Musk in perfumery was recently on my mind: Portia just published a post about Musk by Lorenzo Villoresi, and while commenting on that post, I discovered that I had more than 25 perfumes in my database that had one of the variations on the word “musk” in the name. Also, one of new perfumes I’ve been testing features that note (stay tuned for the mini-review post).
Saturday Question #216:
Do You Like Musk Perfumes?
If yes, what are your favorites? If no, are you sensitive to any musks or some specific ones?
My Answer
I have never thought about musk as a leading note in perfumery: it was mostly a base note in perfumes I liked or didn’t like but not something that would define how inclined I am to feel one way or the other about new perfume I intended to try.
What I didn’t like about this (or any other) note was when it was used as a name of perfume. Not because I know that I do not like the scent profile but because I don’t like that type of names.
But what about perfumes? I decided to look only at those perfumes from the list of testes perfumes that had “musk” (“musc”) as a part of their names.
It looks like I don’t like musk in my perfumes, after all: of the 27 perfumes in my database with “musk” in the name, I do not own a single bottle (full or travel) and only one small decant.
Out of all musk perfumes I’ve ever tested, I would like to own only three – Annick Goutal Musc Nomade (the original one; I haven’t tried the last at least two reformulations, so I’m not sure that I would even like it now), Hermes Musc Pallida (maybe one day, but today I can’t bring myself to pay its price) and maybe Ramon Molvizar Musk Oriental Goldskin (but I tried it only once, many years ago, so even if it hadn’t been as expensive as it is, I wouldn’t have bought a FB without trying it again). There were 2-3 more that I thought were nice but not to the extent of wanting more.
How about you?
Undina's Looking Glass 
I do like musk, and have several I can think of off the top of my head: Musc des Sables, Musc Nomade, Musc Tonkin, Musk Oud, Unspoken Musk, Musc Encensé, Clair de Musc, Musc Ravageur, Mûre et Musc, Musc Outreblanc, Musk Pure, Jasmine Musk, Urban Musk. I’m not generally fond of « laundry musk » scents but find that when I’m feeling sick or stressed, I do reach for those clean/white musks. The newly released Chanel Comète is a good example of a comfort scent for me.
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That is quite a list! I recognize only some of the names. It seems like you might be partial to musk perfumes… :)
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I checked my spreadsheet and I have exactly one partial full bottle – Goutal Musc Nomade – the older version that I received in a swap. I also have mini bottles of Dame New Musk Oil and L’Artisan Mure et Musc. All others are samples. Like you, it seems I don’t seek out musk-forward perfumes. I have swapped away some musk centric bottles and decants. So I guess it’s not my thing…
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I tried both Dane’s and L’Artisan’s perfumes but didn’t like them enough to pursue beyond samples.
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There was a very specific “musk” profile in the 1970’s that gave me a banging headache. It was in Just Musk, Wild Musk & other drug store scents of the age. So, I avoided musk perfumes for decades.
Then I found Musc Koublai Khan, SJP Lovely & JLo Glow. I liked some musks! Sadly, still not many & I suspect I’m anosmic to larger musk molecules. For instance, Marlou Corpalium is all gorgeous horsey hay & I’m in stabled heaven then ….. poouuff….. nothing, next to no smell at all, yet I can feel there’s something textural there but no actual smell.
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Forgot, I do have one 70’s musk that I find to be the ultimate butterfly kiss of musk. Avon Soft Musk can be had for as little as a five quid for 50ml when Avon has it on offer
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I wasn’t exposed to those perfumes from 70s: even those would have been a luxury where I grew up. But I’m familiar with the effect of not being able to smell something: I have that relationship with ISO E-Super: periodically, I can’t smell it at all.
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Like ali tyke, I got a wicked headache and there’s something unpleasant in my memory regarding musk from the 70’s. But Like all the responses so far Goutal’s Musc Nomade is quite beautiful. I have a backup bottle that I’ve tried, and it smells as good as the original scent was. I have Lutens Clair de Musc, cause it was going super cheap during the pandemic, and Fleur de Citronnier (also love its small, square bottle, with the rippled effect on the back). I also broke down and bought Musc Ravageur, which I used to not quite like but now I like. I like musk as a base note but probably don’t care for it as much when it’s the primary focus. I do, however, love the musk dry down of Dans Tea Bras. I really didn’t care for the Guerlain musc, in the pretty red bottle-that reminded me of everything I did not care for in a musk fragrance.
I can’t wait to try Comete, even tho it has a musk base.
Great Saturday question, Undina-thanks for making me think :)
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I really enjoyed Comete too.
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I am also curious to try Comete (but kind of hope not to like it too much ;) ).
Your comment about Musc Nomade gives me ideas that maybe I should seek a newer version… Tempting!
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I like some musk scents like Comete and Patricia de Nicolai’s Musc Poudre. Those are both beautiful. A ‘clean’ musk is fine with me, but I don’t like strong animalic musk scents.
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I look forward to trying Comete hoping not to like it but fearing I would :)
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There are HEAPS of musks in my wardrobe Undina, SJP Lovely and Covet, Narciso Rodriguez, Kiehl’s Original Musk, Mure et Musk, MKK and Musc Ravageur, Musc Tonklin, Jovan Musk, Villoresi Musk, Clair de Musc, Nicolai Musc Intense, Guerlain Musc Noble,
I’m sure there are more that will come to me as soon as I press send.
Portia xx
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Impressive! I bet those smell great on you!
I think I tried half of those on your list, and I could wear 2 or 3 of them if I had them, but none of them crossed that “need to have” threshold.
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I probably would only buy half of them now the craving has been assuaged to a certain extent Undina.
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I like musk as a note to enhance others – my favorite perfumes seem to fall in the category of “Floral Woody Musk” on Fragrantica. However, I’m not really into it on its own, so would probably go with The Body Shop White Musk for familiarity’s sake.
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I have several favorites in that category, but those perfumes didn’t have “musk” in the name, so I didn’t consider them.
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I don’t like “Musk” or any of its word equivalent on the perfume name although I am 100% sure it’s in many of the perfumes I have, including ones I really like. The one perfume I deliberately bought was Chanel Les Exclusifs Chanel 1957: musk x 8!
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The lesson learned: numbers might be more attractive than ingredients (as a name). Not clear though, does it work only for Chanel, or can it be applied broader? :)
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I like musk simply, so my go to is Clair de musc by Serge Lutens.
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I think I liked it too. At least, that sample is in my “Thunk it!” box.
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Generally speaking, no, though AG Musc Nomade is an honourable exception. I believe I am hyperosmic to musk and amplify it on my skin. Scents like Chanel 1957 and PD Opardu are way too musky on me, for example. I would love to do some side by side tests with people to see if my theory is correct. ;)
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That’s interesting how AG managed to create perfume that unites so many people with different tastes.
I’ve never thought about Opardu as of musky scent. I should wear it again and check what I think.
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