Musk has been a valued perfume note since ancient times. The ancients believed it was a powerful aphrodisiac and gave such high regard for it that the scent was often used as a temple aromatic.
Originally, musk was obtained from a deer belonging to the genus Moschus. It is secreted from the gland found under the skin of the deer’s abdomen. Modern science was later able to explain the aphrodisiac effects of musk. Apparently, the musk substance carries pheromones which scientists have linked to the scent of testosterone, a human pheromone.
The enchanting animal can still be found in the mountains of India, Pakistan, Tibet, China, Siberia, and Mongolia. Sadly, its population has been classified as threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).
Illegal poaching and black-market trading of musk persists and could eventually lead to the animal’s extinction. In 1979, the use of natural musk has been prohibited and the deer is now under protection as an endangered species.
Today, the musk used in perfumery is mostly synthetic. The term musk is used for notes that have a musky, animalistic tone to them. Civet, Castoreum, and Hyrax are some examples of synthetic musks. Plants, such as Garden Angelica, Musk Flower, Abelmosk, or Ambrette seeds, are also used as substitutes for natural musks.
Musk is now the most commonly used ingredient in fragrant compositions. It is a heavy fragrance note that has an earthy, woody, musty, rich, and somehow sweet character to it. The scent is quite complex and adds warmth and sensuality to fragrances. No wonder it remains to be a precious raw material in perfumery.
It acts as an effective fixative that is why musk is often used as a base note. It minimizes the evaporation rate of perfumes lengthening the strength of the scent.
Here is a great list of musky scents you can try.
The Original Musk by Kiehl’s is a takes on a woody, floral musk with head notes of orange blossom and bergamot. At the heart of this perfume are notes of lily, neroli, ylang-ylang, and rose. As the scent dries down, the base notes of tonka bean, musk, and patchouli elevate and strengthens the perfume.
Launched in 2004, Kiehl’s Original Musk is the quintessential musk fragrance. It has that sexy, musty character that is just there. It isn’t off-putting in any way but it can definitely grab your attention. That rich, animalic scent is present although tamed down by the light florals of ylang-ylang, lily, and rose.
Wear it day and night. The sillage is enough to get you noticed but it never gets to the point that it’s headache-inducing. It’s nothing impressive, though. A safe enough perfume that is versatile to wear in any weather.
The musk in there makes it a long-lasting scent that endures throughout the day.
If you prefer softer musks this would be a good candidate. It’s light and easy to wear but still lovely and alluring. That is why it has become a classic fragrance for ladies since it first launched in 1994. Even the bottle gives you a hint that the scent is elegant and feminine.
Vanilla Musk by Coty is pleasantly luscious and whimsical. This perfume shows the charm that musk adds in perfumes. Musk can also be delicate and cozy. The creamy vanilla note accentuates the sweetness from the musk. Sandalwood and cedar, on the other hand, bring a dry yet airy woodsy tone.
This is a musk perfume that will be nice to wear during the day. It has decent longevity, about 5-8 hours on the skin. Not bad for a soft perfume.
A fairly new fragrance from Narciso Rodriguez, Pure Musc Absolu was launched in 2020. It is a more intense version of the original Pure Musc released by the brand in 2019. The creator behind the previous and later versions of Pure Musc is Sonia Constant.
This is a really simple perfume that opens with the musk note and then it never goes away. This is accompanied by notes of jasmine and ylang-ylang. And then the dry down reveals a cedar base note.
That simplicity is what makes this quite a beautiful scent. It is clean and inviting so expect to get a lot of compliments when you have this on.
A true musk scent that has enormous sillage that lasts for a very long time. This does not disappoint in terms of performance and staying power.
It is more of a day scent since it’s quite soapy and pure. The floral notes tend to give it a springtime vibe but it actually fits any weather.
Here is another fragrance that refutes the notion that musk scents always tend to be musty. Musk is really a complex scent that does a great job of allowing other notes to shine without losing its character.
You from Glossier is a fresh unisex perfume that has musk and iris tones to it. The scent was launched in 2017 and was created by Dora Baghriche and Frank Voelkl.
The perfume is quite ethereal and airy. It resembles what a cloud could smell like. This is more of a youthful and modern take on musk. The notes include iris root, pink pepper, musk, ambrette, and ambox.
There is a sporty aspect to this perfume that is maybe coming from the bright, powdery tone of iris. It’s definitely a daytime scent that stays close to the skin.
The perfume lasts for a good amount of time but it can’t be considered to have great longevity. It lasts about 4 to 5 hours and then it goes quiet.
This is a sparkling musk with citrusy, fruity, and slightly floral notes. Emotion from Rasasi has managed to successfully create a warm, sweet, and spicy musk for women that’s both sexy and fresh.
A lot is going on but the musk makes it tender and everything plays out in harmony. The top notes feature lemon, mandarin, orange, tamarind, and bergamot. The middles notes consist of kiwi, pineapple, black currant, freesia, water lily, and jasmine. Everything settles in a creamy base of sandalwood, amber, cedar, vanilla, and of course, musk.
This is a wow fragrance that has intense sillage. It is an attention grabber and can be intimidating for some. The sharp, ozonic scent will be refreshing on a warm day.
Longevity is also superb here and you will keep smelling this for a very long time.
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