse EDP, unfortunately, offers no charisma to justify the use of the word “muse”. It is masterful perfumery, but uninspired.
It is ideal to be worn for work if applied with the light hand, if you don’t want to actively draw attention. Even if this perfume gets noticed, you’re more likely to receive a compliment than a snort.
Having said that, Estee Lauder doesn’t compromise when it comes to quality. The ingredients are great quality, the musk is beautifully done, projection and longevity are spectacular.
phr710speagoessenda – :
This smells so much like SJP Lovely to me
A very fresh and clean smelling fragrance
Classy, but kinda boring
TiexAvarriark – :
Modern muse is one of my fave perfume, i think the floral notes and musk blend so perfectly and leave fresh and clean feeling on my skin.
A couple year before try this perfume i was wearing Jlo still and i think they are similar but more floral in modern muse.
Mexhe210Bessinepome – :
From the notes, this seems like it would be similar to Gucci Bloom (which I have and am obsessed with). It is, but it’s not as special on me – where Bloom is creamy but still fresh, floral but still warm and oh, so sexy blooming in the Summer, this is more conventional and office-friendly, like how Beautiful did tuberose in the 90’s. It’s not bad, but suffers from comparison for me.
Glorion – :
A lovely white floral, much, much better than its reputation. I adore most of the Narcisos, really adore, but the original black For Her edt is the one I like the least. THIS one is what that Narciso wants to be! This one is bright and almost bubbly, which is not very common when this much jasmin is used. Its got a green pick-me-up factor coming from the lily and the mandarin. Honeysuckle keeps it from being too animalic, but there is an animalic aspect, just balanced enough so that this is work friendly. Its also grounded and not fleeting, in fact it lasts a long time on me. Its very sophisticated, smart and still friendly and soft. It’s super versatile and the musk IS amped up, but not clean and fabric softener like, yet not skanky. Its less sweet than the aforementioned Narciso, less sour than Lanvin Rumeur (new version) and more distinct than Idylle- all three cousins of this one. But this one wins the competition. Mandarin softens the lily and there is not a drop too much of lily, thank you very much. Extremely classy fragrance. Dry amber and I smell no vanilla.
Merlc939Unlogrere – :
I received a sample of this and was initially unimpressed. A sharply fruity sweet opening followed by soft florals and a rather generic musky and woodsy dry down. Nothing offensive, nothing special, perfectly likable but unmemorable. Moderate projection, great longevity.
But then! I found myself turning to this perfume on days when I needed to be slightly more polished or confident. It’s a moderately strong fragrance that doesn’t overpower. The generic nature of this fragrance begins to work in its favor. It makes its presence known without shouting. When I wear this perfume I know that I’m not offending anyone with my scent but I am making myself visible. This could easily be a daily fragrance for someone working in a corporate setting.
If this were available in 15 ml I would consider purchasing but don’t feel it necessary to purchase a full-sized bottle. I don’t find myself enjoying the fragrance enough to warrant the price and enjoyment is a high priority for me.
Ewartbho – :
Pretty basic. All i get is crisp white flowers. I can see why some may overlook this one. Its a safe floral without being too sweet. I’m no expert at identifying each and every specific flower but they all definitely blend well together. Like walking through a white floral garden on a bright and warm sunny day. Glad it’s not heavy with tuberose, (which I tend to cower away from), if not neutralized with other ingredients. Others have distinguished Modern Muse as a “no non-sense professional woman with a career” that wont look back much and only moves forward…with grace and modesty. Appropriate level of sillage and duration power is not bad i get 3 hrs tops. I think it’s nice overall!
super.piny2009 – :
I’ve read a lot of other reviews about how Modern Muse is boring or derivative, and this was completely how I felt at first. I bought this as a blind buy for prom in my last year of high school, and I was underwhelmed, regretted not getting the flanker, Le Rouge Gloss, which makes me think a little of Loverdose.
After wearing it for a whole summer, and then looking back on it now, I think it’s actually a very well-made perfume, and really hard to forget.
It’s fresh, floral, and absolutely not soapy or powdery. It makes you feel like you’re wearing water, but without any synthetic notes. It’s just nothing like similar ditzy florals, and it really has staying power in your head. I don’t really know how to describe it, but it makes “white floral” into something completely different.
That being said, I would disagree about this being an “office” scent. Is it inoffensive and sophisticated? Yes. Does it smell anything like a muse? No. Modern Muse is more like that really innocent underage girl you absolutely can’t have sex with. It also doesn’t have a lot of musk or longevity. You’re lucky if you get a couple hours out of it.
AssomAnetesty – :
I loved this when I sampled it in stores. I tried this scent in stores at least 3 times before buying a small bottle. Now that it’s home (and it’s been over a month) I’m not so sure anymore. I smell a bit too much sandalwood in the top notes – does that make any sense? Once it dries down, it’s much better. Florals came through, though I still keep smelling wood(s). But for some reason, I got strong sandalwood or cedarwood or something at first. A more mature scent, to be sure, but not that mature; I’d say, 35 year old woman with a good job in a good place in her life. For some reason, I envision a single NYC elegant powerful woman in a business suit with a pencil skirt. Powerful, elegant, pretty but not very specific – floral orangey scent that’s workplace-safe.
tipSwipromo – :
This would be a really good summer scent. It’s a beautiful fragrance, very light and musky. I’ll enjou this this summer.
urfin3 – :
The notes pyramide has so much beautiful white florals, but the fragrance is rather musky.
Not my type.
twelryalkarce – :
Well, this is a surprise! I purchased Modern Muse a few years ago, and it was a blind buy. My reaction to it was a resounding “Meh!” So I sold it on Ebay. Yesterday I was gifted a 1.7 oz bottle of the Eau de Parfum from Estee Lauder, included with my hefty purchase Online. After morning shower I thought I’d give it another go. And as I said, this was certainly a surprise! This is absolutely beautiful! I’m still amazed. Who knew?? Get yourself a bottle today!
JelenaZuvela – :
I’m out of this perfume for nearly 3 months now, and I really missed it, I need to buy a new one!!
A lovely jasmine musky scent.
fcsmUltras – :
The more fragrances I test from Modern Muse line the more I am convinced that my favorite is Chic. Modern Muse, the initial release comes right after. It just has a less intense character than Chic.
Maybe it’s because I love florals, mostly white florals, and not only, mainly tuberose and jasmine, honeysuckle, gardenia, and I’m never saying no to a lily, the calla lily and the lily of the valley. This would sound as a headache inducing white floral fragrance.
Fear not: in Modern Muse the floral heart stays true to what it states without becoming what you would name “screechy white floral” , it is therefore : “modern”. And if anyone would still insist that it’s “grandma perfume”, well I’m sorry, but they are too damn narrow minded.
After a completely indifferent opening that did remind me of acetone at times, here comes the array of all white florals: jasmine, honeysuckle, lily of the valley, lily, tuberose, gardenia(?) somewhere behind. There is also a lot of greeness holding these florals; you would call it a floral green. It could be the patchouli. There are woodsy tones as well.
It does get headier as time passes, only to start fading after four hours when it will be felt only from close to skin; it will eventually fade. Reminds me of Diorissimo. Then of Tuberose Gardenia. Then of London (another underrated classic…). Can’t get enough of this bottled spring.
An absolutely lovely, lady-like, classic floral, beautiful and polished. Appropriate for any occasion I believe and will enhance every look. I think I might need her along with the Chic sister.
As for the comparison with Chic, as I see them voted as similar scents, I would add that Chic is centered around tuberose with a suede background, which is what differentiates her from MM. They are close. But one you smell Chic you will be able to tell them apart. Also, MM is more lush while Chic is dry.
andronaki1984 – :
Underrated scent, IMHO.
The beginning is honeysuckle/jasmine/pale tuberose…touch of orange. These florals are all balanced and held up by the patch/amber/woodsy/vanilla. This scent was a complete surprise for me, NEVER expected to like it at all. But through the first test, then a full-wear of this, I was smitten..then hooked. Usually NOT my cup of tea type scent. Never say never…lol.
Medium projection and sillage,but somehow you are still aware of it after a long while…???…
Great,safe everyday scent. Yum !!!
pompyrbg627bedyWelty – :
On of the few fragrances I can not describe. It is heavily feminine, it sits on the skin like a warm velvet. I feel musk, amber, dark flowers. There is some herb, may be cardamom. I think I like it. Not for very young audience I am sure.
janov.ia – :
This scent wears well in the fall and winter. However, the generic “flower petal” note becomes suffocating. I found that this fragrance did not evolve or develop over a few hours, which is something I require or else the scent becomes irritating and obtrusive to my nose.
I have a 1.0 FL OZ bottle of original Modern Muse Eau de Parfum that is 1/2 full. Purchased in 2015.
PM me to TRADE for something of equal value. US ONLY. Perhaps a small travel size bottle or two.
ilnaz95 – :
Estee Lauder is trying to make this their perfume for younger audiences, both with the packaging (which is beautiful!) and in their spokeswomen they have chosen to promote the perfume. I just don’t get youthfulness and modernity when I smell this. It smells floral with a lot of musk to it. But it’s not really a sweet musk, it almost smells like salt or a bit of savory flavor. It’s very unique, but for some reason I just can’t jump on board with this being a very modern perfume. However this perfume is making me believe that perfume should have no age and if a fifteen year old girl smells this from a perfume counter and loves it then they should absolutely wear it! Perfume really has no age or gender, if you like florals with sophisticated musk then girl wear this!
antonio550 – :
I received a large sample and its just sweet and not overpowering like youth dew
tatarinov-stryi – :
I love this so much. The honeysuckle is realistic and beautiful. Its musky and animalic in the drydown, which is exactly what I was hoping for by the notes. This is everything I wished the entire NR line would be. Unfortunately, I cannot wear it. There is something about musk/patchouli/citrus (and maybe + certain white florals) that turns sharp on my skin. I had the same problem with NR for her (in the black bottle) and Coco Mad. If they just left the citrus out of this, it would likely become my signature scent. I’ll probably hang on to my sample to see if I can layer it with something that will make it less sharp, that’s how much I love it.
ETA: Something happened when I stopped eating gluten: this fragrance stopped turning sharp on my skin. Hurray!!!
Машенька – :
It is a sweet patchouli fragrance that comes in a pink juice……again. Very common, popular scent I smell everywhere. Maybe one is sweeter maybe one is more patchouli~y, but it is the same scent.
Inoffensive, and also…..indefensive(?)
If you like to blend in, this frag is for you.
pmuc – :
On me this is a weak musk scent along the lines of Narciso Rodriguez, but without any really outstanding floral component. Just a woody musk that fades within a few hours. I prefer Le Rouge flanker as that is more interesting than this one.
dmytroivanovych – :
Really full on musk for me, yes there’s plenty of jasmine, but the musk kills it. But that’s probably just me, I’m very sensitive to musks. So an avoid for anyone similarly sensitive.
крылатая – :
It’s a full on jasmine perfume, so if you love jasmine, you will love it! Slowly it dries down to a pleasant floral. However, this by far is not a unique scent. If you are looking for a good quality jasmine perfume, then your search ends here. More than Narciso Rodriguez for Her, I found the scent similar to Narciso Rodriguez Poudree when I spray initially, but the dry down is not as powdery woody as Poudree but more white floral.
patriot1973 – :
I’m decluttering this from my collection so I wanted to review it first. All I get from this is citrus and the longetivity is poor. I paired it with a vanilla scented body lotion to make it more to my liking. It vaguely reminds me Light Blue. I don’t see anyone else making that comparison so it makes me wonder if I had a bad bottle.The bottle itself is cute and classy I think. I wish I would have liked the scent
Update: I had to come back and update this because I really didn’t give this one enough credit. I got rid of it and then realized I missed it and bought another one! It is the perfect scent for office/ daytime or anytime you want to smell classy and feminine. The more I wear it the more I appreciate the soft jasmine notes.
chaosan – :
The roller ball has none of the citrus if the spray. The roller starts with a blast of jasmine and stays as a light white floral throughout the drydown. It’s pleasant but not unique. There are lots of jasmine-dominate florals.
This is okay. It’s not a favorite and I won’t replace it when the rollerball is empty.
kikorrik – :
The Estee Lauder Modern Muse line is lovely.
I like them all so far. Modern, classy and elegant.
My favorite is the Le Rouge edition. I have always liked this brand. It was my passed on mums favorite brand of cosmetic and perfumes.
Not my favorite brand, but certainly one of them.
If you have not tried these and love fragrance. You should.
davyd-3000 – :
I was looking for a fall fragrance and this could just be it. I hate to describe this as floral patchouli its more than that… Its the last of the summer flowers in bright autumn light as the leaves change. Its your first wearing of cashmere or knit. Its time for apple cider but not yet Halloween. Sweet, earthy, floral and slightly musky. Similar to SJP Lovely but prettier and more delicate.
I can say this perfume deserves its name. Its classic yet modern. I really love this.
grubby – :
Modern Muse starts with classic, creamy white flowers, most noticeable a naturalistic jasmine.
Unfortunately, on my skin musk and patchouli start to push the flowers to the background as soon as they come in and develope a very sharp and intense smell. I do get the comparison to Narciso Rodriguez, it’s a similar kind of musk. A hint of honeysuckle is the only remainder of the florals that can stand up to it.
It’s not the first time I have this problem with musk/patchouli combos, my skin amplifies them when there are not enough warm or sweet notes to tame them. The scent luckily stays close to the skin, but only calms down after many hours. I noticed that it was better outside in the wind, but I for sure don’t need a fragrance specifically for outdoor situations on windy days.
As the flowers in the beginning, the honeysuckle note in the background and the final skin scent after 9 hours are beautiful, I would guess this could be a very nice floral perfume for others, but sadly, not for me.
If you’re picky with musks, just be careful while testing this and beware from blind buying.
andrei4_n – :
Everyone says it smells similar or extremely similar to this or that other perfume, but I personally think this smells very similar to Elie Saab Le Parfum.
The jasmine is the EXACT same accord. They must be using the same lab. The honey substitute here is the honeysuckle which is basically the-less-sweet-more-floral clean honey. I also smell that fresh orange blossom you’ll find in Le Parfum in Modern Muse, but perhaps I confuse that note with the lily that is ostensibly listed in the pyramid next to the other nondescript flowery whateverness.
Aside from that, I detect no tuberose or real musk here. None. If there is some muskiness, I suppose it is a very very sterile one that my nose cannot quite decipher. Hence the reason why I cannot quite see the parallel between this one and Narciso Rodriguez which is of course musk all the way up and out.
Really luminous and lush, just like Elie Saab. Perhaps younger and more carefree. I really like her, because she is elegant, feminine, and modern w/o resorting to that nowadays much too common ‘sweetness’.
genn62 – :
A nice enough warm floral. Doesn’t make as much of a statement as I wish it did. Very soft. The lasting power is not great, and the sillage is nothing spectacular. Very skin-like, an easy fragrance to throw on.
inammeree – :
Out of the like, 50 perfumes I’ve sampled this summer, I definitely would describe this one as smelling the most “feminine”
kuzma25 – :
With the first spray it’s a blast of citrus. No worries though the dry down settles into a peaceful warm floral.
MoorseTrierly – :
This is a very nice jasmine type white floral. I’m not sure I can identify tuberose, I’m not attuned to it yet, this lasts a long time, much longer on fabric.
This is a winter test.
I’ve tried this before and thought oh no another white floral. But, out of the many white florals if it works on you like it does on me, then it’s a good buy. I get good spillage and pretty good longevity.
It doesn’t go bitter on me, where Michael kore glam jasmine does. These two start out pretty similar in feel and scent.
I know some people think this type of fragrance is a bit old, I don’t agree.
I can’t pick out the other accords as moy nose needs more practice.
It is very similar to m muse chic, chic has a fruit opening and goes a bit like the m muse dry down. You might not need both in that case.
It is not like m muse Le rouge, nor m muse rouge.
I should really try these side by side.
From my perfumes similar ones might be:
Michael by Michael kors, the one with the suede look stripe on the box, taupe colour.
Agent provocateur petals noir which is much more quiet and ‘dusty’
Agent provocateur mistress which isn’t as fresh as m muse. It’s more ‘dirty’.
Jimmy Choo flash, slightly, the white floral edge is of the fresher clearer kind, all else is different.
It’s blended in a smooth way as Chloe love, but the scent is different.
Prada d’iris absolute and prada de oranger are a different type of floral all together.
M muse is clear, wet almost. The prada kind seem dry in comparison.
fbm835speagoessenda – :
I totally agree with reviewer pekoee – I’m not sure why everyone is snelling musk. This isn’t musky. It’s a orange tuberose jasmine floral. It’s quite nice. If you like classic florals try this.
skumatov – :
Thank you zipporahh for the beautiful bottle of modern muse!! I feel lucky! I love this perfume! It’s very addicting! A great compliment getter and still , imo, unique! It opens with a sweet waxy Lily, honey suckle and ripe , clean-ish Jasmine and what smells like strawberry on my skin. Later patch and musk appear and it ends with ambery woods. It’s sweeter than I remember. I tested it years ago when it first came out. I remember thinking it was to mature and sharp for me at the time. Now it blows my mind;) Heady. Sweet, musky, full bodied, long lasting perfume with great sillage! I don’t want to be without a bottle ever! It can be worn year round and in Just about every occasion.
HarErrodo – :
I don’t like it. The lily and honeysuckle is very heavy on my skin. For me, it’s too sweet and very headache inducing. I have a 3.4 oz bottle if anyone wants to do a trade.
Bleatsskasife – :
This jasmine based perfume is a white-flower beauty. Tasteful and very true to the flower notes. On my skin it doesn’t get too sharp, it stays soft with a hint of sweetness (which is not overpowering and doesn’t get heavy). Lovely creation from Estee Lauder, very wearable if you are a fan of white-flower perfumes.
Vatras12345 – :
What a shame,,I thought I was really going to like this.But alas,,its just not my style. I have a sample for once..lol. First spritz was hey,this is nice..then soon after I started to be irritated by the strong,sharp musk. I love musk,but white musk without something sweet is harsh and clinical smelling to my nose. I love the musk in say..Daisy Dream..but this is not that. Oh well..it is a lovely scent,just not for me.
Ленар1988 – :
Modern muse, you’re finally mine! For a long time this fragrance has sparked my interest. Every macys I went into I made a habit out of spraying this onto testers.. I would then proceed to carry them around the mall with me sniffing away.
Im a big white floral lover, really. They’re probably my favorite category of fragrance. (Except for when they come off soapy and sharp!) This is no exception, while its not the best example of a realistic or true to life white floral, its simply a beautiful perfume. Modern muse really does honeysuckle well..
There is Some buttery balmy-ness going on. Something Creamy and soft, but also green and vibrant. Perfect for any occasion. Its a safe bet without compromising uniqueness and beauty. Big love. Modern muse is smooth and sexy in a discreet, coy way.
nemizes – :
I discovered this fragrance while working at Estee Lauder while I was 21 and in college. I was granted a free bottle, which has lasted me about 2 years now. The first thing that comes to mind about Modern Muse is professionalism, and being a modern woman in society today. When I wear it to a job interview or the office, I feel feminine but sophisticated, lady-like yet powerful. It’s not a very playful scent to me, it’s more like a “take charge and get down to business while looking really sexy” kind of scent, and as a Capricorn, I respect that. Overall, it’s one of my favorite scents, and I’m terribly afraid to smell the other scents in the line because I know I will probably get hooked on those too. Bravo to Estee Lauder for creating the perfect scent for the modern professional woman.
Komissar – :
The jasmine & wood combination makes this a safe choice to wear in the office, but the patchouli in the dry down makes me smell like a dirty hippie. I only wear 1 spritz, so I like to assume I’m the only one who thinks I’m a dirty hippie at the office. It’s a secret between me & myself.
Top note is mostly jasmine. Base note is mostly patchouli. It’s somewhat loud on the skin and longevity is pretty good. Pleasant but not too imaginative, which might be a good thing depending on the occasion. Good for serious settings.
murodkh – :
Oh dear… I think I may have fallen in love again.
Thank God I’m not as easily swayed by men as I am by perfumes, or who knows how I’d end up!!
I’ve teetered on the edge of liking the whole Narciso Rodriguez/Lovely/Idylle type musky-patchouli floral for a while. They always ended up being either too sweet, too sour, or too quiet for me.
This one however… Oh boy.
It really reminds me of those old school white florals like Fracas and Jardins de Bagatelle that just sweep you off your feet. Modern Muse is in no way old fashioned, though, not at all!
It is a sleek, modern confection, with a dusky, almost autumnal feel to it. The usual brightness of Lauder’s flowery perfumes has been turned down exactly halfway, and the smooth musky woods just peek in behind, like a handsome companion with his arm around your waist.
Love it! My new fall fragrance!
alekc1985tg – :
Dear Andreab969, you are so rigth!… I have Le Panthere Edp and Modern Muse Edp, so I layared the first one on the second one and they smell lovely together. Thanks for share this advice.
piligrimm03 – :
I don’t see where people see all this musk? This is not a musk perfume. This is extremely floral and the tuberose and orange are very pronounced.
irpa – :
My daughter gave me an Estée Lauder mini set for my birthday that includes Modern Muse. I’ve worn it twice now, and on me it is just a pretty, non-descript floral. Nice enough I guess but not really my style. On me the longevity is average – I was still catching traces of it in the afternoon (I sprayed it on in the morning before work) but by the evening it was completely gone. My husband sometimes likes florals in me but he was kind of meh on this one. Nothing about it tempts me to spring for a full size bottle, but I’ll use the mini one.
dimon.306 – :
This is insane but I had Cartier La Panthere on since this morning… still had skin scent. Decided I wanted to “play” with my collection. I layered “Modern Muse” on “La Panthere” and BAM! Crazy good combination! Crazy beastly beautiful result. I’ll shower and try it again in moderation… and see if my delight in this strange combo stays true. I’ll have to “sleep it off” though because the combo scent has me in its grip! It’s NOT going to wash off that easy lol. I feel like a walking talking wedding bouquet!
fluffy – :
The older I become, the more I enjoy wearing Estee Lauder fragrances. There have been many new releases from this house that I have missed in recent years, so the last few months I have begun to back-track and test all Estee Lauder scents on my radar. Modern Muse was for me a must-try.
Modern Muse is incredibly musky. I think this is the first fragrance from Estee Lauder that has fully embraced the white musk accord. Despite the fact that Modern Muse smells more like a Narciso Rodriguez perfume than an Estee Lauder scent, I quite enjoy this new take from the brand.
This fragrance is more of a clean and demure musk than a dirty one. The musk is softened by a crisp, feminine jasmine and lily blend that strikes me as being very classical and elegant.
Unfortunately Modern Muse doesn’t wear as well on my skin as it does on the card. On paper this fragrance is deliciously smooth, floral and musky, however on my skin the floral notes all but vanish leaving a sharp, laundry musk accord. In terms of longevity Modern Muse also lasts better on paper than it does on my skin. I got approximately 2-3 hours wear out of this fragrance with little to no projection.
I cannot stress enough the importance of trying this fragrance on your skin before purchasing. Like any musk based perfumes they can be very reliant on skin chemistry. There may also be the issue of being anosmic to certain musks in this fragrance which is not uncommon.
карлсон – :
I’ve already reviewed modern muse,well forget about,I just don’t delete it so that you can see that an almost “meh” first impression can grow to a strong love in less than a month.now I’m in love with modern muse head to hills
I didn’t find it similar to Narciso Rodriguez for her ed