The Muse

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.

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.

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.

This scent reminds me of those home footage montages of someone's late wife in the beginning of a tragic movie, where the man finds true love again at the end. She's dirty blond, white, but her grandfather from her dad's side is from south-korea. One moment she's smiling between white cotton sheets and running across the beach. In the next scene she is laying in a hospital bed. My point is: To me this scent is boring. Definitely a pleasant perfume but really boring. This is done before in the cleaning products aisle of your local supermarket. I don't understand why it is called 'The Muse'. A muse has to be, as far as I'm aware, inspiring. A source of creativity. Or the name is some witty commentary on romantizicing someone really mundane in your head. Wouldn't be mad at it if it was called 'Laundry Day', had some cool funky label and a slightly lower price point. Too expensive for the scent profile. BUT, if you are in love with the smell of freshly washed white sheets in the wind and have a boyfriend whose obsessed with filming you with his retro camcorder, go for it. Do get that lump checked out though.

like being smothered by a hotel pillow

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

This is a powerhouse and I agree with others below not to overspray. The magic is in the drydown,so maybe wait a few before going out.

This is THE clean laundry perfume. In comparison to Clean's warm cotton, this is on the sweeter side and has better longevity. I think it is important to not overspray this. You want to smell like you have fresh/clean clothes on, and not like the whole launderette.

In my never-ending search for the perfect "clean laundry" fragrance, "The Muse" has been recommended to me endlessly. I currently love and wear "Warm Cotton" by Clean Classic - it's the perfect scent laundry-like, but unfortunately the performance is terrible, hence why I've sampled this fragrance. "The Muse" definitely has a laundry-detergent reminiscent smell, but it's incredibly potent, too sweet, and lacking the sharp aldehydes and clean brightness I've come to expect from this stye of fragrance. In "Warm Cotton," there is a bright, tangy, juicy citrus accord that perfectly complements the sharp aldehydes and soapy/detergent-like scent. The citrus balances the sweetness of the cotton, creating something refreshing rather than sickening. "The Muse," while smelling adjacent to clean laundry, misses the mark in a big way, and smells more like the concept of clean laundry/laundry detergent than the real thing (I don't know if that makes any sense). It is also just too sweet and not subtle enough. It's true that I am looking for something with good performance, but I also don't think clean fragrances should be this powerful; they're meant to be laid back and not necessarily fill the room. More importantly, there is just something "off" about "The Muse;" I don't know which note is to blame, but the fragrance is incredibly nauseating... I deeply regret spraying this on my skin instead of a test strip. It's potent, sweet, kind of gross, and absolutely not what I was hoping for. Maybe you would disagree with me. What I'd say for sure: buy a sample/decant of this before investing in a bottle (i.e. don't blind buy this fragrance). I got a 1ml sample from ScentSplit, which was the only decanter I could find that had this scent (not paid or sponsored to say that).

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.

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.

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 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!!!!

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.

I walk past a big hotel each day on my way to work, and the vents from the laundry room pump out wonderful gusts of warm air carrying the scent of crisp, clean sheets and starched white bath robes. This fragrance is exactly that. EXACTLY.

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.

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

When I use this perfume, I feel like washing powder дуже специфічний парфум, мені він не подобається

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 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.

Smells exactly like detergent against cat’s pee to 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

Smells like if you fell into a huge barrel with washing powder and unable to get out of it. Very strong and cloying. Gave me allergic reaction.

straight up laundry detergent

Tried it in the store. It could smell different, more pleasant if it were applied, if it got to dry down and develop, but straight out of the bottle on a test strip, its smell is like harsh laundry detergent indeed to me.

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 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...

I hate hate HATE this one. Maybe because I had a headache because of this smell. This is just not for me, and I wouldn’t be able to sit near sb who wears it.

OH it is a nightmare. I wanted to love it so much! Unfortunately, on my skin it smells like cheap laundry detergent/household chemicals. Sharp, aggressive, terrible. I washed it off myself as quick as I could. I feel sorry for anyone who noticed this on me throughout today.

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.