Coty, Muse, 'Inspiration', 120 ml. 4 oz. Flacon, Eau de Toilette, Lalique, 1946, 1960, Paris, France ..

François Spoturno, originally from Corsica, studied perfumery with Antoine Chiris in Grasse for one or two years before moving to Paris, adopting a variation on his mother's name, which was 'Coti', and launching his perfume business with La Rose Jacqueminot in 1904.

Coty was one of the first to understand the importance of fragrance packaging, and more specifically a beautiful bottle .. "A perfume is seen as much as it is smelled", he said. His business expanded, eventually encompassing cosmetics and powders as well as perfumes, until he was one of the wealthiest men in France.

In addition to revolutionizing the packaging and marketing of perfume, Coty was also a respected perfumer. Among his many creations: L'Origan in 1905, Chypre, which was arguably his most famous scent, in 1917, Emeraude in 1921, Paris in 1922, and L'Aimant in 1927. Coty actually lived next door to Rene Lalique, and thus a marriage was born between perfume and packaging.

After the WWII, Muse by Coty was created in 1946, in honor of the Muses of Greek mythology. The perfume was said to be eight years in the making, even through German occupation. A Coty perfumer and director of the French laboratories, Vincent Roubert, was working to achieve this important perfume through years of careful blending and for press agents that long to dream up its elaborate debut. After the war, one of the first big ‘we’re back’ fragrance launches came in 1946 for Coty’s Muse. Francois Coty had died in 1934, having lost much of his fortune to the war, and now Coty needed to launch a fragrance that would appeal to women both in Europe and America.

Muse was created in Paris, but actually launched in New York at the Waldorf Astoria hotel, which had by then become the de facto base for anything to do with perfume. The event was huge, wtih around fifteen hundred attendees, at an event that combined European and American influences. It was a massive blast off for Coty, and the perfume sold well because it was so lovely, so feminine and so very desirable. It was said that “This is the perfume they’ll remember you by!” Sadly it was discontinued in the early 1960's for reasons unknown.

Top notes are Bergamot, aldehydes, Peach, and Honey
Middle notes are Rose, Jasmine, Lily of the Valley, Gardenia, Tuberose, and Ylang Ylang
Base notes are Leather, Vanilla, Benzoin, Sandalwood, and Amber

"Muse is a deep, rich, honeyed, floral chypre with a slightly sweet, slightly green evanescence floating over the whole. This latter seems to be made up of the muguet and ylang, which gives the scent at the same time both a sharpness and a voluptuousness. The combination of the rose, jasmine and tuberose in the heart emerges as a beautifully balanced floral bouquet. Vanilla, benzoin and sandalwood provide a warm base with a hint of dry, warm, aged leather. I detect a sweet violet note in that leather effect, as if the sun had been drenching a table of ancient volumes. The peach and honey top notes have survived well and envelop the whole in seeming tropical sunniness.

This is a remarkable scent, containing the best of the edp and edt concentrations of the later Les Muses, but as a whole far more concentrated and balanced than that re-working. This has the feel of having been created over a decade earlier by Coty himself. It has his signature all over it. I hazard to say this is one of the great perfumes of that house and one of the very best creations I have had the pleasure to experience. Many thanks to a new Etsy friend who provided me with the sample. Now, to begin my research in locating a bottle of my very own." Basenotes Review. Jack Twist

Offered here is an exquisite 120 ml. bottle of this fabulous perfume in the Eau de Toilette format. My research tells me that the bottle is by Lalique and is recognisable by the hobnail bouchon cover. The outer wires are missing. Bottle has been never been previously opened or used, although the bottle has leaked into the box, and evaporation has also occurred. The skin seal remains over the inner plug. This is a treasure, and almost impossible to find. Highly collectible and extremely rare in this size and condition. The Eau de Toilette smells utterly divine. I am amazed at its strength. I was able to get a few drops that had leaked and applied it to my skin. It stays on the skin all day. Stunning .. !