The Muse

Steamed bedsheets. That's the scent. I own a lot of those clean perfumes (Per Se, White Crush, Sun Bleached, Blanche, Et Voila..), and this one is the most realistic of those all. Smells exactly as new bright white sheets that have been washed, dried in the sun and then steamed. Not sharp or pungent, but also has not any sweetness or perfume-like notes. Other "clean" perfumes pursue the clean skin vibe, or soapy profiles, or the just out of the shower scent. This one is the laundry-like type. It is not a lotion or soap, neither is a freshie. It is just clothes out of the washing machine, a white and crisp t-shirt. The scent of going to bed after putting a recently washed cotton or linen sheets. When wearing it, more than wearing a perfume, seems that you just have put on you recently cleaned clothes. Smells just like a clean and neat person that doesn't wear any perfume. I have smelled this kind of people a few times and, while I doubt they were wearing any perfume, The Muse achieves exactly that sensation. Some people just wear recently cleaned clothes that have been warmed with the heat of their body and they smell amazing. I have always wanted my clothes to smell like that, and now I have it encapsulated in a perfume bottle. I personally love that scent, but can understand why most people won't want to smell just like clean cotton clothes when reaching for a perfume.

SO. GOOD. This is the perfect clean scent. Absolutely heavenly on the skin.At first it smells like fresh laundry or like linens dried outside in crisp morning air underneath the sun. It develops a bit over time and becomes more sensual, yet is still clean, and has a gorgeous sweetness to it. Of course I can only speak for myself, but it works amazingly with my skin chemistry. Truly a ‘your skin but better’ scent. Fair to say I’m addicted and plan to always keep a bottle of this in my collection. Bonus point: Extreme sillage and longevity. I’ve never owned a perfume this strong before! I don’t mind though because clearly I enjoy the scent, and most importantly I don’t have to overspray or reapply which means it’ll last longer too. It’s not an affordable product but if you ask me it’s worth every penny :)

This perfume smells exactly like a laundry detergent. I prefer it on clothes rather than skin, as it makes my clothes smell as if they are freshly washed. On my skin, it is quite sweet and fades to a pleasant musky scent. If you want to smell like clean laundry, this is definitely for you. The Muse is inoffensive and suitable for any season. I prefer fresher perfumes to smell clean, like Marc Jacobs’s Cotton. I probably wouldn’t get a full bottle, but I will surely use up my small tester. Update: just after 2 days of wearing it I want to get a full bottle just to be able to return to that clean and pleasant smell. I’ve been complimented on it and I love it on me :) New update after 6 months: I got myself a full bottle and I’m loving it 🖤

Dec 2024: As a musk lover I was deeply disappointed. There is NO musk here. And even after hours - still laundry detergent - nothing else. Would be nice if they added viola or licorice, something. But no. This makes one wonder if Zarko's muse was a laundry lady. Jan 2026: Revisited her after a year long perfume journey. My first perfume review and one of the three Zarko’s in that trio discovery box I got for Christmas 2024. At the time I had over sprayed. The Muse is gentle and needs to be handled carefully. If you think she’s harsh you’ve probably over sprayed. Do a spray walk or just spray the back of your neck. Nothing more. She’s so sweet and gentle. I have completely changed my mind about her. Very cute and clean scent. Adorable.

This is an interesting one. I got a small sample and I hated it at first. Smelled like harsh laundry detergent. But as I kept using the sample, it grew on me. There is something soft and fresh about it too and it didn’t take long until I loved it so much I bought a full bottle. It isn’t a sexy fragrance you wear on a hot date or night out, but it’s perfect for just casual daytime wear. Strangely enough, even though it’s quite simple and linear, it’s probably my most complimented perfume - everywhere I go people always say I smell so good and ask what fragrance I’m wearing. And honestly it’s one of my absolute favorite fragrances now, I really want to try more perfumes by this brand.

Laundry detergent in a bottle. After MKF 724, this is my favourite. It starts a bit sweet, then it becomes an amazing long lasting clean perfume. I went to a department store and asked this lady for a clean, out of the shower scent that last long. After testing a lot of perfumes, I gave up... Then, she said ''oh, wait a minute, there is The Muse''. I smelled it on my arm and oh boy, I loved it! It lasts even longer on clothes, give it or take 2/3 days! Again, if you really like clean laundry type of scents, this is for you! If not, this one will give you an headache, because it's strong. Scent: 8/10 Sillage: 8/10 Longevity: 9/10 Overal: 8.5/10 Blind buy?: No

If you are searching for the perfect fabric softener scent, look no further. I have tried almost every "laundry" fragrance and this is the best one I have found!! It is 100% realistic fabric softener/detergent. For me Blanche and Room 1015 are slightly too aldehydic and sharp (still love them but they still didn't hit the spot for what I was looking for) - clean reserve warm cotton was too astringent and peppery. This one is perfect and exactly what I was looking for. Also lasts forever. I got some on my hand 12 hours ago, took a shower, and can still smell it. It smells exactly like if you got blue fabric softener on you while doing laundry.

This brand is right up my alley, I have yet to meet a fragrance that dissappoints me. Zarko's base is always clean and I'm so here for it. If I have to chose only 1 fragrance to stick with it will be this one. The Muse is the ULTIMATE clean fragrance. Smells like fresh laundry, like you've just walked past a laundromat, and girl does this STAY. I've never had a clean fragrance stick with me for over 8 hours. It's almost sexy because it makes you smell so clean, like laying down after a shower in freshly washed fluffy bedsheets. I will recommend this fragrance to everyone until I die.

My second comment on this masterpiece. There should be a disclosure that recommends the pairing of The Muse with Molecule 234.38. The Muse can become overpowering and needs something to ground her. This is where Molecule does the trick. He frames her and calms her down, turning her into something akin to sweet liquorice and white musk. The Muse in turn also tame the Molecule with her laundry detergent aura - softening out his harsh lines that reminds us of hand sanitizer. He elevates her and she makes him blush. A beautiful valtz. Gorgeous gorgeous work. Bravo!

I've tried close to a dozen "laundry like" perfumes, trying to find the perfect daily clean clothes scent. The Muse is the best one of all the ones I've tried. This smells exactly like walking down the detergent isle at the grocery store, but I do not find the smell too sharp or artificial. Instead, when you spray it on your clothes, it smells very comforting and soft. This is better than Love-O-Matic to me as a laundry smell and lasts longer than Love-o-matic too. 10/10, would absolutely recommend for anyone searching for a clean laundry perfume.

If we visit zarkoperfume.com on the pages of any of the perfumes, we will find that he gladly reveals the notes of all of his creations - except for when it comes to The Muse. We can all agree there’s white musk that gives us a fresh laundry scent and iso e super. But I would argue there’s a second musk here, hidden. Not long ago I got a tester from Nasomatto’s Silver Musk. A musk that reminds us very much of liquorice. This note is faintly detected in The Muse. There’s a Silver Musk in The Muse and it makes it even more unforgettable.

So, this is a beautiful fragrance, in my opinion. It is fresh and clean but in a very real-life-like way. I just got it, and to me, it reminds me of a summer morning. I can picture myself sitting in a pretty garden, sipping on a glass of lemonade and just relaxing. This scent reminds me of those summer days when it's not that sunny but rather more grey and muted. On a day when the sky is grey, there's rain in the air, but the temperatures are nice and warm. I love it!

Well, I have decided that I need clean smell in my collection so got a tester yesterday. It is quite heavy laundry smell and for some people it would definitely be too chemical. But for me it is perfect. This is exactly how I wanna smell right now. I sprayed this smell on my diffuser in the closet and it smells amazing. I might be crazy but I am obsessed with it. The thing with Muse is that you have only 2 options: hate it or love it.

I love the smell of clean laundry - it’s a scent that makes me happy. Who doesn’t love the scent of being clean? This smells exactly like a basket of freshly washed laundry. Perfect for layering if you want to add a cleanliness to a floral scent. I love adding an orange blossom scent with this, such as Prada Candy Kiss. Easy grab when you don’t know what to wear. You’ll smell clean and fresh. I love this!!!!

My new favorite every day scent! I was lukewarm on this when I smelled it at the store on a paper strip but after trying it on my skin I'm so obsessed with it. A fresh powdery scent that does give me the vibe of clean landry. Probably one of my more sophisticated perfumes since I prefer sweet gourmand scents but this is perfect for every day and in my opinion every season. Classic and timeless.

Clean, pure, innocent and graceful. Crisp white sheets dried in the garden. This scent has a very strong feel of fresly washed linen. Fresh and adorable. The performance is really great. When I wear it I get the feeling of “straight out of shower” This is a scent for light spring/summer evenings. Amazing silage and longevity. This is love for me

the muse is bottled comfort and absolute sterility. it is stressful to live in a perpetually unclean, uncontrollable world, and the reason for my interest in perfume to begin with was as an escape from this dirty place - this fragrance is a stubborn iron fist of control, a decidedly clean scent. it sets off my laundry-based pica

I have to add - the dry-down on this perfume is terrific! Soft and muted, yummy, I cannot stop smelling my underarm where I applied the perfume (about an hour ago.) So subtle, yet definitively there. I love this perfume! If you want to smell clean (but in a realistic way) and feel comforted, this might be the perfume for you!

This is the highest expression of clean scent. It has vigor and persistence. Totally unisex. It is like you used one whole bottle of detergent to clean up your skin. It is reassuring and pleasant, office safe and make you feel clean, in order, comforted. Never again without one bottle in my drawer.

I love this! I've never felt a perfume like this before - it's more like a kind of a feeling, rather than perfume. Cant explain it, it have to be experienced. This is freshnes, clean purity, and I always gets in a good mode and I feel a positive and happy vibe when I wear it.

When I use this perfume, I smell exactly like I have come straight out of the laundry. The cleanest and most aldehydic and photorealistic laundry smell (in a good way) I have encountered which I really absolutely love. This is a perfect after the shower and bedtime scent.

I smelled it on a friend of mine (female) and instantly fell in love with it! I was surprised to see "soap" not listed here in the notes, as to me it's the most soapy/ laundry perfume I discovered until now. Very fresh, neat, light but long-lasting.

It smells like laundry detergent and I LOVE it! Fresh, clean and soapy, like your hands after handwashing delicates. My journey of finding the most realistic detergent/washing powder perfume can stop here, though I don't want it to stop.

i actually really enjoy this one although i hate super clean detergent scents like byredo blanche. there’s something there which balances it and gives a nice after smell.

This is - Chicco fabric softener 1/1 and I LOVE IT!!!! I never thought someone will come up with this kind of idea for perfume... Also smells a bit like BYREDO-BLANCHE

This scent is exactly what I was looking for in L’eau D’hiver edt! Lasts long and hugs you as someone who truly loves you would. (Vibes with L’eau D’hiver.)

I just love this perfume! Everyone has already mentioned that it smells like a laundry detergent. But it's cute and makes me happy

This one smells exactly like freshly washed laundry. I'm astonished they managed to precisely replicate that scent. 10/10

Love this. It is very clean smelling, like fresh laundry, but still warm in a way. This scent makes me happy.

The brand said it best: "The feeling and smell of freshly washed laundry that accompanies you all day long..." I feel like I sprayed laundry detergent+fabric softener on myself LOL Don't get me wrong, I love smelling like fresh clean laundry, but it's not something I would want to smell every day. Great fragrance, but probably not for me. UPDATE: Every time I smell this, I just want to laugh. It's just cotton laundry detergent! You can just wash your clothes with a crapload of cotton-scented detergent, fabric softener, and dryer sheets to get this effect! xD Unless that's not satisfying enough and you need to spray this scent on your skin too to make yourself smell like you've bathed in fabric softener. By all means, do as you will! :D

It’s giving “clean girl” vibes, very office-friendly. I was using it when I wanted to feel comfortable during the day, kind of like a cozy sweater to me. My husband did say once or twice that I was smelling nice, like “straight after shower nice”, nothing crazy ;) it has this strong fresh laundry note, but very pleasant, more well rounded not as sharp and soapy like in the Clean perfume. It could be a signature scent for a lot of ladies, but I would say it’s more mature, fresh, but not girly in my opinion.

I agree with the reviewer below me that this smells like laundry detergent, but I don't mean that in a bad way: it actually smells like a much more sophisticated, muskier version of that typical freshly washed laundry smell. It's definitely the purest, boldest and most powerful "clean" scent I've ever tried: if you're into this category, I don't think you can do much better than this. I like it very much myself, even though I'm usually not particularly into those types of scents personally.

So, an update. I hated it and my first review was about how much it smells like a laundry detergent. I was on my way to the airport to a night flight and wanted to wear something fresh and not perfumey. It did its job! It made me feel very fresh and soft all the way along. It's getting warm and it's good for hot weather, when you just want to stay fresh and strong scents don't bother you. Not perfect to die for, but good for what it offers.

I absolutely love this scent. Very unexpected as I prefer more boozy, amber scents. It smells incredibly clean, very refreshing but not floral. It smells like fresh laundry in a big clean modern house. Windows open. Early morning. The cleaner just left the driveway and you know it’s gonna be a great day. It doesn’t smell soapy or fruity, just cotton, clouds, airy freshness. I love this one.

This is probably the most realistic fresh laundry, clean linen scent I’ve come across. Somebody recommended it to me, and they were not lying when they said it gave fresh laundry. It doesn’t really give “perfume” vibes it honestly feels like this would be better off as a linen spray. I still like it and wear it around the house!

I am sorry, but where is powder? Where is musk? It’s just washing powder. Yes. A washing powder that makes me smell like I can’t afford a perfume and I used some cheap cloth cleaning powder on me. Yeah, it’s fresh, but not light and easy. Sharp and crispy. I was expecting some light powdery clean scent but this is not it.

A very fresh, crisp and clean cotton and laundry scent. A bit sharp with enormous sillage and almost infinite longevity. Smells alot like fabric softener but still a very comforting fragrance to spray after shower and on clothes for that extra fresh feeling. I like it! Rating: 7/10

literally laundry detergant but in a cozy and airy way. not so sharp like Byredo Blanche so if you dont like Blanche maybe you lıke this one. Today i sniffed 3ml sample and immediately fell in love. I just ordered the full bottle. wear everyday even im at home feels so good.

I enjoy this fragrance and for the comment below that states this company/fragrance hurts animals this house is vegan here’s a quote from their site, “All ZARKOPERFUMES creations are not tested on animals and do not contains animals byproducts they are vegan friendly”

Layer this with Marc Jacobs Lemon ❤️❤️ Absolutely love it. Happy that MJ is a 300 ml, since it is discontinued.

I noticed Zarkoperfume because of their very good prices. I blind-bought this one coincidentally at the same time with my fabric softener Lenor ,,Aprilfresh" and they really smell identical.So I applied ,,The Muse" on my freshly washed laundry, I even sprayed it then in the washing machine and in the dryer because the price was so good and I found this way of using it better than on myself. Now, in the summer heat, after an exhausting day at work and after a refreshing shower I tried it on me after generously applying the body mist from Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 62 and it was...ok. I wouldn`t wear it outside my home, but for chilling on the couch it is not so bad to smell like clean laundry...

Something happened... Maybe, beauty shops don’t have an original perfume in Russia now or my nose became too sensitive? I tried this perfume at winter and it was like clean freshness. But now it’s summer, and The Muse has only smell of laundry soap... Maybe it’s good for me only at winter, when the air is freeze and skin is differently works on perfumes. I adored it, I was dreaming of buying it and wearing as clean sillage, but it interrupts any other scents, I can’t exist normally while wearing this now.

I love clean scents. So I blind bought this based on many positive reviews. Upon initial spray it’s straight up laundry detergent, harsh and crisp one. The scent doesn’t really evolve, however it leaves a much softer trail in the air which is nice. Didn’t really like this smell on skin, too chemical for my taste. I ended up spraying it on clothes, bed sheets etc, there it works much better imho- gives a clean feeling and lasts long enough.

Photorealistic perfume if you want to smell like straight up laundry detergent then this perfume is for you, I don’t know how I feel about this one yet, I love clean scent but this is too clean lol. In the Caribbean most of us use to hand wash our clothes and the powder detergent scent would linger on your hand that is what this perfume smell like to me, I like it but I don’t love it.

It smells exactly like laundry detergent nothing else to add. Longevity is really good, I can still smell it on my clothes the next day. I never used this outside, only at home after taking a shower, it keeps the clean smell even longer. I had a tester of this. Would I buy a bottle? No, not a fragrance I would like to use. Personal rating 4.5/10

Immediate impression is of freshly washed hotel/motel sheets and towels. It takes me back to the 90’s and early 2000’s and is a very nostalgic smell with strong memories, but not a scent profile that I love enough to purchase.

This smells like straight up laundry detergent! It's very clean and synthetic smelling, and I would spray this on clothes or linens... but I don't enjoy actually wearing this on my skin.

Smells like newly washed linens, I like it but i don't know if I want to smell like clean laundry tough. Great if you want to smell clean, if not I would skip on this one.

Musk fragrance with some depth I guess due to the oud. Less boring than their other ones but still a skin scent.

Too "clean laundry" smelling for my tastes. I have a nearly full bottle, if anyone is interested.