Modern Muse by Estée Lauder

One of my favourite perfumes. It’s a white floral scent, barely citrusy and very ambered. Smells deliciously like an elegant woman in the morning. It lasts for many hours; I can even detect it the next day, though it becomes more woody and sweet. It compares well with Narciso Rodriguez For Her and yes, it’s very similar, especially in the dry down.

I tried this fragrance and didn’t notice the tangerine at first; rather, I sensed something floral in the heart, though weak. It finishes with vanilla and musk, also faint. It smells romantic, like those paintings of a virginal lady and gentleman. It’s not for me as I’m looking for something strong and noticeable; besides, it doesn’t last long and you need to carry a refill. It’s a fine, quality scent, but very expensive with no price drop.

Quality and artistry in perfume! I’m a collector and buy blind; I bought this in kamikaze mode because I hate patchouli and it’s listed twice… and I have no regrets! At first, it enveloped me in white flowers, jasmine and fresh bergamot, like a freshly watered garden. I thought it was for daytime or mild climates, just another summer freshie. After two hours, it changes almost 100%: it becomes wood and amber, the mandarin emerges (more bitter than citrus), and to my delight, THERE IS NO PATCHOULI! It resembles Bvlgari’s In Red; now it’s nocturnal, formal and sexy. That’s where the quality and artistry show, that unfolding of notes you don’t find in cheap perfumes. What a wonder! I love being surprised like this. The longevity is good, around 8-12 hours. Great sillage at first, then more intimate, which is why it feels so sensual.

I find it a bit strong, suitable for a mature woman, perhaps over 30. I liked it, but didn’t love it. Generally, I buy perfumes for any occasion, but I felt this one was for evening events. It’s not for everyone, so I recommend asking for a tester in the shopping centre beforehand.

I agree with those who say it resembles Narciso Rodriguez for Her EDT (95% to my nose). Although it’s a pleasant and clean scent, on my skin it only lasts a couple of hours, at least more than the NR. If you catch it on offer, it’s half price, but due to its poor longevity and sillage, I don’t think I’ll buy it again.

I love Estée Lauder perfumes: floral, feminine, and fresh. Tired of smelling sweet and cloying things, when I was given a sample of Modern Muse, it was a joy. I don’t agree with those who say florals are for older people; tastes break down gender and age barriers. I’ve received many compliments, even from men. On me, it lasts about seven hours; not much compared to other fragrances, but it depends on pH. On me it lasts seven hours, on others four. It’s a simple perfume, very floral, with jasmine predominating. I don’t feel the tangerine, but in the woody notes I note a touch of pepper. I use it all year round.

I remember the first time I tried it and I loved it; I saved up to buy it, and it was a great disappointment. It usually lasts nothing on my skin; I think at most an hour or half. People around me don’t smell it, and I even less so. If I apply more, it becomes very strong and I get completely dizzy; I can’t resist the intensity. Besides, two sales assistants said it’s for older people; I don’t know what to think, but in my opinion young girls and ladies can use it. In short, I would never buy it again. To be my first perfume from a recognised brand, it left me totally disappointed, so expensive and the scent lasts absolutely nothing.

I’ll say it, but at least it doesn’t smell like those over-saturated gourmand fruit bombs out there. For an Estée Lauder scent, I was expecting something more.

One of the worst from Lauder. A house with masterpieces like Estée Lauder deserves respect, not from its clients, but from its own history. Lauder is the perfect fusion between French mastery and American simplicity. It is the brand that unites those two worlds and from the start has respected that concept: slow, worked-over launches, with care, unique and not following trends. For me, it is the younger sister of the great French houses that are now further away (Guerlain, Chanel, Dior, Saint Laurent). A Lauder perfume is usually a safe bet for quality due to its longevity and personality. Aromatics Elixir, Youth Dew, Pleasures, Cinnabar, White Linen, Aromatics in White, even Happy (although I don’t like citrus), were talking about something, about the change of century… they are fragrances that tell a story and convey the brand’s integrity. They all come to stay; they are not products made to last five seasons and disappear. In Modern Muse I see none of this. It is a generic, weak scent, a fragrance that asks permission not to bother, not to make noise. And even so, it doesn’t say anything. There are perfumes that are enjoyed up against the skin, intimate, and yet are magnificent. This Modern Muse wants to be nothing; it has no ambition. It simply tells you that you’ve already heard it in many places. If Modern Muse is irrelevant, the latest version, Modern Muse Le Rouge Gloss, is infinitely worse. It is not only disappointing that Lauder has entered the game of flankers, so vulgar, so shoddy, so typical of loud fashion houses. The worst part is that it is a nauseating aberration of what is currently in style in women’s perfumery. A pity to see Lauder copying others. It was never like that.

I owned it some time ago and it was one of those disappointing purchases. It doesn’t smell bad, truth be told, the aroma is nice but nothing spectacular to my taste. It smells floral and woody, but very linear; it doesn’t change from the moment I apply it until it stops projecting. The longevity was an hour and a half on my skin and the sillage very poor, only right up against the skin. I used it daily but had to reapply it several times because it vanished quickly. It smells clean and fresh, and that’s all. I wouldn’t buy it again.

It smells very delicious and the bottle is very pretty, but it lacks strength; it is too weak, suggests nothing, and no one remembers it. It lasts on my skin around an hour… or less.

This modern muse feels a bit flat and plain: it smells nice enough, but has a touch that makes it feel outdated, nothing magnetic or seductive, resembling dozens of fragrances already saturating the market… I’d categorise it as a boring musk-floral. Its trail is minimal and its longevity precarious… in my opinion, I wouldn’t recommend it.

This modern muse turned out to be rather timid and simple: the scent is not unpleasant, but it has a note that makes it smell a bit obsolete; it is not magnetic or seductive, it is similar to many other fragrances flooding the market… I would place it in the category of a boring musk-floral. Its sillage is very limited, its longevity precarious… in my opinion, it is highly not recommended.

Simplistic and short-lasting. The saleswoman offered it to me as a jewel, the brand’s novelty, even saying it had technology and practically mutated. Well, she applied it and the scent didn’t seem pleasant or spectacular to me; I waited for it to change (mutate) into something better and all that happened was that it disappeared. Neither here nor there, a bad perfume, plus I remember it was priced high; I wouldn’t buy it for the love of it, worse than a knock-off perfume.

Super feminine fragrance, soft with that enchanting floral musky touch. The jasmine and wild orchid shine, but the lily truly takes the lead, very intense. Amber and vanilla give it that perfect sweetness, though I can’t detect any patchouli at all. Ideal for young girls, aged 15 to 25, and for days that aren’t stiflingly hot.