The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Muse arrived in 2025, composed by Shadi Samra for IDMAN, a fragrance house founded that year by Syrian entrepreneur Joelle Sakkal and operating from the United Arab Emirates. Its name suggests creative force, but the composition wears that idea lightly: bergamot and lemon zest bring an immediate flash of wit, while iris, mint, ginger, and tuberose pull the scent away from obvious brightness. There are no confirmed details about a specific muse, place, or incident behind the name. What is clear is the intention held in the notes, a balance of freshness, polish, and soft sensuality that feels personal rather than performative.
The interesting part is the hand-off from citrus to powder. Lemon zest and bergamot make the first impression clean and quick, but ginger adds a measured heat, iris brings a cool powdered texture, and mint keeps the heart crisp. Tuberose gives the floral middle a creamy, almost sculptural shape. Those notes matter because they prevent Muse from reading like a simple citrus scent. Ambergris, musk, vetiver, and vanilla then ground the brightness, giving the composition a dry, softly animalic base with enough sweetness to remain plush.
The evolution
On skin, Muse begins with the clean snap of bergamot and lemon zest, bright and immediate, like light catching on glass. The citrus doesn't linger as the only event. Ginger introduces a controlled warmth, iris cools the center, and mint adds a green, brisk edge. Then tuberose arrives, turning the composition more tactile: creamy, powdery, and quietly floral, with a polished rather than sugary finish. As the heart softens, ambergris and musk create a skin-like closeness. Vetiver keeps the base from turning overly sweet, while vanilla leaves a quiet creaminess behind. The final effect is less like a bright floral that fades and more like a tailored signature that keeps its composure. With moderate sillage, it stays close, settling into a musky amber-powder trace that can linger around the 4-6 hour mark.
Cultural impact
Muse sits within IDMAN's idea of fragrance as a personal signature, an artistic form built through self-expression rather than strict gender or a single conventional category. Its unisex citrus-floral profile fits that framing: the wearer chooses the balance, moving between brightness and soft intimacy.
The House
IDMANIDMAN is a fragrance house founded by Syrian entrepreneur Joelle Sakkal, operating from the United Arab Emirates. The brand launched in 2025 with a debut collection that includes Perfume Balm, Bermuda Waters, Muse, and Carte Blanche. IDMAN positions itself at the intersection of artistic self-expression and fragrance, offering scents that function as personal signatures rather than conventional perfumes. The brand sources ingredients from Grasse, France, and presents its fragrances through curated sets, including a notable fragrance box collection that has attracted attention on social media platforms. With a presence across Instagram where the brand shares its creative vision, IDMAN represents a new voice in the regional fragrance landscape, drawing from Sakkal's background in the Syrian beauty sector.
The Creator
Shadi SamraShadi favors a modular approach, building fragrances layer by layer. He starts with a robust base—often oud, sandalwood, or amber—then adds a heart of florals or spices that echo the brief’s narrative.
