Heya Perfumed Posse Peeps, Portia from Australian Perfume Junkies in the Posse. Estee Lauder has long brought us better than decent fragrances at an affordable price point. They know their market and rarely does an Estee Lauder fragrance not capture the hearts of their intended. They are also huge, owning such brands as Tom Ford, MAC, DKNY, Donna Karan, Bobbi Brown, Jo Malone and others that I can’t remember. It’s a beauty behemoth. So back in 2013 when I heard there was a NEW Estee Lauder fragrance to be launched I was cautiously excited,

Modern Muse by Harry Fremont for Estee Lauder 2013

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Mandarin
Heart: Tuberose, fresh lily, honeysuckle, Sambac jasmine, Chinese Sambac jasmine absolute
Base: Patchouli, Madagascar vanilla, amber, wood notes, musk

Here’s a slightly edited version of what I wrote at the time of Modern Muse’s release: This was touted as the first stand alone release by Estee Lauder since Beyond Paradise in 2003, though they have had the Sensuous range since then. Harry Fremont, the perfumer who brought us Polo Sport, CK One and Sensi for Armani has created this one. Modern Muse has all the hallmarks of an enormous modern Estee Lauder success. It is sheer but has hefty sillage and scent bubble. Sweet but not cloyingly so, pretty, wearable by men and women and reminds me a little of L’Artisan’s Velour de Roses and SJP Lovely (without being exactly like either). It’s a musky, jasmine, honeysuckle fragrance that will lure your intended partners. Promise. MMMMMM

 Photo Stolen Flickr

The reason I’m writing this post is two fold. The first reason is that one of my dearest girl friends Mum’s smelled incredible the other day, both sweet, floral, a little dirty (I think the patchouli) and clean musky. When I went in to hug her I was bathed in a very beautiful and elegant scent. At the time I noted it but we were full of Hello’s etc and I forgot to mention it. Later in the day, after lunch we were chatting and I could smell the fragrance again, cleaner now but undeniable the same waft. Still with a sparkle in it and very appealing. Knowing that I knew the smell in my head I was expecting to hear that she was bathed in a Lutens, Rance or a L’Artisan. On my asking what fragrance she was wearing, the answer: Modern Muse by Estee Lauder. SURPRISE!

The second reason is that having run through about 5ml of it in a very short time when Modern Muse was first released I hadn’t given it a though till this incident and felt I needed to get back to grips with it. So off to Surrender To Chance I went and ordered a 5ml decant. It arrived a few days ago and upon opening my order it was the first thing to really catch my eye. So, what do I think a year on?

Photo Stolen DeviantArt

I love the pithy mandarin opening that seagues quickly into a white flower samba, very hot Latin holiday nights. Good projection and sillage for the first 30 minutes. The Estee Lauder team has made a fragrance that is lovely, wearable, pretty and unchallenging. Modern? Voleur de Roses was released in 1993, Lovely 2005, Guilty 2010, Elie Saab 2011, so though it’s not new the general feel is still quite modern. The clean musks are very laundry but in Modern Muse it seems to work, even though usually they annoy me at this level. My skin gives me about 3-4 hours of noticeable fragrance but then my nose becomes anosmic to what’s left, though Jin can still smell me clearly. Next morning I can smell it clear as day and continue to be able to for about 3 hours till I shower, interesting. I can see a bottle of Modern Muse in my future, it’s another thing I love about the scent, the bottle is great.

Modern Muse is available at all Estee Lauder counters
Surrender To Chance has samples starting at $3/ml

What did you think of Modern Muse? Did Estee Lauder hit a home run for you?
Portia xx