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Estee Lauder’s Modern Muse Le Rouge is a sweet peppery berry rose scent undeservingly called a flanker.

The original Modern Muse is a mild, light citrusy jasmine that softens and tames itself after the initial olfactory blast, and while jasmine is prominent in La Rouge, it is the red roses, the red berries and the pink pepper that steal the show.

On paper, everything about the perfume screams summer to me, however on my skin, the perfume says winter.

The magnolia abates the summery sourness of the berries, making the scent a winter diva appropriate.

A feminine but not girly scent, which morphs into warm, pleasant peppery floral. Its projection and sillage are incredible. Six hours into the day, and I can still sense its presence on my skin.

If you are thrown off by its sweetness, I advise you to be patient. When the perfume settles, it loses its sweet edge and morphs into woody/vanilla/rose concoction, very elegant, yet still enough casual so it can be worn throughout the day and the night as a signature perfume.

What’s more, I also think it would be an amazing date night perfume, one which will easily mix with the conversation.

At the end of the day, Modern Muse Le Rouge is a bright, sweet, easy-to-wear, easy-to-love peppery rose, a scent that rose lovers from all corners of the world will find irresistible.