Estée Lauder Modern Muse Nuit

It's been a long time since I've written about a perfume. It's something I find the majority of bloggers tend to stay away from because scent is such a personal thing and there's no way someone is going to buy a perfume just from reading about it whereas I might do with other beauty and skincare products. You really have to experience a perfume yourself, even if you think you might like something I always think you need to try a perfume for a while before deciding whether it's for you or not as a scent can change and develop as you continue to wear it throughout the day. 

My latest perfume purchase is Estée Lauder Modern Muse Nuit, the latest addition to the Modern Muse family and is was one that is relatively new, both to me and to the market having just launched last year.  Kendall Jenner was the face of the campaign which markets the perfume as a nighttime scent for what Kendall herself describes as a strong, stylish and feminine woman.

I first tried this at an Estée Lauder counter around Christmas time and my mam and sister tried it and loved it too. I'm a long time lover of Estée Lauder scents, Sensuous Nude is probably my all time favourite perfume so any time they release a new scent I'm always interested in trying it. You know you love a perfume when you spritz it on yourself at every opportunity. I've actually gone into Boots just to have a quick spray of this because I loved it so much. So when my boyfriend was going through the Duty Free in the airport last month I asked him if he'd pick me up a bottle and he kindly obliged. 

Let's begin with the bottle which is a gorgeous mixture of gold with deep blue/purple/green liquid inside a clear bottle topped off with a pretty bow that matches the packaging of the other incarnations of Modern Muse. The Estee Lauder site describes it as an Oriental Floral scent with notes of rum accord, jasmine absolute, sandalwood, musk and amber. I had a browse around on some perfume specific websites and there seems to be a consensus that their are top notes of mandarin and blackcurrant/cassis, middle notes of jasmine, chamomile and heliotrope and base notes of sandalwood, patchouli, amber, musk, Madagascan vanilla and tonka bean.

I haven't a clue what a heliotrope is (ok so I just looked it up and it's a purple flower), but I can definitely get the mandarin, sandalwood and patchouli when I spritz it first, then it develops to reveal the musk, jasmine and vanilla. That's just my personal take on it. I know scent can be different depending on the skin in comes in contact with which is why it's always good try try it yourself because it can smell completely different on someone else.

 Yes, this is marketed as a nighttime fragrance, but I wear it during the day because if I like a perfume I'll break all the rules and wear it whenever I want! Having said that it is quite a sophisticated, sexy and powdery scent that would be an ideal perfume for an evening out (or in, winky face).

If I hadn't tried it myself, I probably wouldn't have been inclined by reading it's description as I'm not usually a fan of anything too rich, however the notes all work together to make such a complex and beautiful scent that has quickly become one of my favourites. I'm completely obsessed.

Modern Muse Nuit is priced between €65- €126 depending on the size and is available from Debenhams, Boots, Arnotts and Brown Thomas.

Have your tried this or any of the other Estée Lauder perfumes? What's your current favourite scent?

Emma x

Flowerbomb

Viktor and Rolf's iconic perfume Flowerbomb recently celebrated it's tenth anniversary and for shame I hadn't actually tried it until recently. I can't believe I'd never spritzed it on myself on one of the many times I've been browsing around the Brown Thomas perfume hall. 

Allow me to begin by telling you that I absolutely adore this scent. I'm a big fan of floral scents, particularly those with Rose in them. Stella by Stella McCartney and the original Chloe are two of my favourite scents. I don't know what I was expecting from a fragrance named 'Flowerbomb', but it's the most intricate, sophisticated yet playful floral scent I've ever laid my nostrils upon. 

Since discovering Flowerbomb, I've learned that it's such a popular all-time favourite/Wedding day and signature scent for so many people I know and I can see why. The fragrance was designed by studying every facet of a bouquet, they wanted it to be the ultimate luxury- a thousand flowers in just one bottle. It's notes include tea and Bergamot, Sambac jasmine, orange tree, Cattleya Orchid, freesia, Centifolia rose and Patchouli. Mixed together, they create a rich, intense floral scent with fruity warmth. 

As you can see the packaging is a stunning glass grenade. It really stands to the fact that Viktor and Rolf are true artists, the bottle they have designed is as beautiful as the liquid it encases. 

The only problem I have is the price because I know I'm going to want another bottle once this one is finished. At €65 for just a 30ml it's definitely on the higher end of the scale, up there with brands like Chanel and Jo Malone. However you only need a small amount of this as it has incredible lasting power so a bottle should last you for a long time. 

Flowerbomb is available in Debenhams, Boots and Brown Thomas. 

Do you have a signature scent? What's your favourite perfume at the moment?

Emma x

Five Perfumes...

... in my current collection

 

Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel

Bergamot, Orange, Jasmine, Rose, White Musks and Vanilla

I don't know anyone who doesn't like Coco Mademoiselle. I was given this as a gift this past Christmas after years of spraying it on myself every time I walked past a Chanel counter. I would describe this as a vivacious and timeless scent, almost like Chanel's little sister if that makes sense. It's very expensive and is definitely a perfume you either give or receive as a gift. I can't see myself ever getting tired of it.

Stella by Stella McCartney

Peony, Rose Mandarin Orange and Amber

This is one of the more recent additions to my perfume collection. I tried Stella after reading about it on countless blogs, it seems to be everyone's favourite perfume right now.  This grew on me gradually and now I just love it. It's such a warm, sweet, rose scent. I would say it's quite modern and grown up and I like to wear it as my night-time fragrance.

Bronze Goddess by Estée Lauder

Citrus Floral- Orange, Citron, Tangerine, Lavender Flowers and Lemon Tree Leaves, Grapefruit Tree Blossoms

This is the most recent addition to my collection. I bought it a couple of weeks ago after continuously going to Estée Lauder counters just to spray this on myself. I knew if I didn't get it I would regret it as it's a Limited Edition Summer fragrance that is part of the Bronze Goddess Collection. This scent is Summer in a bottle. I would describe is as a creamy citrus scent, very orangey and so perfect for the Summer months. I can't really imagine wearing this when it's snowing outside in December so I'm getting as much use out of it as I can whilst also trying to preserve it because it's Limited Edition. If you get a chance I urge you to try this, but beware, you will want it! 

Crème de Pistache by Laura Mercier

Pistachio nuts, Almond, Praline and Hazelnuts

 I love everything pistachio scented or flavoured, so when I saw that Laura Mercier had released a scent along with their Pistache range I knew I would love it. This is another scent I used to go to the counter just to spritz on myself. My mam actually got a Laura Mercier gift set in the Christmas sales last year with a 15ml bottle of this and she gave it to me because she knows how much I love it. It's definitely one of those love or hate ones and I for one completely adore it.

Sensuous Nude by Estée Lauder

Woody Musk, Bergamot, Rose, Black Pepper, Honey, Amber, Sandalwood and Vanilla

I first discovered Sensuous Nude two years ago when a lovely Estée Lauder sales assistant gave my mam and I some samples of it when I was getting matched for my first tube of Double Wear Light. As soon as we tried it, we were hooked. My mam, my sister Kate, my friend and I all bought the perfume in the Duty Free on the way to Italy for Kate's wedding and we all wore it on her wedding day so for us it's linked with such a wonderful memory. I would describe this scent as delicate, powdery and feminine. I adore musky scents and this for me is the ultimate musky scent. Several people have asked me what I'm wearing when I've worn this and they have told me they went out and bought it straight away. It's the perfect date night perfume.



What perfumes/scents are you into at the moment?

Emma x