Muse

This is the most gorgeous fragrance. It's an unusual take on a floral fragrance in that it has notes of Pomelo, honeysuckle, jasmine and orris, giving it a sweetness that is so delightful in the heat, but without it being a freshie. It's super long lasting and absolutely irresistible. It sparkles and is full of life. It's like a Chanel from Les Exclusifs range, but with a quirky twist and so much more interesting. I would say that Corey Newcombe has earned his stripes as a master perfumer with this one and I'm always interested in what he comes up with next. I'm gutted that this is being discontinued, so I made sure to buy a couple of back up bottles. Apparently this is quite a difficult scent to make and the suppliers of certain raw ingredients are unreliable. On a side note, I also have Gretel and Verge, the first being just like Gretel found her gingerbread house and so warming for winter. It's a beast! Verge is like stepping into a mystical fairy garden, with its notes of green strawberry, pear, lime and tomato leaf, Moroccan rose and Indian jasmine and base notes of sandalwood and fresh linen. It's a freshie, but with a depth that satisfies lovers of amber vanillas like me during the summer.

Season: spring and summer, especially nights. Occasion: This is a very versatile frag that would suit any light-hearted occasion such as dates, weddings etc. Too nice to use as an everyday scent. This frag starts with a strong opening of pomelo and jasmine. The jasmine remains strong throughout, even through the dry down when the creaminess of the orris root plays its part. This is a true unisex fragrance that leans slightly to the feminine side. Sillage is moderate, but the scent only projects for about 4-5 hours so reapplication may be required if wearing for the entire day. Although the scent profile of this frag isn’t my style, it is another masterful blend from my favourite Australian producer.

Very unique and very unusual. While it's recognisable as a white floral, it's almost blurred, hard to pinpoint any particular note. My first thought was that it had a 'buttery' undercurrent - perhaps the sandalwood interacting with the honeysuckle - but there's still an overall lightness to it that stops it from feeling too heavy. If it's the citrus that's lending that transparency, it's not a citrus I'm used to (but then I can't say I've had much exposure to pomelo). On paper the spiced edges of the honeysuckle are more tangible, curling up in wisps that fade back in to the other florals.