Alexandre J Morning Muscs Eau de Parfum has undoubtedly been one of the most challenging perfumes for me to review, or even make up my mind about. I find myself strangely drawn to it, even though I prefer oriental fragrances. I think the reason behind it might be that it strongly resembles a legendary perfume that still stays in my mind vividly – the legendary and discontinued Miss Dior Chérie that I fell in love with in my teenage years.

About Alexandre.J

Alexandre.J is a modern French perfume brand carrying the name of its founder. Created in 2012, it’s currently present in over 60 countries, and its unique and predominantly oriental fragrances are increasingly popular in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Available in niche perfmeries, Alexandre.J perfumes are famous for one-of-a-kind packaging, attention to detail, and exquisite craftsmanship. Although most of Alexandre.J’s fragrances are unisex, Morning Muscs leans more towards the feminine side.

Morning Muscs by Alexandre.J

Being a part of “The Collector” series, Morning Muscs, like other fragrances from this line, is locked in a metal bottle with a gold-plated medallion and comes together with a decorative leather box ( which I call a little coffin). Perfume bottles from “The Collector” line, with their rich colors and opulent embellishing are unique and cause love-hate reactions among perfume lovers. Although I generally prefer more classic bottles, I find this one is a good addition to my perfume collection, brightening the shelf with its boldness. As the name suggests, this scent is perfect for the morning, and bright pink packaging with gold details helps to start the day on a cheerful note.

Morning Muscs opens up fizzy, giving you a little itch in the nose, teasing you with delicious fruity notes of peach, mandarin, and grapefruit, creating a fruity cocktail. The first seconds slightly resemble smelling a glass of champagne that gives you a bit of a head rush, paired with fruity sweetness. Even though this is not a gourmand fragrance, the sweetness of caramel is also very pronounced for the first minutes up to an hour. The opening resembles Miss Dior Chérie strongly.

All the notes are very smooth and blended in this fragrance, which is one of the reasons why this review took me so long to write. Once the fizz evaporates, the notes are indistinguishable at that very moment. The scent is sweet but also a bit tangy, floral, but also strongly musky. Each ingredient adds to the overall rounded, smooth and unobtrusive composition. The most prominent flower here is rose, but not your typical jammy, Bulgarian flower-power or subtle Turkish rose. It’s the kind of rose you smell on a sunny summer day when rose bushes are blossoming, giving that fresh rose impression. Like waking up in the morning and opening the window to a rose garden, feeling the morning breeze that’s preceding summer heat.

As the fragrance dries down, it turns muskier but not as dirty, animalistic musk. It’s the clean one, smelling like skin exposed to the sun in summer, like a beach, and fresh sheets. The floral accents remain, creating a perfect girly but elegant summery blend. Musk is a tricky note to use in perfumery. It can easily smell synthetic, overpowering, or too carnal. You can tell that musk in Morning Muscs is of the highest quality, elegant and intriguing, without any sharp, chemical feel to it.

Final impression

Energetic. If I had to describe Morning Muscs in one word, I would use this one. The creators succeeded in their aim to develop a mood-boosting, refreshing, and sensual fragrance 100%. Morning Muscs is a perfect feminine perfume to start the day well and an ideal everyday fragrance that can be your signature even at school or an office. It also makes a beautiful present for a female friend or partner, as a safe bet from niche perfumery for those who like bestsellers such as Miss Dior and Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel. Appropriate for women of all ages (my mother loves it and will receive it as a present right after this review) and various perfume tastes, Morning Muscs might be a people pleaser but a truly unique one.

Key information

Category: Floral Woody Musk

Notes:

Top notes: Mandarin, Grapefruit, Peach, Toffee

Heart notes: Russian Rose, Turkish Rose, Patchouli, Violet

Base notes: Musk, Moss

Longevity: Long-lasting

Sillage: Moderate

Available at: https://www.alexandre-j.com/ and in Poland at Mon Credo

Price: EUR105/100ml