After the successful Modern Muse fragrance launch in 2014, Estée Lauder released an extension to Modern Muse and that is the Modern Muse Chic. Modern Muse is my most reached perfume the entire half of 2014 up until now and I’m already on my last half of the bottle *yikes!*. When I found out that there will be an extension to my favourite perfume, I find myself having a mixed feeling. Is Modern Muse going to be discontinued? Is Modern Muse Chic the replacement for the original version? Will it carry the Sparkling Jasmine Accord note that I’m obsessed? What if I hate it?

It turns out I was scaring myself with all the insecure questions roaming inside my head. Modern Muse is here to stay and the “Chic” version is the BOLD, CREATIVE, STYLISH version of the original confident, independent, inspiring. Similar, but not the same.

Modern Muse Chic was inspired by the complexity and dynamic contrasts of a modern woman, which was how the original Modern Muse was inspired as well. A Modern Muse Chic is someone who defines her own style on her own terms. Never the ordinary, and yet bold, original, extroverted and creative. What makes Modern Muse Chic different from Modern Muse is her love for fashion and the way she uses accessories to express her innate sense of style, inspiring everyone she met along the way. I would say the Chic version is more of a younger, fun version of Modern Muse 😀

Estée Lauder maintain the signature strong, tall and luxurious soft rounded sides bottle design, except for a touch of gold studs added on the bottle key element, which is the bow. The bow was inspired by Estée Lauder’s first fragrance, Youth Dew’s iconic bow which was launched back in 1953 and it underwent a makeover to dark navy patent as the ultimate symbol of style and sophistication. The bow is unique and adorns the spray-through cap. I also notice that the soft pink fragrance is slightly deeper colour than the original Modern Muse. Just slightly.

The most important question is, how does the scent differs from the original? The Modern Muse Chic carries two distinctively different accords, which provide an intriguing dual impression as well — Vivid Florals Accord and Striking Ebony Woods Accord. At first mist, my nose was telling me that it’s completely two different fragrance note (it should be!) but when the scent tones down a little, I was happy to detect Jasmine Sambac note in it. That was a huge relieve for me as I really like the original Sparkling Jasmine Accord. However, this Modern Muse Chic is more woody and you will know the difference when you had it on. For me, the scent is lighter despite it being an Eau de Parfum just like the original. It doesn’t disappear completely as the hours went by but it’s definitely softer.

The reason why my Modern Muse was down to half the bottle is also because I like to mist it on my hair. It does makes a different when I had Modern Muse ON my hair 😀 . I have people telling me I smell good. Since I mist onto myself quite heavily, I make sure I don’t go nuts with the perfume on my hair. Now I can go banana with it on my hair with Modern Muse Chic as it’s softer and I won’t risk drowning everyone that hug me lol.

As for me, I’m a Modern Muse girl. I still prefer the original version despite this Chic version is similar. I love the intense lush floral scent that I get from Modern Muse. Most perfume if you mist on too much, it tend to give headache and dizziness. Not Modern Muse Chic. I do like that the Chic version is more fashionable and fun to wear. This is when you get to see the fun me 🙂

Disclaimer: Press sample. This doesn’t affect my judgement in the review in any way.